Siquijor Digital Nomad Guide - Tips & Local Information
ESSENTIALS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏙️ City |
Siquijor Island, Siquijor Province, Central Visayas, Philippines |
| 👥 Population |
Approximately 103,395 (2020 Census) |
| 💻 Internet Speed |
Starlink is common at top cafes (150-250 Mbps); local fiber (PLDT/Globe) averages 20-50 Mbps; 4G/5G is spotty in remote areas. |
| 💸 Currency & Banking |
Philippine Peso (PHP). 1 USD ≈ 56.00 PHP. ATMs are mostly in Siquijor Town and Larena (Metrobank, PNB). Landbank has the highest reliable limits. |
| 🚰 Tap Water |
Not drinkable. Use 5-gallon purified water jugs (approx. 35 PHP) or filtered dispensers provided by resorts. |
| 🔌 Power |
220V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A and Type B sockets. Frequent brownouts occur; many remote workers use power banks or stay at resorts with generators. |
| 📶 SIM Card |
Globe and Smart. Smart has better coverage in San Juan. Buy at Larena Pier for approx. 50 PHP plus 500 PHP for monthly data (90GB). |
| 💳 Banking for Expats |
GCash (digital wallet) is essential for local payments. Maya and GCash are widely used; credit cards only at high-end resorts. |
| 🛌 Accommodation |
Guesthouses start at 800 PHP/day. Long-term house rentals range from 15,000 to 35,000 PHP per month via Facebook Marketplace. |
| 💳 Cashless Friendly |
Moderate. GCash is accepted at many stores, but cash is king for markets, trikes, and local eateries. |
| 🏠 Short Term Rentals |
Airbnb, Booking.com, and agoda. Popular spots include Glamping Siquijor and Tropical Fun Ta Sea. |
| 🛏️ Budget Accommodation |
JJ’s Backpackers (San Juan) - approx. 450 PHP for dorm beds; Love Shack Siquijor - approx. 600 PHP. |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Tourists |
San Juan. This is the hub for sunset bars, restaurants, and white sand beaches like Paliton Beach. |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads |
San Juan (for community and Starlink) or Lazi (for quieter, cheaper long-term stays with better nature access). |
WORKING AND NETWORKING
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 Best Coworking Space |
No dedicated 'coworking centers' yet; workers congregate at 'See, Keep & Explore' or 'Baha Bar' which offer reliable Wi-Fi. |
| ☕ Best Cafe for Work |
Monkey Business (San Juan) - Good food, reliable Wi-Fi; Dolce Amore - High-end Italian vibe with fiber internet. |
| 💼 Networking Events |
Informal gatherings at JJ's Backpackers bonfire nights or Sunday sunset meetups at Paliton Beach. |
| 🥂 Social Events for Expats |
Join the 'Siquijor Expats & Locals' Facebook group for weekly community dinners and beach cleanups. |
NATURE AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 🌄 Scenic Viewpoints |
Larena Triad View Deck - Panoramic view of the sea and neighboring islands. |
| 🦉 Birdwatching Locations |
Mt. Bandilaan for native species like the Siquijor Bulbul. |
| 🔥 Bonfire-Friendly Spots |
San Juan beach area after 8 PM (check with local guesthouses). |
| 🌅 Nearby Nature Escapes |
Mt. Bandilaan National Park - Highest point on the island for hiking and panoramic views. |
| 🏞️ National Parks Nearby |
Tulapos Marine Sanctuary (Enrique Villanueva) - Best place to snorkel with barracudas and giant clams. |
| 🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths |
The road loop from San Juan up to Lazi via the mountains is very scenic for cycling. |
TRANSPORTATION
| Topic |
Details |
| 🚕 Best Taxi/Ride App |
None (No Grab/Uber). Use local tricycles or hire a private driver. Siquijor Town to San Juan costs approx. 150-250 PHP by trike. |
| 🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental |
Widely available at piers. Approx. 300-350 PHP per day for a semi-automatic or automatic scooter (e.g., Honda Click). |
| 🏖️ Best Beach Nearby |
Paliton Beach (San Juan) for sunsets; Salagdoong Beach (Maria) for cliff jumping and turquoise water. |
| ✈️ Top Regional Airline |
Cebu Pacific or Philippine Airlines (flying into Dumaguete, then ferry to Siquijor). |
| ✈️ Top International Airline |
Emirates, Qatar Airways, or Cathay Pacific (flying to Cebu, then ferry/flight to Siquijor). |
| 🛣️ Highway Access |
The Siquijor Circumferential Road (72km) is well-paved and circles the entire island. |
| 🚉 Main Train/Transit Hub |
Larena Pier and Siquijor Pier (frequent ferries to Dumaguete, Bohol, and Cebu via OceanJet). |
| 🚍 Public Transport Passes |
No passes. Multicabs (jeepneys) run between towns for fixed low rates (25-50 PHP). |
| ✈️ Regional Travel |
OceanJet high-speed ferry to Dumaguete (50 mins, 350 PHP) or to Tagbilaran, Bohol (1.5 hours, 900 PHP). |
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏥 Best Hospital |
Siquijor Provincial Hospital (Siquijor Town). For serious emergencies, a medevac to Cebu or Dumaguete (Silliman Medical Center) is required. |
| 🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers |
Yoga by the Beach at Glamping Siquijor (approx. 400 PHP per session); Apo Diver Wellness. |
| 🏋️ Gyms & Fitness Centers |
LDS Gym (Siquijor Town) - basic local gym with free weights; 50 PHP per day. |
| 🧺 Laundry Services |
D’ Laundry Hub (San Juan). Approx. 40 PHP per kg for wash/dry/fold service. |
FOOD AND DRINK
| Topic |
Details |
| 📱 Best Food Delivery App |
None. Most restaurants offer direct delivery via local motorbike riders for a small fee (50-100 PHP). |
