🇵🇭 Siquijor,
Philippines
#2204
Nomad Score
5.9
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9.2155864, 123.5138212
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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. |
| 🌅 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. |
| 🦉 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). |
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). |
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. |
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. |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING SIQUIJOR