Surfing In Siargao: Best Spots, Season & My Tips
TRAVELSURF
Siargao has earned its reputation as the surfing capital of the Philippines. It’s also easily the prettiest place I’ve ever surfed. The water here is something else. It’s so clear that you can see the bottom even when it gets deep. Even an average surf session feels worth paddling out for.
Surfing in Siargao looks different depending on your level. For experienced surfers, there’s the famous hollow barrels of Cloud 9. For beginners, there are soft reform waves just a few hundred meters down the beach. Longboarders will also find plenty of chilled and forgiving waves. This makes Siargao a great place to learn and improve. The island has a surprising range of surf breaks along a small stretch of coastline around General Luna. You can find waves for complete beginners as well as challenging reef breaks for experienced surfers.
From beginner-friendly waves to world-class reef breaks, Siargao has plenty to offer. Here’s what you need to know before you surf the island.
P.S. If you’re planning a surf trip to Siargao, check out my Where to Stay in Siargao guide for my favourite areas and hotel picks.
Can Beginners Surf In Siargao?
Yes, as long as you pick the right spot. Siargao's most famous wave, Cloud 9, is a fast, hollow reef break over shallow coral, and it's genuinely not the place to learn: the reef is sharp, the drops are steep, and the lineup is competitive. But the island has several beginner-appropriate breaks close by, most notably Jacking Horse, a soft, forgiving reform wave just a short walk from the Cloud 9 boardwalk that's become the default spot for surf schools.
Daku Island and Guyam Island, both a short boat ride from General Luna, add sandy-bottomed beach breaks that are about as safe a place to fall as you'll find on the island. These same chilled, forgiving waves also make Siargao a genuine longboarding paradise, not just a beginner's training ground, so don't be surprised to see experienced longboarders sharing the lineup with first-timers at spots like Jacking Horse.
If you're learning for the first time, book a lesson with a local instructor rather than paddling out solo, since even the beginner-friendly spots sit on reef systems that reward knowing exactly where and when to sit.
Best Surf Spots In Siargao
Cloud 9
Cloud 9 is the wave that put Siargao on the map: a fast, hollow right-hand reef break that produces genuinely world-class barrels, and the reason the island hosts an annual international surfing competition each September or October. It's an advanced wave, breaking over a shallow reef shelf with a well-known boardwalk and viewing tower built right above it, so even non-surfers can watch the action up close. Reef booties are close to essential here.
Jacking Horse
The default beginner wave in the Cloud 9 area, Jacking Horse is a soft, crumbly right that rarely gets above chest high and reforms gently enough for first-timers to practice paddling, timing, and pop-ups without being punished for a bad take-off. It only really works from mid-tide upward, since low tide exposes enough reef to turn a fall into a real hazard, and it's busy with surf schools most mornings.
Quicksilver
Sitting right next to Jacking Horse, Quicksilver is a small-to-intermediate right that holds its shape better in bigger swell, making it a natural next step once Jacking Horse starts to feel too easy.
Pacifico
On the island's northern coast, in San Isidro, Pacifico is a powerful beach break with long, open-face waves, and on a good day it genuinely rivals Cloud 9 for quality while pulling a fraction of the crowd. It suits intermediate to advanced surfers, and it's also known for working during parts of the year when the west coast breaks around General Luna go flat.
Stimpy's, Tuason Point, And Cemetery
These three round out Siargao's more serious reef breaks. Stimpy's is a fast, demanding left a short paddle from Cloud 9. Tuason Point is a long right reef south of General Luna that holds plenty of power. Cemetery is a consistent, well-shaped reef break that makes a solid alternative when Cloud 9 is too crowded or too intense, still suited to confident intermediates and above rather than first-timers.
Daku Island And Guyam Island
Both a short boat ride from General Luna, these two islands offer gentle, sandy-bottomed beach breaks that are genuinely the safest place on Siargao to learn. Daku in particular is often cited as the island's best true beginner spot: small, forgiving waves, a soft bottom, and far less crowd pressure than anything near the Cloud 9 boardwalk.
