Naked, Daku and Guyam: the three-island hop

A sandbar with no trees, a big island with a fishing village and a tiny palm-crowned islet: Siargao’s classic boat day in one easy loop.

Area

Siargao’s islands & lagoons

Start from

General Luna boat station

Distance

a few kilometres by boat offshore

Time needed

1 day

Best season

Best roughly March – October; calmer seas

Difficulty

Easy

Transport

Motorised bangka from General Luna

Tickets & rules

Boat hire; small environmental or island fees on each island

Why go

The three-island hop is the most popular day trip on Siargao, and it deserves its reputation. The boat leaves General Luna and in about twenty minutes reaches Naked Island, a bare sandbar of white sand surrounded by turquoise water, with nothing on it at all: no trees, no huts, just sand and sky.

Next comes Daku, whose name means ‘big’ in the local language. It is the largest of the three, with a fishing village, coconut palms and a long beach where boatmen usually grill lunch. Last is Guyam, a small round islet crowned with palms, the kind of island children draw.

It is not adventurous, but it is beautiful and easygoing, and in calm weather the water between the islands is so clear you can see the sandy bottom from the boat.

The story

These islands lie in the waters off General Luna, part of the Siargao Islands Protected Landscape and Seascape, a large protected area covering the island and its surrounding reefs and mangroves. Fees collected from visitors are meant to support management of the protected area.

Naked Island is constantly reshaped by tides and storms, and its size changes noticeably through the year. Without vegetation to hold it, it is effectively a living sandbar, and after big storms it has sometimes shrunk dramatically before rebuilding.

Daku has been inhabited for generations. Families live by fishing and seaweed farming, and some now also cater to visitors with simple lunches and drinks. Walking through the village gives a glimpse of island life that has changed far less than General Luna across the water.

Guyam is so small you can walk around it in a few minutes. Its palms were badly damaged by Typhoon Odette in 2021, and seeing new growth on its little crown of trees is a quiet reminder of the island’s resilience.

Getting there

Boats leave from the General Luna boat station near the town seawall. You can join a shared tour or hire a private boat for a group, usually with lunch arranged.

Bring cash for boat fees and island entrance fees, and agree what is included before setting off.

A suggested plan

1. 8:00Meet at the General Luna boat station.
2. 8:30Naked Island: walk the sandbar and swim.
3. 10:00Guyam: circle the islet and snorkel off the beach.
4. 11:30Daku: grilled lunch under the palms and a walk through the village.
5. 14:00Return to General Luna.

Where to stay

General Luna is the base for this trip; boats return early enough to enjoy the evening in town.

Good to know

• Go early to have Naked Island before the crowds.
• There is no shade on Naked Island; bring a hat and reef-safe sunscreen.
• Order lunch in advance through your boatman.
• Carry small notes for fees on each island.