Siquijor vs Siargao for Digital Nomads: Which Philippine Island Should You Choose?

I've lived in Siargao for 3 months and Siquijor for 9 months (now permanently). Before that, I spent 11 years in London. I've visited almost 50 countries. And people keep asking me the same question: "Should I go to Siargao or Siquijor for remote work?"

Me getting drunk in Siargao and making new friends... again :)

Here's the honest answer: it depends on what kind of person you are.

Let me break down both islands so you can make the right choice - not the trendy choice, not the Instagram choice, but the one that actually fits your life.

The One-Sentence Summary

Siargao = Community, surf culture, infrastructure, constant socializing, structured island life

Siquijor = Nature, solitude, raw beauty, fewer people, quiet island life

Now let's go deeper.

Siargao: The Social Digital Nomad Paradise

I'll start with what impressed me most about Siargao - and it's not what you'd expect.

The Vibe That's Hard to Explain (But I'll Try)

Siargao has something special that's difficult to put into words. It's this... energy. This sense of community that forms naturally because of how the island works.

Lots of digital nomads go there. Lots of tourists stay long-term - 1 month, 2 months, sometimes longer. And because everyone's there for a while, you actually build relationships. You make one friend, then another, then another, and suddenly you have a family.

You're doing things together constantly. Morning surf sessions. Afternoon beach hangs. Evening dinners. Late-night parties. It's not forced - it just happens.

If You Surf (Or Want to Learn)

If you're into surfing, or even curious about learning, Siargao becomes a completely different experience.

Imagine: waking up at 6am with your crew, hitting Cloud 9 for a morning surf session, then spending the afternoon reading by the beach or working from a cafe. Later that night, meeting up for one of the million things happening on the island.

My first time ever catching a wave by myself. Haaapppyyy Days

The surf culture creates automatic community. Everyone's chasing the same waves, literally and figuratively.

The Infrastructure That Works

Here's what surprised me about Siargao - for a "raw island," the infrastructure is surprisingly good.

Want to party on a Tuesday night? You have at least 5 options.

Craving Japanese food? There are at least 4 restaurants.

Need a coworking space? There are 3 to choose from.

Siargao feels like a small, raw island that somehow has the structure of a developed place. That's rare. And for digital nomads who want adventure WITH convenience, that's perfect.

Where Siargao Falls Short (For Me)

But here's the thing - and this is personal, so take it for what it is:

I don't think Siargao is particularly beautiful.

I know, I know. Controversial opinion. There ARE beautiful spots - Cloud 9, Corregidor Island, Secret Beach, Magpupungko. But as a nature lover who's visited almost 50 countries, Siargao felt like it was missing something.

If you're not into surfing, you'll definitely feel that gap.

The diving and freediving? Honestly, not great. Limited marine life compared to other Philippine spots.

Waterfalls? Basically none.

Beaches? Maybe 4 really nice ones, most of them far up north from General Luna.

Caves? There's one. I enjoyed exploring it, but it wasn't mind-blowing.

You can see my thoughts on which places to visit in Siargao's in this YouTube video I have made ☺️

Siargao is amazing if you want surf, community, and social energy. But if you're a nature lover seeking diverse landscapes and underwater worlds? It might feel incomplete.

Siquijor: The Nature Lover's Hidden Paradise

Now let me tell you about Siquijor - the island where I decided to move permanently.

I came to Siquijor for 3 months initially. Then I stayed. Then I opened a coworking space here. Then I helped start a community meetup group. That should tell you something about how I feel about this place.

Nature Diversification: The Secret Weapon

Lugnason Falls, my favourite fall in Siquijor

After visiting almost 50 countries, Siquijor ranks incredibly high in what I call "nature diversification" - meaning, the sheer variety of natural beauty options you can explore.

Let me list what Siquijor offers:

Sunsets: The best sunsets I've ever seen. Better than Bali's Uluwatu. I'm not exaggerating - Paliton Beach, La Canope, the colors are unreal.

Diving & Freediving: One of the top destinations worldwide. Super rich marine life. Almost no waves (it's like a lake), so visibility is incredible. Tubod Marine Sanctuary, Tulapos Marine Sanctuary - giant turtles, reef sharks, schools of jack fish. This alone makes Siquijor special.

Waterfalls: More than 20 to explore. Cambugahay Falls (the famous one with 8 different falls), Lugnason Falls (my personal favorite), and dozens more hidden around the island.

Caves: 5+ caves, including Cantabon Cave which takes 1.5 hours to fully explore. It's huge, it's wet, it's a proper adventure.

Cliff Jumping: High cliffs at Salagdoong Beach (3 different heights up to 10 meters), Pitogo Cliff, and more.

Beaches: Paliton Beach, Coco Groove Beach, Salagdoong Beach - each with their own character.

From a nature perspective, Siquijor wins BY FAR over Siargao. It's not even close.

If you're someone who gets energy from exploring waterfalls, swimming with turtles, jumping off cliffs, and watching world-class sunsets, Siquijor will fill your soul.

The best sunset in Paliton beach ❤️

But Here Comes the Kicker...

Siquijor is still a relatively unknown island with limited infrastructure.

Want to party on a Tuesday night? Maybe one or two spots, and they'll probably be mostly empty.

Want to build a crew of friends doing things together constantly? That's harder here. Most tourists come for 4 days and leave. The sense of community in Siquijor - compared to Siargao - is weak. Really weak. is changing that reality but it still difficult.

Coworking spaces? Just one - Eden Coworking (which I founded in May 2025, specifically because we needed it).

Restaurants? Good options exist, but nothing like Siargao's variety.

I'm seeing a spike in people staying 1 month in Siquijor now, which is encouraging. And I co-founded the Merienda Club - a WhatsApp group organising weekly meetups so strangers can become friends. But compared to Siargao's automatic community? We're still building.

Siquijor can feel very lonely. It's a very raw island.

Why That's Actually a Benefit (For Some People)

Here's the thing - to me, this is the benefit. This is one of the main reasons I moved here permanently.

I don't need constant socialising. I don't need 5 party options on a Tuesday. I need nature, space to think, and the ability to disconnect from the noise.

You can see my thoughts on which places to visit in Siquijor's in this YouTube video I have made ☺️

After 11 years in London, after visiting 50 countries, after 3 months in Siargao's social whirlwind, I found Siquijor's quiet intensity exactly what I needed.

But I'm self-aware enough to know this isn't for everyone.

Pick your "poison" and have fun 🤓