Visayas & Mindanao · about 70 minutes in the air
Private flight from Cebu to Siargao
Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB) to Sayak Airport (Siargao) (IAO). Whole aircraft from ₱84,000 ($1,350), up to 3 passengers.
Siargao is the surf island, and Cebu is where its flights come from: several a day, on jets and turboprops, in about an hour. From September to November the swell, the Siargao International Surfing Cup and the cancellations arrive together, and the seats vanish weeks ahead. That is when a private aircraft earns its keep on this route; the rest of the year it is for groups with boards, odd hours and onward plans.
The flight is about 70 minutes in a Cessna 172, east across the Bohol Sea and up the Surigao coast to Sayak Airport at Del Carmen, half an hour from General Luna and Cloud 9. The price is for the whole aircraft, three seats, live in pesos and dollars; a booking is a request the operator confirms, usually within hours, and nothing is charged until they do. Surfboards are the thing to raise at booking: a shortboard fits with a seat folded, a longboard needs a larger type.
Both directions are priced below, and Siargao is also priced direct to Panglao, a pair no airline flies. If your dates are loose, check the empty legs page as well: aircraft that deliver surfers to Siargao fly home to Cebu at a steep discount.
Mactan-Cebu International Airport to Sayak Airport (Siargao): your options compared
| Option | Time | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private aircraft (Avian) | About 70 min | ₱84,000 | Whole aircraft, up to 3 passengers; lands at the airport. |
| Scheduled airline | About 1 hour | Per seat | Several a day; sells out and cancels in surf season. |
| Ferry via Surigao | Overnight plus a morning | Lowest | Overnight ship to Surigao City, then a boat or fast craft to Dapa. |
Flight time is a typical block time for the aircraft shown and is confirmed at booking; surface times are typical and vary with weather and season.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the price per person or per aircraft?
- Per aircraft. The price shown covers the whole aircraft from Cebu to Siargao for up to the passenger limit on the price card, so splitting it between travellers is where charter starts to make sense.
- How much luggage can we bring?
- Each price card shows the aircraft's total luggage allowance in kilograms. Light aircraft take soft bags far more easily than hard cases; if you are travelling with dive gear, a surfboard or camera cases, mention it when you book and the operator will confirm it fits.
- How far in advance do we need to book?
- A booking on Avian is a request: the operator confirms availability, usually within hours, and you then receive a secure payment link by email. Nothing is charged until the operator has confirmed. Same-day flights are sometimes possible; a few days' notice is safer in peak season.
- What happens at the airport?
- Charter departures use the small general-aviation side of the airport. Arrive 30 to 45 minutes before departure, meet the crew, and walk to the aircraft. There are no boarding groups and no long security queues.
- What if the weather turns?
- Light aircraft fly in visual conditions, so heavy weather can move a departure. If the operator needs to change your time they will propose a new one and you accept or decline it from your booking link; a flight that cannot operate is not charged.
- Can children and infants fly?
- Yes. Every person on board, including an infant on a lap, counts towards the aircraft's passenger limit, so choose your passenger count accordingly when you search.