Siquijor

Siquijor is a small island province in the Visayas, about 22 km east of Southern Negros, offering white sand beaches, colonial Spanish architecture, lush forests, and a reputation for traditional healing and witchcraft. The island provides a quieter alternative to more developed Filipino destinations, with a circumferential paved road making independent exploration straightforward by motorbike.

Siquijor has limited commercial flights via Sunlight Air from Cebu, but most visitors arrive by ferry. Daily ferries from Dumaguete (Negros) cost PHP 120-200 and take 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on vessel type. Oceanjet fast ferries from Cebu City take 5 hours at PHP 1300, stopping at Dumaguete and Tagbilaran. Lite Shipping slow ferries run from Tagbilaran (Bohol) on Monday, Wednesday, Saturday at 8PM for PHP 260, taking 3 hours. A direct ferry from Larena port to Liloan port (Santander, Cebu) departs daily at 10AM for PHP 200.

A paved road circles the entire island coastline. Motorbikes can be hired for PHP 250-350 per day from ports and resorts, though resorts often charge more and may require returns by 6PM. Tricycles (motorcycle with sidecar) cost PHP 150-250 for town-to-town trips, or PHP 1000 for a full day tour; a price board near the Siquijor Town pier helps with bargaining. Jeepneys run between towns for as little as PHP 20 (Siquijor Town to San Juan) but depart infrequently.

The dry season from November to May offers the best weather for beach activities and sightseeing. The wet season (June-October) brings occasional storms but fewer tourists. Siquijor was historically known for its traditional healers and witches, with the Bolo Bolo healing ritual drawing visitors seeking alternative medicine and spiritual experiences.

San Juan is the main tourist area with numerous beach resorts and budget accommodations along several kilometers of coastline. Budget travelers can find dorm beds at places like JJ Backpackers Village (San Juan Beach), Casa Miranda, Tori's Backpackers Paradise, and Chelle's Guesthouse, all offering dorm accommodation. Budget double rooms with fan are available at C Zars Place, Das Traum Guest House (near Siquijor Town Hospital), and Buhisan Lodge. Price range under PHP 1000 is widely available for basic rooms, with mid-range options at PHP 1000-2000.

Most hotels prohibit bringing in outside food, forcing guests to dine at resort restaurants. Villa Marmarine, 3 km north of Siquijor Town toward Larena, is widely regarded as serving the best food on the island. Kawayan Holiday Resort in Cangmunag has two restaurants including one with international cuisine beside an infinity pool. Jollibee Restaurant on the Circumferential Road in Siquijor Town serves breakfast until 10:30AM in air-conditioned comfort. Local eateries and carinderias (small eateries) offer cheaper Filipino meals.

Beaches include San Juan Beach (good for snorkeling and scuba diving), Salagdoong Beach (6 km northeast of Maria with water slides and diving platforms), and Kagusuan Beach (accessible by concrete staircase below a cliff). Waterfalls such as Cambugahay Falls (3-tiered, great for swimming, outside Lazi) and Lugnason Falls (near San Juan) offer natural swimming holes. The San Isidro Labrador Convent in Lazi is one of the oldest and biggest convents in the Philippines, built 1887-1894 and declared a historical landmark. The Century Old Balete Tree in Lazi is covered in hundreds of roots and vines with local legends attached. Mt. Bandilaan National Park contains the island's highest peak with Stations of the Cross along the path. Cave exploration at Cantabon Cave takes 1.5 hours with a mandatory local guide. The Butterfly Sanctuary outside Cang-apa village is sign-posted from the main road. Capilay Spring Park in San Juan is a natural spring-fed swimming pool popular with locals on weekends.

Siquijor is generally safe for travelers, with the main risks being standard travel precautions. Motorbike accidents are the most common injury risk due to uneven roads. Remote areas have limited mobile coverage, so inform someone of your plans when exploring isolated beaches or hiking. Many hotels prohibit outside food, creating potential friction for independent travelers. Standard water precautions apply; bottled water is widely available.

Most hotels and restaurants have WiFi but speeds are generally very slow. Cliff Side Resort near Larena offers higher-speed 10 Mbps internet as of March 2017. Mobile coverage is limited to larger towns and villages where full 3G signals can be acquired; remote and sparsely populated areas have patchy or no service.

A backpacker can manage on PHP 800-1200 per day including dorm accommodation (PHP 300-500), local meals at carinderias and street food (PHP 200-400), motorbike rental shared between travelers (PHP 150-200 each), and occasional attraction fees. Ferries range from PHP 100-200 (Dumaguete) to PHP 1300 (Cebu fast ferry). Tricycle day tours cost around PHP 1000.

Siquijor town itself offers the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church with its belltower, while day trips can cover Cambugahay Falls and the Balete Tree in Lazi, Salagdoong Beach and the Salagdoong Forest Reserve near Maria, or the Butterfly Sanctuary near Cang-apa. A full circumnavigation of the island by motorbike takes 3-5 hours with stops.

Direct ferries connect Siquijor to Dumaguete in Negros Oriental (45 min-2 hours), Tagbilaran on Bohol (3 hours), and Liloan port in Santander at Cebu's southern tip (daily at 10AM). From Santander, buses continue to Cebu City and Moalboal (a diving destination). The regional hub is Metro Cebu via Mactan-Cebu International Airport.