First boat between Cebu and Bohol, then a second to Siquijor, before another twenty minutes of tuk-tuk to reach San Juan, and upon arrival, with the sunset welcoming us to the coast, we already feel that we are going to love this place.
Siquijor still remains an island relatively untouched by mass tourism, with a much more authentic and relaxed atmosphere than other better-known destinations in the Philippines. But honestly, it's easy to see why it's likely to become much more popular in the coming years. There is something truly special about the atmosphere of the island.
We stayed there for 9 days, and we quickly fell in love with its vibe. What we loved about Siquijor is precisely this almost perfect balance between several atmospheres. On one side, an island that is still very natural with its waterfalls, its jungle, its beaches and its turquoise waters. On the other, a real social life with beach bars, restaurants, parties and a super relaxed atmosphere at sunset.
We stayed on the San Juan side, probably one of the best places to enjoy the atmosphere of the island. Every evening the sunsets were incredible. Between cocktails with our feet in the sand, music and beachside bars, we quickly settled into our little vacation routine. We also quickly got into the habit of going for drinks on a sort of bridge at the water's edge where several small mobile bars met every evening. A simple, local and super friendly atmosphere that we loved.
Like almost everywhere in the Philippines, we felt really good here as a couple. No need to specify it every time, you can feel it. And on Siquijor, we had the chance to meet particularly open people, perhaps even more so than on other islands. This is undoubtedly what struck us the most here: both the other travellers and the residents were warm and welcoming, and this is what made us want to go out more and enjoy the island even more.
But Siquijor wasn’t just about the chill side. We rented a scooter at the start of the stay and took the opportunity to explore the island in all directions. Between the waterfalls lost in the jungle, the roads among the palm trees, the beaches, the diving spots, the swimming, the snorkeling and the small cafes, there was always something to do without ever having the impression that the island was overloaded.
We also took an excursion to Apo Island, a small island known for its marine sanctuary and especially for its giant turtles. And honestly, we weren't ready. We saw them everywhere, sometimes only a few centimeters from us. Some were so close that we almost had to move away to avoid touching them. It was completely unreal.
We also met some great people during our stay, both with locals and with travellers from all over the world. One of the places we particularly liked was Coco Rico, a super lively bar with games like beer pong, huge games of Jenga, DJs some evenings and above all a super social atmosphere. Almost every time we went there, we ended the evening with strangers with whom we ended up sharing incredible moments.
Beyond the landscapes, what we also remember a lot about Siquijor is the general atmosphere. The premises were ultra welcoming, the atmosphere super relaxed, and we also ate very well throughout our stay. Between the small cafes, seaside restaurants and more local addresses, it’s clearly an island where we took the time to enjoy.
Siquijor is typically the kind of place where you come for a few days, and where you could easily stay for several weeks.
