Returning to Siquijor for another VibePinas adventure felt like coming home, but with a few new twists. Jessa and I took my new Honda Click 160, and I have to say, the ride from Cebu down to the ferry in Santander and over to Dumaguete was effortless. It’s a great feeling when the gear just works, making the travel part of the vacation rather than a chore.
Once we hit the island, we headed straight for San Juan. We didn’t go for anything fancy; most places were booked up anyway, but we found a great little oasis for 1,800 pesos a night. It had a nice bed, a quiet new AC, and even Netflix. Honestly, saving money on the room meant we could plan to splurge more on food—which, as it turned out, was a bit of a gamble.
Our first stop was the Enchanted Balete Tree. I’ve been there before when it was only 10 pesos, but now it’s up to 50 pesos. I don't mind supporting the local barangay, but I was really there for the fish spa. The fish were… aggressive this time! Some of those big ones felt like they were trying to take a whole toe off. Jessa was a natural, but I preferred the smaller ones.
We then checked out Salagdong Beach in Maria. It’s still one of the most beautiful spots on the island, and they’ve done some nice upgrades since we last stayed there with Liam. It’s now 3,000 pesos a night, but they have Starlink and better facilities. The cliff jumping is as iconic as ever, and watching people take that leap into the turquoise water is always a highlight.
However, the trip had its share of "Siquijor moments." We had a major "chicken incident" at a resort where Jessa’s butter chicken took forever, and despite being told it was ready, we eventually had to leave without it—though we still had to pay! Then there was a dinner with a sizzling beef platter that was served way past medium-rare because of the hot iron.
One of the most meaningful parts of the trip was revisiting Paliton Beach. This place holds a special spot in our hearts because it’s where Jessa told me she was pregnant with Liam five years ago, right before we got stranded for three months during the COVID lockdown. We only packed for three days back then!
We ended the trip with a massive seafood platter at Baha Bar. It was delicious for the most part, but a bad batch of shells unfortunately led to some "toilet issues" for me later on. That’s just part of the Siquijor experience, I guess.
Overall, Siquijor remains a "slice of heaven." It’s perfect for a 3- to 7-day romantic getaway to see the falls, the trees, and the beaches. Any longer might be a stretch since it’s a small island, but for a quick escape, it’s still our tropical paradise. Thanks for coming along on the ride!
