Siargao on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes, if you stay in surf hostels, eat at carinderias and pick a few shared tours. A realistic minimum is about ₱2,800 a day per person sharing a room — around ₱900 for a bed, ₱700 for food, ₱800 for activities and ₱400 for transport.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | ₱900 | ₱2,500 | ₱7,000 |
| Food & drink | ₱700 | ₱1,500 | ₱3,000 |
| Sights & tickets | ₱800 | ₱1,800 | ₱3,500 |
| Local transport | ₱400 | ₱800 | ₱2,000 |
| Per person, per day | ₱2,800 | ₱6,600 | ₱15,500 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Siargao day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Sunrise from the Cloud 9 boardwalk (free or a small fee)
- The coconut tree viewpoint north of General Luna
- Sunset by the General Luna pier
- Watching the surfers at Cloud 9 and Jacking Horse
- Swimming at beaches south of General Luna
- Walking Tourism Road in the evening
Cheap eats
- Carinderia rice with a choice of dishes — about ₱120–200
- Kinilaw (raw fish cured in coconut vinegar) — about ₱200–350
- Grilled fish or squid at a local place — about ₱200–400
- Fresh fruit shake — about ₱100–180
- San Miguel beer — about ₱80–150
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in surf hostels on and around Tourism Road in General Luna, about ₱700–1,500 for a dorm bed or basic room. Book ahead for Holy Week, Christmas and the surf season.
Getting around cheaply
Rent a scooter for about ₱350–500 a day, or use tricycles for ₱50–100 a short ride. From Sayak airport, shared vans to General Luna cost about ₱300–400. Ferries from Surigao City are cheaper than flying if you are already in Mindanao.
A sample budget day
- Morning: sunrise at the Cloud 9 boardwalk (free)
- Lunch: carinderia (about ₱150)
- Afternoon: beginner surf lesson at Jacking Horse (about ₱1,000)
- Evening: kinilaw and a beer on Tourism Road (about ₱400)
- Total: about ₱2,800 including a hostel bed (about ₱900) and a share of a scooter (about ₱400)
More ways to save
- Group up with other hostel guests for boat trips to split costs.
- Carry small notes for fees, tricycles and food stalls.
- Bring your own snorkel, reef booties and dry bag to avoid rental fees.
- Refill water bottles at your hostel instead of buying small bottles.
- Take a shared van rather than a private transfer from the airport.
- Visit outside Holy Week, Christmas and peak surf weeks for lower room prices.
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Common questions
Can you visit Siargao on a budget?
Yes. Stay in a surf hostel, eat at carinderias and join shared tours. Plan on about ₱2,800 a day.
How much is a surf lesson in Siargao?
About ₱1,000–1,500 for 1.5–2 hours with board and instructor, plus a boat fee for offshore spots.
How do I get from Sayak airport to General Luna?
Shared vans take about 45–60 minutes and cost about ₱300–400 per person.