Siargao

Siargao is an island in Surigao del Norte, Philippines, lying in the Philippine Sea and surrounded by coral reefs, lagoons, and mangrove forests. The coast shows narrow strips of sand, rocky coves, and shallow reef platforms that become partly visible at low tide.

Spanish seafarers reached the island in the mid-16th century and initially called it Isla de las Palmas because of the thick palm groves along its shores. For centuries it remained thinly populated until surfers from Australia and the United States discovered the wave formations in the 1980s and the first simple accommodations appeared.

The local name comes from

Sayak Airport sits on the east coast and receives planes from Manila and other Philippine cities, with the main travel season running from October to April. Boats and ferries connect the island to nearby coastal towns, and the crossing takes several hours depending on weather conditions.

A narrow wooden walkway leads over the shallow reef to the spot where the waves break, allowing onlookers to reach close to the surfing zone without getting their feet wet. The reef top lies so close beneath the surface that at certain tides only a few centimeters of water stand above the coral rock.