Overview
Spend three week's surfing tropical waves in the Filipino surf capital - Siargao Island.
During this 'coast to coast' surf adventure, we will be spending the first week in the less trodden Northern region of Pacifico. We will be basing ourselves right on the waters edge amongst the coconut trees, onlooking "Bamboo" surf spot.
Whether you're dipping your toes into the world of surfing and looking to master the basics, or you're an intermediate surfer looking to escape to crystal clear waters and push your surfing to the next level, Siargao has something for everyone.
After a week in the North of the island, we will be venturing South to General Luna, put on the map by the infamous 'Cloud 9' wave. With over 15 breaks situated around this small town, your trip leaders will guide you to all the best spots based upon the swell and your ability.
Experience the country's magical zen, serene beauty, friendly people, and the World class waves which are easily on a par with Indonesia when the swells align.
What to Expect
The age old sun will quickly become your essence of time in Siargao. Forget the normal constraints of daily living as you kick back to the aloha island vibes that this place has in abundance. With daybreak at 5:30am, paddling out for a sunrise session in warm waters will be your daily blissful wake up call. Based right at the waters edge throughout the trip, we will be in a prime location to get the first piece of the wave action before returning stoked to a hearty breakfast - there's no better way to start the day!
General Luna is the funky little town where we base ourselves for two weeks and is home to a seriously chill vibe, which we're sure you'll grow to love. During the days you're free to walk the empty beaches, embrace a hammock and good book, or jump on a bike and check out the market and its various foody delights (the coconut bread is a must). We want you to embrace all this island has to offer so rest assured we'll be taking you on a few fun excursions both on land and sea throughout the trip. For the final week, we go back in time and enjoy the quieter region on Pacifico, with waves right on the door step of course.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- 1 Week: Accommodation at Bamboo Garden Resort
- 2 Weeks: A beautifully designed shared Dorm Room located 50m from the water's edge (room upgrades are possible)
- Return Airport Transfers (from Siargao)
- Welcome Dinner & Welcome Pack
- Daily Breakfast meal to fuel your surf
- Trip Leaders throughout the whole camp 24/7
- 5 x 2 hour surf lessons per week
- Surfboard hire
- Daily free surfs outside of the lesson times
- All surf transport during lessons, including boats when needed
- Video/Photo Surf Analysis once a week
- Excursions
ALSO INCLUDED
There’s more than just surfing on offer in the Philippines, all of which will help ensure your adventure is one to remember, therefore all of the following is included in our packages:
- ISLAND HOPPING TOUR - Following a morning surf, we'll tour to the local islands, snorkelling along the way and BBQ our catch of the day! This trip is always in the first few days, and really helps build a solid friendships for the rest of the trip.
- SUGBA LAGOON - A short drive from General Luna, we travel by boat into this spectacular lagoon nestled between the Mountains. Withing the Lagoon we relax, jump off the diving board and have a swim, followed by a second trip to a lunch stop at one of the most beautiful isolated island in the heart of the ocean.
- SIARGAO INTERNATIONAL SURF CUP - This event is subject to Wave Conditions, but if nature aligns you'll see some of the Philippines' best surfers compete at Cloud 9 in the Siargao National Surf Cup. The atmosphere is electric with street performances, food stalls and good vibes all round.
- MANGROVES SUP LAGOON TOUR - The Mangroves of the North are tranquil and different to Sugba Lagoon. With a SUP each, we tour through the water in search of wildlife.
- LOCAL FILIPINO MASSAGE - After a few days of solid surfing, relax and soothe your muscles with a local massage.
SURFING
A strong essence of surf culture lies in Siargao following its discovery by a few surf pioneers and photographers in the early 80s. The infamous heavy barrelling right-hander known as Cloud 9 put Siargao firmly on the global map after it was named and photographed by John Callahan in 1992. Callahan named the spot after the local "Cloud 9" no-melt chocolate bar that they used to buy in General Luna to fuel their surfs. Ever since a plethora of waves have been discovered and there seems to be no slowing down on new discoveries...
Paddling out for a sunrise session and finding with you and your friends on a peak is a daily occurrence. With less competition in the water and no hostility of drop-ins, it lets you relax in the water and focus your mind on your surf.
ACCOMMODATION
For the first week of the trip, we will be staying at Bamboo Garden in Pacifico where you can immerse yourself in the true beauty and tranquillity of the island. Life is very simple here, with very little distractions bar the crystal clear water and progressive waves.
The infectious laid back atmosphere of Bamboo will really help you slow down to island time, and with a restaurant offering all the food you could need, plus a slack line and a few hammocks, it's the perfect place to spend the first week.
