Getting your bearings in Siargao
Most visitors fly into Sayak Airport in Del Carmen, on the island’s west side, and the drive to General Luna takes around 45 minutes to an hour by van. The other way in is by ferry from Surigao City on Mindanao to the port at Dapa, in the south, which is around 20 to 30 minutes from General Luna.
Once you’re here, the island splits into two very different halves. The southeast corner around General Luna and Cloud 9 is where the restaurants, surf schools, cafes, coworking spots and nightlife are, and where most people stay. The north, around Pacifico and Burgos, is quiet coastline, small villages and empty beaches, a long ride from everything else. There’s very little public transport, so most people rent a scooter or use local motorbike taxis, known as habal-habal.
The best areas to stay in Siargao
Choose your area first and your accommodation second. Here’s what each part of the island is like to stay in, and who it suits.
General Luna: best for first-timers and most visitors
General Luna, or GL, is the heart of Siargao. Tourism Road runs through it, lined with cafes, restaurants, surf shops and bars, and the boats for island hopping to Naked, Daku and Guyam islands leave from the beach here. Staying in GL means you can walk or take a short scooter ride to almost everything, which matters more than you’d expect when it rains. The trade-off is that the main strip gets busy and can be noisy at night in peak season, so a place a few minutes off the road is often the sweet spot.
Our picks here: Sunset Surf Hostel Siargao for budget travellers, Casavia Siargao for a beachfront mid-range stay, and Bulan Villas Siargao for a peaceful but central treat.
Cloud 9: best for surfers
Cloud 9 is the famous reef break at the northern end of General Luna, with its wooden boardwalk out over the reef. It’s where the island’s surf reputation comes from, and the area around it is full of surf schools, smoothie bowls and laid-back cafes. It’s a short ride from the centre of GL, so you still have the restaurants on your doorstep, but your mornings revolve around the waves. Experienced surfers paddle out at Cloud 9 itself, while beginners usually learn at the gentler breaks nearby with a local instructor.
Our pick here: Casa Oro Cloud 9, directly across the road from the break.
Pacifico: best for a quiet surf escape
Pacifico is a long stretch of beach on the northeast coast, in San Isidro, about an hour to an hour and a half from General Luna. It has its own surf, far fewer people and a handful of small places to stay and eat. Come here if you’ve already done GL, or if your idea of Siargao is surf, sleep and sunsets with nobody else around. You’ll need your own scooter or driver, and you won’t be popping back to GL for dinner.
Burgos and the north: best for couples who want privacy
Burgos sits near the northern tip of the island, with quiet villages, empty beaches and surf spots that see a fraction of the crowds at Cloud 9. It’s the most remote area on this list, so it suits a slower few days rather than a base for exploring the whole island.
Our pick here: Villa Malinao, with a private beach and plenty of privacy.
Dapa and Del Carmen: practical, but not where you’ll want to stay
Dapa is the ferry port and Del Carmen is home to the airport, the mangrove forest and the boats to Sugba Lagoon. Both are worth a day trip, but very few visitors stay here, as you’d be a drive away from the beaches and restaurants. The exception is an early ferry or flight, when a night close by can save you a rushed morning.
Our recommended places to stay in Siargao
Booking sites will show you hundreds of options in Siargao. These are the six we’d recommend, chosen across budgets and areas, with who each one suits.
Sunset Surf Hostel has the community feel that makes a surf trip fun, without the late nights of a party hostel. It’s a good fit if you’re travelling solo and want people to surf, eat and island hop with, but still want to wake up fresh for the morning session.
Why stay at Sunset Surf Hostel Siargao:
- Social, friendly atmosphere that isn’t a party hostel
- In General Luna, close to the cafes, restaurants and surf schools
- An easy way to meet people for surf sessions and day trips
- One of the most affordable ways to stay in GL
Casavia Siargao: our mid-range beachfront pick
Casavia sits right on the beach in General Luna, with a cosy, airy design and friendly staff. It’s a hostel with private rooms, which makes it a good middle ground: you get your own room and the beach on your doorstep, plus the social side of a hostel when you want it.
