Siargao Tri-Island with Drone & Mermaid Tail

Siargao’s famous island trio makes a fine full-day escape from General Luna, but the real treat is the mix of simple beach time and playful extras. You’ll walk a bare sandbar at Naked Island, eat a communal boodle fight lunch on Daku, and finish with free drone footage and mermaid-tail photos.

I like the strong value at $35, especially with the boat, entrance fees, lunch, guide, drone shots, and mermaid-tail activity included. I also like the social feel: the long Daku stop gives you time to eat, swim, take photos, and enjoy the easygoing camaraderie of a shared boat trip. The main drawback is the early start and open-water travel, plus the boat engine can be noisy.

Key points at a glance

• Naked Island is a pure sandbar stop: Expect sun, sea, and very little shade, with about an hour to walk, swim, and take photos.
• Daku carries the day: You spend roughly three hours here for the boodle fight lunch, beach time, swimming, and sightseeing.
• Guyam is the prettiest stop for many visitors: Its smaller scale gives it a more intimate beach feel than Daku.
• Drone footage costs nothing extra: You can use the aerial photos or videos as a memorable record of the day.
• The Secret Island stop depends on the tide: It may be added after lunch, but it is not guaranteed.
• Bring your own snorkeling gear: Snorkeling is possible, but equipment is not included in the $35 price.

Why this three-island day works so well

Siargao’s Tri-Island route is popular for a good reason. Each stop has a different character, so the day does not feel like three copies of the same beach.

Naked Island is the simplest. It is a low sandbar with no major attraction beyond the setting itself, and that is exactly its appeal. You step off the boat into open views, pale sand, and clear water. There is no thick cover of trees to block the sun, so this is the place for sunscreen, a hat, and a quick swim rather than a long stay in the shade.

Daku Island gives the day its practical heart. It is the largest of the three islands and the main place for lunch, rest, and a slower stretch of beach time. Guyam is smaller and more scenic, with a beach that many people find the prettiest of the three.

The route also includes a short stop at a less-publicized spot, plus Secret Island when the tide allows. You get variety without paying for a private charter. At $35 per person, that matters.

Starting at Maricel Tours in General Luna

Registration begins at 7:30 AM, with departure from General Luna Port scheduled for 8:00 AM. Maricel Tours is beside Wang’s Bakery, across from the church. I would arrive early rather than cut this close, since the meeting point is easy to find but the boat departure is tied to the morning schedule.

The tour lasts about eight hours and should bring you back around 4:00 PM. Some transport arrangements have run late, with one reported delay of about 30 minutes, though hotel pickup and return transfers have also been arranged successfully for some bookings in General Luna. If you are catching a flight later that day, leave plenty of room after the stated return time.

This is a group boat tour, not a private yacht outing. That keeps the price down and adds a friendly, shared atmosphere, but it also means you will not control the pace at every stop. The crew has been described as friendly and attentive, and named staff include Erwin, Trench, and Maria.

Naked Island: one hour of sand, sun, and sea

Naked Island is usually the first major stop. Its name tells you what to expect: little or no vegetation, a bare strip of sand, and water on every side.

You can walk along the sandbar, swim, pose for photos, or simply stand in the water and take in the view. The lack of shade is both the charm and the catch. Wear a hat, apply sunscreen before leaving the port, and keep drinking water.

The stop lasts about an hour, which feels sensible. Naked Island is striking, but there is not enough here to fill half a day. The short visit gives you time for the classic Siargao sandbar photos without using up the best part of the day.

Your boat may be sharing the area with other island-hopping boats. That is normal for this well-known route, so do not expect solitude. Still, the open setting spreads people out better than a small beach would.

Guyam Island: the most photogenic pause

Guyam Island follows as a one-hour visit with free time. It is small, green, and beach-focused, and many people consider it the most attractive stop on the route.

This is a good place to slow down after the bare openness of Naked Island. You can swim, take photos, walk along the beach, and enjoy the island’s compact scale. The free mermaid tails are especially useful here, where the beach and shallow water provide a natural setting for playful pictures.

The mermaid-tail activity is included, but it is best understood as a photo prop rather than a serious water activity. If you are not a confident swimmer, do not use one in deep water. The tour is specifically not suitable for non-swimmers, and the tail will not make swimming easier.

Guyam also gives you a chance to see small island shops. These stops can add a little local character, though you should not expect a full market or a long list of services. Bring cash if you want to buy something, since the tour information does not promise card payments or specific shops.

The short hidden-gem stop and Secret Island option

The schedule includes a 30-minute stop at a less-publicized spot for a break, photos, a guided visit, and swimming. The exact feel of this stop can depend on water conditions and the day’s timing, so think of it as a bonus rather than the main reason to book.

The tour also offers a side trip to Secret Island after lunch, but only when the tide permits. That condition matters. You should not treat this as a guaranteed fourth island, since the water level may make the stop impractical.

A tide-dependent visit is common for small coastal sandbars and shallow island areas. The upside is a chance to see a quieter, unusual part of the route. The downside is that you cannot plan your day around it with certainty.

Daku Island and the boodle fight lunch

Daku is where the tour settles into its longest stop, about three hours. This is the largest island on the route and the place for the main meal, swimming, photos, free time, and sightseeing.

The boodle fight lunch is a Filipino communal meal traditionally arranged across a table or covered surface, with people eating together rather than receiving separate plated dishes. Here, it is presented as a spread of local food and island delicacies. That format fits the day well: casual, generous, and social.

