The Perfect Road Trip Weekend in Northern Siargao
Roadtrip in Siargao, Philippines
Table of Contents
Introduction:
Northern Siargao, a Paradise within Paradise
Quick Tips
Rent Transportation
Better Safe than Sorry
Start Early
Disclaimer
Itinerary
Day 1: Pacifico and Burgos
Pacifico: Lolo’s Ghetto and Common Ground
Between Pacifico and Burgos: Little Hawaii and Barangay Baybay
Burgos: Lokal Snackbar, A.T.E. Atelier, and Million Dollar View Airbnb
Day 2: Alegria and Tangbo
Alegria: DaRosa Del Mar and JRC Recreational Center
Tangbo: Coconut Nut, Danjug Cave Nature Park, TakTak Falls, Santa Monica Pier, and Kaha Island Stay Airbnb
Ending Notes
Introduction
You’ve probably heard all about the beauty and wonder of Siargao, but most of the time people are talking about the same general areas. While these places do often live up to the hype, you might want to add another stop for your Siargao itinerary: “Northern Siargao”
Must-See Spot
Northern Siargao: A Paradise within Paradise
Northern Siargao is our favorite spot in Siargao. It is much more relaxed and quiet. The beauty of Siargao is that you have the energetic hotspot around General Luna and the mellow and more tranquil side in Northern Siargao, with gorgeous beaches all around. It’s the best of both worlds!
Our Favorite Spot
So, if you’re planning a trip to Siargao or just curious about whether you should go in the first place, don’t forget about Northern Siargao! Party and socialize in General Luna then make your way up North for maximum R & R. You won’t regret dedicating even just two days to explore the North . Who knows, you might end up spending more and more time in Northern Siargao.
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Quick Tips
Before starting your Northern Siargao adventure, there are a few small (but still useful) reminders we got for you.
Rent Transportation
It takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes to an hour and 30 minutes to drive up to Northern Siargao. If you have a license, you might want to consider renting a small car or motorcycle for your road trip to Northern Siargao. This will give you freedom and flexibility over your schedule just in case there are places that you want to spend more time at.
Better Safe than Sorry
While some places may accept e-wallet options like GCash or PayMaya, it is always better to have cash on you. You might want to withdraw all you’ll be needing before you leave the General Luna area since ATM machines are hard to come by in the north.
Don’t forget to pack a good hat and high quality shades too! The UV rays are no joke especially in the clean and clear beaches of Northern Siargao. Make sure to protect yourself from the heat. Speaking of clean and clear beaches, you might want to bring a snorkel or goggles to fully appreciate the aquatic life in the north.
If you’re a digital nomad and need some place to work once you make it to Northern Siargao, you can check out our previous blog post about the best coworking spots in Siargao. It’s always better to prep what you can before the trip to make sure that when you actually go, you can enjoy it to the fullest.
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If you’re a digital nomad, you might also want to update or apply for travel insurance. Life can be pretty unpredictable sometimes, especially when traveling, so why not give yourself some peace of mind and take one more travel worry away.
Start Early
There are so many beautiful spots in Northern Siargao and on the way to it. You might want to get up early to make sure you make it to all your planned destinations but still give yourself enough time to stop and smell the roses (or jump into the inviting and refreshing water) and play things by ear.
Now that that is all out of the way, let the road trip begin!
Disclaimer
The information presented in this article may be subject to change at the venue or service provider’s discretion. You may check their respective websites or social media accounts for any updates on the price, location, and other details. Additionally, this article may contain affiliate links from which we get a portion of profit, at no added cost to you. These links are safe to click.
With that, we hope you enjoy reading!
Itinerary
DAY 1: Pacifico and Burgos
Pacifico
Drive up to the border of Northern Siargao and make your way to the surf town of Pacifico. As you enter Northern Siargao, the view starts changing and you are blessed with the sight of the Northern Coast. Stretch your legs and fill your tummies with some great food.
Lolo’s Ghetto
Lolo’s Ghetto is a sweet little restaurant that we discovered when we were looking for places that were open during the pandemic. Now it has become a staple for us every time we go back. Their serve time was around 30 to 40 minutes the last time we were there, but the food is always so worth it! We love their crispy chicken dish and chicken burrito with fries. They also offer some delicious vegan and vegetarian options.
