The island of Siquijor is known to many as the mystical Island of the Philippines. It is one of the many Islands in the Visayas region that is blessed with clean white beaches, clear seas and animated marine life.
And the best part about Siquijor Island?- its PEOPLE. They are very friendly. Once you step foot here, they will welcome you with their warm smile.
Hello, Hivers! Rej here and I am back for another travel adventure. Join me as I take you to the Island of fire- Siquijor, Philippines!
I filed a vacation leave from work before I get so busy with the peak season. This travel experience is very special to me because this is my first travel outside Cebu, Philippines (my hometown) as a vlogger. For the past years, I have some travels outside Cebu when I do have an extra budget, but I was not yet a vlogger that time. Little did I know that God is preparing me to become one "someday" and that someday is NOW.
I also made a Youtube vlog of my entire travel. That's Regine Villamejor on Youtube. (https://www.youtube.com/@reginevillamejor8095/videos)
I'm finally back in fulfilling some of the things that I wrote on my vision book. For years, I put on hold some of my wants to give way for our needs. I'm pretty sure all the breadwinners that will be reached by this post can relate. I have so much respect on you, guys. I am very grateful to my parents for raising me well and for guiding me all the way. I thank God as well for all the blessings He gave me.
Meet Anne, my best friend for 10 years. She's always the type of friend who supports me with the things that I love to do and that includes travelling. She's one of my Siquijor travel buddies and the other one is Eman who lives in Dumaguete City. We will meet up with Eman in Dumaguete City and the three of us will go together to Siquijor Island.
Anne and I had our dinner first at Chowking while waiting for our flight. After eating, we still had an hour left before our flight so we go over on our Siquijor itinerary to finalize it.
Since we are travelling from Cebu, Philippines, we went to Mactan Cebu International Airport to take a plane ride going to Dumaguete airport. The schedule of Cebu to Dumaguete flight usually falls in the evening. We spent Php 3,137.52 ($ 55.22) per head for our round trip ticket from Cebu to Dumaguete and from Dumaguete to Cebu.
Upon arriving in Dumaguete City, Philippines, we stayed there for a night at Eman's humble home.
Touchdown, Dumaguete City! We landed safe at Dumaguete airport and after which we took a trike going to Eman's humble home and we slept there for a night.
There are a couple of ways on how to get to the Island of Siquijor. You could have a plane ride from Cebu to Dumaguete and then from Dumaguete you could ride any shipping lines available like Ocean Jet, Aleson shipping and others going to Siquijor Island.
You could also take a bus ride from Cebu South bus terminal going directly to Siquijor Island. Another option is to take any shipping lines from Cebu going directly to Siquijor Island. The fastest way that I could suggest is to take Ocean jet.
I am speaking in behalf of me travelling from Cebu City, Philippines. If you are coming from other areas, there are also tips posted online on the schedule.
They say that warming the tummy is good to start the day. So before heading to Siquijor Island, we dropped by here at Painitan sa Tiangge. This is very famous here in Dumaguete for their puto and sikwate (sweet sticky coconut and ginger rice with hot chocolate) and other menu. We love it so much! It is actually my third time to be here and it still feels like the first time every time I'm here.
After having our breakfast at Painitan sa Tiangge in Dumaguete City, we head on to the ticketing office to buy for tickets going to Siqujor Island. The ticketing office in Dumaguete City is located at Zone 1, Barangay Looc, Dumauete City.
Among all the shipping lines in Dumaguete City, we chose Aleson shipping since it is the schedule that perfectly fits for us. The Departure time is at 10:00 A.M. We paid Php 200.00 per head ($3.53) for the ticket.
After getting our ticket, we went straight to Dumaguete Port which is just few steps away from the ticketing office. We passed through the security personnel and went inside the port to pay for the terminal fee before we ride on to the ferry.
As we enter the Port, we went straight at their office inside to pay for the terminal fee. This is on top of the ticket that we bought. The terminal fee is at Php 15.00 ($ 0.26) per head.
We're done paying for the terminal fee and now let's travel to Siquijor Island via Aleson shipping lines.
This is what Aleson shipping looks like from the inside. Our travel time from Dumaguete City going to Siquijor Island via Aleson shipping would take around 2 hours.
While we're on board, Anne and I took some snaps for memories. Eman wasn't able to join for this photo because he was upstairs that time enjoying the beautiful view.
After a few minutes, I also went upstairs to check on the view and here are some of the incredible photos of the clear sea that I was able to capture while traveling from Dumaguete Port going to Siquijor Island. And guess what? Wait for the surprise because you will be amazed by the port of Siquijor Island.
We arrived safely in Siquijor Island and look at that port! What an incredible one. This is just the port itself and this Island has so much more to offer that would really captivate your heart. Siquijor Island is somewhat an underrated destination in the Philippines. This is also one of the reasons that I traveled here to showcase its exceptional beauty!
The Spanish called this Island "Isla del Fuego" (Island of Fire) for the glow caused by numerous fireflies at night. In addition, Siquijor Island has become popular among locals for folk healing. There are a lot of stories being told about Siquijor. Upon travelling into this place, I could attest that this is really something that should be added on someone's bucket list. I'm excited to tell you more on what this Island has in store for every tourist. Let's go!
