San Juan, Siquijor

San Juan sits on Siquijor's south-west coast, and if this is your first trip to the island, it is almost certainly where you will stay. The coast road here is lined with beach resorts, hostels, cafés and dive shops. The shore faces west, so most evenings end with the sun dropping into the sea towards Negros.

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.

It is not a big town. The centre is a plaza, a municipal hall and a spring park, with the tourist strip running either side along the road. What San Juan does have is the island's best spread of places to sleep and eat, and short rides to Paliton Beach, Lugnason Falls and the Tubod reef.

San Juan is the easy choice for first-timers, couples, divers and anyone who wants dinner within a short ride of their room. If you only have two or three days on Siquijor, staying here saves the most time.

The catch is the shoreline. Much of it is rocky or turns into reef flat at low tide, so if you want sand outside your door, check photos carefully before you book. It is also the busiest part of the island, though busy here still means quiet by Boracay standards.

Most boats land at Siquijor Port in Siquijor town. From there San Juan is roughly 20 to 30 minutes south along the coast road, and a tricycle costs about ₱350. Coco Grove guests get a free pier transfer. If your boat lands at Larena on the north coast, allow extra time, as you have to ride around through Siquijor town first.

Getting to the island is covered in the Siquijor travel guide. It has the boats from Dumaguete, Bohol and Cebu, the Cebu flight and the ₱50 departure fee.

Rent a scooter. Expect ₱300 to ₱500 a day for a standard automatic, fuel extra, and most resorts can arrange one. Tricycles run along the coast road for short hops, and a full-day island tour by tricycle runs ₱1,000 to ₱2,500 for the vehicle.

The coast road is flat and in decent shape through San Juan. The side roads up to Lugnason Falls and the hills are narrower and steeper, so take them slowly.

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

Rooms run from backpacker hostels and simple cottages to dive resorts and a few big beach resorts. Most sit between the road and the sea, so ask whether yours is beachfront or across the road. Book early for Holy Week and Christmas, when the island runs short of rooms.

Beach resorts

Coco Grove Beach Resort in Tubod is the big one, with an 800 m beach, three restaurants, pools, a spa and a dive shop. Rates valid to 30 November 2026 start at ₱5,600 a night for two in a Casa Coco Standard room, including breakfast, tax, pier transfers and Tubod sanctuary fees. Coral Cay Resort on Solangon is the cheaper beachfront option.

Boutique stays and hostels

Bermuda Triangle Bungalows is 200 m from Maite Beach, Nakabalo sits in the hills with an infinity pool, and U Story Resort is on a cliff bay. On a budget, Fable Hostel is 600 m from Paliton, and TAGBALAYON is 150 m from Tubod Beach. Islanders Hostel is the party pick, and recent reviews mention karaoke noise.

Things to check before booking

Ask whether the beach in front is swimmable at low tide and whether the place has a generator, because power cuts are regular. Also check how far the nearest restaurant is if you don't plan to rent a scooter.

San Juan has the best food on the island, from carinderias doing rice and grilled fish to cafés, pizza and resort restaurants. Many places are cash only, so carry small bills.

Baha Ba'r in Maite is the long-running favourite, open 11am to 11pm, with a garden and sunset deck. Friday is the night to go, with a lechon and seafood buffet from 6:30pm and live acoustic music. Reviews are mixed on the food, less so on the music.

Roadside Diners is the budget stop, with chicken inasal and rice for ₱135, and it is always busy. Dolce Amore near Paliton is Italian-owned and pricier, at about ₱2,000 for two with drinks. Luca Loko does bowls and vegan food and fills up, and Cockatoo is the steak place, so reserve.

Non-guests can eat at Coco Grove's restaurants too. Ask the guard and go outside peak meal times. New places open and close often, so check recent reviews before you head out.

Paliton Beach

A short stretch of white sand backed by palms, a few minutes off the main road, and the island's best-known sunset spot. Entry is ₱20 plus ₱20 to park. Walk the path around the cliffs to Big Paliton for more space. See the Paliton Beach guide.

Tubod Marine Sanctuary

A protected reef that starts a few fin kicks off the beach at Tubod, next to Coco Grove. Entry is ₱100, mask and snorkel hire another ₱100, and a guide costs extra. It is open 6am to 9pm, but Coco Grove's beach is for its guests, so don't plan to lounge there.

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

Capilay Spring Park

A natural spring turned into a public pool and garden in the middle of town, across from the municipal hall. Locals swim here in the late afternoon. The last published fees were ₱20 for adults and ₱10 for kids, with evening swims from 6pm to 10pm, but those figures are old, so check at the gate.

Lugnason Falls

A short ride inland, Lugnason has a deep blue pool and fewer people than Cambugahay. It is open 8am to 5pm for ₱20, and you can ask at the entrance about the guided hike to Zodiac Falls. See the Lugnason Falls guide.

Sunsets on the coast road

Almost any beachfront bar in San Juan faces the sunset. At low tide the reef flat comes out, which makes for good photos and rock pools full of small sea life.

Photo: Jerche Amada, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The dry months, roughly November to May, bring the calmest water at Tubod and the clearest sunsets. March and April are usually the best of it. The rest of the year is wetter, with more cloud and rougher water on some days, but also lower prices and fewer people.

Storms don't keep to a neat season, and typhoons in late October and early November 2025 shut boats and businesses for days. Holy Week is the busiest week on the island, so book San Juan rooms well ahead if your dates fall then.

Tides matter

Check the tide before you plan a swim. At low tide many San Juan beaches become a wide, shallow reef flat. Wear reef shoes and don't stand on coral.

Cash

There is a Landbank ATM in the town centre, but foreign cards pay a fee of about ₱250 to ₱300. Bring enough cash for a few days, because small places, entrance fees and tricycle drivers take cash only.

Night riding

Parts of the coast road are poorly lit. Riding back from dinner after dark, go slowly and watch for dogs and unlit bikes.

Is San Juan the best place to stay in Siquijor?

For most first-time visitors, yes. It has the most places to stay and eat, the best sunsets, and short rides to Paliton Beach, Tubod and Lugnason Falls.

How far is San Juan from Siquijor Port?

About 20 to 30 minutes by tricycle or scooter along the coast road. A tricycle costs about ₱350.

Can you swim in San Juan?

Yes, but it depends on the tide and the stretch of beach. Paliton and the Tubod sanctuary are the most reliable spots.

Is there nightlife in San Juan?

A little. Expect beach bars, live music on some nights, Baha Ba'r's Friday buffet and the odd hostel party, not clubs.

Back to the Siquijor travel guide. Nearby: Paliton Beach, Lugnason Falls, Lazi and Cambugahay Falls. North of San Juan: Siquijor town.