We will be staying amongst the coconut trees in the beach cottages, just metres away from a long stretch of beautiful white sand beach. The rooms come with clean linen, a fan, private bathrooms, towels, and a private deck area outside. During your stay, the room will be cleaned regularly, with fresh linen and towels being provided.
For the second leg of the trip, Kawili Resort will be our home. The word “Kawili” is a Visayan word meaning “a nostalgic feeling of affection”.
The resort features various cottages, all with WiFi, AirCon and other amenities. The large relaxing lounging area has a swimming pool and billiards table, the perfect place to kick back with new friends after a good surf.
We will be staying in the Dorm room that has 12 beds, 2 showers and 2 toilets. Everyone gets a personal locker, beddings and a towel. The dorm is air conditioned, and the view from the windows and the rooftop overlooks the Pacific Ocean on one side, and on the other side the pool and garden.
FOOD
Both Bamboo and Kawili will be fuelling our morning surfs with a wide variety of traditional and international breakfasts, alongside a fresh juice. Shakes and Coffee are on offer for an additional cost.
For dinner during the first week, Bamboo's restaurant has a good selection of hearty meals, but we will also venture out to the small village of Pacifico for a local BBQ and a few beers.
When we migrate south to Kawili, the resort will cook a family style dinner for us some nights. This is great as we can request what we want, but also means we are free to go explore the culinary delights that are on offer throughought the bustling area of General Luna.
TRAVEL
There are two international airports in the Philippines; Manila and Cebu. You may need to stay overnight in one of these cities in order to make your connecting flight to Siargao, where we will pick you up. Unless you plan on doing some sightseeing, we recommend staying near the airport as traffic levels can be quite hectic.
Flights to Siargao are weather sensitive as they have a fairly basic airport. Disruptions in flight times are frequent, but please beware of this in advance, give yourself plenty of time to get home and just go with the flow.
See FAQs for recommended flights. For immunisation advice, please check your local health clinic.
Trip Timeline
Here you'll find a day by day breakdown of your course.
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1 Week
Surf and uncover the magic of Pacifico
Eagerly excited to explore new grounds, your first week will be spent getting to know these new lands, your new surf buddies, the surf spots, and just sinking into the magical vibe of Siargao. Based in the peaceful village of Pacifico, living here for a week will truly allow you to embrace the blissful simplicity of life here amongst its awesome waves. With the friendly Bamboo break directly on our doorstep, surfing will naturally be the main agenda. As soon as you've washed away your jet lag in the ocean, we shall go on a SUP Excursion to the Mangroves.
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1 Week
Migrate South near the infamous Cloud 9 Spot
By the second week your arms will be paddle fit, your mind focused and we will migrate South of the island to General Luna, the heart of Filipino surfing. Your trip leaders and local guides will take you further afield to the array of surf spots on offer here, venturing out by boat to wherever the swell is best. Enjoy a Local Filipino Massage, and as the second week draws to a close, we will go Island Hopping to feast on some BBQ food, snorkel and embrace the beauty of these lands.
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1 Week
Surf progression and more exploration
During the final week of the trip, you will have been familiarized to many of General Luna's breaks. With your new found confidence, we shall push your water skills further, and by now your body will be fired up for a long lesson followed by a few hours of free surfing. As the swell permits, we shall go on an excursion to Sugba Lagoon. The week will draw to a close with a big going away dinner at Kawili, celebrating the new friends and awesome times had.
Course Video
What past riders say
FAQs
Got a question about this course? Here's the best place to start. If you don't find your answer here, you can request a callback or get in touch using our contact page.
The Ticket to Ride team can cater to your individual needs. So whether you're a total beginner or an absolute ripper, it really doesn't matter.
Simply boardies or bikini and you're ready to rip in these warm waters.
The Philippines is made up of multiple micro-climates meaning some parts of the country are in the middle of the wet season, whilst other parts are not. Fear not as August to November is the surf season for Siargao. We may encounter the odd shower or thunderstorm as we are still nestled on an island in the middle of the pacific, but expect mostly sunshine and pumping waves.
You can enter the Philippines without a visa for an initial period of 30 days. You can also get a tourist visa from the Philippine Embassy before you travel, which will allow an initial 59 day stay.
You can apply to extend your stay at the offices of the Bureau of Immigration. Overstaying without the proper authority is a serious matter and can lead to detention pending payment of outstanding fees and fines and voluntary deportation at your own expense.
BRING CASH! There's an atm in General Luna which is fickle, therefore you need to bring an ample amount of Philippine Pesos with you when coming to the island. There are cashpoints in Dapa and in Del Carmen which are 20 minutes drive away, however they're also sometimes offline and run out of money. There are certain places in General Luna that can offer you cashback for a % fee so rest assured you won't be stuck should all other options be unavailable.
