[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Guest post by Lena Browny from lenaonthemove.com. Siquijor Island is located in the Bohol Sea, just only 20 kilometres off the southeast tip of Negros. This magical island in the central Visayas is definitely worth a visit when travelling or backpacking around the Philippines. With beautiful white beaches, incredible diving, gorgeous jungle waterfalls and many cultural hot spots, Siquijor is the perfect location to spend a couple of days filled with many different adventures and activities. Just like many other places in the Philippines, Siquijor is increasingly becoming a paradise for backpackers and budget travelers from around the world. As a Divemaster I spent a few months in Siquijor in 2017. During my stay I did not only explore the dive sites around the island, but also got insight into some local and less touristy spots, which I’d like to share with you. In this post I am going to tell you how to travel Siquijor in 3 days, including suggestions and recommendations for an unforgettable three-day (3 nights) stay on this beautiful island. Of course you could easily spend more time on Siquijor, but I assume most of you have only limited time while travelling around the Philippines. How To Travel Siquijor In 3 Days DAY 1 In order to have most of your short stay in Siquijor, I recommend you make your way to Dumaguete, Negros, or Tagbilaran, Bohol, one day prior to coming to Siquijor. From there you can take a ferry (Ocean Jet, GL Shipping Lines, Alesson Ferries, Lite Ferries) to either Siquijor Town or Larena in the morning. Upon arrival on Siquijor Island, rent a motorcycle or scooter for the length of your stay. There are motorbike rental stations directly at the pier in both Siquijor Town and Larena. The price for a motorbike is approx. PHP 300 / day. From the port, take the Circumferential Road towards San Juan, where you can first go to your accommodation. You’ll find a list with accommodation recommendations for every budget around San Juan here. If you still have the afternoon, relax at the pool or beach in your accommodation and/or take a walk along the beautiful Solangon Beach with its lined up palm trees and stretches of white sand. At around 5.30pm, go towards the bridge in San Juan, where you’ll find Roch Cuisine, a street food barbecue and eatery place with just a few nicely decorated tables and chairs, just before crossing the bridge on the sea front. This place is my personal TopTip and something you should not miss while staying in Siquijor. You can zip a beer or soft drink while watching the sunset and have a delicious dinner once you’re hungry. Dinner will cost you around PHP 100 – 150 depending on how much you want to eat. Just make sure to order your food in time; sometimes they’re completely out of food by 7pm. Sunset at Solangon Beach Rock Cuisine DAY 2 Start the day with a breakfast in either your accommodation or at a neighbor resort if your accommodation does not offer breakfast. For breakfast in San Juan, I also recommend going to either D’Barkads Food Haus or Casa Miranda. Both places are inexpensive and offer good local and international breakfast. After breakfast, take your motorbike to San Juan and follow the road towards Lazi. About 20-25 minutes into the ride, you’ll pass the Century Old Balete Tree on the right. You can stop there for some pictures and a fish spa session (PHP 10) in the small natural pool beneath the 400-year old tree. There are also a couple of souvenir booths, where you can buy souvenirs and some local products, such as coconut massage oil. Continue your ride towards Lazi, where you can visit San Isidore Church. Take a road left towards the center of the island and follow the signs to Cambugahay Falls, probably the most gorgeous waterfalls on Siquijor. Local guides will walk you down to the falls for PHP 20, where you can go for a swim or do a jump using one of the Tarzan lianas. From Cambugahay Falls, follow the bumpy road into the mountains. There are hardly any signs along the way, so take a map where the main roads are marked and/or simply ask locals along the way. If it’s still before 2pm and you’re into some cave action, go to Cantabon Cave, which, apparently, is the nicest of the caves in Siquijor. With a guide you can explore the cave from the inside. Afterwards continue the ride to San Antonio, where you’ll find some of the famous island healers. They can not only give you massages or tell you about your future, they are also believed to have magical powers and may lay their spirit upon you. The price for a healer session is up to you, but I’d suggest you give at least PHP 300-400 just out of respect for the cultural heritage. From San Antonio continue riding to Siquijor Town and follow the Circumferential Road back to San Juan. You can have dinner at Dagsa opposite Coral Cay Resort, a cozy restobar with affordable