The food has received some of the strongest praise connected with this experience. One useful detail is that the meal is not merely a quick packed lunch. It is described as tasty and well presented, which makes the long Daku stop feel worthwhile even if you are more interested in eating than swimming.

You may want to bring a light snack for the morning, since breakfast is not included in the stated package. Water is also on the recommended packing list. The tour includes lunch, but it does not say that drinks or extra snacks are covered.

Daku’s three-hour block is long enough to feel relaxed. You will not need to rush from the boat to the meal and straight back again. You can eat, take a walk, swim, and use the beach for photos. If you prefer a tightly packed sightseeing day, the extended stop may feel slow. For most people, though, it is the breathing space this route needs.

Drone footage and mermaid tails: useful extras or simple fun?

The free drone footage is one of the tour’s best additions. Island-hopping photos from beach level are easy to take, but aerial footage shows the shape of the sandbars and the clear water around them. It gives you something different from the usual phone snapshots.

Do not assume that every shot will be a private film session. This is a group tour, so the crew has to share the drone time among several people. Ask the guide how the footage will be delivered, since the available information confirms the footage is free but does not specify the file-transfer method or turnaround time.

The mermaid tails are another lighthearted extra. They work best for photos in shallow water or on the beach. They are not snorkeling equipment, and snorkeling gear is not included at all.

Several people have enjoyed the snorkeling spots on this route, but you need to arrange your own mask, snorkel, and any other equipment. The tour includes boat access and entrance fees, not a snorkeling kit. That is an important cost detail if underwater time is central to your plans.

The boat ride and what comfort is really like

The islands are close enough that the transfers are fairly short. One account put the trips between islands at around 15 to 20 minutes, leaving most of the day for time on land rather than long hours at sea.

The main comfort warning is the boat engine. It has been described as extremely noisy on at least one trip, although headphones were available. If you are sensitive to sound, bring earplugs or noise-reducing headphones if you have them.

Open-water travel also means you should think about seasickness. The tour is not suitable for people prone to seasickness, according to the stated restrictions. If you know you have a problem on boats, this may not be the right day trip, even though the crossings are relatively short.

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, a hat, a camera, and water. Keep your belongings protected from splashes. The tour does not list dry bags, lockers, or waterproof storage as included equipment, so use a waterproof pouch for your phone and valuables.

Weapons, sharp objects, alcohol, and drugs are not allowed. Babies under one year and people over 95 are excluded, and the activity is not suitable for non-swimmers.

Is $35 good value for Siargao?

At $35, this is a strong value if you want the classic Siargao island route in one day. You are paying for a full-day group boat trip, entrance fees, an English-speaking licensed and accredited guide, lunch, drone footage, and the mermaid-tail activity.

The lunch is especially important to the value calculation. A separate meal on an island, boat transport, and entrance charges can add up quickly. Here, the main costs are bundled into one booking.

You still need to budget for anything not included. Snorkeling gear is the clearest extra. You may also want to allow money for drinks, snacks, or small island purchases, since those are not listed as part of the package.

The rating is 4.2 from 89 ratings, which suggests a generally strong experience with some unevenness. The praise centers on the scenery, food, helpful staff, snorkeling, and free drone footage. The weaker points are the occasional disorganized start, possible transport delays, and engine noise.

That is a fair trade at this price. You receive a lot, but you should not expect private-tour control or luxury-boat quiet.

Who should book this tour?

I would choose this trip if you are staying in General Luna and want to see the three famous islands without arranging a boat, lunch, and entrance fees separately. It works particularly well for couples, friends, and solo visitors who enjoy a shared day with a relaxed social mood.

It is also a good pick if you want attractive photos without paying extra for a drone session. The mermaid tails add a playful touch, especially for groups who enjoy taking pictures rather than treating the day as a serious water-sports outing.

You should think twice if you dislike group tours, need shade at every stop, or want guaranteed snorkeling equipment. You should also skip it if you are prone to seasickness or cannot swim.

The free cancellation policy gives you some protection: you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Siargao plans may shift.

My verdict: book it for a well-priced classic day

I would book this tour for the complete package and the sensible balance of sightseeing and downtime. Naked Island supplies the famous sandbar, Guyam brings the best photo setting, and Daku gives you the meal and the longest chance to relax.

The tour is not flawless. The morning organization may feel loose, the engine may be loud, and Secret Island depends on the tide. Bring your own snorkeling gear, protect yourself from the sun, and arrive early at Maricel Tours.

If you accept those limits, $35 buys one of Siargao’s essential day trips with a very good lunch and two unusual extras. It is a particularly smart choice for a first visit, provided you are comfortable on a group boat.

FAQ

Where does the Siargao Tri-Island tour meet?

Meet at Maricel Tours, right beside Wang’s Bakery across from the church in General Luna.

What time should I arrive?

Registration begins at 7:30 AM, and departure from General Luna Port is scheduled for 8:00 AM.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours. The planned return to Maricel Tours is around 4:00 PM.

Which islands does the tour visit?

The main stops are Naked Island, Guyam Island, and Daku Island. Secret Island may be added when the tide allows.

Is lunch included?

Yes. The tour includes an iconic boodle fight lunch with a spread of local food.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

No. Snorkeling gear is not included, so bring or arrange your own equipment if you want to snorkel.

Are mermaid tails included?

Yes. Free use of mermaid tails is included as part of the activity.

Is drone footage included?

Yes. Free drone footage is included, although the provided information does not specify how or when the files are delivered.

What language does the guide speak?

The live guide speaks English.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.