Cebu To Siargao: Best & Cheapest Routes
Siargao is the surfing capital of the Philippines, known for stunning white sand beaches and epic surf spots around the island, making it the perfect place to spend a week adventuring or relaxing. Most people start their Philippines adventure in Cebu or Manila International Airports and then make their way to the beautiful surrounding islands. The journey from Cebu to Siargao is fairly simple, however there is a choice of two main options: flight or ferry.
Wondering how to get from Siargao to Cebu? In this guide, we’ll break down the fastest, cheapest and most convenient route to go from Cebu to Siargao Island. Whether you’re short of time looking to fly, or on a budget and looking to take the scenic Siargao to Cebu ferry, we’ll cover all of the options. If you’ve been travelling around the Philippines for a while, you’ll know hopping between the islands can be expensive, most of the costs in our two month Philippines budget breakdown is from our travel days, so saving money where you can on the bigger transport routes can go a long way.
How To Get To Siargao From Cebu Map
How To Get From Cebu To Siargao: Routes
Contents
Where Is Cebu In The Philippines
The Philippines is an archipelago, home to over 7,000 islands which is why it can be so tricky to navigate, the island of Cebu is the hub of the central region of the Visayas. Cebu City is seen as the alternative main city of the Philippines alongside Manila and is often the gateway for travellers seeking paradise. From Cebu, you can pretty much get connecting transport to anywhere in the Philippines.
Where Is Siargao In The Philippines
Siargao on the other hand is a remote paradise island on the eastern coast of the Philippines, boarding the Pacific Ocean which brings great game fishing and awesome surf spots. Siargao Island is a hub for digital nomads, surfers and families, all looking to have a great time.
Explore hidden gems, top spots, restaurants and more - instantly available in Google Maps. Download over 300 pins for FREE!
Flights From Cebu To Siargao
By far the quickest and most convenient option to get from Siargao to Cebu or vice versa is to fly, there are multiple flights every day which run in both directions and the flight time is only 1 hour. This is the option we went with as we weren't aware of the cheaper ferry option, however after speaking with friends who took the ferry, it sounds like a much longer journey.
How To Get To Cebu City?
You’ll first have to get to Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Cebu City where you’ll get the flight from. You might already be in the city, if so then a Grab Taxi is your best way to get around. If you’re elsewhere on the island of Cebu, the buses are very reliable. We opted for the coastal aircon bus which runs through Moalboal and up to Cebu City.
How To Get From Siargao Airport (Sayak) to General Luna?
To get to Cloud 9 and General Luna from the airport, your best bet for a solo traveller is in a shared van for ₽375, this will drop you off on the main road where you need to be.
Alternatively, for small groups a tricycle is the cheapest option which should cost roughly ₽600 which works out cheaper when split between 2 or 3.
For families, we recommend a private taxi which should be the fastest and most comfortable option however expect to pay around ₽2k.
Cebu To Siargao Ferry
If you’re looking for an adventure, the Cebu to Siargao Ferry will do the job! This travel option is best suited if the flights to Siargao are too expensive, which can be the case when they’re booked last minute. The journey consists of two ferries, Cebu to Surigao City, then another shorter ferry from Surigao to Dapa Port on Siargao Island.
How To Get To Cebu City?
Similarly to the flight option, you’ll first have to get to Cebu City, the home of Cebu Port where you’ll get the ferry from. You might already be in the city, if so then a Grab Taxi is your best way to get to the port. If you’re elsewhere on the island of Cebu, the buses are very reliable. We opted for the coastal aircon bus which runs through Moalboal and up to Cebu City, then a grab the rest of the way to the port.
Cebu To Siargao Ferries
Step 1: Cebu City To Surigao City Ferry
The first and longest part of choosing the ferry option is from Cebu to Surigao City, where you’ll have to get on a 10-12 hour overnight ferry departing from Cebu Port at 21:00 which will arrive in Surigao at 7:00am.
The price for the ferry is dependent on what seat you choose, the following are available on the Starlite Ferries:
Reclining seats: cheapest, but uncomfortable (₱750)
Economy beds: no AC, slightly more expensive (₱950)
Tourist Bunks with AC: recommended for comfort (₱1,050)
For the smoothest experience, you can book your tickets online at 12Go. By far the most reliable booking platform for buses, vans and ferries in Asia.
