Siquijor

Siquijor is a small island province in the Visayas lying some 22 km east of Southern Negros. While the coastline is mostly white sand beaches fronting the ocean full of tropical marine life, the interior is mountainous.

The Spanish named it Isla del Fuego due to the intensity of its fire flies. Legend has it that Siquijor rose from the sea during a tremendous thunder storm and one can still see fossils and shells on Mount Bandila-an, Siquijor's highest point.

Tourist information center, Larena town (right next to Larena port entrance. Readily provide tourist information, sell souvenirs. Besides, tourist police office can also be found in the same building.

• St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Santa Fe Street, +63 35 344 2224. With Siquijor Belltower right next to it.
• Siquijor Beach. Several white sand beach resorts dot the coastal areas.

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Santa Fe Street, +63 35 344 2224. With Siquijor Belltower right next to it.

Siquijor Beach. Several white sand beach resorts dot the coastal areas.

• Capilay Spring Park. A natural spring fed swimming pool in the centre of San Juan. A favourite with the locals at weekends.
• San Juan Beach. Lots of beach resorts and great for snorkelling and scuba diving.
• Lugnason Falls. Nice waterfall close to San Juan.

Capilay Spring Park. A natural spring fed swimming pool in the centre of San Juan. A favourite with the locals at weekends.

San Juan Beach. Lots of beach resorts and great for snorkelling and scuba diving.

Lugnason Falls. Nice waterfall close to San Juan.

• San Isidro Labrador Convent. Reputed to be the biggest and one of the oldest convents in the Philippines, the Spaniards started construction in 1887 and was completed in 1894. Declared as a historical landmark by the Philippine Historical Commission.
• Cambugahay Falls. Impressive 3-tiered waterfalls just outside Lazi. Great for swimming.
• Century Old Balete Tree. Supposedly enchanted old tree covered in hundreds of roots and vines.
• Kagusuan Beach. Noted for its picturesque seascape and rock formation, it is situated below a cliff and accessible by concrete staircase.
• Ilihan cave.

San Isidro Labrador Convent. Reputed to be the biggest and one of the oldest convents in the Philippines, the Spaniards started construction in 1887 and was completed in 1894. Declared as a historical landmark by the Philippine Historical Commission.

Cambugahay Falls. Impressive 3-tiered waterfalls just outside Lazi. Great for swimming.

Century Old Balete Tree. Supposedly enchanted old tree covered in hundreds of roots and vines.

Kagusuan Beach. Noted for its picturesque seascape and rock formation, it is situated below a cliff and accessible by concrete staircase.

Ilihan cave.

• Our Lady of the Divine Providence church, Siquijor Circumferential Road.
• Salagdoong Beach, 6 km northeast of Maria. Favourite with the locals and great for swimming and snorkelling. There are also water slides and places to dive into the sea. On the way to the beach you'll be passing Salagdoong Forest Reserve, which a manmade forest with Molave trees.

Our Lady of the Divine Providence church, Siquijor Circumferential Road.

Salagdoong Beach, 6 km northeast of Maria. Favourite with the locals and great for swimming and snorkelling. There are also water slides and places to dive into the sea. On the way to the beach you'll be passing Salagdoong Forest Reserve, which a manmade forest with Molave trees.

• Mt. Bandilaan National Park. It hosts the highest peak in the island. It takes about 5-10 minutes to get to the top of the mountain from the road. Path is not well maintained. On the way there are couple of Stations of the Cross
• Buterfly Sanctuary, Just outside Cang-apa village. Sign-posted from the main road.
• Cantabon Cave. Takes 1.5 hr to walk through and you need to register in the town before venturing inside. Local guide required (they hang around the cave) as the cave is locked up.

Mt. Bandilaan National Park. It hosts the highest peak in the island. It takes about 5-10 minutes to get to the top of the mountain from the road. Path is not well maintained. On the way there are couple of Stations of the Cross

Buterfly Sanctuary, Just outside Cang-apa village. Sign-posted from the main road.

Cantabon Cave. Takes 1.5 hr to walk through and you need to register in the town before venturing inside. Local guide required (they hang around the cave) as the cave is locked up.

• Visit Bolo Bolo healing ritual, Shamans and witches

There is really good diving around the island, especially the southern end. Dive shops on the island also make trips all the way to the Apo Island (excellent) and Baligasac.

• Siquijor Dive Safari, Tubod, San Juan, +63 35 481-5089.
• Aberration Dive Club, North Poblacion Larena, +63 35 377-2368. Offers filled scuba tanks ( each) for certified divers and easy diving without dive center connections.
• Sea Pearl Divers, Lala-o, San Juan, +63 917 6952985. 8AM-6PM daily.