As we arrived in Siquijor Port, we were greeted with a smile by the locals there. In Siquijor Port, there are a lot of locals offering for motorbikes and cars for rent. The three of us agreed to rent a car with DAS TRAUM ONE STOP SERVICES. We rented a Mitsubishi Mirage automatic transmission for Php 1,500.00 ($26.50) per day excluding the gasoline expenses. For the gasoline, we spent Php 1,300.00 ($ 22.96) in total and we already visited a lot of tourist attractions in Siquijor Island with this cost. Anne filled out the form and we were asked to surrender one valid I.D. and it will be given back after we return the car that we rented.
This is the car that we were able to rent. The three of us knows how to drive, but my friends really gave a me a Disney Princess treatment in this adventure. Hahaha! They wanted me to be just a passenger in this whole trip for me to enjoy my vlogging experience. They are just so sweet and supportive. I'm truly blessed to have them in my life.
First things first- let's grab some food. Hahaha. Food is life. It was around lunch time when we arrived in Siquijor Island. We decided to have lunch at Tawhay Resto and Café. This is located in Lala-o, San Juan, Siquijor, Philippines. They serve good coffee, breakfast, lunch and dinner here. Their food was so yummy! And the price for each menu is just within the budget. I truly love the ambiance and their customer service as well. You could choose to have indoor dining or Al Fresco dining. Any of those is just perfect.
After having our lunch, we went directly to the accommodation that we were able to book to settle our things. Our check-in is at 2:00 P.M. and it's just a perfect time to go there since it's past 1 P.M. when we we finished our lunch.
We chose to have our accommodation in JJ's Backpackers and Restaurant. If you are looking for a budget-friendly accommodation, I highly suggest this place. This is located in Siquijor Circumferential Road, San Juan, Siquijor, Philippines.
The moment we arrived here, we presented our online booking confirmation at the front desk. We booked this through Agoda.
We were so excited to enter here and took some snaps while waiting for our room to be ready. It is an all in one accommodation. Among the various facilities are a bar, a restaurant and a private beach area. The property has evening entertainment and free WiFi.
I also love the interior design of their restaurant wherein they showcase some painting of great artists.
I just love the "province feels" of the accommodation that we were able to book here in Siquijor. This is the room that we will be staying for the next few days in the Island. Selected rooms have a balcony and others also provide guests with garden views.
Some rooms have aircon units and some have fans. In our case, we stayed in the accommodation with fans provided since the ones with aircon units were already fully-booked when we had our reservation and this is the one that's available. But still it's a great stay since the fans indoor cross-breeze that can carry cool air from room to room. This room is good for three persons and they also have a spacious bathroom. We paid Php 1,800.00 ($31.75) per night here.
After settling our things, we freshen up and headed on to the places that we listed on our bucket list for this Siquijor travel adventure. Join me as we explore together the wonderful tourist attractions in Siquijor Island, Philippines. Let's go!
Pitogo Cliff is one of the newly hidden paradise in Siquijor Island. This is located in San Juan, Siquijor. Before enjoying its breathtaking view, you still have to pay here an amount of Php 30.00 ($0.53) per head for the entrance fee. And after paying, you can now enjoy the entire place as much as you want.
The serene cliff side gets its name from the Pitogo plant that grows in the area. As you go straight from the main entrance, you will witness a large number of Pitogo plants surrounding the area before reaching the cliff itself. I'm so amazed how beautiful these Pitogo plants are.
If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush, you shouldn’t miss the chance to visit Siquijor’s Pitogo Cliff. Located at the Southwestern side of the island facing the breathtaking Sulu Sea, this hidden gem will truly give every tourist a magnificent experience.
I truly enjoyed taking a lot of photos here and upon writing this, it still feels surreal how incredible Pitogo Cliff is. It truly is a hidden gem in this Island.
I also learned that prior to being one of Siquijor’s popular travel destinations, locals used to gather here in Pitogo Cliff and hangout by the cliffside to enjoy the scenery.
Whether you’re a beginner who is trying to conquer your fear of heights or a seasoned cliff diver looking for a new adventures, then you could also try to jump or dive off here.
The Cliff also hang a gentle reminder upon jumping or diving off the cliff. Jumping and diving off the cliff is extremely dangerous and is a personal decision on the risk exempting the property owner from any liability. You can freely jump off from the cliff but do it with extra care. There are also life jackets provided just in case you want to use one.
The highest point of Pitogo Cliff reaches around 40 feet, and it’s best enjoyed during high tide. But fear not, as there are also 10-foot and 20-foot jumping-off points available, which can be used even during low tide. So no matter what time of the day you visit here, you can still jump or dive into the clear sea with extra care.
We did not try to jump off the cliff because we just enjoyed hanging out here and it truly is a memorable experience. After spending like almost 2 hours here, it is now time to proceed to the next destination which is the Paliton Beach.