Some places take credit cards but not all, so we recommend always having some loose cash with you. Some shops will also offer cash back at an additional expense.
The food in Siargao is incredible, and you can indulge in a local dish for about 200 PHP which is around £3. There are a load of good restaurants in the various resorts dotted around General Luna, and for an awesome lunch or dinner and a couple drinks (soft drinks or beer) you'll be getting change from 650 PHP which is around £9.
A daily breakfast is included, as well as your welcome meal. Great coffee and shakes are available at your own cost. Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day and we'll ensure you're fuelled for those heavy paddle sessions. You can eat other meals at the Surf Houses, or at nearby cafes and restaurants.
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information visit https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
Either way you're heading to a tropical paradise and Island life be harsh.You will certainly need sun tan lotion, mosquito spray isn't a bad shout, aloe vera cream to keep your skin soothed in the sun, some sunglasses, a hat, plenty of boardies or bikinis, thin tops for the baking sun, flip flops, shoes for your travel here and when you're on an adventure, reef boots are also advised. Apart from that bring yourself and some good vibes and we're in for some fun!
At first glance you may think that getting to Siargao mean an array of long haul flights and long stop overs. Fear not as we here at Ticket to Ride are going to make it easy for you.
We advise using Skyscanner or Kayak in order to book your International flights. Many of our trippers will be based in the UK, however we are happy to advise anyone who’s flying from all corners of the globe.
We realise that Siargao may not be the easiest destination on the planet to get to, but rest assured its worth the flight hours!
Whether you're flying into Manila or Cebu, the basic International flight plan goes as follows.
- Depart your home country in order to arrive in Manila or Cebu the night before the start of your trip 8th/23rd September (depending on Trip booked). Therefore, aim to arrive in Manila or Cebu on 7th/22nd September 2019.
- Stay a night in Manila or Cebu (please check below for Hotel advice)
- Book a domestic flight on the morning of the 8th/23rd of September from Manila or Cebu, to Siargao Island.
For return flight information please look below.
So you've organised your Manila flight using Skyscanner or Kayak, where do you go from here.
- Depart your home country in order to arrive in Manila the night before the start of your trip 8th/23rd September (depending on Trip booked). Therefore, aim to arrive in Manila on 7th/22nd September 2019.
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Stay a night in Manila. If you would like to stay in the centre of Manila, then book Z Hostel for the night of the 7th/22nd September. If you would like to stay nearby the airport, book RedDoorz near NAIA Terminal 1
- Book a domestic flight on the morning of the 8th/23rd September from Manila, to Siargao Island. Book via Cebu Pacific Air or from Manila Ninoy Aquino (MNL) to Siargao Island (IAO).
- Arrive in Siargao Island (IAO) on the 8th/23rd of September where you will be greeted by your Trip Leaders.
There are limited number of flights to the island daily, so please book early. If possible, book the 12:35PM Cebu Pacific flight from Manila to Siargao, as having everyone on the same flight is far easier logistically.
So you've organised your Cebu flight using Skyscanner or Kayak, where do you go from here?
- Depart your home country in order to arrive in Cebu the night before the start of your trip 8th/23rd September (depending on Trip booked). Therefore, aim to arrive in Manila on 7th/22nd September 2019.
- Stay a night in Cebu. Pre Book to stay at Red Planet Cebu via Booking.com for the night of the 7th/22nd September.
- Book a domestic flight on the morning of the 8th/23rd of September from Cebu, to Siargao Island. Book a flight via Philippines Air from Mactan Cebu International (CEB) to Siargao Island (IAO).
- Arrive in Siargao Island (IAO) on the 8th/23rd of September where you will be greeted by your Trip Leaders.
If you are flying from Cebu to Siargao as opposed to Manila to Siargao, please contact us in advance.
We advise for you to catch the 14:30 Flight via Philippines Air from Cebu to Siargao so that you arrive at the same time as those coming from Manila.
We will check out of our beautiful accommodation on the 29th of September or 14th of October 2019 (depending on Trip Booked), so you will need to book your flights back to Cebu or Manila on this day.
Rest assured our Trip Leaders will get you to Siargao Island Airport for any flight you need. Give yourself plenty of time between flying from Siargao to Manila / Cebu and then onwards to catch your next connecting flight, unless you're continuing your adventures around the Philippines.
RETURN FLIGHTS ARE ALWAYS CHEAPER - most people know this, but it's certainly worth highlighting once again. When booking your flights to Siargao Island we highly advise for you to book all your flights as returns.
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, check http://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.