Top 9 Things To Do in Siquijor: The Island of Black Magic

📌 Before You Go: Check out our guide on currency, safety, vaccines, and visa requirements here.
📍 Where we stayed: Aloha Seaside Resort, San Juan
🌟 Things to do: Explore by tuk tuk/moped, river caving, waterfalls, snorkeling with clownfish
🍽️ Favourite restaurants: Aroi Makmak Thai station cafe, Baha ba’r, Shaka

Siquijor was our favourite island in the Philippines! Imagine soft, white sand, a warm turquoise sea, and an island lined with coconut trees. Known as the “Island of Fire”, Siquijor once glowed with fireflies illuminating its trees. Though they are rarer now, you can still see them twinkling in the distance. The sunsets here are the most breathtaking we’ve ever seen. With no high-rise buildings or crowds, you get uninterrupted views of the sun dipping into the horizon, painting the sky in fiery orange and deep purple hues.

Getting Around:
Siquijor is mostly flat along the coast, making it perfect for renting a moped. Alternatively, hire a tuk-tuk driver for a few days like we did! (budget-friendly and hassle-free).

Where We Stayed: We stayed at Aloha Seaside Resort, a peaceful retreat just a 15-minute walk from the main San Juan area. Across the street, we discovered Shaka (amazing smoothie bowls & coffee) and Pizza X (incredible pizza!). Find out the route we took to get to Siquijor in our 3-week itinerary here. Use 12go to prebook your ferry to Siquijor in advance!

💆 Pro Tip: Need to unwind? Get a massage at The Sanctuary Massage Therapy next door—don’t judge it by its simple exterior!

Now, let’s dive into the top things to do in Siquijor—including hidden gems most people miss!

Find the best budget – luxury hotels here

The waterfalls in the Philippines are clear, glistening blue water that is incredibly cool and fresh, perfect for the tropical heat! Siquijor did not disappoint – you will find several waterfalls on this island, and below we have shared our top 3.

This is a ‘secret’ waterfall that not many tour companies will visit compared to their largest and most visited Cambugahay Falls. You have to pay a small amount to enter.

We arrived at Lagaan Falls early in the morning and had the place entirely to ourselves! The crystal-clear water was perfect for a refreshing dip, and the peaceful surroundings made it feel like a secret oasis. Unlike other waterfalls on the island, Lagaan Falls offers rope swings, natural rock pools, and even a mini cave where you can sit under the flowing water. If you’re looking for an off-the-beaten-path adventure, this is it!

We recommend you leave early to visit these falls, just ask your tuktuk driver to bring you here first, since you may get a few people who have curiously driven to these falls later in the day. This truly felt like we’d found a hidden oasis.

This is a lesser known waterfall, and you pay a small amount to enter, you also get a guide and decide how much you’d like to tip.

When we visited, there were just a handful of people swimming in these crystal waters. Lugnason Falls includes a guide, and our guide, Bob, was incredibly funny – a true Mountain local who called himself Tarzan and literally showed us the ropes.

Without Bob, we probably wouldn’t have slid down the makeshift rockslide into the falls, nor swung from the tree tops and into the water! It was quite an adventure – and worth it, too! There’s also a hidden waterfall nearby called Zodiac Falls, named after the 12 zodiac signs painted on rocks by locals.

This is Siquijor’s most famous waterfall, and it’s easy to see why! The blue water looks unreal, and the rope swings add a fun touch. We arrived early to avoid crowds and enjoyed a peaceful swim in the upper tiers, which are less crowded. You do have to pay an entrance fee, but it is not expensive. We recommend booking this tour in advance, as it covers many of the main sights in Siquijor, including this one!

Lagaan Falls

Hands down, the Philippines has been the most interesting place we have snorkeled, and we snorkel A LOT around South East Asia and beyond!

We got a tuk tuk here from our hotel since it was on the other side of San Juan, and we were greeted by some locals in a wooden shack, who provided us with snorkelling gear if we needed it. You pay a small entry fee as with most beaches in the Philippines, and you can spend the day here relaxing or snorkelling at your own pace.

There were not many people here – we almost had this beach to ourselves! We headed out to snorkel and were blown away by how much marine life we saw just a few meters from shore! We spotted clown fish hiding in anemones, pufferfish, parrotfish, and even a sea snake gliding past. The water was so clear that we could see every detail of the coral reefs below us.

🛑 Pro Tip: The water here is shallow, so avoid using flippers to protect the coral!

