Siargao · Surf guide
Surfing in Siargao
Surigao del Norte · 13 surf spots
Siargao is the Philippines' surf capital, and it earns the title — a small, easygoing island ringed with reef passes, river-mouth rights and palm-backed beach breaks. Cloud 9 is the headline act, the heavy, hollow right-hander that put the country on the surfing map and still pulls the world's best every season. But it's only the opening line. Within a short drive or boat ride you'll find everything from waist-high rollers for your first wave to slabbing reef barrels for the brave.
Just starting out? Jacking Horse, Guiwan (Paradise) and Daku serve up mellow, forgiving waves with surf schools and board rentals close at hand. Ready for more? Cemetery, Stimpy's, Rock Island and Pansukyan bring size, power and longer walls while staying readable for a confident intermediate. And when you want the heavy stuff, Cloud 9, Tuason, Quicksilver and Pacifico deliver fast, shallow-reef barrels — along with the consequences that come with them.
Siargao has waves almost year-round, but it's at its best on northeast swells from October to December, when Pacific groundswell and typhoon activity light up the east coast around General Luna. When those spots blow out, the sheltered breaks take over — Salvacion and the northern coast around Tangbo stay clean through the winter months. There's nearly always somewhere worth paddling out.
Each of our local surf guides breaks a spot down the way a mate would over a post-surf coffee: the best swell, wind and tide, how crowded it gets, what's under the surface, and the board to bring — plus how to get there. Check the live Siargao wind and surf forecast, read the spot, respect the locals in the lineup, and go score.
Filters
Level
Access
Best tide
Where to surf
Every break on the island, filtered by level, access and tide
13 spots
Tangbo
IntermediateQuiet northern peak far from the crowds, clean through the winter months.
Drive 45 min · Best at mid tide
Salvacion
IntermediateSheltered right that stays clean when the east coast blows out.
Boat · Best at mid tide
Pansukyan
IntermediateRight reef with size and power, forgiving on smaller swells.
Boat 20 min · Best at high tide
Guiwan | Paradise
BeginnerSoft, rolling walls over a forgiving bottom. Good first-wave water.
Walk in · Best at mid to high tide
Jacking Horse
BeginnerMellow, forgiving right two minutes from Cloud 9. Surf schools on the sand.
Walk in · Best at mid to high tide
Daku
BeginnerForgiving offshore reef break with waist to head-high peaks.
Boat 15 min · Best at mid to high tide
Rock Island
IntermediateSlabbing reef barrel for experienced surfers only.
Boat 20 min · Best at low to mid tide
Stimpy's
IntermediateLong left-hand reef wall — the island's most rewarding intermediate wave.
Boat only · Best at low to mid tide
Cemetery
IntermediatePunchy left reef that holds size and stays readable.
Boat or paddle · Best at low tide
Pacifico
AdvancedPowerful north-coast reef with long walls and barrels on the right swell.
Drive 45 min · Best at mid tide
Tuason
AdvancedHeavy left barrel around the corner from Cloud 9. Shallow and serious.
Walk in · Best at mid to high tide
Quicksilver
AdvancedFast, shallow right a short paddle from Cloud 9, with a steep, hollow takeoff.
Walk in · Best at mid to high tide
Cloud 9
AdvancedHeavy, hollow right-hand reef — the wave that put Siargao on the map.
Boardwalk access · Best at mid to high tide
New to surfing?
Beginner lessons at Jacking Horse and Guiwan include a board, a coach in the water and photos. From ₱13 per person.
Book a surf lessonThe spots on a map
Most breaks sit within 20 minutes of General Luna
Before you paddle out
Reef, not sand. Booties are worth it at Cloud 9, Cemetery and Rock Island.
Swell runs biggest from October to December, but this changes year to year. April to July is smaller and friendlier for learning.
Boat spots need a banca and a boatman — every local surf school can arrange one.