September 3, 2024
MANILA – Everybody’s talking about Siargao, and for good reason.
For years, the popularity of this island paradise has grown, initially thanks to its variety of surf breaks, especially the world-famous thick waves of Cloud 9. It’s because of this that the island has also become home to annual surfing tourneys, hosting hundreds of surfers from all over the world.
But surfers aren’t the only ones who have found the gem that is Siargao. Tourists both local and international have flocked to the island, boosting its tourism rate up to more than 300 percent, according to reports. In 2023, Siargao recorded 529,822 tourist arrivals, around 90 percent of which were domestic tourists. Of that number, more than 53,000 were foreign travelers, a whopping 500 percent increase from just 2022.
Thanks to the island’s pristine beaches, its wealth of picturesque nature views, and overall affordability, people come—and keep coming back to—Siargao. Recently, the island made headlines beyond the surf scene, as global travel publications like Conde Nast and Lonely Planet named the island among its top destinations in Southeast Asia. The Department of Tourism posits that the island may boost the Philippines to being a “tourism powerhouse” in the region, thanks to these recognitions.
Tourists enjoy the turquoise water and the white sand beach in Kawhagan Island, just across another white sand beach of Pamomoan in the town of Del Carmen on Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte, in this photo taken in November 2020. PHOTO: PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER
Siargao has also become a poster image for the off-the-grid lifestyle, backed by crystal blue waves and clear skies, framed by the rich greens of tropical island flora. It’s become the ideal destination for a wide range of travelers, each with a variety of needs and priorities. Aside from the thrill-seeking surfers and R&R-craving vacationers, Siargao has now also positioned itself as an inspiring and energizing remote workplace for digital nomads, and a haven for travelers in search of local culture, natural flavors, and sustainable fare. The views here are rich, and so are the rewards one can reap from a trip to this island paradise.
When visiting an island destination, nothing beats staying at the beachfront. Siargao boasts of its beaches, so it’s a no-brainer to get the easiest access to it.
In the town of General Luna, on the eastern stretch of the island’s beach (along which the aptly named Tourism Road runs parallel) is a quaint beachfront hotel that blends the island’s natural charms with exquisite amenities. Developed as a collaboration between Paradise Bed and Brew Corporation and local entrepreneurs Jerry Garcia, Charles Tiu, and Kim Honasan, the Katig Beachfront Hotel offers a taste of exclusivity and serenity, without being too far removed from the conveniences of the thriving surf town.
READ: Siargao from morning to night: Where to eat on the island
Katig is a mere six- to seven-minute ride away from the Cloud 9 surf spot, and is equally accessible to and from Siargao’s most famous food spots. But even just a few steps out of the hotel and onto the shore already treats guests to magnificent ocean views, especially as it faces the vast Pacific.
Katig is a mere six- to seven-minute ride away from the Cloud 9 surf spot, and is equally accessible to and from Siargao’s most famous food spots. PHOTO: PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER
In fact, guests at Katig can enjoy a variety of watersports and activities right at the beachfront, from surfing and windsurfing to kiteboarding.
The boutique hotel features 11 meticulously designed rooms, each one boasting stunning views. The rooms cater to a variety of guests, offering a unique experience. The beachfront garden room for example, includes a private garden terrace, while the ocean view room boasts a panoramic view from its private balcony.
Families traveling to the island can also enjoy rooms that can comfortably house up to five guests, or even adjoining rooms that can offer more privacy.
Aside from these bespoke rooms, Katig’s amenities are also well-suited to the myriad travelers that make Siargao their brief island respite. The boutique hotel boasts high-speed internet connectivity, especially convenient for remote workers, while those really looking for a total island getaway can enjoy the hotel’s in-house restaurant, which offers the best of local and international fare. All that is complemented by Katig’s in-house bar, stocked with a carefully curated selection of wines and crafted cocktails by Poblacion, Makati’s The Spirits Library.
The boutique hotel features 11 meticulously designed rooms, each one boasting stunning views. PHOTO: PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER
Siargao has also been hailed as one of the most affordable tourist destinations in Asia. Even with the exclusivity offered at the boutique hotel, Katig Beachfront Hotel rates start at a reasonable P4,500 per night.