Step 2: Surigao City to Siargao Ferry
After arriving in Surigao City, you’ll then need to take the ferry over to Dapa, Siargao. The journey should take around 1.5 hours, with tickets costing ₱400 for tourist class. We also recommend booking this in advance, especially during The Philippines peak season as the popular travel routes can get busy.
Dapa (Siargao Port) To General Luna
Once you’ve finally made it to Siargao, your final leg of the journey will be getting to the hotel or hostel. We’ve also written a blog for recommendations on the best places to stay on Siargao Island which you might find helpful.
In order to get to General Luna, a trike should cost roughly ₱300 for the 30 minute drive, however be expected for the locals to overprice it. If there are more than 2 or 3 of you travelling then a shared van would be the best bet, however the vans stay around the airport rather than the port, so this is also better being organised in advance. The final option is a private taxi which will undoubtedly cost the most however will be the most convenient option for families.
Explore hidden gems, top spots, restaurants and more - instantly available in Google Maps. Download over 300 pins for FREE!
The Route We Recommend & Our Experience
Convenient option from Cebu to Siargao: 1 hour flight
Budget option: 16 hour ferries (Cebu to Surigao City, then Surigao to Dapa)
We opted for the flight option since we booked in advance and found the prices reasonable. However, if we had only a week's notice in Cebu, we would have taken the ferry due to the high cost of last-minute flights. For families and travellers with limited time in the Philippines, flying is the more practical choice, while ferries are generally favoured by backpackers.
Best Siargao Tours
Top Recommended Activities
Don't miss this amazing Island Hopping Tour in Siargao, exploring Daku, Naked and Guyam Islands' pristine sandy beaches.
Siargao isn't called the Surfing Capital of the Philippines for no reason! Book your Surf Lessons Here
This day trip to Sohoton Cove with Stingless Jellyfish is one to remember!
Siargao has lots of accommodation whether you’re looking for a surf school, a luxury resort or a budget hostel you’ll be able to find somewhere.
We recommend staying in the main hub of General Luna as this is where most of the restaurants are located, as well as easy access to most of Siargao's best tourist attractions. If you want to get away from the crowds you could head up north and stay in Pacifico, which is the northern hub of the island best known for being home to some of Siargao's best surf spots.
We use Booking.com, Agoda and HostelWorld for all of our stays in The Philippines!
Below we share some recommend places to stay in General Luna, Siargao:
Where We Stayed In General Luna
We chose the budget option of Dream Catcher Nipas when staying in General Luna mainly due to the kitchen which allowed us to cook our own breakfasts and lunches. These are very basic triangular huts which have mattresses on the floor so don't expect anything fancy, but the location is perfect for General Luna and the grounds are lovely.
Tips For Travelling Siargao
If you’re visiting Siargao here’s our top travel tips:
Stay in the General Luna and Cloud 9 area to be amongst the beautiful chaos and be in walkable distance from the best bars & restaurants.
There’s lots to do for non-surfers on the island, don't forget to try out the Siargao Wake Park!
When getting around the Philippines in a tuk-tuk, tricycle or taxi, agree on a price upfront and try to have the right change handy.
Use an E-sim like Airalo to stay connected and remove the hassle of a physical SIM, don’t rely on Wi-Fi as the island has frequent blackouts.
Go on the 3 island tour to see the true beauty Siargao has to offer, it’s not all about surfing after all…
For the surfers, hire a scooter with a surf rack and visit Siargao’s best surf spots
Travel Tools To Help You Plan
These are some of the travel tools we love and use daily, by booking through our links you support our blog and help us grow, thank you.
Thank you for reading and enjoy your Philippine adventure. Reach out to us over on Instagram @KateandMikesTravels. We always love to hear from people who read our blogs!
For our Filipino friends: Maraming salamat sa pag babasa, hangang sa susunod nating pag kikita, mamimiss namin kayo, mabuhay ang pilipinas! Salamat
*Some links in this article are affiliate meaning we may earn a small commission with no extra cost to you! It helps grow the blog so thank you for supporting us.
.png)