Siquijor
Siquijor in 3 Days: A Realistic Itinerary
Photo: Genpasaporte2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Three days on Siquijor is enough to split the island in two: one day for the falls, the Balete tree, Lazi and Salagdoong on the south and east side, and one for Lugnason Falls, Cantabon Cave and Paliton at sunset in the west, on an island small enough that rushing it would mean seeing less, not more.
The split
Scroll across for the rest of the columns.
| Day | Base | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Siquijor town or San Juan | Ferry over from Dumaguete, settle in, rent a scooter |
| Day 2 | Siquijor town or San Juan | South and east loop: Old Enchanted Balete Tree, Cambugahay Falls, Lazi Church and Convent, Salagdoong Beach |
| Day 3 | Siquijor town or San Juan | West and inland: Lugnason Falls, Cantabon Cave or a healer visit in San Antonio, Paliton Beach at sunset |
This is a planning split, not a fixed schedule, built from the separate route and activity research on this site, last checked 19 October 2026.
Stops at a glance
Scroll across for the rest of the columns.
| Day | Stop | Entrance | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 2 | Old Enchanted Balete Tree | ₱20, plus ₱5 parking | On the main road; a pond at its base works as a fish spa for your feet |
| Day 2 | Cambugahay Falls | ≈ ₱20-50 | Three levels of pools; rope swing paid separately. Early morning is quietest |
| Day 2 | Lazi Church and Convent | Convent ₱30 | The church of San Isidro Labrador faces the convent across the street |
| Day 2 | Salagdoong Beach | ₱50 | Cliff-jumping boards at 5 and 10 metres; parking extra |
| Day 3 | Lugnason Falls | ₱20 | Near San Juan; local guides show the jumping spots |
| Day 3 | Cantabon Cave | Guide ₱500 for up to 3, +₱50 pp | Helmet and torch included; last entry usually 5pm |
| Day 3 | Paliton Beach | ₱20 | West coast, the island’s usual sunset spot |
Sources: Travel Around the Philippines, things to do in Siquijor (updated May 2026) and Sand in My Shoe, Siquijor travel guide (updated July 2026), checked 19 October 2026. The Cambugahay Falls range also draws on the sources behind things to do in Siquijor. Fees are paid in cash at each gate and change without notice.
How the route connects
- DumagueteNegros, ferry jump-offFastcraft · 1 hr
- Siquijor townmain port; base here or in San JuanScooter
- Balete tree, Cambugahay Falls and LaziDay 2, south sideScooter
- Salagdoong BeachDay 2, east coastScooter
- Lugnason Falls and Cantabon CaveDay 3, San Juan side and inlandScooter
- Paliton BeachDay 3, west coast sunset
The ferry time is from how to get to Siquijor. Both days can also be done by van or tricycle tour with a driver, see things to do in Siquijor.
Day 1: ferry over, settle in
Take the OceanJet or Montenegro fastcraft from Dumaguete, about 1 hour, or the slower Montenegro RORO boat if the lower fare matters more, full comparison in how to get to Siquijor. Arriving by early afternoon leaves time to settle in and rent a scooter for the next day’s loop. Sleep near Siquijor town or San Juan, both on the main coast road, see where to stay in Siquijor.
Day 2: the south and east loop
Stops: Old Enchanted Balete Tree → Cambugahay Falls → Lazi Church and Convent → Salagdoong Beach.
Ride the ring road towards Lazi. The Old Enchanted Balete Tree sits on the main road and is a short stop: a sprawling banyan said to be more than 400 years old, with a pond at its base where small fish nibble your feet. Cambugahay Falls is the longest stop of the day, three levels of pools with a rope swing; the first level is the main pool, and early morning is the quietest time, before weekend and day visitors fill it. In Lazi itself, the Church of San Isidro Labrador and the restored Lazi Convent face each other across the street. Finish on the east coast at Salagdoong Beach, known for its two cliff-jumping boards and snorkelling close to shore.
