Things to see and do San Juan

On the main road, at one end of San Juan, the Tubod Marine Sanctuary is an area of more than seven hectares that has been protected for more than thirty years and where you can dive, swim or snorkel. It is undoubtedly the most beautiful spot to admire the corals and fishes in Siquijor. It is possible to rent snorkeling equipment (at the entrance, on the beach) or diving equipment (at the diving center of Coco Grove Beach Resort on the beach). The white sandy beach is beautiful and the sea is calm and crystal clear. Be careful, it is important to check the tides to go there when the tide is high otherwise swimming is not very pleasant. On the way there, a small hut offers fruit juices and other drinks. The seabed is very nice because it is protected, i.e. fishing is forbidden as well as the degradation of corals or the collection of shells. Among the hundreds of fish you can see, the famous clown fish (Nemo) playing in its anemone, the parrot fish, the grouper, the lion fish... all more colorful than the others. And what about the corals? It is quite exceptional to be able to access such a rich and bright coral garden only twenty meters from the beach. The Tubod sanctuary is also known to be home to giant clams, mollusks that can grow up to one meter. If you are lucky, you may even see sea turtles. A must-see in Siquijor!

We've fallen in love with the waterfall also known as Zodiac Falls! Nestled among rocks and lush vegetation, the 7-metre waterfall is magnificent, with caves hidden beneath trickles of water and rounded, polished rocks. It's very pleasant to swim in, and the more adventurous can climb over the side to jump off (the rocks are not slippery, surprisingly). For the rest of us, it's just as exhilarating to watch the adventurers (often the locals) perform impressive pirouettes. Great atmosphere. We recommend it!

The Cambugahay waterfalls are one of the major attractions of the island, below the road between San Juan and Lazi. To avoid the crowds, try to go early in the morning, before 10am. The water is of an unreal color, the place of an enchanting beauty. Staircase pools, arcs of waterfalls, warm turquoise water, it is pleasant to stay there for an hour or two, to swim, picnic and why not spend a few extra pesos and try one of the liana jumps (1, 6 or 11 meters). It's wonderful!

No one can pass through Siquijor without hearing about the legendary sunsets on Paliton Beach, and with good reason. Two kilometers northwest of San Juan, this beach is splendid, bathed in crystal-clear waters. Deserted during the day and with no accommodations to disturb the peacefulness of the place, Paliton Beach takes on another dimension in the late afternoons, and especially on weekends when many locals come to enjoy the view and the atmosphere, with passing travelers mingling with the merrymakers. An alley of street-food stalls unfolds, providing an opportunity to try out all these local delicacies: try dynamite, for example, chillies coated in cheese and deep-fried, or mango turon, bitter mango chunks in soy sauce, accompanied by fresh fruit juice or beer. You can sit on the big tables or on the giant swings (to take your Instagram photo!). And then, of course, the beach fills up from 4pm with small groups of people meeting up with friends, playing music, splashing around in the water and waiting impatiently for the highlight of the show: slowly, the sun descends into the sky, before disappearing behind the mountains of Negros Oriental and beginning to color the sky and sea in a thousand and one shades of blue, pink and orange. Siquijor in general and Paliton Beach in particular have not stolen their reputation as the most beautiful sunsets in the Philippines. A must-see spot on the island!

This underground river has been open to the public since 2018. With a life jacket, headlamp, and a guide, one descends along a steeply sloping staircase before reaching the entrance of the cave in which one can easily stay for an hour swimming, observing the bats and the different rock formations. It's fun if you like being underground. Be careful, the road leading to it is quite steep, so drive carefully if you are on a scooter.

This 400 year old Balete (a kind of fig tree) is the oldest tree in Siquijor. Besides being sumptuous with its huge roots intertwining with its drooping vines and branches, this tree is surrounded by a multitude of legends. At its feet, an artificial basin is filled by a mysterious water source. If you need a pedicure, dip your feet in it, small fish will eat your feet (well, the dead skin). It's a fun (or unpleasant, you be the judge) experience. People laugh and the tree sits majestically.

Nearby Cambugahay Falls are perhaps even more beautiful and much less touristy. Because of its limestone content, the water is a breathtaking cyan blue. There is a liana to make jumps and a small cave to swim in. If you go there early in the morning, you will not meet anyone. Unlike other government-run tourist sites, Kawasan is run by the villagers, so prices are often random. Usually a guide is mandatory to go down (he will watch your stuff).