| 🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try |
Siquijor-style 'Pan de Monkayo' (local bread) and fresh grilled blue marlin from the San Juan night market. |
| 🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options |
Shaka Bowls (San Juan) - Famous smoothie bowls; Luca Loko - many plant-based options. |
| 🍫 Best Dessert Spots |
Larena Triad Coffee Shop - Great views and traditional Halo-halo (approx. 150 PHP). |
| 🛒 Affordable Shopping Spots |
Siquijor Public Market and Prince Hypermart for groceries and household goods. |
| 🛒 E-commerce/Online Store |
Lazada and Shopee (delivery takes 7-14 days due to island location). |
| 🛒 Grocery Delivery |
Not officially available; hire a local trike driver to do a market run for a 100 PHP tip. |
| 🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area |
San Juan 'The Strip'. Notable: Baha Bar for live music and Czar’s Place for Friday night street parties. |
| 🍻 Local Brewery |
None on island, but craft beers from Dumaguete (e.g., Kape Kristiano) are sold at Baha Bar. |
| 🍷 Wine Bars |
Dolce Amore - Selection of Italian wines (approx. 1,200 PHP per bottle). |
| 🍲 Street Food Stalls |
San Juan Night Market (near the church) - open-air BBQ, grilled squid, and puso (hanging rice). |
| 🍕 Popular International Cuisine |
Marco Polo (Italian/Pizza) and Roch Cuisine (Fusion). |
OTHER SERVICES AND AMENITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 📦 Parcel Delivery Service |
J&T Express (Larena) and Palawan Express (Pawnshops often handle cargo). |
| 🛠️ Tech Repair Services |
Small local shops in Siquijor Town for basic phone repair; go to Dumaguete for laptops. |
| 🏓 Table Tennis Spots |
Local barangay centers often have tables; ask the Lazi community center. |
| 🧑🏫 Language Classes |
Informal Cebuano (Bisaya) lessons can be arranged with local teachers (approx. 300 PHP/hour). |
| 📚 Libraries & Study Spots |
Siquijor State College Library (Lamba, Larena). |
| 🏘️ Community Centers |
Town Plazas in San Juan and Larena. |
| 🕹️ Gaming Lounges |
Small 'Pisonet' shops in towns for basic PC gaming. |
| 🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls |
None. The island focuses on eco-tourism and peace. |
BUSINESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. 45,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 30 m² = 1,350,000 PHP/~$24,000). Highly restricted for foreigners. |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. 35,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 30 m² = 1,050,000 PHP/~$18,500). |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. 40,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 50 m² = 2,000,000 PHP/~$35,500). |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. 30,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 50 m² = 1,500,000 PHP/~$26,700). |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. 38,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 3,040,000 PHP/~$54,000). |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. 28,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 2,240,000 PHP/~$40,000). |
| 💼 Corporate Tax |
25% (Standard Philippine Rate). |
| 💵 Dividend Withholding Tax |
15-25% depending on tax treaties. |
| 🏦 Tax System |
Territorial for non-residents; world-wide for resident citizens. |
| 📈 Highest Income Tax Bracket |
35% (on income over 8M PHP). |
| 🧾 VAT |
12% (Value Added Tax). |
| 🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules |
None for individuals; some rules apply to corporations. |
| 🏠 Property Tax |
Real Property Tax (Amillar) is low, approx 1-2% of assessed value annually. |
| 🏠 Property Transaction Tax |
6% Capital Gains Tax + 1.5% Documentary Stamp Tax. |
| 💻 Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads |
No specific digital nomad visa yet; tourists usually pay no local tax on foreign income if on a visitor visa. |
CULTURE AND ATTRACTIONS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🎟️ Must-See Landmarks |
Cambugahay Falls (Lazi) - Tiered waterfalls with rope swings (entry 50 PHP). |
| 🏛️ Museums & Art Venues |
Lazi Convent - One of the oldest and largest convents in Asia (entry 20 PHP). |
| 🏰 Historical Sites |
Old Enchanted Balete Tree - 400-year-old tree with a natural fish spa (entry 20 PHP). |
| 🕍 Religious Sites |
St. Isidore de Labrador Church (Lazi) and Siquijor Church (San Juan). |
| 🎉 Annual Events |
Siquijor Healing Festival (Holy Week) - Gathering of folk healers and herbalists on Mt. Bandilaan. |
| 🎨 Cultural Districts |
Siquijor Town proper - The administrative and historical heart of the island. |
| 🎭 Theater Venues |
None. Local festivals (Fiestas) feature open-air stage performances in town plazas. |
| 🛍️ Local Markets |
Sunday Market in San Juan for fresh organic produce and fish. |
| 🎼 Music Scene |
Live acoustic bands at Baha Bar (Wed/Sat nights). |
| 🎨 Street Art |
Limited; mostly hand-painted murals at resort entrances and local schools. |
| 🧑🍳 Cooking Classes |
Baha Bar sometimes hosts traditional Filipino cooking demos (adobo, kinilaw). |
| 👩🎨 Art Galleries |
Small displays at 'Canoan Art Gallery' near the port when operational. |
| 🕰️ Historic Buildings |
Larena Bell Tower remains. |
| 🏴 Local Heritage |
Traditional 'Bolo-Bolo' healing rituals using a pipe, water, and a black stone. |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING SIQUIJOR