If someone had told me that I would be working remotely from the island during my first trip to Siargao, I would not have believed that person.
Convinced that I did not catch the Siargao curse after my first visit, I thought that I wouldn’t find myself in the Surfing Capital of the Philippines soon until I recently got burned out from work and life, and craved the island’s chill, free, and laid-back atmosphere.
Hence, after months of delaying a much-needed beach trip and years of wanting to work remotely from an island, I finally packed my bags (and laptop) and boarded the nearest and cheapest flight to Siargao with minimal expectations and only the desire to get away.
Check out my guide to visiting Siargao Island for the first time and how I explored North Siargao via scooter as a first-time solo traveler!
Table of Contents
- Is working remotely possible in Siargao?
- Where to Stay in Siargao for Remote Workers
- Siargao Beaches to Visit Before or After Work
- Siargao Island Tours and Weekend Getaways
- Siargao Remote Work Tips
Is working remotely possible in Siargao?
After visiting the island for the first time, it’s not hard to see that the answer to this question is 100% YES!
Despite its remote location, the central town of General Luna is equipped with a fast internet connection, mostly provided by Starlink, from small cafés to big high-end resorts.
This knowledge also made me fully confident of selecting Siargao as one of the best places to do remote work in the Philippines during the monsoon season.
However, it is also important to note that due to its remote location, too, power outages are common in the island, which can last from a few minutes to several hours. Hence, some establishments also equip their places with a backup generator in case this happens.
Additionally, don’t expect to find many establishments in Siargao open late at night, catering to graveyard shift workers, as options are currently limited, unlike in the city.
Where to Stay in Siargao for Remote Workers
My top priority in this work-ation trip, after booking the flight, was selecting the best place to stay.
Unlike my first visit, and since it was my first time traveling alone, I also counted affordability in my checklist of picking my accommodation. This is on top of having a reliable internet connection, backup generator, and being within walking distance to dining spots for quick breakfast runs and lunch breaks.
This very specific criteria narrowed down my options to a few, with the following ticking most of my checklist:
I eventually ended up at Matcha Hostel, which ticked off everything on my checklist, including an affordable rate of ₱699 per night and a prime location at the center of Purok 5 along Tourism Road.
Honestly (this is a non-sponsored comment, by the way), my stay at the place was generally pleasant, starting from its fast internet connection down to the comfortable bunk beds they offer. They also have a common area on the roof deck open 24 hours equipped with tables, chairs, benches and a small kitchen area which can cater to both day and night shift workers. The hostel staff is also very warm and hospitable that they made me feel like a friend as a solo traveler.
Co-working Spaces
With the rise of remote workers and digital nomads present in Siargao, it is no surprise that co-working spaces have gradually popped up on the island to cater to the need for an office setup. Although the options are currently limited only to the following:
- Coco Space – Libertad Hills, General Luna, Siargao
- Alter Space – Star House (near Cloud 9), Tourism Road, General Luna, Siargao
I personally wasn’t able to visit these places as I was traveling on a budget, and the daily usage rate for them was not part of it. The two spots are also quite far from the accommodation I booked, and going there via scooter is also not an option since I don’t know how to drive. But between the two and also based on other reviews, Coco Space seems to be a promising choice for remote work with its spacious areas and facilities which includes a swimming pool overlooking a view of the surrounding rice fields.
Cafés and Restaurants
If you don’t mind working outside of your accommodation and can tolerate the ambient noise of dining spots, the handful of cafés and restaurants along Tourism Road equipped with a fast internet connection are also good places to work in Siargao.
During my recent trip, I was able to try Big Mama Laundry Café, which boasts a chill, quiet tropical atmosphere and is equipped with reliable, fast Wi-Fi and electric sockets. In addition, as their name implies, the cafe has a laundry service, which allows you to multitask while working.
If you want to have a laid-back, tropical resort vibe, the restaurants at Lamari, Siago Beach Resort, and Sunday Café also have fast internet connections and poolside views to allow you to work remotely and have quick dips in between.
For night workers looking for a 24-hour café to stay, SBooks fits the bill and is also equipped with fast Wi-Fi and sockets for charging.
Siargao Beaches to Visit Before or After Work
Working from an island certainly made me realize the privilege of getting up from my desk and walking to the nearby beach to destress after a long day of work.
The sight and sound of water crashing against the shore and the cool breeze touching your skin and swaying your hair definitely bring a certain calm and peace after eight hours of looking at your screen. And as a person who has lived in the city her whole life, this experience made me like the idea of working remotely more.
When in Siargao, here are some hidden and popular gems to visit before or after a day of work to destress, relax, or simply chill.
Secret Beach, Malinao
A spot that I have been to during my first trip to the island and the first place I revisited after settling in my second, Barangay Malinao‘s not-so-secret Secret Beach, is one of the best nearby areas to hang out after a day of working.
Boasting a chill and laid-back ambience, this free-access public beach located at the end of Malinao Road boasts a white-sand shore and clear waters ideal for lounging, swimming, and even sunset watching. Natural pools can also be seen in the place formed by seawater that fills in the area’s sunken parts.
Despite its growing popularity, the beach still remains untouched, with the absence of any dining establishments.
Water activities such as kayaking and paddleboarding, and firefly watching at night are also available in the area.
From General Luna, one can easily reach Secret Beach via a scooter or a tuk-tuk for ₱100. Though a word of advice, ensure to leave the place right before the tuk-tuks leave at the terminal found near the end of the road around 5PM if you’re commuting to secure a ride back to your accommodation.
