SUMMARY

Sergio Sala, a digital nomad, explores Siargao, Philippines, highlighting its surfing culture, coworking spaces, retreats like Kaya Connections, the Nomads in Paradise conference, island adventures, and affordable island life for remote workers.

STATEMENTS

• Siargao is a tiny island in the Philippines emerging as a digital nomad hotspot, with the narrator arriving and heading to General Luna via a shared van.
• The narrator stays at Latia's Hostel Workspace for a month, featuring a nature-inspired design, coworking space, and rooftop, primarily to join the Kaya Connections retreat led by Marie.
• Kaya Connections retreats are led by locals, starting with Siargao and potentially expanding to Ecuador or Peru, emphasizing bringing nomads "back home" to experience authentic culture.
• Participants enjoy local foods like bami noodles, chopsue steamed vegetables, seaweed, and blue turn iced tea during the retreat's opening night celebration.
• Soul Shacks restaurant offers a hippie vibe, good Wi-Fi, and serves as a spot for vision workshops on monthly and life goals among retreat participants.
• Scooters are the best way to navigate Siargao, provided by the retreat, with Tourism Road in General Luna looping through numerous restaurants and coffee shops.
• General Luna is the main hub for expats, while downtown areas have a local vibe with schools, basketball courts, and the port for island hopping.
• Siargao's north side, like Pacifico, and southern areas like El Karma, offer more exploration beyond General Luna.
• Pandesal with coconut, known as Pande Coco, is an authentic Filipino dessert from Siargao, featuring sweet coconut and cocoa sugar inside bread.
• Siargao is dubbed the surfing capital of the Philippines, with gentle waves ideal for beginners, providing long rides without quick closeouts.
• Surfing lessons involve a short boat ride to spots, with local instructors like Belong offering guidance.
• White Bird Coffee provides excellent breakfast options post-surfing, and nearby surf shops sell essentials like swimsuits.
• Starlink internet has revolutionized connectivity across Siargao, making it reliable for digital nomads.
• Latia's offers an air-conditioned coworking space and rooftop for working, while Alter Space is a 24-hour spot with great chairs and multiple modems.
• Coco Space is an off-grid coworking area powered by solar panels, featuring meeting rooms, adjustable desks, and scenic views.
• Power cuts and occasional internet issues are part of island life, requiring adaptability.
• Kurbada serves affordable local Filipino food like vegetable curry, chicken with beans, and minced meat dishes, where diners select items and pay via photo.
• Weekend adventures with Kaya include biking north to spots like the coconut plantation view deck for "human drone" activities.
• Magpupuko beach features natural pools, embodying the classic Philippine paradise image.
• Little Hawaii in the north supports a community farm with farm-to-table meals like sweet potato spring rolls, eggplant salad, and blue rice.
• Suboon lagoon offers turquoise waters for chilling, with kayaking to a hidden crystal-clear lagoon behind a hut.
• Nomads in Paradise conference features speakers, networking, and activities like business talks and success stories from virtual assistants to global entrepreneurs.
• Sunset spots like Katangan Bridge offer local street food such as beef and rice.
• Karaoke at Kokobar allows singing with locals, a cherished Filipino pastime.
• Canaloa Beach Bar in Malina provides a quiet chill spot for relaxation and firefly kayak tours with bioluminescent plankton.
• Island hopping includes Cloud 9 for surfing views, Guyam Island as a private tourist spot, and Naked Island for sandbar lounging.
• Kohidoor Island requires a 15-minute hike to panoramic views, with celebrations featuring mahi-mahi fish and eggplant salad.
• Talks at the conference cover YouTube strategies and journeys with limited passports.
• Caramine restaurant specializes in pizzas and mango float dessert, a Filipino ice cream treat.
• Cash is king in Siargao; ATMs can be unreliable, so apps like Remitly allow transfers for pickup at stores like Palawan with passport verification.
• Tuk-tuks are a negotiable transport option, costing around 50 pesos for short trips.
• Local Hop is a community-driven space where profits support locals, offering events and food like condensed milk treats.
• Ice baths at Musha build mental resilience, maintaining 0-1°C for up to 10 minutes, but women should avoid during periods.
• Sisig at Pang Pang Sizzling House is a sizzling pork dish, with options like tofu for vegetarians and honey garlic chicken wings.
• Live music at Extension Bar features local bands, with the narrator joining on drums.
• Coffee shops like Mondays Three Wise open at 5 a.m. for laptop-friendly work, protein shakes, and breakfast.
• Peda Cafe has sand floors, pour-over coffee, and cookies; The M offers pool views and cats; Spotted Peak is small but top-notch.
• The Cat and the Fiddle provides street views for working; Brunch Spot suits meals and tasks; Sunday features green areas and pools.
• Beach resorts like Shiang offer day passes for pool access and beachfront work.
• Roots restaurant serves a seven-course Michelin-style meal using Filipino family recipes and local ingredients like calamansi pie.
• Sohoton Cove in Bucas Grande involves boat rides, helmets for cave navigation, and swimming with jellyfish in clear lagoons.
• Pluta's Resort has bungalows, relaxing tubs with views, and clear waters for day stays.
• A typical day includes surfing, banana bread breakfast, AC coworking, healthy bowls at Santa, outdoor work, and sunset views.
• Nightlife at Naga Siargao blends Filipino-Mediterranean cuisine, like chicken masala twists.
• Recommended restaurants: Malupo for pancakes, seafood spots for ceviche, Wung Siarg for Indonesian, X Pizza for breezy eats, Typhoon for Thai, Wild for progressive Filipino.
• Santa Fe area, 10-15 minutes from General Luna, features Bamboo Surf Cafe with cocoa-coffee drinks and community meetups.
• Halu Siargao offers Chinese food with Global Nomad Pass discounts; Ocean 9 resort has bumpy access but serene vibes.
• Harana Surf Resorts hosts farewell dinners with vegetarian options and group toasts.
• Total monthly cost was around $2,600, including retreat perks like coworking, scooter, and conference ticket, with extras on food and surf lessons.