Best Time To Surf In Siargao
Peak season runs roughly mid-August through November, with swell typically peaking in September and October, when typhoon activity out in the western Pacific sends long-period groundswell toward Cloud 9 and the island's other reef breaks. This is when you'll see the wave at its most consistent and most photographed, and it's also when the annual surfing competition takes over Cloud 9's boardwalk.
If you're learning to surf, June and July are generally considered the better window across the island: swell sizes drop, the water stays warm, and spots like Jacking Horse tend to run smaller and more forgiving than they do in peak season. From December onward, the wind swings onshore as the northeast monsoon sets in, and several of the main breaks, including Cloud 9, Tuason, and Cemetery, stop working as reliably, though sheltered spots elsewhere on the island usually still hold a surfable wave.
Water temperature sits around 28 to 30°C year-round, so a wetsuit isn't necessary at any time of year.
Surf Lessons And Board Rental
Board rental generally runs somewhere in the ₱300 to 500 per day range, and lessons with a local instructor typically cost around ₱500 to 800 per hour, usually including the board. Group lessons are the cheaper option; a private one-on-one session costs more but moves faster if you're trying to build technique quickly. The Siargao Island Surfing Association (SISA) trains and accredits many of the local instructors, and it's worth asking whether your school's instructors are SISA-trained, since the quality of teaching varies more than the price does.
Tips For Surfing Siargao
Respect the lineup. Cloud 9 and the other reef breaks get busy in peak season, and Siargao's surf community takes etiquette seriously. Watch how locals handle right of way before paddling for a wave you're not sure is yours.
Wear reef booties at the reef breaks. Cloud 9, Jacking Horse, and most of the breaks around General Luna sit over coral, and cuts from the reef are the most common injury on the island.
Time the tide. Several spots, Jacking Horse especially, only work properly from mid-tide up. Ask a local surf shop what the tide is doing before you paddle out.
Base yourself in General Luna. It sits close to Cloud 9 and Jacking Horse, and it's also the easiest jumping-off point for boat trips to Daku, Guyam, and the outer reef breaks.
Don't skip the reef sunscreen. The sun here is intense year-round, and Siargao's coral reefs are worth protecting along with your own skin.
Make sure you have travel insurance. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, especially when you’re surfing.
Getting To Siargao
Siargao is served by Sayak Airport, with regular flights from Manila and Cebu. From the airport, it's roughly a 45-minute to one-hour drive to General Luna, the main surf hub, and most accommodations or surf schools can arrange a transfer if you let them know your flight details in advance.
FAQs
Can beginners surf in Siargao? Yes. Cloud 9 itself isn't suited to beginners, but Jacking Horse, Quicksilver, Daku Island, and Guyam Island all offer softer, more forgiving waves that surf schools use specifically for teaching first-timers.
What is the best surf spot in Siargao? Cloud 9 is the most famous and highest-performing wave on the island, but it's strictly for advanced surfers. For a genuinely great all-round wave with fewer crowds, Pacifico on the north coast is often rated just as highly by more experienced surfers.
When is the best time to surf in Siargao? Peak season runs mid-August through November, with the biggest, most consistent swell in September and October. Beginners generally do better in June and July, when the waves run smaller island-wide.
Do I need a wetsuit to surf in Siargao? No. Water temperatures stay around 28 to 30°C throughout the year, so boardshorts or a swimsuit are enough.
How much do surf lessons cost in Siargao? Typically around ₱500 to 800 per hour, usually including board rental, with group lessons costing less per person than private sessions.
Where should I stay to be close to the best surf spots? General Luna is the standard base, putting you within easy reach of Cloud 9, Jacking Horse, and Quicksilver, plus boat access to Daku, Guyam, and Pacifico further afield.
Final Thoughts
Surfing in Siargao is one of those experiences that stays with you. The island has a great mix of beginner-friendly waves, longboard spots, and more challenging breaks for experienced surfers. Add the clear water, relaxed island atmosphere, and beautiful surroundings, and it’s easy to see why Siargao has become such a popular surf destination. Whether you’re learning to surf or looking for your next wave, Siargao is definitely worth adding to your Philippines itinerary.
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