Philippines Surf Travel Guide: Siargao, Cloud 9 and the Best Waves

The best-known waves are on Siargao: Cloud 9, a short, powerful barrelling right over shallow live coral; Jacking Horse, a mellow, rolling peak beside Cloud 9 that’s perfect for longboards and beginners; Rock Island, a fast, hollow right-hand point; and Stimpy’s, a hollow, fast left-hand point. Elsewhere, Bagasbas is a gentle beach break suitable for beginners, Aparri has lefts and rights off the pier for beginners to pros, San Juan is a powerful, hollow right-hand beach and reef break, and Charlie’s Point near Baler is a wedgy break over sand and gravel. Unless mentioned, most Philippines breaks are for intermediate surfers and above. See our best surf breaks.

Generally August to November. Swell starts to pick up in July and August with offshore winds on the Pacific coast, then typhoons form in the Western Pacific, and September is the month to go for big typhoon swell. The typhoon season slows down around November, when it’s time to look at the west coast and the South China Sea, with waves off Luzon and in Palawan. From March to May, unless there are tropical storms on the charts, don’t expect the swell to grow much past knee high.

Siargao looks out to the Pacific, and the best months are generally August to November, when typhoon swells arrive and the Pacific coast gets offshore winds. Cloud 9 is best at mid to high tide. Outside that window the waves are smaller, and low season is when beginners can surf breaks that are usually for intermediate surfers and above.

Cloud 9 on Siargao is a powerful right that breaks straight out of deep water and focuses its energy at the beach: a short but perfect barrelling peak over shallow live coral, which also breaks left. On its day it has been voted one of the five best waves in the world. It’s best at mid to high tide and suits intermediate surfers and above; the mellower spots nearby suit beginners but are much busier.

There are more than 20 surf breaks around Siargao, from playful walls to heavy reef barrels. As well as Cloud 9, they include Jacking Horse, a mellow, rolling peak right beside it that’s perfect for longboards and beginners; Quicksilver, a playful right-hander just north of Cloud 9 that’s ideal for intermediates; and Rock Island and Stimpy’s, which are reached by boat.

Yes, if you choose the right spot and season. Bagasbas is a gentle beach break suitable for beginners, and Aparri suits beginners to pros. Most other breaks are for intermediate surfers and above, except in low season, when all breaks are surfable by beginners. On Siargao, Jacking Horse, a mellow, rolling peak beside Cloud 9, is perfect for beginners and longboards, but the mellower spots around Cloud 9 are much busier.

Yes. Stays at Nay Palad Hideaway include professional surf coaching.

Many breaks need typhoon swell from the Western Pacific to truly come alive. Rock Island starts working at 3ft and gets up to 12ft, Stimpy’s is 6–10ft and Aparri gets 3–6ft. From March to May, without tropical storms, expect little more than knee-high waves.

The main international gateways are Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL, Manila), Clark International Airport (CRK), Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB, Cebu) and Kalibo International Airport (KLO, Boracay), with flights from Australia, Europe and North America. Cebu Pacific and AirAsia offer low-cost inter-island flights, and local ferries are an option for getting around. Siargao is served by Sayak Airport (IAO), and stays at Nay Palad Hideaway include private return transfers between the airport and the resort.

On Siargao, Nay Palad Hideaway is an all-inclusive, ultra-luxury surf resort on the island’s southeastern tip, with Cloud 9 a short drive away. Across the country, accommodation ranges from ultra-luxurious dive resorts to budget bungalows.

Plenty: white-sand beaches, island hopping, sea kayaking and windsurfing, hiking Taal Volcano, the rice terraces of Banaue, historical churches and rare wildlife such as the tarsier. On Siargao you can explore mangrove forests by paddleboard or boat, visit hidden lagoons and quiet islands, or take a day trip to Magpupungko Rock Pools, Burgos and Alegria Beach.

The currency is the Philippine peso (PHP), the time zone is UTC+08:00, the calling code is +63 and the power supply is 220V with plug types A, B and C. Away from the surf hub of Siargao, surf shops and even basic infrastructure are few and far between, so come prepared, and check your country’s travel warnings before you go.

Many of the best waves break over shallow live coral and are for intermediate surfers and above, so choose breaks that match your ability and time your sessions around the tide (Cloud 9 is best at mid to high tide). The Philippines enjoys relative stability, although rebels in the Mindanao region sometimes create conflict, so check your country’s travel warnings before heading there. See our surf safety tips.