Siquijor

The Spanish named it Isla del Fuego due to the intensity of its fire flies. Legend has it that Siquijor rose from the sea during a tremendous thunder storm and one can still see fossils and shells on Mount Bandila-an, Siquijor's highest point.

Tourist information

Tourist information center

Readily provide tourist information, sell souvenirs. Besides, tourist police office can also be found in the same building.

Siquijor has only a small airport with few scheduled flights; it is about 5 km west of Siquijor town. Construction to expand it into a full airport capable of handling international flights started in 2017, but as of early 2019 the project appears far from completion.
The nearest reasonably large airport is in Dumaguete; it has no international flights but is well-connected to domestic destinations including all the main airports for international arrivals. The main air hub of the region, and until recently the only one with international flights, is Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Metro Cebu. Since mid-2018, the new Panglao airport in Bohol Province also handles international flights. From any of those, one generally reaches Siquijor by ferry.
Air Juan now has flights from Siquijor airport to/from Cebu.
There are frequent passenger ferries from Cebu City (Cebu Island), Dumaguete (Negros island), Tagbilaran (Bohol) and Plaridel (Mindanao):

• There are many ferries daily from Dumaguete to . ferries cost and are operated by "Delta shipping lines" and "GL shipping lines". There is also a slow car ferry that costs and takes 2 hours, operated by "Montenegro shipping lines".
• Fast ferry from Cebu City run by 'Oceanjet' takes 5 hours to reach Siquijor town, it makes interim stops in Dumaguete and Tagbilaran. Price from Cebu - , from Tagbilaran - (2016).
• Slow ferries from Plaridal and Tagbilaran dock at , both operated by "Lite Shipping lines". Ferry from Tagbilaran costs , takes 3 hours, leaves Tagbilaran on M W Sa at 8PM. in the opposite direction leaving Larena on Tu Th Su at 7PM (2016).
• There is a direct ferry from Larena port to Liloan port in Santander at the southern tip of Cebu Island. the ferry departs liloan Port going to Larena Port at 10am every day. Ticket costing . From Liloan port there are many buses going to Cebu City and some along the island's west coast to Moalboal.

There is a paved road running around the coast of the island.

• Hire a motorbike for per day (2016). Available at the port in Siquijor town, San Juan town and almost all resorts. However, resorts generally charge higher prices and very often require customers to return bikes before 6PM in order to force guests to have dinner at resort's own restaurant.
• Hire a tricycle. For instance, price from Siquijor town to San Juan town is , while a day tour of the island is (2016). If you arrive by boat in Siquijor Town, then on your left as you walk off the pier toward where the tricycles congregate there is a large sign showing prices for various journeys. Drivers may ask for more, but the sign gives you a fine tool for bargaining and a lower limit below which you know the drivers will not go.
• Jump on a jeepney; prices are very low, Siquijor town to San Juan - (2016). Although they run fairly rarely, mainly departing when full.

San Juan is the main tourist area, though there are lots of other options. Within San Juan you can walk to some places, but the town is spread out along several km of seaside so for many trips you will need a trike or jeepney.

Siquijor town

• St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church

  phone: +63 35 344 2224
  address: Santa Fe Street
  With Siquijor Belltower right next to it.

• Siquijor BeachSeveral white sand beach resorts dot the coastal areas.

San Juan

• Capilay Spring ParkA natural spring fed swimming pool in the centre of San Juan. A favourite with the locals at weekends.

• San Juan BeachLots of beach resorts and great for snorkelling and scuba diving.

• Lugnason FallsNice waterfall close to San Juan.

Lazi

• San Isidro Labrador ConventReputed to be the biggest and one of the oldest convents in the Philippines, the Spaniards started construction in 1887 and was completed in 1894. Declared as a historical landmark by the Philippine Historical Commission.

• Cambugahay FallsImpressive 3-tiered waterfalls just outside Lazi. Great for swimming.

• Century Old Balete TreeSupposedly enchanted old tree covered in hundreds of roots and vines.

• Kagusuan BeachNoted for its picturesque seascape and rock formation, it is situated below a cliff and accessible by concrete staircase.

• Ilihan cave

Maria

• Our Lady of the Divine Providence church

  address: Siquijor Circumferential Road

• Salagdoong Beach

  address: 6 km northeast of Maria
  Favourite with the locals and great for swimming and snorkelling. There are also water slides and places to dive into the sea. On the way to the beach you'll be passing Salagdoong Forest Reserve, which a manmade forest with Molave trees.

Island's inland

• Mt. Bandilaan National ParkIt hosts the highest peak in the island. It takes about 5-10 minutes to get to the top of the mountain from the road. Path is not well maintained. On the way there are couple of Stations of the Cross

• Buterfly Sanctuary

  address: Just outside Cang-apa village
  Sign-posted from the main road.

• Cantabon CaveTakes 1.5 hr to walk through and you need to register in the town before venturing inside. Local guide required (they hang around the cave) as the cave is locked up.

• Visit Bolo Bolo healing ritual, Shamans and witches

Scuba diving

There is really good diving around the island, especially the southern end. Dive shops on the island also make trips all the way to the Apo Island (excellent) and Baligasac.

