Maria and Enrique Villanueva, Siquijor

Maria covers Siquijor's eastern end, and little Enrique Villanueva sits just north of it. This is the least visited corner of the island. Most people only come out here for Salagdoong Beach, and for the forest road that leads down to it.

Prices, fees and schedules in this guide were checked in October 2026. They change often, so use them as a guide and confirm with the operator or venue before you go.

Past Salagdoong, it is farmland, fishing villages and empty beaches. Nobody comes to this side for nightlife. They come because it is far from the San Juan strip, and because the coast road here is the slowest, quietest part of the island loop.

Maria and Enrique Villanueva are for people who want to slow right down. Return visitors and couples after a few quiet days do well here, and staying nearby means you get Salagdoong in the evening once the day-trippers have gone.

If it is your first trip and you only have a few days, base yourself in San Juan instead. Maria is a long ride from Siquijor Port, there are only a handful of places to eat, and the west-coast sunsets are on the other side of the island.

There is no port on this side. From Siquijor Port you can ride the coast road either way: east through Larena and Enrique Villanueva, or south through San Juan and Lazi. The full loop is about 72 to 75 km, so either direction is a long ride on a scooter. If you have luggage, arrange a transfer.

For ferries and the departure fee, see the Siquijor travel guide.

Maria has a few beach resorts and guesthouses, some within easy reach of Salagdoong. Choice is thin, so book ahead in peak season. Enrique Villanueva has almost no tourist accommodation. Stay out here and you will want a scooter.

Expect resort restaurants and local carinderias, not cafés. Food options are limited on this side and hours are irregular, so eat where you stay or check ahead before riding out for dinner.

Salagdoong Beach

A public beach resort with concrete jumping platforms over deep water and a white-sand cove beside them. Entry is ₱50 plus ₱20 for scooter parking. Fees, platform heights and tide rules are in the Salagdoong Beach guide.

Salagdoong Forest

The last stretch of road to the beach runs between tall trees on both sides, and it is one of the most photographed roads on Siquijor. Ride it slowly. People stop in the middle of the road for pictures.

Photo: Lawrence Ruiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Our Lady of Divine Providence Church

Maria's late 19th-century stone church has a separate belfry beside it. Look at the carved front doors, which show the Ten Commandments, then step inside for the Stations of the Cross painted as murals high on the walls. It is a working parish, so check Mass times first.

Photo: Lawrence Ruiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The Cang-isok house, Enrique Villanueva

On the shore at Barangay Libo stands the Cang-isok house, built in the mid-1800s from native materials such as bamboo. Ask locally whether you can go in. If not, it is still worth a look from the road.

Photo: Aries Manuel, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Tulapos Marine Sanctuary, Enrique Villanueva

Siquijor's oldest marine sanctuary, at 24 hectares, is open 7am to 5pm and a guide is mandatory. Snorkelling is ₱100 and a guide for two is ₱250, with gear for rent. Go near high tide. At low tide you wade a long way out before it gets deep.

Tulapos and nearby Bitaug, the island's largest sanctuary, are both part of SECOTOUR, a new ₱499 single ticket that covers six marine protected areas. If you plan to snorkel at several sites, ask about it.

The coast road

The east coast between Larena and Lazi is the quietest part of the island loop, with fishing villages and very little traffic. Take your time on it and stop where you like.

The dry season, roughly November to May, is the best time for Salagdoong and for the long ride out. Typhoons do not stick to a neat calendar, though: two in late October and early November 2025 stopped sea travel for days. Salagdoong is busiest at weekends and in Holy Week, so come on a weekday.

Fuel up

Fill your tank in one of the town centres before heading east. Roadside stalls sell fuel too, but you do not want to be hunting for one on empty.

Cash

Bring enough for fees, food and fuel. The island's ATMs are in San Juan, Larena and Siquijor Town, and very few places on this side take cards.

Plan the loop

Doing the whole island in a day? Maria fits between Lazi and Larena. Leave Salagdoong by mid-afternoon so you are back in San Juan before dark.

What is Maria, Siquijor known for?

Salagdoong Beach and its cliff-jumping platforms, the forest road down to it, and a 19th-century stone church.

Is it worth staying in Maria?

For a quiet stay near Salagdoong, yes. For a short first trip, San Juan is more convenient.

What is there to see in Enrique Villanueva?

The Cang-isok house on the shore at Libo, Tulapos Marine Sanctuary, and a quiet stretch of coast road. Most visitors pass through on the island loop.

How long does it take to ride to Maria?

An hour or more by scooter from Siquijor Port, depending on which way round you go.

Back to the Siquijor travel guide. Nearby: Salagdoong Beach, Lazi to the west and Larena to the north.