Siquijor Dive Safari, Tubod, San Juan, +63 35 481-5089.

Aberration Dive Club, North Poblacion Larena, +63 35 377-2368. Offers filled scuba tanks ( each) for certified divers and easy diving without dive center connections.

Sea Pearl Divers, Lala-o, San Juan, +63 917 6952985. 8AM-6PM daily.

• Prince Hypermart, Larena town. 8AM-8PM.

Prince Hypermart, Larena town. 8AM-8PM.

• PNB bank ATM in Larena (but only Visa cards are accepted).
• Metro Bank ATM in Siquijor town, on the main road. (It accepts MasterCard and Visa).

PNB bank ATM in Larena (but only Visa cards are accepted).

Metro Bank ATM in Siquijor town, on the main road. (It accepts MasterCard and Visa).

• Rastaman Grill and Seafood. In the center of San Juan. Chicken, pork, seafood and vegetarian dishes. European and Philippino style, price low to midrange but great taste. Friendly staff and some nights have live music.
• Joyjoy's Restaurant.
• Sakura Restaurant. In the center of town. They have a variety of dishes. and up. Great chicken curry and soups.
• Sammy's Pizza.
• Villa Marmarine. 3 km north of Siquijor going towards Larena. Good food, maybe the best on the island.
• Crosspoint. In center of town in Larena.
• Al Capone's Pizzeria, Marjunnix Building (Corner Logarta and Legaspi Streets, +63 34 42260. 10AM-midnight. Great pizza using 100% imported meats and cheeses. Awesome sandwiches on French baguettes.
• Kawayan Holiday Resort, Cangmunag, +63 916 212-3130. noon-10PM. 2 restaurants; main restaurant touts international cuisine next to the "Infinity" swimming pool and lounge area around the pool.
• Hollyette's Restaurant and Bar, North Poblacion Larena, +63 35 377-2368. 9AM-?. International restaurant, very clean and always well stocked. Imported and local drinks. Sports bar with 32-inch cable TV. Alternate room reservations at local rate. Domestic flight bookings. Aberration Dive Club. Free Wi-Fi Internet DSL-Connection
• Swiss Sternew, Siquijor Town. 9AM-9PM. two Pizzas for .
• Jollibee Restaurant, Siquijor circumferential Road Siquijor town. 8am-10pm. air condition restaurant. breakfast till 10.30am. from 10 pesos.

Rastaman Grill and Seafood. In the center of San Juan. Chicken, pork, seafood and vegetarian dishes. European and Philippino style, price low to midrange but great taste. Friendly staff and some nights have live music.

Joyjoy's Restaurant.

Sakura Restaurant. In the center of town. They have a variety of dishes. and up. Great chicken curry and soups.

Sammy's Pizza.

Villa Marmarine. 3 km north of Siquijor going towards Larena. Good food, maybe the best on the island.

Crosspoint. In center of town in Larena.

Al Capone's Pizzeria, Marjunnix Building (Corner Logarta and Legaspi Streets, +63 34 42260. 10AM-midnight. Great pizza using 100% imported meats and cheeses. Awesome sandwiches on French baguettes.

Kawayan Holiday Resort, Cangmunag, +63 916 212-3130. noon-10PM. 2 restaurants; main restaurant touts international cuisine next to the "Infinity" swimming pool and lounge area around the pool.

Hollyette's Restaurant and Bar, North Poblacion Larena, +63 35 377-2368. 9AM-?. International restaurant, very clean and always well stocked. Imported and local drinks. Sports bar with 32-inch cable TV. Alternate room reservations at local rate. Domestic flight bookings. Aberration Dive Club. Free Wi-Fi Internet DSL-Connection

Swiss Sternew, Siquijor Town. 9AM-9PM. two Pizzas for .

Jollibee Restaurant, Siquijor circumferential Road Siquijor town. 8am-10pm. air condition restaurant. breakfast till 10.30am. from 10 pesos.

Power outages happen every couple of days and last for 1-3 hours (2016).

Most of hotels and restaurants have WiFi with generally very slow internet. Cliff Side resort near Larena has high-speed 10mbps internet (March 2017).

Mobile coverage is limited to larger towns and villages where a full 3G signal can be acquired. And it's patchy or nonexistant in remote/sparsely populated areas (2016).

Many hotels prohibit guests from bringing in outside food, this way trying to increase their own restaurants' income.

• Generika Drug Store. National Highway Corner Caridad Street Siquijor town. lower prices.

Generika Drug Store. National Highway Corner Caridad Street Siquijor town. lower prices.

There are ferries to several nearby places:

• Metro Cebu, the regional transport hub
• Dumaguete in Negros Oriental, quite close
• Tagbilaran on Bohol