1) Where is Nay Palad Hideaway located?

Nay Palad Hideaway is located in a secluded area on the southeastern tip of Siargao, one of the last islands of the Asian continent, situated in the Philippine province of Surigao del Norte.

2) How will I be picked up at the airport?

When you land at Sayak Airport, on the west coast of Siargao, a member of our team will be waiting for you. After claiming your baggage, you’ll climb aboard the Nay Palad Hideaway jeepney, a living room on wheels, to complete the last leg of your journey. Over the 40-minute drive, you’ll ride in comfort and style while soaking up first impressions of the island.

3) What is included in the package?

Our package includes full board meals (breakfast menu; family-style, picnic or barbecue lunch; fine-dining dinner); all beverages (natural juices, soft drinks, selection of wines and sparkling wines, beer, liquors, coffee, tea); activities such as surfing, island-hopping, kayaking, paddle-boarding, sailing, and water sports; yoga; massages; laundry; and round-trip airport transfer from Sayak airport.

4) Can we book the Hideaway in exclusivity?

Yes, and we do have a special package for that. Our maximum capacity is 34 Guests, distributed over our 10 villas. Make the Hideaway yours for small weddings, small company event and incentives, yoga retreats, family celebrations, and more.

5) What are the menus like at Nay Palad Hideaway?

There is no set menu. Instead, our chef develops the day’s dishes based on availability and seasonality. While incorporating Asian and, more specifically, Filipino influences, his style reflects his broad, international experience and deep love of diversity. His coconut vichyssoise, for example, is a delectable blend of local and foreign influences that perfectly represents his unique talent. The fruits and vegetables in our dishes are grown locally, sustainably and, to the greatest extent possible, organically. In addition, the chef has recruited a number of local fishermen to guarantee the choicest, freshest catch for our Guests. Those with special dietary needs (or cravings) should not hesitate to make them known, as the chef and his team will gladly accommodate you.

6) Will I need money during my stay at Nay Palad Hideaway?

There is no need for money at Nay Palad Hideaway. Everything from food and drink to excursions to equipment usage to spa treatments is included in the room fee (gratuities, not included, may be paid with cash or credit card if you desire). Any cash you may need when touring the island—whether to enjoy a drink at a barangay celebration, to pick up roadside pain de coco or to eat at a restaurant near Cloud 9—you are advised to bring with you, as there are not many ATM machines on Siargao and credit cards are as yet not accepted. The local currency is the Philippine peso (PHP). We recommend that you change money at the main airports (Cebu and Manila), though limited amount of foreign currency can be exchanged on the island, in the port of town of Dapa. Please be advised that, should you exceed your luggage amount when flying in to Siargao, your airline may charge a fee payable in cash only.

7) Is the Hideaway open for walk-ins? Do you allow day tours?

In order to protect the privacy of staying Guests, our facilities are not open to the public, and we do not accept day tours.

8) When is the best time to travel to Siargao Island? How is the weather in Siargao throughout the year?

A tropical island, Siargao is enjoyable all year long. However, the preferred time to visit is during dry season, from March to October. Blessed with an average annual temperature of 30°C (86°F), Siargao has a tropical marine climate, with ocean winds that average out annually to a breezy 3.1 meters per second. The island enjoys relatively mild dry and wet seasons, the former running from March to October, as the amihan, the cool wind from the northeast, prevails. In June and July, the average temperature may climb to 32.5°C (91°F). By August and September, monthly rainfall sometimes drops to fifteen centimeters. Soon after, the habagat, or ‘southwest monsoon’, begins to predominate. The heaviest rains, up to sixty centimeters per month, fall in December and January, when temperatures may drop to a low of 23.5°C (74°F).

9) When is the best season for surfing? Are you close to Cloud 9? Are there other surfing breaks?

You can surf Siargao the whole year around. The big waves sought by professional surfers happen between September and May. There are more than 20 surfing spots around the island reachable by road or boat. The most famous one is Cloud 9, located 15 minutes by road from Nay Palad Hideaway. We include in our package surfing instructors or guides, transportation to the different surfing spots, and boards.

10) How is the Island vibe?

The Philippines are famous for the friendliness of its people, and the inhabitants of Siargao—Siargaonons—happily greet visitors, engaging them in conversation. Between the beauty of the island and its culture, it’s no wonder that many visitors have fallen in love and chosen to stay. Siargao is now home to expatriates from a wide range of nationalities. Most are surfers or simply people who enjoy a slower way of life, in closer touch with nature.