high-quality local and international dishes, such as sizzling sea food or a Chili-Cheese Burger with fries good for two people. Usually they also have live music every night starting at 7pm. Century old Balete tree Cambugahay Falls Day 3 Exploring the island and its secrets by motorbike is certainly great fun, but the coral reefs off the island’s coast host even more treasures worth discovering. No matter if you’re into diving or just snorkeling, Siquijor has great dive and snorkel sites to offer with tons of aquatic life. Unlike some other Siquijor-bloggers I do not recommend spending a lot of money on going to Apo Island from Siquijor. Apo Island is definitely beautiful and very popular amongst divers, but, to be honest, you get to see pretty much the same coral, fish and turtles when you dive in Siquijor, plus it’s only half the price and chances are very high you’ll […]
Read MoreKamp Aninipot – Siquijor’s Family-Friendly Campground and Hobbit Houses Where are we Sitting at the top of Tacdog Hills, in the town of Siquijor is a magnificent site that offers a beautiful and serene environment; a peaceful place to retreat and unwind from life’s daily grind. Overlooking Siquijor Bay, this 3.9 hectares is nothing but perfect for camping, recreation, and relaxation. It is about 2 kilometers from the town of Siquijor, Siquijor, Philippines, and is close to some of the most beautiful beaches you can find in the island. Who are we We are proud sons and daughters of Siquijor who see the fast development of tourism in our island as a great opportunity and at the same time a huge challenge. We will form partnerships and build relationships in the communities around us to explore and collaborate. We are here to promote, preserve, and protect our beloved island of Siquijor. What we do We own and operate the first family-friendly campground in Siquijor, Philippines dedicated primarily to camping and camping related activities. For our guests, our campground has the following amenities/facilities: Common guest toilets Snack bar & viewing deck Guests grill station – FREE Giant picture frame – to paint a perfect you Flying bike Kids Zipline – the one and only in Siquijor Organic playset Mini-wall climb Bonfire pit Multi-purpose hall – simple gatherings 800 meter-mountain bike and walk trail To those who wanted to stay, we have the following: Tent camping Hobbit huts –Hobbit-inspired huts in Siquijor. Hammock spot Why we named it Kamp Aninipot ? It has been said that the fireflies gave an eerie glow at night that caught the attention of the non-native visitors to come to this island. These fireflies are called “aninipots,” in Cebuano language. We would like to think that these lovely creatures were responsible for opening our island for the world to see its beauty and discover its mystery. Siquijor island is very rich in history and has intrigued so many people – from the Spanish colonizers hundreds of years ago to our modern-day adventurers. We named this campground Kamp Aninipot in honor of those special creatures and to also remind us of how they caught the attention of our early visitors many years ago to set foot in our beloved island. So, would it be safe to say those fireflies or “aninipots” played a very important role in Siquijor’s history? In our humble opinion, yes! The “aninipots” gave Siquijor the appearance of being on fire, thereby earning the moniker, Isla de Fuego. Today, we can still see swarms of “aninipots” in Siquijor, and even if their numbers may be dwindling they still continue to mesmerize people both young and old. The people of Siquijor continue to exhibit the many characteristics and symbolic meanings of the lightning bug or “aninipot.” We inspire, we give hope and heal, and we have that inner glow within us that illuminates the world around us. We welcome you to Siquijor and experience the true Siquijodnon hospitality. Experience Siquijor mornings, capture its sunsets, explore, and find out why it’s called the “Mystique Island.” We love and respect this island and we are sure you’ll feel the same! How to get here Coming from Siquijor Pier, the road you are facing will pretty much take you to the campground if you continue to go straight and then turn right at the Y road. The entrance to the campground is on your right. You can take your car inside the campground and is also accessible by motorcycle. Book Now ! More About Kamp Aninipot: http://siquijordirectory.com/directory/kampaninipot/ [wdi_feed id=”41″]
Read MoreFor Design and Construction of your house and resort according to your needs, just contact Sobredo Design and Build . Sobredo Design and Build Bong-ao, Valencia, Negros Oriental Proprietor: Archt. Cherie Mae Sobredo Contact: +639159952269 Email: archclyde@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sobredo-Design-Build-Services-1987739458126673/
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