• Siquijor Dive Safari

  phone: +63 35 481-5089
  address: Tubod, San Juan

• Aberration Dive Club

  phone: +63 35 377-2368
  address: North Poblacion Larena
  Offers filled scuba tanks ( each) for certified divers and easy diving without dive center connections.

• Sea Pearl Divers

  phone: +63 917 6952985
  address: Lala-o, San Juan

Malls & supermarkets

• Prince Hypermart

  address: Larena town

Banks & ATMs

• PNB bank ATM in Larena (but only Visa cards are accepted).
• Metro Bank ATM in Siquijor town, on the main road. (It accepts MasterCard and Visa).

• Rastaman Grill and Seafood. In the center of San Juan. Chicken, pork, seafood and vegetarian dishes. European and Philippino style, price low to midrange but great taste. Friendly staff and some nights have live music.

• Joyjoy's Restaurant

• Sakura RestaurantIn the center of town. They have a variety of dishes. and up. Great chicken curry and soups.

• Sammy's Pizza

• Villa Marmarine3 km north of Siquijor going towards Larena. Good food, maybe the best on the island.

• CrosspointIn center of town in Larena.

• Al Capone's Pizzeria

  phone: +63 34 42260
  address: Marjunnix Building
  Great pizza using 100% imported meats and cheeses. Awesome sandwiches on French baguettes.

• Kawayan Holiday Resort

  phone: +63 916 212-3130
  address: Cangmunag
  2 restaurants; main restaurant touts international cuisine next to the "Infinity" swimming pool and lounge area around the pool.

• Hollyette's Restaurant and Bar

  phone: +63 35 377-2368
  address: North Poblacion Larena
  International restaurant, very clean and always well stocked. Imported and local drinks. Sports bar with 32-inch cable TV. Alternate room reservations at local rate. Domestic flight bookings. Aberration Dive Club. Free Wi-Fi Internet DSL-Connection

• Swiss Sternew

  address: Siquijor Town
  two Pizzas for .

• Jollibee Restaurant

  address: Siquijor circumferential Road Siquijor town
  air condition restaurant. breakfast till 10.30am.

Most people stay in some resort next to the beach around the island like San Juan. One quiet and remote option is the northwest tip of the island.

Budget

• Kiwi Dive Resort

  phone: +63 35 424-0534
  address: Sandugan Beach
  Located in the quiet northern tip of the island. Cottages with kitchen and rooms available. Daily scuba diving (including PADI courses) and massage available. Friendly staff. Nice restaurant at the beach with meals costing . Wi-Fi.

• Islanders Paradise

  address: Sandugan Beach
  Seven simple bungalows with patios, some of the rooms come with small kitchenette, all equipped with fridges, private bathrooms, fans or a/c. Hotel has a restaurant, bike rental. And its main pro is a beach location overlooking a strait between Siquijor and Negros islands, however, on the other hand it's very isolated and perhaps can appeal mostly to the those looking for more secluded options.

• C Zars Place

  phone: +63 35 481 5012
  address: Just outside San Juan. The other side of the road from the beach

• JJ Backpackers Village

  phone: +63 9186700310
  address: San Juan beach
  Restaurant with good food. Cottage rooms with queen-sized beds and outside bathrooms. All rooms have fans.

• Das Traum Guest House

  phone: +63 9183479545
  address: Pangi Siquijor Town
  Double fan rooms, some with and some without en suite bathrooms. Cable TV. Nice Garden. Good budget place to stay.

• Buhisan lodge

  phone: +63 9053762920
  address: Poblacion
  Ordinary room with fan.

• North Haven lodge

  phone: +63 35-3772099
  address: north Poblacion, Larena
  Fan double room with outside bathrooms.

• Angels little backpackers

  phone: +63 915 255 0211
  address: Siquijor Circumferential Road, Larena
  Fan dorm 4 beds per room. Fan single/double room. Only 3 rooms.

• Casa Miranda

  phone: +63 9179106995
  address: km 64.4 Solangon

• Tori's Backpackers Paradise

  phone: +63 907 132 6666
  address: km 60.8. Tubod San Juan

• Chell's Guesthouse

  phone: +63 949 453 7018
  address: Siquijor Circumferential Road, San Juan

• Lagkaw sa Sawang Homestay

  phone: +639266449526
  address: Tubod , San Juan

Power outages happen every couple of days and last for 1-3 hours (2016).

Most of hotels and restaurants have WiFi with generally very slow internet. Cliff Side resort near Larena has high-speed 10mbps internet (March 2017).
Mobile coverage is limited to larger towns and villages where a full 3G signal can be acquired. And it's patchy or nonexistant in remote/sparsely populated areas (2016).

Many hotels prohibit guests from bringing in outside food, this way trying to increase their own restaurants' income.

• Generika Drug Store. National Highway Corner Caridad Street Siquijor town. lower prices.

There are ferries to several nearby places:

• Metro Cebu, the regional transport hub
• Dumaguete in Negros Oriental, quite close
• Tagbilaran on Bohol