Surfing Siargao for non-surfers
You do not have to paddle out to enjoy the surfing capital of the Philippines — watch Cloud 9 from the boardwalk, then see what else Siargao does well.
The surfing capital — without the surf
Siargao is widely described as the surfing capital of the Philippines, and its reputation rests on one break: Cloud 9, a reef break on the General Luna coast. But you do not have to surf to enjoy the island. Watching Cloud 9 is an activity in its own right, and the rest of Siargao — tidal pools, lagoons, island hops and quiet beaches — needs no board at all.
Watch Cloud 9 from the boardwalk
Cloud 9 is named after a Philippine chocolate bar that travelling surfers ate in the late 1980s, long before the break became famous. A timber boardwalk runs out over the reef to a viewing tower, so you can stand above the waves and watch surfers take the hollow barrels without ever getting wet. It is the most direct way to see what made Siargao famous, and it works as well at sunset as it does for the early sessions.
If you do want to try
If watching makes you want to try, the honest way in is a lesson. Surf schools and board rentals around General Luna run beginner lessons on gentler breaks close to shore, where the aim is standing up in the white water rather than riding the reef. Tell us your level and how many boards when you ask, and we will factor the boards into the vehicle.
What to do instead
Beyond the surf, the island works well for non-surfers. Magpupungko Rock Pools in Pilar are tidal and only worth the trip around low tide. Sugba Lagoon in Del Carmen is reached by road then boat through the mangroves. Sohoton Cove, off Bucas Grande, combines the same road-and-boat shape on a bigger scale. And island hopping from General Luna strings together the sandbars and islets just offshore.
Getting there and around
Cloud 9 sits in General Luna, on the south-east coast. Most visitors arrive through Sayak Airport (IATA code IAO) in Del Carmen, or by ferry into Dapa Port from Surigao City — either way there is a road transfer across the island to where you are staying. Arrange that last leg before you travel and the rest of the trip sorts itself out.
No published price — and that is deliberate
A fair price depends on your date, your group, your bags and how long we wait. So we quote per trip instead of publishing a number we would have to hedge. Fill in the form below and we will send a fixed, all-in price by email.
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