Why Brits Are Falling For Siquijor: The Philippines’ Most Mystical Island

Ever heard of Siquijor? No? Well, that’s exactly why you should go there ASAP! This tiny Filipino island is quickly becoming the go-to spot for Brits tired of Thailand’s crowded beaches and Bali’s tourist traps. About the size of the Isle of Wight but with a lot more magic (literally), Siquijor delivers that increasingly rare travel unicorn: a tropical paradise that hasn’t been ruined by virality. Plus, the eTravel Philippines could not be simpler, so get booking!

The Island Where Magic is Real

Siquijor is special as it is where actual magical traditions still thrive. Locals call it ‘Isla del Fuego’ (Island of Fire) because Spanish colonisers spotted a mysterious glow around the island, later explained by masses of fireflies and bioluminescent plankton.

But the real magic? The island’s traditional healers (mananambal) still create love potions and healing brews during specific moon phases. During Holy Week, they gather medicinal herbs before sunrise and prepare concoctions that locals swear can cure everything from heartbreak to headaches.

Beaches That Don’t Require Territorial Battles for Sunbeds

Remember holidays where you didn’t have to wake up at 6 am to claim a beach spot? Siquijor’s got that vibe down to a T. Salagdoong Beach offers dramatic limestone formations perfect for cliff jumping, while Paliton Beach delivers those dreamy sunset silhouettes of fishing boats without the 200 other tourists angling for the same shot.

The real showstopper is Cambugahay Falls – a three-tiered waterfall with rope swings and turquoise pools that would have mile-long queues anywhere else. Sometimes you’ll have the whole place to yourself, especially if you visit before 10 am. The entrance fee is less than a pound, which might be the best value in the travel universe.

Getting There: Just Difficult Enough to Keep the Crowds Away

Siquijor’s relative inaccessibility is actually its superpower. There’s no international airport, meaning you need to fly to Dumaguete or Cebu, then catch a ferry. This extra step filters out the masses and preserves the island’s chill vibe.

The typical route from the UK involves:
1. Flight to Manila or Cebu (prepare for a long one)
2. Possible domestic hop to Dumaguete
3. Ferry to Siquijor (45 minutes to 1.5 hours)

Yes, it’s a faff. But that’s precisely why when you collapse onto Siquijor’s white sand, you won’t be sharing it with thousands of others.

Getting Around The Island

The island’s main road runs along the coast for just 72 kilometres, making exploration ridiculously straightforward. Rent a motorbike for about £6 a day (even if you haven’t ridden one since that questionable decision in Vietnam), and you can circle the entire island in a few hours. But be prepared to spend all day because stopping at hidden coves and roadside eateries is a must.

For the less adventurous, tricycles (motorcycles with sidecars) serve as local taxis, and drivers often double as impromptu tour guides.

Why British Travellers Particularly Love It

Beyond escaping perpetually grey skies, Brits find Siquijor appealing for practical reasons: English is widely spoken and the island feels remarkably safe even for solo travellers.

The prices don’t hurt either. Seafood barbecues for a fiver, beachfront accommodations from £15-50, and local rum for less than a pint costs back home make budget stretching gloriously easy.

Perhaps most importantly, Siquijor operates on what locals call “island time” – a refreshing counterpoint to schedule-obsessed lives. Here, meetings happen “after lunch” rather than at 13:37, and nobody checks their watch every five minutes. For stressed-out Brits, this mental reset proves more valuable than any spa treatment.

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