IDEAS

• Siargao blends remote work productivity with tropical escapism, turning potential distractions into motivational backdrops for digital nomads.
• Local-led retreats like Kaya Connections foster deeper cultural immersion by having natives guide outsiders, creating authentic connections beyond tourist traps.
• Starlink's arrival democratizes high-speed internet in remote islands, potentially accelerating Siargao's transformation into a global nomad hub like early Chiang Mai.
• Surfing's gentle waves not only teach balance on water but metaphorically encourage patience and long-term commitment in professional pursuits.
• Off-grid coworking powered by solar panels highlights sustainable tech integration, allowing nomads to work eco-consciously in paradise.
• Community-driven spaces like Local Hop redistribute profits to locals, modeling a symbiotic nomad-resident economy that sustains island growth.
• Ice baths as "mind over matter" practice build resilience, paralleling the adaptability nomads need for unreliable island infrastructure.
• Conferences like Nomads in Paradise weave personal success stories with networking, inspiring nomads to leverage weak passports for global entrepreneurship.
• Hidden lagoons and firefly tours reveal Siargao's biodiversity, suggesting that true exploration yields unexpected wonders off the beaten path.
• Cash-centric transactions and app remittances underscore Siargao's semi-isolated economy, teaching nomads resourceful financial navigation.
• A day blending surf, work, and sunsets embodies the nomad ideal, but occasional power cuts remind of the balance between freedom and fragility.
• Filipino twists on global cuisines, like calamansi pie at Roots, symbolize cultural fusion that enriches nomad diets and palates.
• Jellyfish swimming in Sohoton Cove challenges fears, illustrating how embracing nature's "stings" leads to profound clarity and joy.
• Weekly community meetups in Santa Fe cultivate ongoing nomad-local bonds, preventing isolation in transient lifestyles.
• Affordable month-long stays, under $2,600 with perks, democratize paradise living, making Siargao accessible for aspiring remote workers.

INSIGHTS

• Siargao's rise as a nomad haven stems from its fusion of reliable tech like Starlink with natural draws like surfing, enabling sustained productivity amid leisure without the burnout of urban grind.
• Local-led experiences in retreats reveal that authentic cultural exchange amplifies personal growth, turning travel from superficial sightseeing to transformative homecomings.
• Sustainable coworking models, such as solar-powered spaces, demonstrate how nomads can minimize environmental impact while maximizing work efficiency in fragile ecosystems.
• The island's intermittent disruptions—power outages or spotty service—cultivate resilience, teaching nomads that true freedom thrives in imperfection, not flawless infrastructure.
• Surfing's long, gentle rides mirror successful nomad careers: initial patience yields extended momentum, rewarding persistence over quick wins.
• Community profit-sharing initiatives like Local Hop ensure nomad influx benefits residents, fostering ethical tourism that sustains destinations long-term.
• Ice baths and jellyfish swims abstractly highlight mental fortitude; confronting controlled discomforts prepares nomads for life's unpredictable "currents."
• Nomad conferences blending stories of humble beginnings with global triumphs underscore that location-independent work erodes barriers like weak passports, empowering underrepresented voices.
• Biodiversity spots like firefly lagoons insightfully show that chaos repels wonders—nomads must seek calm, hidden niches for genuine inspiration and recharge.
• Cash reliance and remittance hacks reveal Siargao's economy as a microcosm of global digital adaptation, where tech bridges traditional gaps.
• Culinary fusions at places like Roots insight that blending heritage with innovation nourishes not just the body but cultural identity in a globalized world.
• Monthly cost breakdowns prove paradise is attainable affordably when bundled with communal perks, challenging the notion that remote work requires luxury isolation.

