Introduction
Broken palm trees, destroyed restaurants, and no poke bowls. Siargao, a small surfing island in The Philippines was wiped out by a typhoon in 2021. Many locals and tourists suffered the consequences. But now it’s back to normal. Pack your backpack, book your flight, and support the locals with your content creation. The bohemian island is becoming the next digital nomad hotspot! Many creatives, artists, travel bloggers, and surfers gather to experience the laidback atmosphere. It’s your call for story hunting! In this blog post, I will share with you the vibes & tribes of the island so you can experience it yourself.
Surfing vibe
There is a tan girl riding on a motorbike. Next to her is a surfboard attached. She stops and purchases a fresh coconut. The water from the palm trees has many electrolytes. It’s great for recovering your body after a surf session. She waves to the tattoo artist around the corner that is waiting for his next client. There is me sitting on the terrace of Corner Cafe enjoying the smell of coffee, the refreshing island breeze, and the cinematic viewpoint from the rooftop.
Where to surf?
The most popular spot is Cloud 9. Here you will find many beginners, and further in the water professionals practicing their surfing skills. To get to the surf spot you need to pass the front gates. The fee is 100 Philippines pesos to enter the area. It’s a small contribution for keeping the beach clean. If you enter the zone, many locals will arrive to offer surf lessons or handmade bracelets. If you are a beginner you should definitely take surf lessons. But if you know your surfing skills you can rent a board for around 200 Philippines pesos per hour. Just be careful with the rocky bottom, and enjoy the wave.
Skate community
In the evening hours when the waves go to sleep many surfers and skaters gather to practice land tricks on their skateboards. Others just cruise around on their longboard or surf skate. To find a skate vibe definitely check out the Boardwalk. It’s a great spot close to Cloud 9 to watch the sunset, skate, have some drinks, and reward yourself with a famous Philippino Ballot (embryo egg) or other street food. Another spot is the Shaka Brah in the center of General Luna where you can eat a burger and try out the skate pool. The locals are very friendly so even if you are a beginner they will let you skate the concrete swimming pool.
Food lovers
Veggie lovers be careful! On the island, you will find many farmers that sell organic fruits, nuts, and vegetables that are fresh and cultivated with the hand to give that special love! There are also many restaurants where you can get healthy nutrition after your surfing session. Think about a colorful poke bowl at Sibol in General Luna or a smoothie at Shaka Cafe in Cloud 9. Do you prefer meat or fish? there are many spots to try the typical Filipino barbeque. Mama’s Grill is the place to go if you want to eat like a local.
Artists
The island is a melting pot of various artists. Think about jewelry crafters, leather smiths, surfboard sharpeners, barbers, painters, and tattoo artists. As a tourist, you will come back with an authentic piece of souvenir. Search for bohemian coconut rings, shark tooth necklaces, and sea shell bracelets. If you are a travel blogger the many hidden shops, and back streets of General Luna will offer you a story-hunting adventure of a lifetime. Connect with the exotic-looking locals and ask them to snap some portrait pictures of their inked decorated bodies.
Digital nomads
General Luna is becoming slowly a basecamp for remote workers, freelancers, and international business owners. The place is still developing so also a great gold mine for investors. You can still feel the virgin vibe of the surfing lifestyle. So if you are a digital nomad or content creator you should definitely visit Siargao. The digital nomad community is slowly growing and the internet becomes better. I was able to teach remotely and work on my freelance projects as well.
Content creators
If you are a travel blogger, videographer, vlogger, influencer, or photographer the tropical paradise will give you so many opportunities to come back home with an authentic story. The combination of locals, nature, activities, and food will not disappoint you. The colors of the sea, the green of palm trees, and the bohemian streets make the island the perfect place to shoot your videos. Talk with the locals to find hidden gems, and listen to their stories. I connected with the twin brothers of the island that told me about how they survived the typhoon in 2021. One brother is a personal trainer, and the other is a surf instructor. As you can imagine it was tough for the locals to rebuild the paradise so please keep it clean and support them.