Fees and detail for the falls and the beach are in things to do in Siquijor, and Lazi as a quieter base near the falls is covered in where to stay in Siquijor.
Day 3: the west side and inland
Stops: Lugnason Falls → Cantabon Cave or a healer visit → Paliton Beach for sunset.
Lugnason Falls, also called Zodiac Falls, sits near San Juan: a smaller swimming area than Cambugahay, with higher jumps that local guides demonstrate. Then head inland. Cantabon Cave is visited only with a guide from the ticket office in the village of Cantabon, and the guide fee covers a group of up to three, so it pays to go with others. If a cave is not for you, San Antonio, the town most associated with Siquijor’s healers, is the alternative: a session is typically a ₱200-1,000 donation for 30 minutes to 2 hours and is easiest to arrange through your accommodation or driver, see things to do in Siquijor. End the day at Paliton Beach on the west coast for sunset.
If your return ferry leaves on Day 3, keep only Lugnason Falls and Paliton, both on the San Juan side, and check the departure time and port before planning the day too tightly.
A fourth day: Apo Island
Apo Island, a marine sanctuary known for sea turtles, is the most common add-on. Day trips from Siquijor run through Coco Grove and the Island Vibes dive centre, but not every day: a trip leaves once a minimum group, normally 15 people, has signed up, so ask on the day you arrive. Snorkelling trips cost ₱2,450-2,750 per person with food, fees and gear included according to Travel Around the Philippines, and one traveller paid ₱3,350 for a full-day trip including meals and snorkelling gear.
Sources: Travel Around the Philippines, things to do in Siquijor (updated May 2026) and Sand in My Shoe, Siquijor travel guide (updated July 2026), checked 19 October 2026.
Where to stay for this itinerary
Where to stay in Siquijor covers Siquijor town and San Juan against the quieter stretches further round the ring road.
Before you book
This split assumes a self-driven scooter loop, add a day if you would rather take it slower with a driver and stop for longer at each spot, or if you want a dive day at Tulapos Marine Sanctuary. A session with me is the fastest way to ask how to extend this or fit it around a wider Visayas trip including Bohol or Cebu. For the best months to go and a fuller cost breakdown, see Siquijor’s best time to visit and what a trip costs.
Questions people ask
Is 3 days enough for Siquijor?
Yes, Siquijor is small enough that its main sights fit into a single scooter loop of the coast road. Three days leaves room for an arrival day, a south and east loop for the falls, the Balete tree, Lazi and Salagdoong, and a west and inland day for Lugnason Falls, Cantabon Cave or a healer visit, and Paliton at sunset.
Do I need a scooter for this itinerary?
A scooter rental, commonly ₱250-400 a day, is how most visitors cover the ring road themselves. A full-day van or tricycle tour with a driver works as an alternative if you would rather not ride.
What if I only have 2 days in Siquijor?
Use the first day for the ferry and the second for the south and east loop: the Balete tree, Cambugahay Falls, Lazi and Salagdoong. Lugnason Falls and Cantabon Cave are the stops to drop, or swap Salagdoong for Paliton Beach if a sunset beach matters more.
How much does Cantabon Cave cost?
Travel Around the Philippines (updated May 2026) lists a guide fee of ₱500 for up to three people, plus ₱50 for each extra person, with a helmet and torch included. The ticket office is in the village of Cantabon and the last entry is usually at 5pm.
Can I do an Apo Island day trip from Siquijor?
Yes, as an extra day rather than inside these three. Snorkelling trips run from Siquijor through Coco Grove and the Island Vibes dive centre, but not daily: they leave once a minimum group, normally 15 people, signs up. Recent prices run ₱2,450-3,350 per person for snorkelling, meals and gear included, depending on the operator.
Should I combine Siquijor with Bohol or Cebu on the same trip?
Yes, Siquijor fits as part of a wider Visayas trip including Bohol or Cebu, with Dumaguete as its ferry gateway. A session with me is the fastest way to plan that wider route.
One email when there is a new guide
I write when there is a new guide, and only then.