Sick on Siquijor

From Bohol, I got the public ferry over to Siquijor, a relatively small island just off the larger island of Negros. Siquijor seemed a little less touristy compared to everywhere else I’d been, but still had a good tourist infrastructure and nice places to stay. I decided to treat myself and booked a fairly fancy resort on the beach, which was still great value to be honest, at about £50 a night. The resort picked me up from the harbour and I checked in.

However, I still hadn’t shaken my cold that I got after the expedition and I spent the first couple of days here feeling pretty terrible, bunged up, with a banging head and sinuses. I slept A LOT haha, but luckily there was always a good day bed out on the front of the beach under the shade, so I camped here for a few days, watching the ocean and sniffling.

I picked this resort also because of it’s proximity to the house reef, and although I didn’t feel well at all, I did manage to snorkel a little bit on my own. It was ok, but not too many fish or coral. I felt spoiled from the expedition. I don’t think any snorkeling spot in the Philippines will ever live up to that…

But when I started to feel a little better, I also booked a day trip to Apo Island, which is closer to Dumaguete, but the resort arranges a day trip here too. It’s supposed to be the best place in the Philippines to see turtles and they were not wrong… When we arrived at the island we moored up and walked across it to the snorkeling point. I must have seen about 50 turtles!

After a modest lunch, we went to a second snorkelling spot, which was also very good, and had more turtles at, but also a very nice coral reef in great condition and other fish too. It should have been amazing, but again, I was comparing to the reefs off Linapacan, which were just unreal. I almost wished I had done my whole trip in reverse and ended at the expedition… Well, it was still amazing!

On the journey back to Siquijor we also saw dolphins ☺️

That night, feeling much better after some swimming, and almost like my cold was gone, I headed out to a local beach party on my own. But quickly connected with some local girls and we had far too many cocktails and ended up dancing on the stage at the very busy venue. Which basically meant that the next day I felt very ill, AGAIN! But this time, no sympathy, as it was self inflicted reasons 🤣

I decided to book one more night on Siquijor, and instead of going back to Dumaguete for one night before my flight to Manila and then home, I would get an early morning ferry and travel all in one day. It was a little risky, but I felt I needed the extra day to see the island properly after spending a few days ill here.

I rented a moped and drove all around the island basically, the roads were amazing, not too much and very scenic going up and over the hills in the centre. I stopped at a few of the waterfalls on the south of the island, my favourite being Cambugahay Falls, where I also went for a little swim.

And ended it with a smoothie bowl on the beach and watching the sunset.

I really loved Siquijor, the waterfalls here were just amazing! And being able to visit Apo island to see the turtles and amazing reef there was also another reason to come here.

My travel back to Dumaguete went off without a hitch, and I was able to get to the sister hotel of Coco Grove in the town to have breakfast (for free, as I left before breakfast at Coco Grove) and then napped on the sofa whilst I waited for the right time to get to the airport. I flew back to Manilla and then camped out at an amazing vegan cafe called Green Bar, whilst I waited for my flight back home to Manchester in the evening.

The Philippines is amazing, and just over 2 weeks is DEFINITELY not enough, so I do hope I can come back soon!