Before our trip, I browsed the places we can go to in Siquijor. What I learned was that Siquijor is an island lang pala and you can tour the whole island in a day. Perfect.
There are two kinds of tours: the Coastal and the Mountain Tour.
For the Coastal tour, you will be taken around the island. Babaybayin niyo yung coastline, bale yung perimeter ng island. You will stop over the tourists spots including the different beaches. For the mountain tour, you will go up the mountain sa middle ng island papuntang Cantabon Cave and Bandilaan Park. I suggest that you list down all the places you want to go to before going to Siquijor. And then, discuss this with the tour guide.
You can either book your tour with the hotel or hire a tricycle to take you around. From what I’ve read, Php 1,200 yung sa tricycle. We booked our tour when we arrived on our first day sa hotel. It costs Php 1,500. Mas mahal pero keribelles kasi ang cute nung tuktuk and the drivers are endorsed by the hotel. Sure ako na maayos.
So before breakfast on our second day, rumampa muna ako while wala pang lamang ang tiyan ko and acceptable pa siya mapicturan ng naka-two piece. I loved my outfit for that morning.
Bikini top: SALT SWIM; Skirt: STYLE ANA PH
The tour was supposed to start at 10am pero since thanders na kami ni Alvin, we were up at 6am already. I asked to have the tour moved earlier at 8am instead. Okay naman daw.
Here’s the tuktuk that I was telling you. The rent was Php 1,500 for the day. This includes the driver and the gas.
It’s so comfy inside. Our driver’s name was Jetoy and he’s really nice. Major plus points pa kasi ang galing niya magtake ng photos! If you’re going to Coco Grove Resort, ask for him sulit siya.
Here are the places he took us in order.
BALETE TREE
Entrance Fee: Php 20
First, he took us to the 400 year old Balete Tree. Initially, I wanted to forgo this place na kasi masyadong touristy however it was along the way so game.
I’m glad we went here because the tree was a sight to see. It was huge! It was scary and amazing at the same time. There was a pool in front of it full of small fishes and giant Tilapias. You can put your feet inside so that the fishes can eat your kalyos away.
Sobra siya nakakakiliti, the fishes.
Medyo masakit when they bite on that part of your feet na wala namang kalyo. Nakakatakot when the Tilapia comes near you. Parang pwede niyang kainin buong paa mo. Hahaha
We stayed for around 10 minutes in that place.
On the way back to the Tuktuk, I saw this stall there selling Love Potions.
Totoo pala may mga ganito! Take note, never bring to funeral, wake or cemetery. Bakit kaya?
HAPITANAN CAFE AND RESTAURANT
Entrance Fee: none
You can skip this. Akala ko naman kung anong coffee shop or whatever that has witches. It’s just a small open air restaurant (similar to a carinderia) with a spot where you can take photos your yourself riding a broom. Naka-elevate yung stage where you will take photos with the broom so it has an effect na parang lumilipad kang parang bruha. Hahaha!
LAZI CHURCH AND CONVENT
Entrance Fee (convent): Php 20
Our next stop was the Lazi Church and Convent. Lazi Church is also known as the San Isidro Labrador Church. Too bad the church was under renovation. I wanted so much to go inside this 18th century church because it was declared as a Natural Cultural Treasure.
In front of the church is the Lazi Convent which is also a Natural Cultural Treasure. It is said to be the biggest convent in the Philippines.
When we went upstairs, we were shown the different documents, furniture, robes and statues that were from the 18th century pa. The ladies who were touring us were so nice. Ang gagaling din nila magconceptualize ng mga shots.
LADY: Sir, ma’am, tingin po kayo sa malayo.
Click!
Pak!
LADY: Sir, ma’am, diyan po kayo sa gitna ng hagdan. Talikod kayo. Parang aakyat. Yan. Yan. Ganyan. Sir, hawakan mo kamay ni ma’am.
Click.
Pak!
CAMBUGAHAY FALLS
Entrance Fee: none (donation to your lifeguard only)
Our driver took us to Cambugahay Falls next. I have not seen that many falls yet. Actually, wala pa ata akong falls nakikita upclose and personal eh. But I appreciated the three tiered falls in Cambugahay.
