Siquijor: Island of Fire & Magic

Six towns around a loop road of about 75 km: waterfalls, beaches, old churches and a local folk-healing tradition. Plan where to stay and eat, and what to check before you go.

Where to stay Explore the map

Pictured: Cambugahay Falls, Lazi

Start here

Three guides for planning the trip: getting to the island, where to base yourself, and the six towns at a glance.

Choose a town

Six towns around the loop road. What each is known for, and which suit a base, as the guides describe them.

Siquijor town

The provincial capital. A Spanish-era church, St. Francis of Assisi, is within walking distance of the port.

As a base: Convenient for the port.

26 places 12 places to stayin Siquijor town
Larena

A port town and long-standing ferry hub. Larena Park and Sandugan Beach are listed as sights.

As a base: Often suggested for budget travelers and for easy arrival by boat.

13 places 7 places to stayin Larena
Lazi

The San Isidro Labrador church and convent, a National Cultural Treasure, and Cambugahay Falls.

As a base: A good fit for getting away from the crowds, with natural scenery.

18 places 7 places to stayin Lazi
Maria

Salagdoong Beach, known for turquoise water and diving platforms of different heights.

6 places 4 places to stayin Maria
San Juan

Resorts, restaurants and dive shops along the beach stretch between Solangon and Paliton, and the Tubod Marine Sanctuary.

As a base: The main tourist hub, with beachfront stays, restaurants and some nightlife.

77 places 42 places to stayin San Juan
Enrique Villanueva

The smallest town, with Tulapos Marine Sanctuary, described as the island's oldest marine protected area.

7 places 1 place to stayin Enrique Villanueva

Not sure? Read where to base yourself

Find a place

147 places across 6 towns, by what you are looking for. In each group, the places with the most photos come first.

Fire and magic

The island's reputation rests on a few specific things: a name from old accounts, healers who gather each Holy Week, a mountain and a fig tree with their own stories. Each guide says what is documented and what is tradition.

The name

Isla del Fuego

Accounts say the Spaniards called it the Island of Fire for the fireflies glowing in its molave trees. The guide sets the accounts apart from the legends.
The healers

The mananambal

Siquijor is widely known in the Philippines for its traditional healers, and for a Holy Week gathering that puts their work in the public eye.
The mountain

Mount Bandilaan

Generally given as the highest point on the island, inside the Siquijor Forest Reserve, with a viewing tower near the top. Each Holy Week it is where the healers gather.
The tree

The Enchanted Balete Tree

A fig tree beside the highway in Lazi, said to be home to fairies and elves, with a spring and a fish pool at its base. Local belief, not established fact.