Patrick’s on the Beach
One information that I was able to find out after visiting Siargao for the second time is the fact that most beaches on the island are free to access and do not require any entrance fee or requirement to dine in one of the beachfront resorts or restaurants bordering it.
Named after the resort and restaurant located within it, Patrick’s on the Beach is one of the many spots on the island offering free beachfront access in Purok 5, General Luna.
Boasting a quiet and calm ambience, this white-sand beach offers clear blue waters perfect for quick dips and swimming. Its serene atmosphere makes it feel like a precious find because of the absence of any crowd, especially during my visit at noon and early in the morning. Just ensure to drop by during high tide to make it possible for swimming.
Cloud 9
Siargao’s famed beach and surfing spot, Cloud 9 in Barangay Catangnan, is also one of the best places to chill before or after working remotely on the island.
Requiring an entrance fee of ₱100, visitors can experience this iconic spot in Siargao and watch beginners and pros surf in the beach or catch a wave themselves in the handful of surfing schools and board rentals found at the entrance of the area.
Various cafés and restaurants also dot Cloud 9, where one can get their breakfast or dinner fixes, which include Shaka, Cafe Kokomo, Loka, and Isla Corgis for dog lovers.
Don’t also skip on trying the local delicacy, salbaro, which is a crispy chip made out of cassava and topped with sweet syrup, sold by vendors found on the beach for ₱25.
Ocean 9
If working outside of the central town of General Luna or if you do and don’t mind a 20-minute scooter ride from it, then Ocean 9 is also one of the best hidden gems in Siargao to chill and relax after a day of work.
Named after the famous beachfront bar found in it, Ocean 9 is tucked 7.5km north of Cloud 9 and is located in the coastal town of Santa Fe. From here, one can access the quiet and laid-back Mahaybo Beach by paying the entrance fee and experience its white-sand shore, clear blue waters, and waves ideal for beginner and intermediate surfers alike.
Siargao Island Tours and Weekend Getaways
The beauty of working remotely from an island is the liberty to find yourself on pristine beaches during your day off, and when in Siargao, the list of must-visit places never runs out.
Despite visiting the island for the second time, I still haven’t fully explored all of the destinations found in it; hence, if you plan to work remotely in Siargao for a long time, you can allot the weekends or your day-offs to exploring these handful of attractions. You can either explore these on your own with a scooter or book a tour for a set itinerary and accompanying tour guide which I did on my first and second visits.
For the famous Siargao tourist spots like Sugba Lagoon, Maasin River, and Magpupungko Rock Pool, you can book the so-called Land Tour to visit these. Popular off-coast destinations like Naked, Daku and Guyam Islands can be reached by booking the Tri-Island Hopping Tour. You can also pair it with a visit to the social media-favorite Corregidor Island which, on top of an idyllic tropical scene, also features a mini-hike overlooking Siargao’s bay at its peak.
In my first trip to Siargao, I booked both tours on Klook, where I had the chance to visit the aforementioned with additional stops at the Coconut View Deck and Secret Island.
If you’re looking for laid-back beaches and hidden gems in the northern region of the island, like Pacifico and Alegria Beach, you can do the North Siargao Tour either by tuk-tuk or scooter.
Another tour to try includes a visit to Sohoton Cove, which features Siargao’s hidden lagoons and swimming with stingless jellyfish.
Siargao Remote Work Tips
- Staying in General Luna for remote work is the best choice for quick and full access to cafés, restaurants, banks, and other relevant daily necessities. Most establishments in this area are also equipped with backup generators to handle the recurring power outages on the island, ensuring seamless operations.
- Popular mobile networks like Globe and SMART have weak reception on the island; therefore, accessing the internet through a mobile hotspot may not be a reliable option.
- Opt to buy lunch or dinner in carinderia stores, which offer home-cooked meals and much cheaper alternatives for as low as ₱70 than the ones available in cafés and restaurants. I personally found the food I tried in the carinderia stores in Purok 5 delicious and came with generous servings.
- Local bakeries serve delicious and very cheap breads like pandesal and pan de coco for as low as ₱5, and can be a good alternative breakfast option or snack. There is also a well-loved stand in front of the church in General Luna that serves fresh and delicious pan de coco at ₱5 that locals also love.
- Rent a scooter (and learn how to drive if you still don’t know yet) to have full liberty in exploring the island and going to different dining spots. Rental starts at ₱350 per day, and discounts are given for long-term renters.
- If planning to stay longer on the island, the monthly rental of apartments is cheaper in the towns outside of General Luna, like Dapa. Although the catch in this option is the farther distance from the town center, where most of the action on the island happens.
- If staying longer in General Luna, most accommodations have a different and cheaper rate for long-term stays; hence, inquire with your chosen establishment if they offer discounts or look for one that gives one to save more.
Contrary to my first visit, and after having a more immersive experience of the island in this recent trip, I think I may have gotten the Siargao curse this time with the pull and desire I feel in returning to the place for the third time and re-experience the island life I had.
The laid-back, chill, and free atmosphere that I had remembered on my first visit was still there in this second trip, which is a stark contrast to the life and culture I’ve grown used to in the city. Add up the quick access to different beaches, which remind you about the simple things worth pursuing in life, and make you forget about the ‘serious things’ we thought mattered in the bigger picture.
Siargao indeed has that transformative magic that you’ll only feel once you step on the island. It may be the mere tropical beauty and allure of its nature, the unique culture and bond developed by its community, or it can be both, but one thing is certain—it is home to the locals who built the island’s irresistible charm. And my only wish is that tourists and visitors can learn how to respect this small charming island to preserve its unique culture and beauty for repeat visitors and even future generations.
How about you? What made you drawn to Siargao and even think of working from it? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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