Booking a Boat Tour in Siargao, Philippines

You absolutely have to do a boat day in Siargao. The islands have some of the best beaches! In this blog I’ll go over how to book a boat trip in Siargao, costs, what islands to go to, what we did, and what I’d recommend for your travel style.

How to Book a Boat Trip in Siargao

The cheapest and most common way to book a boat trip is to go to the port early on the day you want to take your trip and hire a boat captain. In General Luna, there’s a large building with a red roof on the water, that’s where you go. You should be able to easily look up the port on google maps as well.

I’d recommend going there definitely before 9am, we got there around 7:45am and it was pretty busy. You go up to the front desk and from there you pick the islands you want to visit. The most common and cheapest is the three island tour, Daku, Naked, and Guyam. You can add on Mamon and/or Corregidor which are islands further away and do cost more because you will need a larger boat to get there.

You can either go on your own with whoever you’re traveling with or it’s very common to talk to other people at the port to see where they are going, get a boat together, and split the cost. Whatever you prefer!

We decided to do Mamon, Daku, and Naked. Mamon was highly recommended by our airbnb host. Because we were going to Mamon we did have to spend more on the larger boat. In total we spent around 7000 pesos, about $112. The 3 island tour I believe was around 4500 pesos.

The other option to booking a tour is going through a booking site like Get Your Guide. The cost seemed more expensive this way but if you feel more comfortable booking through a platform like this, definitely feel free too. Especially if you’re here in high season.

I asked our airbnb host a few months in advance their recommendation and they said to just go to the port the day you want to go on a boat tour.

Finally, a more expensive option, would be to book a small yacht for your tour. This is definitely going to be the most expensive and nicest option. While on Mamon, we saw an extremely nice boat pull up to the beach and dock, they had their own sun chairs, food, and everything you need for a beach day.

Unless you’re really wealthy or it’s your honeymoon, I don’t see the need for the last option. It’s going to be very expensive. But keep in mind the boat you are riding on for these tours, even if you’re by yourself like my husband and I were, are not nice. It’s not a boat to relax on. It’s just a way to get you from point A to point B.

TIPS: Bring noise cancelling headphones or earplugs if loud sounds bother you, the engines on these boats are very loud. The ride can also be quite bumpy, not very comfortable especially if you’re traveling further out to Mamon or Corregidor. So if you get sea sick easily take a ginger pill while at the port.

Finally, I’d recommend doing the boat tour at the beginning of your trip, that way if you have bad weather you can rearrange your schedule and hopefully get some boating time in later during your stay here in Siargao. I always do this with any destination I plan to take boat trips on.

Siargao Islands

Daku

Daku is the largest of the three island tour and also is the only island that has food. So it’s worth stopping here just for that, even though we didn’t really love the food, you will want to eat.

Out of the three main islands, this is going to be the best option for spending most of your time laying out and swimming. There’s usually sand volleyball going and just the busiest island in general. More people, more things to do, and food.

Naked

The most unique out of the three island tour and a must visit while in Siargao on a boat tour. It’s a quick stop because it’s tiny and absolutely nothing there. Naked island is really just a sandbar, so no shade and it’s HOT in the Philippines. The water is beautiful here though, crystal clear and turquoise blue.

The best view of this island is definitely by drone and there’s usually someone around with a drone that will video you and send you the footage with a cost. I thought pulling up on the boat was beautiful enough.

Guyam

The last of the three island tour. This island is also very small but popular for photos. We decided to skip this one as we were ready to go home by the time we ended at Daku.

Mamon

This is an island about an hour boat ride from Siargao, recommended by our host and I’m so glad we made the trip out here. This was the most beautiful island I’ve ever been to, a true tropical paradise.

Since it’s so far, not a lot of people come out here so it’s common to have the entire island to yourself. There was just one other group while we were here. The main three islands get pretty busy, so having almost no one on this island made the experience feel more exotic and tropical.

Think powdery white sand, the clearest, blue water, and shores lined with palm trees. And of course a coconut to sip on! This is Mamon. I highly recommend coming out here, it’s definitely worth the extra time and money. We honestly could have just gone to Mamon and spent the whole day here exploring.

Keep in mind there’s really nothing here, other than some of the villagers selling coconuts. So you will need to bring your own food. But it’s the perfect place to get setup under a palm tree, swim, and relax for the day.

Mamon was definitely the main highlight of our time in Siargao.

Corregidor

Another beautiful, further away island recommended by our host. I think this one is a little closer than Mamon, but we did not go here. Our host said it offers similar vibes as Mamon as far as island beauty but Corregidor is more visited.

There’s a really popular palm tree photo spot higher on the island that most people come to photograph. But still it’s less busy than the three main islands.

I think it’s definitely worth adding either Mamon or Corregidor to your Siargao boat tour.

What I’d Recommend For Your Travel Style

No matter what islands you visit in Siargao you’re going to have a good time and see beautiful scenery.

If you prefer a slower, more relaxed and less touristy option, I’d recommend Mamon or Corregidor. This is going to be the more expensive and time consuming option but in my opinion it’s totally worth it.

You’ll get to relax on some of the most beautiful beaches and swim in the clearest waters. It’s a true tropical paradise.

If you want to experience a more fun and lively atmosphere and you want something a little cheaper, I’d recommend the three island tour, Naked, Daku, and Guyam. If you’re with a group of friends this is going to be your best option.

You’ll still get to experience beautiful scenery and clear water but you’ll also have convenience, a fun atmosphere, and better on your budget.