Siquijor

When I told my friends that I’d be going to Siquijor, honestly, most of them freaked out and gave me a strong warning not to go. More often than not, Siquijor is described as a mystical place filled with paranormal creatures, elementals, and faith healers. Honestly, I was a bit wary of visiting the infamous island at first, but as I searched for travel blogs and videos, I fell in love with the photos, and quickly planned a visit.

How to get there:

To get to Siquijor, you need to fly to Dumaguete. From there, you can take a tricycle to the port for PHP 100-150. You can take the RoRo (roll-on, roll-off ferry), or take the faster route of riding the Ocean Jet boat. During the summer time, there are more scheduled trips to and from Siquijor. We went in August, which is considered to be low season, so trips are very limited. We rode the Jenesis RoRo, which cost P100. The trip was around 2 hours and you ride a big boat. I prefer riding Ocean Jet, as it only takes an hour, and it left me less seasick. If you ride the RoRo, you tend to smell the exhaust fuel from the boat, and feels like you’re being gently rocked to seasickness. Ocean Jet only takes an hour, is airconditioned, yet is a lot bumpier since the boat is a lot smaller.

Here’s the schedule during low season, as of Aug 2017:

Ocean Jet

Dumaguete – Larena (different from Siquijor city port)

1:10 PM

Larena – Dumaguete

12 NN

Jenesis

Dumaguete – Siquijor port

10 AM

Getting around Siquijor

You can charter a tricycle for PHP1000/day, or rent a motorbike. I saw a lot of foreigners who rented one instead. You can also charter a multicab for PHP1,500 a day. The island is pretty small and can be toured within a day or two, and there are no accessible public transport, so renting or chartering a vehicle would be your best bet.  We chartered a tricycle with Danny 0916 265 6184 or Dennis 0936 110 7863.

Things to do:

Capilay Springs

Public pool sourced from a natural spring.

Century Old Balete Tree

Among all of the attractions, this one was my favorite because it was very unique. By the balete tree, there’s actually a small body of water where you can dip your feet, and doctor fish would come and eat off your dead skin. It sounds a bit creepy, but it’s actually very relaxing, and you’ll be left with smooth feet! Some of the fish are already a bit big (it was my first time to encounter doctor fish as long as 7 inches), but don’t worry, their nips just feel like a piece of sandpaper getting rubbed against your skin. In local Philippine folklore, it is believed that balete trees are inhabited by elementals. Honestly, the balete tree is so eerily beautiful, I won’t be surprised if that belief is actualy true.

Cambugahay Falls

It’s around 300+ steps going down, and you’d have to go through some slippery rocks for around 5 minutes. It’s very accessible and not really tricky to go to, but I do recommend getting a guide if you’re with senior citizens.

There are 3 falls, with one tarzan swing per area. You just have to pay PHP 20 if you want to use the swing, and that’s already for unlimited jumps. It’s fun, and I ended up going on the swing for at least 5 times.

Secret Beach or Kagusuan Beach

Someone initially tried to develop this beach into a tourist destination, yet it was that long ago when there were even less visitors, so it didn’t do so well. Today, you’ll see an abandoned shed and a stairwell by the beach. It’s a nice secluded beach where you can just laze around or where you can have a picnic.

Salogdoong Beach

This beach is actually on the other end of the island, and going there takes around an hour to an hour and a half from the city. There’s a rock formation there that serves a jumping point for cliff diving. There’s also a waterslide there where you’ll splash into light blue waters. This place can get really crowded and noisy though, as it’s also a popular destination for locals. The infamous karaoke singing is also rampant here, so beware.

Lazi Church

This church is over a century old, and features quaint wooden floors. It’s actually my first time to encounter wooden floors in a church, and it’s quite lovely. Some have already misshapened and are already dislodged, but it certainly adds to the character of the church.

Guiwanon Spring Park

Entrance is PHP20 each, and as soon as you go through a bahay kubo, you’d walk over a walkway above the mangroves. I find this experience very unique since it was my frist time to encounter mangroves while not wading my way in the ocean. The scenery is pretty relaxing, and there’s even a view deck where you can sit and enjoy the view.

There’s a karaoke machine in here too, so if you're unlucky, you won't get to enjoy some peace & quiet. I don’t know, it’s probably how Filipinos love singing so much that they place karaoke machines everywhere. In my opinion, it really disrupts the peace, and just annoys people. I really don’t get why some people seem to be totally oblivious to how they actually disturb others’ peace. I guess that’s really one of the things I don’t get as a fellow Filipino.

And if you have some extra time to spare, you can go to Hapitanan Restobar and Grill. They have a couple of refreshments, and they can take a broomshot photo of you overlooking crocodile island. The view is nice but nothing spectacular, but this place is actually a pretty chill spot to hang out in, and the broomshot photos are actually amusing. The guy who manages the place is actually a pro in capturing the broomshot photos – you really look like Harry Potter in a Quidditch Tournament!

Some itineraries say that you can go around Siquijor in just a day, but if you’re not short on time, I suggest you stay in the island for at least 3 days to fully enjoy the sites at a relaxed pace. My verdict on Siquijor? It’s such a peaceful and beautiful place!

Where to stay:

We stayed at Tori’s Paradise, which has a beach front, so it was really such a treat. Amenities are pretty basic so keep your expectations low, but the beach front feature is just really a steal! Waves are pretty calm and the water is just so inviting.

Just a tip: Better to visit Siquijor during the summer (Mar – May), as the beaches are pretty clean. During the rainy soon, a lot of algae gets washed on the shore so it appears kinda dirty. But I promise, as you walk your way to the sea for around 10 feet, everything’s so clear!

Going back to Dumaguete:

During non-peak months (June – Feb), there are less ferry trips from Siquijor, so better to plan your itinerary carefully so that you don’t miss out on the main sites. Ride back from Larena to Dumaguete is at 12 NN.