If you enjoy diving, you may also want to visit Tulapos Marine Sanctuary and Free Diving Site (Tulapos, Enrique Villanueva, Siquijor). This is a great site for snorkeling to witness amazing underwater scenery. A wide variety of fishes can be found particularly giant trevallies and barracudas, black tip reef sharks, giant clams and sea turtles.

This is the busiest spot on the island, and there is a small entrance fee to the beach. We enjoyed relaxing with a coconut here and it is a great spot to watch the sunset.

We did find this beach to be full of stray dogs that were not in the best condition, so just a warning in advance, if like us, you are saddened by this.

🛑 Pro Tip: There are no sunbeds here. To avoid being touted by locals for money for sitting on a bench, take a towel or blanket with you. There are many vendors here where you can enjoy a beer or coconut and spend the day chilling.

Hands down, the Philippines has been the most interesting place we have snorkeled, and we snorkel A LOT around South East Asia and beyond!

Coconut on Paliton Beach

If you enjoy unique experiences, this is one for you! We were not sure what to expect with this, but it really was an underground river in a cave. If you are not keen on small spaces, you may want to skip this – however, it was a unique experience, and felt completely safe!

We started by getting on our helmets, headlights and life jackets before being allocated a guide. We climbed down some metal stairs deeper into the cave, before we reached the edge of the water inside.

The passageway is not very wide but fairly deep – the water was comfortably warm, and it was easy to swim within the cave with our head torches on. It was quite a thrilling experience, as you can sense how deep you are in the cave due to how dark it feels – we asked our guide to turn off the torch so we could have an idea, and there was no sign of light at all!

When we got to the end of the cave, there was a model made out of mud and clay that a guide had created and they used it to humour tourists, before turning around to go back through the cave and out at the entrance.

You can book a tour in advance to take you to the underground river.

This centuries-old church is made from coral stones, giving it a unique texture. The adjacent convent is one of the oldest and largest in the Philippines! Established as an independent parish in 1857, it is renowned for its massive convent and was declared a National Cultural Treasure. Since 2006, it has been on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List as part of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines.

It was interesting to see some history on this tiny little island, we particularly enjoyed the architecture of the church and convent – it is impressive how they are able to carry over such materials and build churches like this with such little resources! 

This cafe can get busy at sunset, and no surprise because of its incredible view! The cafe is a perfect viewpoint and spot to enjoy a drink and bite to eat. It truly is a breathtaking view over the luscious greenery that thrives on this island. 

The cafe is lined with rope that has outdoor beanbags and pillows to chillout and enjoy the view – a very unique spot! Don’t miss the empanadas! They were delicious. 

Mount Bandilaan is the highest point of this wonderful island – it’s quite a walk up, but once you get there, you can climb the tower and view the whole island. On a clear day, you can see many other islands as well.

This tour covers this viewpoint and more! 

If you are a Harry Potter fan, you will like this one! OK, it has nothing to do with Harry Potter, but to us it gave us that vibe! Siquijor is an island known for its ‘black magic’ and ‘witchcraft’ – therefore, it’s only right to get involved in this attraction. 

A quirky stop where you can “levitate” on a broomstick, thanks to some clever photography tricks! The staff were so friendly and helped us get the perfect action shot. We opted to have an ice-cold coconut after, and enjoy the view over the jungle tropics surrounding us!

The Balete tree is one iconic aspect of Filipino folklore, said to be a dwelling of spirits and an entity worthy of reverence. The tree is quite majestic and you get a fish spa with it. This is a fun, quick activity, and a good way to get involved in the local sights and culture, with an authentic twist! 

Siquijor, often called the “Mystic Island,” is famous for its healers (mananambal) who blend Catholicism with ancient shamanic practices like potion-making, exorcism, and herbal remedies. Many believe illnesses stem from angry spirits, witchcraft, or natural causes, all of which can be treated by these healers. Their reputation has drawn not only Filipino travelers but also international visitors seeking their unique therapies.
We decided to visit a healer as part of our countryside tour – it was a fun and unfamiliar experience. Our spiritual healer started by seating us down, and wrapping us in what appeared to be an old curtain. From there, she stuck a device below her feet, directly behind us, and smoke started to fill the sheet. She began chanting in her own language to remove any darkness and bad spirits, and gently massaged our shoulders and head.

Afterwards, she gave us a palm reading – which was surprisingly accurate! Let’s see what the future holds…

Overall, Siquijor had it all. A calm, peaceful island with a balance of nightlife, restaurants and scenery. Magical sunsets, and a warm welcome into the Filipino culture, alongside the best smoothie bowls. 

💬 Been to Siquijor? Share your favourite experience in the comments!
📌 Planning a trip? Find the best hotel & tour deals here!

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