Beginner Surf Lessons in Siargao

If you have never stood on a surfboard, Siargao is one of the easiest places in the world to start. The water is warm all year, the beginner wave is a hundred metres from the most famous break in the Philippines, and our crew has taught a lot of first waves. This is the lesson most people book with us, and it is the only one with a fixed price: 2,500 PHP per person, about 45 USD, for two hours in the water.

What the standard package includes

• Two hours in the water with a surf instructor
• A soft-top or longboard that fits your height and weight
• Leash, wax and a rash guard to keep the sun off your back
• Free pick-up from any hotel or guesthouse in General Luna, and a ride back after

There is nothing extra to pay at the beach. If you want to keep surfing after the lesson, board rental is available at our rental counter and we will point you at the right board.

Where we surf and why

Beginner lessons happen at Jacking Horse, the wave right next to the Cloud 9 boardwalk. It is a completely different animal from its famous neighbour: a soft, rolling wave with a long forgiving shoulder, deeper water over the reef, and a sandy-bottom inside section where you can stand up between waves. It works best around mid tide with light wind, which is why your start time moves from day to day.

On very small days, or for nervous first-timers, we sometimes use a sandbar instead. Either way, we make the call the morning of your lesson based on the tide table and the wind, not on a fixed timetable. You can read more about how we pick spots in our Siargao surf spots guide.

How a first lesson goes, step by step

Pick-up. We collect you from your hotel in General Luna at the confirmed time and drive to the beach. Boards are already on the rack.

Beach briefing (about 15 minutes). Your instructor explains how the wave breaks, where the reef is and where the sand is, how the leash works, and how to fall safely: flat and shallow, never head first, never a hand down on coral. Then you practise the pop-up on the sand until it feels automatic.

Whitewater waves (first hour). You paddle out to waist-to-chest-deep water with your instructor beside you. They pick the waves, hold the board, tell you when to paddle and give you a push into the broken whitewater. Most people stand up on the first day, often within the first twenty minutes. If you do not, that is normal too; the second session usually fixes it.

Green waves and turning (second hour). Once you are standing consistently, your instructor moves you a little further out to catch the unbroken face of the wave and starts working on your line: looking where you want to go, shifting weight, and a first easy turn.

Debrief. Back on the beach we tell you honestly what to work on next, and whether you are ready to rent a board and go on your own or would benefit from another lesson.

What to bring

• Swimwear you can move in; board shorts and a one-piece or sports top work best
• Reef-safe sunscreen, applied before you arrive
• A bottle of water and a towel
• Nothing valuable; there is no locker on the beach, so leave phones and passports at your hotel

We provide the board, leash, wax and rash guard. You do not need booties at Jacking Horse.

Who this lesson is for

Complete beginners, people who tried once years ago, and anyone who wants a safe, structured first session on a reef island. Kids and teens are very welcome; see our kids surf lessons page for how we adapt the session. If you already surf and want to work on something specific, look at private coaching or surf guiding instead.

Season and conditions

Jacking Horse has waves most days of the year. From roughly late May to October the southwest monsoon gives clean offshore mornings; from November to March the swell is bigger and windier and we watch the tide and wind more carefully, sometimes moving to a sheltered spot. Water is 27 to 29 degrees, so there is no wetsuit involved. Check the surf forecast if you are curious, but for a first lesson the conditions almost always work.

How to book

Message us on WhatsApp at +63 962 422 5438 with your preferred dates, how many people and your hotel name. WeChat users can find us at lily_barrel, and there is a booking form on our home page. We reply in English, Russian and Chinese and will tell you everything else you need to know, including how to pay.

We confirm the exact pick-up time the evening before, once we have looked at the tide and the wind for the morning.

Ready for your first wave? Message us on WhatsApp and we will find you a session this week.