Private flights to Siargao

Siargao is the surf island off the north-east tip of Mindanao: Cloud 9's reef break and boardwalk, the lagoons of Sugba and the mangroves of Del Carmen, and island-hopping boats out to Naked, Daku and Guyam. Its airport is at Del Carmen on the western side, and General Luna, where most people stay, is a road transfer across the island.

The scheduled flights come from Cebu, Manila and Clark, and from September to November the swell, the international surfing competition and the crowds arrive together, so seats sell out weeks ahead and weather cancellations cascade. That is when a private aircraft earns its place: a chartered Cessna 172 flies Mactan to Sayak in about 70 minutes, and Siargao to Panglao, a pair no airline or ferry serves, in about 80.

Both legs are priced in both directions for the whole aircraft, three seats, live in pesos and dollars. Raise surfboards at booking: a shortboard fits with a seat folded, a longboard needs a larger aircraft. A booking is a request the operator confirms, usually within hours, and nothing is charged until they do.

Why fly to Siargao

The case for flying privately is surf season and the itinerary. When every seat out of Cebu is gone, a charter keeps the trip intact; and when the plan is Siargao and Bohol together, the direct Panglao leg replaces a day of connections through Cebu with a ferry at the end. Split across three surfers with boards, the premium over two airline fares each shrinks fast.

The case for the airline is the rest of the year. Outside peak season the scheduled flights are frequent, and a solo traveller or a couple without heavy gear will pay far less per seat. Check the empty legs page before deciding, since aircraft that deliver surfers to Siargao fly home to Cebu with empty seats at a steep discount.