Paliton Beach is rated as one of the best beaches in Siquijor, Island for its white beach and coconut tree fringed shoreline. It is located in the main tourist area of San Juan, Siquijor Island, Philippines.
Upon entering, you will have to pay Php 20.00 ($0.35) per head for the environmental fee. After paying, you will be welcomed with this wonderful view! Inside, there are a number of local food stands and also stalls that sells souvenirs.
There are some locals around the area that would be happy to take photos and videos of every tourist here in Paliton beach if you want to hire one. You could give them any generous amount as donation for their effort and they would be very much happy to receive those. It is also their source of income here. A clean way of earning money while making sure that every tourist gets the best experience.
Their photography skills is truly commendable. Some of my photos were taken by my friends and some of it, I tapped the locals in the area and gave them a generous amount so that they also have something to use for their daily needs.
The powdery white sand, the long line of towering coconut palms and the crystalline waters is just perfect for any photo. I truly enjoyed smiling at the camera while waiting for the sunset. This is really something I would treasure in a lifetime.
One of things that you shouldn't miss to try once you visit Paliton Beach is the famous "swing with human drone." The locals were so good at capturing photos and videos while you are on the swing and the result is really something that's captured by a real drone. To visualize more of this, please feel free to check out my Youtube channel for the the behind the scenes video and actual result for the "swing with human drone" performed by the locals." This is the link of the video I posted on my Youtube channel
That's Regine Villamejor on Youtube.
You could give any generous amount to the locals who took your videos and photos for the "swing with human drone." They have a small container that they hang into the side and that's where you would put the money that you would give to them as donation. Any amount means so much to them aldready. As a tourist, you would be able to enjoy this incredible experience and at the same time help the locals in putting food in their table.
One of the best sunset spots in Siquijor is in front of the ocean at Paliton beach. On a tropical island like Siquijor, it is always a great idea to end the day on a beach while the sun sinks into the horizon. After a long day of travel from Dumaguete City going to the Island of Siquijor, and visiting some places to eat and breathtaking tourist spots on our day one in the Island, the best way to do is to end our day here in Paliton beach as we watch for the sunset.
As someone who loves the sunset so much, my heart melts upon witnessing this. I am in awe of this unfiltered sunset in Paliton Beach. My heart was just so happy. When I was here, I silently prayed to God hoping that someday, I would find the man that I would watch the sunrise until the sunset of my life with. For now, I am enjoying the season I am in. I'm not rushing, I'm just living into the moment of God's blessing and wonderful creation.
In life, it's a bit hard to find people who supports you through ups and downs. People who would go the extra mile to let you feel that doing your passion is a wonderful thing. I'm happy to say, I have these kind of people in my life who supported me from the beginning until this very monent. Eman and Anne have been travelling a couple of times already in Siquijor Island, Philippines. But the moment they knew that this is my first ever travel outside my hometown as a vlogger, they immediately told me that they will go with me.
Just like this sunset right here, it is just as beautiful as their soul and as colorful and meaningful like our friendship. #SunsetWithCloseFriendsInPalitonBeach is truly one for the books.
After having a great time in Paliton beach, we decided to dine at Jainin's Café. This is another recommendation I have for #WhereToEatInSiquijor. They offer a wide selection of food to chose from that's within the budget and very delicious.
Jainin's Café is very famous here in Siquijor for their tasty pastries, good coffee and affordable meals. Here are some of the list of their menu.
We enjoyed our food here in Jainin's Café. These are some of the food that we ordered and we love it so much. I would rate 10/10 for this resto + café. Their customer service is also commendable.
We are now in the end of this Part 1 of my Siquijor travel adventure. I hope you guys enjoyed it. I am thrilled to share with you that there are more amazing tourist attractions in the Island of Siquijor, Philippines on the Part 2 of this travel adventure.
Thank you so much for joining me in this Part 1 of my Siquijor travel and I will see you all on the Siquijor Travel Adventure Part 2.
That's it for today's Rejourney. I will see you all on my next one. Much love from your Inspiring Cebuana. Stay safe! 😍
THANKS FOR READING THIS POST!
Your Inspiring Cebuana is here to spread positivity and at the same time take you to different tourist attractions. She is here not just to share her inspiring journey, but also to share other people’s inspiring stories. She was able to overcome a lot of challenges in life and she continuously gives light to the people around her. She always has the heart for the less fortunate and would definitely go the extra mile to help in her own little way.
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Hiya, @ybanezkim26 here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Honorable Mentions in Travel Digest #2022.
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Thank you so much, @ybanezkim26. All the best!
OMG it looks sensational and I can understand why you had such a good time and loved it so much!
Now I'm going to have to save up and go too! 😃
Hello there, @chocolatescorpi. Yes it is truly a majestic Island. I would be sharing more tourist attractions on this Island on the Part 2 of this. Stay tuned.
Yay! Looking forward for you to visit the Island soon.
Excellent, I look forward to part #2 then!
Make sure you tag me in there so I don't miss it!
Oh! Thanks for mentioning that one. Will tag you there or mention you in a comment. All the best, @chocolatescorpi.
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