However, if you want anything that is beautiful, dapat paghirapan mo daw di ba? Cambugahay Falls is an example of that. From the street, our driver/tour guide endorsed us to our lifeguard. After than, we went down quite slippery steps made of irregular shaped stones to the falls. Hindi biro yung binaba namin ha? Pagthunders ka na, medyo magrereklamo yung knees mo. While I was walking down to where the falls was, sabi ko not bad. That was until I realized, we need to climb up these stairs afterwards to go back to the main street. Hindot na yan.
But it was sulit.
The falls was beautiful. The water was blue green. The sound of the water was super relaxing. There is no entrance fee sa falls. You just need to pay around Php 20 a person for an unlimited “tarzan” jump to the water. You’d just have to give a tip na lang to your lifeguard as donation.
You can swim there. That’s what the lifeguard is for. He will also be the one to guide you when you jump. There are life vests for rent for Php 100. Ang sarap when we jumped! Nanginig legs ko for a while but I was a great experience. Naisip ko bigla. We should travel talaga while we are young. If we wait when we are older, magagawa pa ba natin itong mga fun stuff na ito?
So after Alvin jumped for the second time (I begged off because I was wearing contact lens), we went to explore the rest of the place. Ang daming tao. After a while, we decided to go back na to our tuktuk. That meant climbing that steep, slippery steps again. It was very challenging. Nakakahingal. Partida batak ako ha?
SALAGDOONG BEACH
Entrance fee: Php 100 (with parking)
I was excited to see the Salagdoong beach. Sa totoo lang, I was disappointed with the beach at Coco Grove Beach Resort. Hindi naman siya maganda. Salagdoong beach looked promising in the photos.
And nagdeliver naman siya.
The water was aquamarine! The sand was fine and white.
There was a cliff there na overlooking
And you can cliff jump too! Wala nang bayad. Unli-cliff diving.
Grabe, crystal clear yung water. You can the fishes and the pawikan swimming. Chill na chill lang sila.
I didn’t jump anymore. First, I was already hungry. It was already 12:30pm that time. Second, I was wearing contact lenses nga. Third, tama na yung 12 meters cliff jumping na ginawa ko dati sa Boracay. Once is enough. Lelz.
I was pushing Alvin to jump so he can experience. May gusto siyang gawin na shot that took us minutes to plan how to do it. Parang cliff hanger. Kaso mukhang hindi daw kaya ng upper body niya to hang dun sa ledge with me taking a video of him falling. I was so happy when he decided not to do it. Parang aatakihin ako sa puso sa plano niya. Pabaliktad yung fall na gusto niya. Eh if he lands ng mali with his back to the water, inaykupo. So scary.
So our driver/tour guide took photos of us na lang. Ang galing niya talaga magdirect. Pro na pro. He has been doing this for quite a while already kaya kabisado na niya.
I was so hungry already so we asked the driver to take us to the best restaurant there is in Siquijor.
MT. BANDILAAN PARK
Triad Restaurant
I was actually surprised when we reached the place where we were having lunch. It was at the Triad Restaurant at Mt. Bandilaan. Kasama na kasi ito sa mountain tour, hindi na coastal tour. But I was so happy he took us there.
The view was awesome! It gives you a panoramic view of Siquijor.
The food was delicious.
We ordered Butter Garlic Shrimps (of course)..
Lechon Kawali…
Stuffed squid which I think was the best grilled stuff squid I have ever had. Ensaladang onions and tomatoes ang nasa loob with bagoong. Hanep talaga.
I forgot the name of this dish though pero specialty daw nila. Parang kilawin..
After stuffing ourselves with the fresh sea food and extra rice, tumaba ako ng 3 lbs, I swear. Lelz. After eating, our tour guide told us that we can go to Cantabon Cave. I said yes right away kasi I have never gone speleunking (I don’t even know how to spell it!) — spelunking. I’ve never gone spelunking. Si Alvin madalas bilang isa siyang outdoorsy na tao. Ako, girl scout for how many years pero ako yung tipong ayaw maniwala ni Alvin na tumagal sa pagiging girl scout.
The Cantabon Cave is near the Mt. Bandilaan Park so keribelles.
