Why Honeymoon in Siquijor
Siquijor gives you something the busier islands cannot: the feeling that the place still mostly belongs to itself. Most travel here is by tricycle on roads lined with churches, schools and fishing villages. The swimming spots are lovely and rarely crowded outside weekends and holidays.
It is also romantic in an old-fashioned way. Afternoons end with sunset on the sand, evenings bring fireflies in the trees and there are a few good restaurants with candles on the tables. Mystery helps. The island's healers still prepare herbal potions and some welcome respectful visitors.
The trade-off is polish. Rooms are simpler, power can flicker and you need to be comfortable with a slower pace. For a couple who have spent a week on boats in Palawan, that can be exactly right.
When to Go
The driest months usually run from about February through May, with calm seas for the ferry crossing and good visibility for snorkeling. February through April tends to be the most settled. May is hot and still.
From June to September there is more rain, often in afternoon bursts, but plenty of fine days too. Typhoon risk rises in the later months of the year, roughly October to December. Ferries can be suspended when seas are rough.
Holy Week before Easter is a big time on the island, when healers gather to prepare traditional remedies and domestic visitors arrive. It is interesting but busy. Weekdays outside holidays are the quietest time of all.
Where to Stay
Most couples stay on the west coast around San Juan, which has the best sunsets, the Tubod Marine Sanctuary and the widest choice of restaurants. Coco Grove Beach Resort is one of the island's best-known full-service resorts, with a white beach and pools. It is a comfortable choice for a honeymoon.
Beyond that, look for small boutique bungalows and villa retreats along the coast toward Paliton and Solangon. Many have only a handful of rooms, gardens running down to the water and owner-run kitchens. Read recent reviews carefully, as quality varies.
The east and south coasts around Lazi and Maria are quieter still, with a few simple resorts near Salagdoong Beach. They are lovely for a night or two, though you will travel farther for dinner.
Romantic Things to Do
Spend a day circling the island on the coast road. Start at Cambugahay Falls in Lazi, where three tiers of turquoise pools step down through the forest and a rope swing hangs over the water. Go early on a weekday to have it mostly to yourselves.
Nearby, stop at the old balete tree, a huge strangler fig with a spring-fed pool at its base where small fish nibble your feet. Walk through the old stone church and convent in Lazi.
In the afternoon, head to Salagdoong Beach for cliff jumps into clear water, or back west to Paliton Beach for sunset under the palms.
After dark, ask your hotel where the fireflies are active and take a slow walk or ride to find them. Snorkel the Tubod sanctuary the next morning.
Getting There and Around
There is no regular commercial airport on Siquijor. Fly to Dumaguete (DGT) on Negros from Manila or Cebu, then take a short tricycle ride to the port. Ferries cross to Siquijor town or Larena in about 1 to 1.5 hours depending on the boat.
Ferries also run from Tagbilaran on Bohol in roughly two hours, which makes Bohol and Siquijor an easy pairing. Take a morning sailing when seas tend to be calmer.
Dumaguete itself is a pleasant university city with a seaside boulevard, an easy place to spend a night if your flight lands after the last ferry.
On Siquijor, rent a scooter if you both ride confidently, or hire a tricycle and driver for the day, which is cheap and stress-free. The coast road loops the whole island and the main sights fit into one full day.
Food and Drink
Siquijor has more good food than its size suggests, much of it run by foreigners who settled here. Around San Juan you can find wood-fired pizza, Mexican, vegan cafes and plenty of Filipino grills. Seafood is the safest bet, especially grilled fish and squid with garlic rice.
Try torta, a sweet bread popular across the central Philippines, with your morning coffee. Fresh mango and calamansi juice are everywhere. Your resort can also arrange a beach barbecue, which is the most romantic dinner on the island.
Restaurants close earlier than in Boracay or Siargao and some shut on certain days, so ask your hotel which are open. Cash is essential. Cards are accepted at only a few places and the island's ATMs are limited.
Honeymoon Tips
Withdraw enough pesos in Dumaguete or on Bohol before you cross. Island ATMs are few and sometimes out of service.
Plan your waterfall visit for a weekday morning. Local families fill Cambugahay on weekends and holidays and the pools turn milky after heavy rain.
Treat the healing tradition with respect. If you visit a healer, go with a local guide, ask before taking photos and offer a donation.
Pack mosquito repellent for evenings, especially if you go looking for fireflies near mangroves.
Keep the itinerary loose. Ferries can be canceled in rough weather and the island's charm comes from not rushing. Three or four nights is ideal and two is the minimum to make the crossings worthwhile.