Wellness seekers
Are you looking for some relaxing time? The island will embrace you with a diversity of options to recover your body, mind, and soul. Experience the endorphin of surfing, the calmness of yoga, spiritual meditation, and forget your stress in natural pools. Treat yourself after with an organic meal. Just put away your smartphone, and close your eyes while listening to the sound of the waves. I would declare the island as one of the blue zones. It offers a balance of adventure, tranquillity, and wellness.
Motorbike lovers
When I was in Canggu (Bali) I experienced a culture shock. Arriving on the island I felt like it was conquered by Western commercialism and there were sometimes more tourists than locals on the streets. There were traffic jams and too many motorbikes. Check out here my travel blog post about Canggu. Do you want to experience empty roads on your motorbike or learn it for the first time? Siargao is in my opinion the best place to get started. The roads are wide and the traffic is survivable. You can rent a scooter for around 300 Philippino pesos. Don’t forget to ask for a helmet as well.
Party seekers
Siargao can be tranquil but when it’s a full moon in the night the island is alive. If you are a party seeker go exploring the nightlife scene of the island. You will find surfers, tourists, backpackers, and expats in flip-flops dancing to the stars Before you go to the club the best place to have a pre-drink is the 24/7 store. There you will find a more local vibe. You can order a local Red Horse beer or enjoy a bottle of strong spirit. You can open your beer at the store desk, and buy some ice cubes and cups to share with your local friends. In the evening many artists, surfers, and musicians gather to listen to live music. Sibol is usually the place to find them.
Where to stay in Siargao?
If you are on a low budget I would recommend staying in the dorm room of Tropical Temple. The hostel is luxurious with a swimming pool, cinematic roof, tasty food, and the best Wifi on the island. Next door you can also rent a private room with AC at Tres Islas. The staff is very friendly and they will help you out with all the questions you have. There is also Wifi but if you need to make calls I would recommend going next door to the Tropical Temple. Further, if you want to connect with other backpackers or party gurus check out the Mad Monkey hostel to find your party team. For long-term digital nomads, and families there are many homestay & resort options to find more comfort.
Tropical Temple
Tres Islas
Safety
Compared to big cities and other islands I felt very safe in Siargao. Never experienced crime. But of course, be always conscious of not walking alone in the night and leaving your stuff unattended. Try to be careful with street food to avoid unnecessary food poisoning. Invest in good travel insurance, and VPN to protect your data if you work remotely or use banking. Also, be aware that there are sometimes earthquakes on the island. I experienced a small one but without any dangers. If you are for a short time there is not much to worry about but if you plan to stay longer do some research beforehand.
Transportation
To get around the island the best solution is to rent a motorbike. The price is usually between 300 – 400 pesos for 24 hours. Always ask for a helmet and carry an international motorbike driving license. Siargao is a great place to learn how to drive a motorbike but be also aware that locals drive sometimes on the weekend under the influence of alcohol. Another option is to go with a Tuk Tuk or Tricycle driver. It’s a cinematic ride to enjoy the viewpoints of the island and watch the locals during daily life activities. The last option is to rent a car or go with a tourist van around the island. If you are on a budget just put your hiking shoes on, and enjoy the wide roads surrounded by palm trees.
How to get to Siargao?
You can take a plane from Manilla – the capital of the Philippines. I would recommend taking a window seat because you will see the blue sea and a canvas of palm trees from above. It’s a great opportunity to take your plane picture that’s even better than with a drone. You will arrive at a small airport and definitely feel the wheels hit the concrete landing strip. Welcome to paradise!
What to pack?
Don’t forget to bring as many swimming clothes as possible. Try to go for colorful clothes to make them more photogenic while you are surrounded by green palm trees and blue water. Invest in a good pair of running shoes, flip-flops for the beach, and surfing shoes to protect your feet from rocks. Bring light shorts, and t-shirts made from cotton, merino wool, or bamboo. Check out the following packing list: sunscreen, mosquito spray, first aid kit, hat, sunglasses, water bottle, power bank, long sleeve surf clothes, light sport & beach clothes, and electronics to get your work done.
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