Siargao is bigger than it looks on a map, and there is no public transport in the usual sense. How you get around shapes your whole trip.
Renting a motorbike
The default, and the reason the island feels so easy once you have one. An automatic scooter handles the main roads comfortably, and rentals on Koobo start from around ₱500 for 24 hours, with most scooters in the ₱500 to ₱650 range.
Before you ride:
- You need a valid licence that covers motorbikes. Check what your home licence allows and whether you need an International Driving Permit.
- Wear a helmet. It is a legal requirement and the roads have sand, dogs and potholes.
- Check your travel insurance actually covers riding a motorbike. Many policies exclude it, and this is the single most common gap travellers discover too late.
Habal-habal and tricycles
Motorbike taxis and sidecar tricycles work well for short hops within General Luna, or for getting home after a night out. Agree the fare before you get on. They are cash only.
Cars and vans
A Suzuki Jimny or a van makes sense for a group, a family, or anyone not comfortable on two wheels. Car rentals on Koobo run from roughly ₱5,500 per day. Vans with a driver are also available and take the stress out of the longer island-hopping drives.
Roads and distances
The main road from General Luna up the east coast through Pilar and on to Burgos and Pacifico is sealed and generally good. Once you turn off it, surfaces vary from decent concrete to rough track, and after heavy rain some stretches are genuinely difficult.
Rough guide from General Luna: Cloud 9 around 10 minutes, Magpupungko about 45 minutes, Pacifico about 90 minutes, Sayak Airport around 45 minutes.
Riding at night
Lighting outside General Luna is minimal and animals wander onto the road. If you are not confident, take a habal-habal after dark.