How to Get To Siargao from Manila & Cebu (Overnight Ferry & Flight)

The easiest way to get from Manila or Cebu to Siargao Island is by taking a short flight to Siargao’s Del Carmen IAO Airport. Internal flights in the Philippines can be expensive, especially if you’re booking last minute.

If you’re traveling on a budget to/from Cebu to Siargao you also have the option to take an overnight ferry from Cebu to Surigao, and then the local ferry from Surigao to Siargao. If you’re looking to save money by using this transport option, make sure to book your tickets through the provider directly, rather than a 3rd party site that adds fees and increases the rate.

How To Get To Siargao From Manila 

You can fly directly from Manila to Siargao, direct, or with a layover in Cebu. Direct flights leave every day from Manila to Siargao, the flight is around $200 and takes two hours. Direct flights from Manila > to Siargao are around $100 each way. 

Flights from Manila to Siargao with a layover in Cebu take a bit longer and are usually a bit cheaper. Currently, if you have a flight from Manila with a layover in Cebu it will cost around $60-80 each way and take 4-5 hours total. 

How to Get to Siargao from Cebu

From Cebu, you have the option to fly directly to Siargao or to take an overnight ferry to Surigao + an additional 1.5-hour ferry to Siargao. The airport in Siargao is actually called “Del Carmen IAO” – this is very important because when I searched “flights from Cebu to Siargao” on Google Flights it told me there were none! That’s why I wound up taking a (very hectic) overnight ferry – I thought flying wasn’t an option. 

⛴ The Overnight Ferry From Cebu to Surigao / Siargao 

For some reason, I was under the impression taking the overnight ferry would be less stressful than flying, and while the ferry itself is fine, boarding it was an incredibly stressful and long process. The ferry port at Cebu was packed, line out the door to check in and go through security, and then you need to line up inside the ferry port to pay the port tax + check in to your ferry, and show your ID. The lines inside the ferry port weren’t well organized, and everyone was pushing and shoving in front to cut the line. It was so stressful! 

Insult to injury, the ferry from Cebu > Surigao > Siargao isn’t that much cheaper than flying! A flight from Cebu > to Siargao, direct, is between $30-50 (usually) each way, and the two ferries (Cebu>Surigao + Surigao>Siargao) were around $40 total.

Once inside, the overnight ferry was quite nice. You have the option to sit in an AC “Tourist Class” room and get a bed, sit upright, or do the non-AC class and save some money. They served hot food on board the ferry and had decent bathrooms. I surprised myself by sleeping through the entire night! STILL, I would recommend flying instead of taking the overnight ferries in the Philippines.

💰On a Budget? Make sure to book the ferries through a direct provider or at the ferry port, most online portals are adding massive fees and overcharging.

How To Get To Siargao From Surigao 

Surigao is the closest main city to Siargao Island. Pretty much everything in Siargao, from shampoo to motorcycles, has to be imported from Surigao. The ferry is the only way to get between the two islands.

👉 Time of Departure: Multiple times a day with the first one at 10 AM

💰Cost: $10 (500 Philippine Pesos) each way

⏰ Length: 1.5 hours each way. 

💡 Tip: The ferry Surigao>Siargao is an interesting experience haha, I recommend sitting as far back (closest to the entrance) as possible because it’s an absolute mad crush to get out once it docks! 

🚨 Note! The airport in Siargao Island is called “Del Carmen IAO” – I just put in “Siargao Airport” which is probably why Google Flights originally told me there were no flights from Siargao to Cebu!