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Images courtesy of “Common Ground”. All rights reserved to the original owners
Common Ground offers a wide variety of products. They offer food like smoothie bowls, sourdough bread and pancakes, and rice bowls. We were also amazed by their dark chocolate chip cookies. Aside from food, they even sell organic detergent, bleach, and dishwashing soap. More than just being a cafe, they also offer accommodation. We would recommend tasting their iced latte and flat white coffees to satisfy your caffeine cravings. They’re sure to keep you energized throughout the rest of your journey up north.
Between Pacifico and Burgos
Once you leave Pacifico, but before you enter Burgos, there are two spots you can visit to break your drive down into smaller bits. Enjoy the journey and take in these views between your destinations.
Little Hawaii
This is our favorite spot in Northern Siargao. When we used to live here in 2020, you could always catch us in this spot, first and foremost because it’s beautiful, but also because it has the best cellular signal in the area. It let us upload around 40 vlogs during our stay, and Martin even celebrated reaching 100,000 subscribers here! If you reach Little Hawaii at night and the weather is clear, you can even see the milky way in the sky.
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Barangay Baybay
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Go for a quick dip in Barangay Baybay and enjoy the tranquil surroundings. This lowkey spot feels so secluded that it’s almost like you have the entire place to yourself. The water is cool and inviting, perfect for a peaceful swim or simply unwinding in nature’s embrace
Burgos
As you continue up north, you’ll be greeted with the treeline clearing of Burgos. Aside from the greenery, check out the blue beaches. Burgos’ beaches are scattered with surfers riding waves. But don’t just bring your board! Make sure to bring your snorkel to check out the hypnotic aquatic life. Even just walking around this charming place is a treat with the vibrant street art scattered all around their different buildings.
Lokal Snackbar
Lokal has been at the forefront of sustainable businesses in Siargao. They have launched many initiatives to promote and support the local farmers and craftspeople of Siargao.
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Lokal Snackbar is just one of their many arms. The place itself offers a retro vibe that leaves a unique and lasting impression.Here you can buy smoothies, coffee, teas, shakes, ulam wraps, ice cream, halo-halo, and even beer and cocktails. You can also buy homemade coconut ice cream.
In line with its aim of sustainability, everything they use is eco-friendly. They use recycled materials and refrain from plastic.
Some images courtesy of "A.T.E Atelier." All rights reserved to the original owners.
A Textile Empowering Atelier, or A.T.E. Atelier is a non-profit organization that provides opportunities and empowerment to the local women of Siargao by creating eco-friendly products. We first visited this amazing atelier in 2020 and the organization has only grown bigger and better since then!
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Pass by this quaint shop and buy your pasalubongs and souvenirs here! They have a large array of products to choose from, all of which are eco-friendly (made from upcycled, vintage fabrics and plastics) and locally created. Some of their products include headbands, tote bags, scrunchies, pillows, bean bags, pouches, reusable bags and stylish clothes. According to A.T.E. trash is treasure! You may even donate some old plastic or cloth to them and see it reborn as another one of their stunning products.
Million Dollar View Airbnb
And that wraps up day 1! Where will you rest your head for the night? Why not check out this Airbnb which delivers just what the name promises: A Million Dollar View!
Book here : LINK TO BOOKING PAGE
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This bnb is 1,900 square meters. It rests on a 60 foot cliff, overlooking burgos. It has 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a living room, and a 360 view. Only 1 of the bedrooms has an aircon but the air is still able to flow through the house keeping it fresh. And when you look out of the different bedrooms you can see surfers from Burgos, Alegria, and even General Luna (depending on where you’re standing, of course). There is even a set of stairs that leads to a little lookout. The lookout is near a surf break in case you want to catch some waves as well.
DAY 2: Alegria and Tangbo
Alegria
Alegria beach in Santa Monica has some of the most crystal clear waters. This may be attributed to how the waves hit around this area. Tourists get more and more sparse the higher north you go. At Alegria you can enjoy the fine sand and crystal water with more privacy as compared to the General Luna area.