QUOTES

• "We're bringing a nomad back home so they can show the people around."
• "The waves are more gentle. It takes a while before you actually see it. So, you're not going to be like, it's not going to close out right away. And if you catch the waves, you have a really long ride."
• "It's just like it was Chiang Mai a few years ago."
• "Sometimes going to be power cuts, sometimes the internet is not the best and sometimes, you know, data is not working. But that's kind of like the life over here."
• "Doing ice bath it's more on mind conditioning or mind over matter."
• "I'm here to showcase my journey on how I became a global entrepreneur with a really weak passport."
• "You got so many jellyfishes... This is beautiful."
• "I think it's a cool combination of having, you know, surfing, co-working, community, and then learning a lot with other digital nomads."

HABITS

• Start days early at 5 a.m. coffee shops like Mondays Three Wise for focused work with breakfast and protein shakes.
• Incorporate daily surfing sessions to build physical balance and mental patience, followed by post-surf meals at spots like White Bird Coffee.
• Use scooters for efficient island navigation, exploring loops like Tourism Road to combine commuting with discovery of eateries.
• Schedule weekly ice baths for mental resilience training, timing sessions to avoid physical contraindications like menstrual cycles.
• Attend regular community meetups and live music events, such as Tuesday band nights, to foster social connections and combat nomad isolation.
• Dedicate afternoons to outdoor coworking at beach resorts, blending work with sunset views for sustained motivation.
• End days with group dinners at fusion restaurants, sharing meals to nurture relationships and cultural immersion.

FACTS

• Siargao is known as the surfing capital of the Philippines, with beginner-friendly waves providing long rides due to their gentle buildup.
• Starlink satellite internet has made high-speed connectivity available across the entire island, transforming it for remote workers.
• Pandesal with coconut filling, or Pande Coco, is a traditional Siargao dessert using local cocoa sugar, not found elsewhere in the Philippines.
• Nomads in Paradise is an annual conference attracting speakers on digital nomad success, held in General Luna with tickets around conference discounts.
• Bucas Grande's Sohoton Cove features jellyfish populations that don't sting, allowing safe swimming in crystal-clear lagoons via guided boat tours.
• Siargao's monthly living cost for a nomad, including retreats and extras, averages $2,600, covering coworking, scooter rental, and frequent dining.
• Fireflies thrive in Siargao's mangroves, indicating high biodiversity, with tours combining kayaking and bioluminescent plankton sightings.

REFERENCES

• Kaya Connections retreat (kaya-connections.com) for local-led nomad experiences.
• Nomads in Paradise conference with discount code "sergiosala".
• Global Nomad Pass for discounts at partner spots like Halu Siargao.
• Latia's Hostel Workspace for stays and coworking.
• Alter Space, Coco Space, and Local Hop as coworking venues.
• Roots restaurant for seven-course Filipino fusion meals.
• Surf instructors like Belong and spots like Cloud 9.
• Remitly app for cash transfers.
• Musha for ice baths.
• Bamboo Surf Cafe and Ocean 9 resort in Santa Fe.
• Sergio Sala's newsletter and YouTube channel.
• Music by Musicbed.com.
• Gear recommendations via geni.us/nomadgear.

HOW TO APPLY

• Arrive in Siargao via the airport and take a shared van to General Luna, withdrawing cash from ATMs immediately as they're often low on funds.
• Book a month-long stay at a hostel like Latia's with built-in coworking and join a retreat such as Kaya Connections for structured community and scooter access.
• Rent or secure a scooter for mobility, starting explorations along Tourism Road to map restaurants, coffee shops, and local vibes in downtown areas.
• Schedule daily surfing lessons with local instructors, using short boat rides to spots, to integrate physical activity and build wave-reading skills gradually.
• Set up work routines alternating between air-conditioned spaces like Alter Space and outdoor spots like beach resorts, monitoring Starlink for reliability during potential outages.
• Plan weekend adventures north to Pacifico, including farm-to-table lunches and lagoon kayaking, to balance work with cultural and natural immersion.
• Use apps like Remitly for cash pickups at stores with passport verification, negotiating tuk-tuk fares for transport when not scootering.

ONE-SENTENCE TAKEAWAY

Siargao offers digital nomads an idyllic blend of surfing, reliable work spaces, and community events for affordable, inspiring remote living.