On our way to the Cantabon Cave, I asked Alvin if pwede ko bang ipa-faith healer yung right arm ko. Parang may permanently naipit na ugat na since I served overhand sa volleyball 3 weeks ago. Hindi na nawala yung sakit. As in never na ako naka-pag over hand serve ever after that. Hindi na din ako maka-spike. It makes me sad because I’m good at serving. I was awarded Best Server in one of the volleyball leagues I joined before.
Our driver suggested to take us to Mang Edol, a well known sorcerer. Kilala siya even by the Filipinos abroad. His healing method daw is bolo bolo. I never knew how it is done kasi hindi na pumayag si Alvin. I don’t know why.
We passed by the way to Mang Edol’s house. Apparently, there is a village there sa may Mt. Bandilaan where people still practice dark magic. Eh duwag nga ako so I agreed with Alvin na lang. Hahaha! Try googling Mang Edol and read about him.
I asked Jetoy, our driver, bakit kilala yung Siquijor sa mangkukulam/faith healers/albularyo. Dati daw kasi wala naman doctors dun sa island so people go to faith healers if may sakit sila. Gumagaling naman yung mga patients so naging famous siya. Kasama na din diyan yung kulam. I know you know what that is right?
We went straight na lang to the Cantabon Cave.
CANTABON CAVE
Entrance fee: Php 500 for 3 pax which includes helmets, flashlights and a tour guide
We went to the barangay office first of Cantabon to register ourselves, to pay and to get the helmet and flashlights. We were also introduced to the guides. Ang babata ng mga tour guide. They are actually students and they do the tour guiding during weekends.
I wanted to go inside the cave to conquer my being a claustrophobic. Imagine, diyan sa maliit na hole ka papasok to get inside the cave.
And then, you have to crawl your way inside. I kept myself busy looking at where I was walking to take my mind of the enclosed space. Buti may helmets kasi I kept banging my head sa mga stalactites.
I was scary inside, to tell you the truth. The water was up to my thighs and it was murky. Hindi mo alam ano yung mga nasa ilalim. There were bats. Wala pang 5 minutes I wanted to go home na.
After wading for like 5 minutes, we need to climb and go down high rocks. Talagang adventure siya. I asked to stop na when we reached the waterfalls.
It was raining outside so the water inside the cave was rising. Grabe.
Sabi ko ayaw ko na talaga. Baka ma-Thailand boys kami! I asked if we can go back na. The tour guide asked if I was sure.
ME: Yeah, sure na. Malamang halfway na din tayo.
TOUR GUIDE: Ate wala pa po tayo sa 1/4 ng cave.
Lekat na yan. 800 meters daw yung buong cave.
And so we went back with Alvin laughing at me. Hindi ako tinigilan asarin.
Ganyan talaga if tumatanda na, ano? Bumababa na yung risk tolerance.
Ang iniisip ko naman kasi dalawa pa kami ni Alvin nandun. Paano na si Anika if things didn’t go okay?! Ang morbid! Lelz. That’s the mom in me speaking.
After that we went back na to Coco Grove. We rented a scooter for Php 300 for 4 hours. We went around. Tuwang tuwa naman ang Alvin.
Nakakapagod yung day but it was really fun. Ang gandang bonding experience. We chilled sa beach na lang when we got back until gabi.
Here’s the list of the total expenses that we incurred in this trip:
Airfare (Manila-Dumaguete-Manila): Php 7,500 each = Php 15,000
Coco Grove Beach Resort accommodation: Php 7,000 for two nights
Ferry fare (Dumaguete-Siquijor-Dumaguete): Php 500 (for two) + terminal fee = Php 528 x 2 = Php 1,056
Balete Tree: Php 20
Cambugahay Falls: Php 40 (Tarzan Jump for 2) + Php 150 tip
Salagdoong Beach: Php 100
Triad Restaurant: Php 1,300
Cantabon Cave: Php 500 + 100 tip = Php 600
Tuktok rental with driver: Php 1,500
Tuktok driver tip: Php 200
Scooter rental: Php 300 for 4 hours
Food and Drinks at the resort (2 lunch, 2 dinner): Php 3,600
Foot massage: Php 300
TOTAL: Php 31,166 for 3 days and two nights for 2 pax
That’s it! I hope you guys find this post helpful!