DaRosa Del Mar
Similar to Little Hawaii, DaRosa Del Mar has incredible signal and wifi. In case you need to get any work done before you continue your adventure or you just want to fuel up for your next day of Northern Siargao sightseeing, DaRosa Del Mar should definitely be on your itinerary.
Book Here : LINK TO BOOKING PAGE
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DaRosa Del Mar is a family friendly beachfront resort with modern bahay kubos. You can catch a morning swim here and have some good breakfast before getting back on the road. The staff and owners are very friendly, and the resort is pet friendly too! Don’t forget to give the island doggies some nice pets and cuddles!
JRC Recreational Center
Now that your tummies are filled to the brim with food, why not work some of it out with a game of billiards or darts? JRC also has a wide variety of ice cream to offer, perfect for a sunny day or victory treat!
This recreational center is also quite near a sari-sari store that has the only, if not, one of the first, ATMs north of Pacifico. Stock up on cash and any other small necessities or snacks you might need. Make sure to tell Ate Len-Len that it was Marve who sent you there! We are her certified suki.
Tangbo
Tangbo is probably as far north as you can get. You may need to pay for some environmental fees and get a travel pass. These fees are a small price to pay for all the natural wonders that Tangbo contains.
Images courtesy of "Coconut Nut." All rights reserved to the original owners.
Coconut Nut is another one of our beloved spots in Northern Siargao. We had a lot of meals with the Coconut Nut family in 2020, even bringing many friends, and friends we now consider as family, into this little spot. What started out as a little shack has now become a more spacious hang out spot. They offer delicious rice meals, pizza, and energizing coffee.
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Coconut Nut is right by Tangbo Beach, perfect for a post-meal swim. You can even catch some great waves here depending on the season. Coconut Nut is also situated right beside Danjug Cave Nature Park in case you want to do a little exploring after your meal.
Some images courtesy of "Danjug Cave Nature Park." All rights reserved to the original owners
Explore the wonders of nature and the unique rock formations in Danjug Cave Nature Park. This is a family friendly adventure that is open for those of all ages. Danjug is said to be the place where a Muslim pirate named Danjug buried his beloved treasure. Who knows, maybe you’ll be the lucky visitor to find X marking the spot!
TakTak Falls
Maybe you’re a bit claustrophobic and caves aren’t really your jam, check out TakTak Falls instead! TakTak falls is the only waterfall in Siargao. It is around 14-15 meters high. While some parts of the pool are shallow and rocky, other parts are deep enough to allow for diving. Locals and tourists alike enjoy coming here and jumping from the heights of the trees to show off their diving and flipping skills.
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Santa Monica Pier
If you have enough time, you might want to consider heading to the Santa Monica pier where you can also do some Island hopping. You can visit the peaceful Pagbasayan island and the Naked Island of the North. Make sure to bring your snorkel here, although even without it you might still be able to see underwater thanks to the clear water.
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Some images courtesy of "Kaha Island Stay Air Bnb." All rights reserved to the original owners.
In case Northern Siargao has captured your heart and you want to extend your stay here, try staying at Kaha Island Stay. It’s only around a 5 minute drive away from Alegria beach.
Book Here : LINK TO BOOKING PAGE
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Kaha Island Stay was built for more long-term stays. It has a functional kitchen, conversation pit, and a bar where people can eat and take their coffee. They have different types of rooms for those who prefer dorm type or more private rooms.
Ending Notes
Our perfect weekend in Siargao, Philippines
General Luna isn’t all that Siargao has to offer, drive up to Northern Siargao and see another side of paradise. But don’t forget to always observe CLAYGO. Let’s not ruin these beautiful places with trash and instead preserve them for other tourists and future generations. It is also important to show respect to the locals whose beautiful homes they have graciously allowed us to visit.
We hope you’ll be enchanted by the quiet charm of Northern Siargao and end up loving it just as much as we do! Safe travels!
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It is always so beautiful to see and learn more about a way of life that is unfamiliar to us, and almost seems to be dying out. Visiting these farms is not only a great way to eat some fresh and delicious food, but to help out the local community as well. Who knows? Maybe visiting these farms will inspire you to live off of the land too!
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