11) Which language and dialect is being spoken on Siargao?

On Siargao, the mother tongue is Siargaonon, a dialect of Visayan, but Cebuano, Boholano, Tagalog and English are also commonly spoken.

12) Is there a good internet connection at Siargao?

Siargao is served by the two principal Filipino telecom providers, Globe and Smart, but the signal, while reliable, is not strong. Wireless Internet is available in the communal areas of Nay Palad Hideaway and may reach some of the Guest villas, depending on conditions. As you enter a barefoot state of mind, however, you may find yourself less and less inclined to spend time in front of a screen.

13) Do I need a visa to travel to Siargao?

Travelers to the Philippines staying longer than thirty days require a special visa and may wish for convenience to bring along, in addition to their passport, a driving license or duplicate form of identification. It is important to have a passport valid for more than 6 months and a return ticket to be able to enter the Philippines.

14) Do you recommend any specific vaccination before travelling?

There is no official advice to have any specific vaccination before traveling to this part of the Philippines. However, as when readying yourself for any tropical journey, you will want to be up-to-date with immunizations and routine vaccinations. Your doctor or health care provider will determine what you will need depending on factors such as your health and immunization history, areas of the country you are visiting, and planned activities. If you have a medical condition, be sure to inform your personal doctor of your travel plans. Lastly, make sure you pack adequate supplies of your prescription medicines to last for your entire trip, and keep them in their original prescription bottles in your carry-on luggage.

15) Are there diseases related to mosquito bites?

There is no malaria in Siargao, but dengue fever, an occasionally fatal disease spread by mosquitoes, is a remote risk. While cases of infection are rare and reportedly limited to the north of the island, there is no vaccination against dengue fever, which is generally contracted during or just after the wet season. Conscientiously protecting yourself from mosquitoes—which may come as single species or, in the vicinity of mangroves at dusk, in battalions—is the best safeguard against infection. Nay Palad Hideaway provides high-quality natural repellent, and you are encouraged to bring your own preferred brand. Have some close to hand at all times, especially when dusk is falling.

16) Is there a hospital on the island?

On Siargao, life-threatening scenarios tend to arise as a result of surfing in unfamiliar territory (in combination with powerful waves, rocks and sharp coral) or traveling too fast by motorbike. Siargao’s district hospital is in the island’s largest town, the port of Dapa, forty minutes’ drive from Nay Palad Hideaway. In case of serious accidents or emergencies, sophisticated medical care is available in Cebu, about three hours away by helicopter. The flight itself takes approximately one hour and fifteen minutes, but the helicopter must first come from Cebu.

17) Can I go island-hopping around Siargao?

Of the forty-seven outlying islands in the vicinity of Siargao, nine are visible from the Nay Palad Hideaway beachfront. Remarkably, each of them is different, each its own invitation to explore, each its own reward for doing so. Ask the Guest Relations Team to arrange a boat and help you plan your itinerary. Or don’t plan an itinerary—just set out, not knowing what you’ll discover. You can count on your crew, who have grown up hopping among these islands, to make each outing unforgettable. Naturally, a picnic lunch and all of the snacks and refreshments you may require will be prepared and packed for your departure.

18) How much time does it take to drive around the island?

Circumnavigating Siargao by road takes a full day and is a worthwhile (if challenging) journey. North of Del Carmen on the west coast and San Isidro on the east, the road is unpaved for long stretches and may be strewn with rocks or simply turn to mud, all of which makes for a very bumpy ride. For adventurers, however, getting off the beaten track to discover the lesser-visited Siargao is the best way to gain a sense of the island entire. Your vehicle will carry drinks and a picnic to be enjoyed on a beach of your choosing. If wave-riding is your purpose, request that the surfboards come too. If eight hours sounds like too long to be on the road, plan a half-day trip north to Pilar and Magpupungko and back, or take the central inland road, which cuts across from San Isidro to Del Carmen, returning past Dapa. These shorter journeys can be made as easily on the back of a habal-habal (motorcycle taxi) as in a van. Everywhere you go, you will be welcomed, especially if you undertake the journey on the weekend or a school holiday. For a special treat, make sure you arrive at Magpupungko at low tide.