The Travel Archives

Siquijor is a small island that is 43km away from Dumaguete City. A 45-minute ferry ride worth PHP 120 (GL Express) will allow you to experience a wonderfully quiet time with its numerous white-sand beaches and astounding marine life.

Kiwi Dive Resort

Tagged as must-sees in Siquijor are Paliton Beach, White Villas Resort and Coco Grove Beach Resort. Kiwi Dive Resort is also a popular place for diving enthusiasts due to its underwater glory, not to mention its pocket-friendly rates. The resort has no entrance fee and a banana boat can be rented for only PHP 40 per person. Just don’t expect on their food; their Fish Sinigang is like a mixed mash of Nilagang Baka and their Pumpkin Soup is a bowl of orange water. Nonetheless, it is a quiet, solitary place where the beauty of simplicity and nature abounds.

Coco Grove Beach Resort, on the other hand, is heaven for lifestyle beach goers. It is well-manicured with its Tiki-Mediterranean look and has a pool, bar, and many other amenities for its stay-in guests. For Day Trip visitors, a consumable rate of PHP 200 per person is charged.

The resort has a marine sanctuary that will surely delight scuba divers, free divers and snorkelers alike. Indeed, a trip to Siquijor will not be complete without exploring the life underneath its waters. A minimal diving fee worth PHP 50 per person is charged (still exclusive of gears).


The Cambugahay Falls is also a very popular site in the island. Swimming, bagging and “waterfalls-jumping” are enjoyed by locals and tourists. Just be careful with bagging; the rope is very slippery and may cause harm to a first-timer.

JUMP!

Bagging ala Tarzan. It's not as easy as it looks!

For food cravings, chicken inasal at Breaking Point Restaurant should not be missed. It only costs PHP 80 and it comes with unlimited rice. Its chicken is unbelievably huge and its taste tops that of Mang Inasal’s or any other chicken inasal place in Metro Manila!

400-year-old Balete Tree

For night time entertainment, there is this new videoke bar with flat-screen TV’s that is solitarily located along Siquijor’s small, dark roads. Various groups take turn to own the mic for a maximum of 4 songs per group. The whole bar will hear you sing, but fret not as the people will not judge you. (Due to fatigue, we were not able to get the name and address of the bar. Just ask the friendly multicab drivers about it.)

Siquijor is a motorcycle province. One can basically tour the island with just a motorcycle. For groups though, a tricycle or a multicab is ideal. Make sure to know the multicabs' standard rates to avoid drivers who overprice their services.

Gasoline is gold in Siquijor; it costs PHP 60 per liter and is sold in Coca Cola bottles.

Other places to see while in Siquijor are their centuries-old churches. The Church of St. Francis of Assisi and the Lazi Church are the most popular ones. A towering balete tree that is said to be 400 years old is worthy of a short visit too.

On a personal note, one day is not enough to tour the island. Church/beach hopping and sight seeing is okay, but you'd want to stay longer in their various beaches, dive its waters, check out all nooks and crannies of its corals, and take a soothing cup of coffee and hot cacao afterwards.

Skaters will probably think the same; the island has roads perfect for downhill skateboarding.

Take 3-5 days off your busy schedules, and experience Siquijor while you can.

It will be worth it.