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Join local-led retreats like Kaya Connections to gain authentic insights and build lasting nomad networks without solo planning hassles.
• Invest in Starlink-compatible setups before arriving, ensuring seamless remote work amid Siargao's improving but variable connectivity.
• Prioritize surfing lessons early in your stay to harness the island's gentle waves for quick skill-building and daily stress relief.
• Explore off-grid coworking like Coco Space for sustainable, scenic workspaces that enhance productivity with natural inspiration.
• Use Global Nomad Pass for discounts on meals and stays, maximizing value in cash-heavy Siargao while supporting local partners.
• Incorporate ice baths and jellyfish swims into routines for mental toughness, countering the complacency of paradise living.
• Attend conferences like Nomads in Paradise to network with success-story speakers, accelerating your own remote career trajectory.
• Venture to Santa Fe weekly for quieter vibes, community meetups, and diverse cuisines to avoid General Luna overcrowding.
• Budget for $2,600 monthly including perks, focusing extras on food and activities to sustain long-term island immersion without burnout.
• Map hidden spots like Suboon's secret lagoon via kayak to uncover personal recharge areas beyond tourist crowds.
• Embrace cash and remittance strategies, negotiating all transport to navigate Siargao's economy resourcefully and avoid frustrations.

MEMO

In the sun-drenched waves of Siargao, Philippines, digital nomad Sergio Sala discovers a burgeoning paradise where remote work meets unspoiled adventure. Arriving as a hotspot for laptop-toting wanderers, the island—once a quiet surfing enclave—has been transformed by Starlink's reliable internet, allowing nomads to trade urban desks for beachfront coworking. Sala bases himself at Latia's Hostel Workspace, a nature-infused haven with air-conditioned nooks and rooftops, joining Marie's Kaya Connections retreat. This local-led program, emphasizing cultural homecomings, kicks off with shared meals of bami noodles and vision workshops at hippie-chic Soul Shacks, fostering bonds among participants eager for both professional goals and island escapism.

Scooter in hand—courtesy of the retreat—Sala zips along Tourism Road in bustling General Luna, the expat epicenter lined with cafes and surf shops, while downtown pulses with local life: kids on basketball courts, vendors hawking pandesal coconut treats. Siargao earns its title as the Philippines' surfing capital through gentle, forgiving waves that reward beginners with long, exhilarating rides, as local instructor Belong demonstrates on short boat trips. Post-surf, spots like White Bird Coffee offer hearty breakfasts, but the real draw is the blend of productivity and play: Alter Space's 24-hour reliability or Coco Space's solar-powered, off-grid charm, where adjustable desks overlook construction amid verdant views.

Adventures amplify the nomad allure. Weekends northbound reveal Pacifico's "Little Hawaii," community farms serving blue rice and eggplant salads, and Magpupuko's natural pools evoking postcard Philippines. Kayaking Suboon lagoon uncovers hidden crystal waters, while firefly tours at Canaloa Beach Bar illuminate mangrove biodiversity. The Nomads in Paradise conference injects structure: mornings of talks on YouTube strategies and entrepreneurial journeys from virtual assistants with "weak passports," evenings of karaoke sing-alongs and street food at Sunset Bridge. Island hopping to Guyam, Naked, and Kohidoor—complete with hikes, mahi-mahi feasts, and bioluminescent plankton—balances networking with raw nature.

Yet Siargao demands adaptability. Cash rules, with ATMs fickle; Sala navigates via Remitly pickups and tuk-tuk haggles. Power flickers and Wi-Fi wavers remind dwellers this is island life, not seamless Silicon Valley. Ice baths at Musha test "mind over matter," building grit amid 0°C chills, while eateries like Kurbada's curry platters or Pang Pang's sizzling sisig provide affordable fuel—meals for €5 yielding two sittings. Coffee crawls from 5 a.m. Mondays Three Wise (protein shakes aplenty) to sand-floored Peda Cafe keep workflows humming, with beach resorts like Shiang offering day passes for poolside tasks.

Culinary fusion shines at Roots, a "Michelin-star" gem reimagining family recipes with calamansi pies and cacao-coconut shares, or Naga Siargao's Filipino-Mediterranean twists. A typical day unfolds: morning surf, banana bread bites, AC coworking, poke bowls at Santa, sunset gazes, and nightlife dinners. Sala's month, costing $2,600 including retreat perks like scooters and conference access, underscores affordability—extras lavished on surf lessons and Roots' seven courses. Ventures to Santa Fe's Bamboo Surf Cafe for cocoa-espresso or Halu Siargao's Chinese fare (via Global Nomad Pass discounts) reveal quieter enclaves.

As Sala departs Harana Surf Resorts with toasts to "Chicken Joy" and group hugs, Siargao emerges not just as a nomad pitstop but a blueprint for flourishing: where surfing hones balance, communities combat isolation, and paradise proves productive. For remote workers, it's a call to unplug from routine, embracing waves, workshops, and wonders that redefine work-life harmony.