Why stay at Casavia Siargao:
- Beachfront location in General Luna
- Private rooms as well as the hostel atmosphere
- Cosy, airy design that feels more like a guesthouse than a dorm block
- Friendly staff who help with tips and trips
Casa Oro is a homestay with modern rooms and a private pool, directly across the road from Cloud 9. For surfers it’s hard to beat: you can check the waves from the front door, and spend the hot afternoons by your own pool instead of hunting for shade.
Why stay at Casa Oro Cloud 9:
- Directly across from the Cloud 9 surf break
- Modern rooms with a private pool
- A short ride to the restaurants and cafes of General Luna
- A good pick for couples or a special trip
Kaimana is a resort in General Luna built for recovering between surf sessions. It has a huge pool, a beautiful garden, a sauna, an ice bath and a gym, which is a lot of facilities at a mid-range price. You can choose between air-conditioned and fan rooms, which helps keep the cost down if you don’t mind the heat at night. The pool and garden also make it an easy choice for families.
Why stay at Kaimana Resort Siargao:
- Huge pool and a lush garden
- Sauna, ice bath and gym on site
- Choice of air-conditioned or fan rooms
- In General Luna, close to the main strip
Villa Malinao: best for a quiet escape in the north
Villa Malinao is in Burgos, in the quiet north of Siargao, and it’s all about privacy. There’s a private beach, very few people around, and surf in the north to explore away from the Cloud 9 crowds. It’s a budget-friendly way to spend a few slow days, and it works especially well for couples.
Why stay at Villa Malinao:
- Private beach in a quiet part of the island
- Great for couples and anyone who wants privacy
- Close to the surf spots of the north
- Budget-friendly for what you get
Bulan Villas Siargao: best for couples who want space near the centre
Bulan Villas is a peaceful resort that’s still central in General Luna. The rooms are very large, the garden is beautiful and there’s a big pool, so it feels like a retreat while being close to everything. It’s our pick for couples who want space and calm without giving up the restaurants and cafes of GL.
Why stay at Bulan Villas Siargao:
- Very large rooms
- Beautiful garden and a big pool
- Peaceful, but central in General Luna
- A great choice for couples
Hostels in Siargao
Siargao has a big hostel scene, especially around General Luna and Cloud 9, and many hostels offer private rooms as well as dorms. Sunset Surf Hostel Siargao is our budget favourite, and Casavia Siargao is the one to choose if you want a private room on the beach.
Where to stay in Siargao if you’re working remotely
Stay in General Luna. It’s where the island’s cafes and coworking spaces are, and you’ll want options if your WiFi drops. Power cuts and slow connections still happen on the island, so check recent reviews for WiFi and backup power before you book, and treat mobile data as your backup rather than a luxury. You’ll find our list of cafes and coworking spaces in Siargao on Nomadwise.
When to book
The surf is at its best from around August to November, and the Siargao International Surfing Cup usually takes place in September or October, when the island fills up fast. Christmas, New Year and Easter are busy too, with lots of visitors from Manila and the rest of the Philippines. Book well ahead for those periods, especially for the smaller places on this list that only have a handful of rooms. The wettest months are usually around the end and start of the year, when you’ll find more availability and lower prices, but more rain.
Before you land in Siargao
You’ll rely on your phone in Siargao to message your accommodation, book surf lessons and island-hopping trips, and find your way on a scooter. Sort your data before you fly with our guide to the best eSIMs for the Philippines. If you’re surfing or riding a scooter, make sure your travel insurance covers both, and see our guide to the best digital nomad insurance for the Philippines for longer stays.
Final recommendation: where to stay in Siargao?
For most people, General Luna is the right base. It puts the cafes, restaurants, surf schools and island-hopping boats within easy reach, and Cloud 9 is just up the road. Head north to Pacifico or Burgos only if you want quiet more than convenience.
Choose Sunset Surf Hostel Siargao if you’re travelling on a budget, surfing solo or want to meet people without the party hostel noise.
Choose Casavia Siargao if you want a private room right on the beach in General Luna at a mid-range price.
Choose Casa Oro Cloud 9 if you want a treat, with a private pool directly across from Cloud 9.
Whichever you choose, book early for the surf season and the holidays, and you’ll have a base that makes the most of the island.
