Buddha Resort (Buddha's Surf Resort)

Rooms and decor

The first thing that sets Buddha's Surf Resort apart from the roadside stays around Siargao is the greenery around it — the resort hides inside a tropical garden shaded by big trees and tropical plants, so walking in feels like ducking out of the noise into a private, leafy corner. Rooms are kept simple and easy on the eyes in island-resort style, leaning on natural tones and an open, airy feel. Every room comes with more than you'd expect for the price: hot water for a rinse after a full day in the sea, air-con for the hot, humid nights, and the one that surprises people most — Starlink satellite Wi-Fi that's fast and stable for an island this far out. What makes the rooms nicer still is the private balcony that opens onto the green garden, good for a morning coffee or for putting your feet up after a session in the water. Plenty of reviews agree that the overall mood is relaxed and warmly welcoming, so if you prefer somewhere quiet in nature over rooms stacked in a building, Buddha is an easy fit.

Food and amenities

The heart of a stay here is the resort's easygoing mood and the fact that it's set up for both loungers and surfers. The newest addition, from 2025, is a saltwater pool that's gentle on the skin and doesn't sting the eyes the way a chlorine pool can — it's become the go-to spot to cool off after the beach or to sit by in the afternoon. Nearby is a yoga room for a morning stretch or a bit of calm. What really lands with the surf crowd are the in-house surf classes, with a team on hand for both first-timers picking up a board and people who just want to arrange a session, so you can get going in one place. The resort also helps with the practical stuff — motorbike rental for getting around the island, airport transfers, and tips on nature spots and island-hopping trips. But the thing reviews mention as often as the facilities is the team, praised again and again as friendly, easygoing and helpful enough that it feels like staying at a friend's place.

Location and getting there

The clearest selling point is that the resort sits midway between the Cloud 9 surf spot and General Luna town — a few minutes on a motorbike reaches the Cloud 9 boardwalk and its renowned waves, and a few minutes the other way reaches the centre of General Luna, packed with restaurants, cafes, bars and board-rental shops. That means you don't have to choose between being near the waves or near the food — both are about equally close. It suits anyone who wants to surf in the morning, head into town for a good meal in the evening, and retreat to a quiet garden corner in between. Getting here starts with a flight into Siargao Airport (Sayak/IAO), then a road transfer to General Luna of about 40-45 minutes, which the resort can arrange if you let them know ahead. For exploring further afield — the Magpupungko rock pools, or island-hopping to Naked Island, Daku and Guyam — having a motorbike of your own is the easiest way to get around.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. The first thing to weigh is that the resort is not on the beach: the location is conveniently central for both Cloud 9 and town, but reaching the waves or other spots on the island still means renting a motorbike or calling a ride, since Siargao has no convenient public transport like a big city. If you're not comfortable riding, budget for transport and plan your trips ahead. Second, this is a small boutique resort with only a handful of rooms, so it fills up fast — especially in the high-season window of roughly September to November when the waves are good and surfers pack the island — so book several weeks ahead if you've got your eye on it. With that boutique size, shared facilities like a full gym or spa are limited compared to a bigger resort, so adjust expectations there. Last is noise: set in the garden near the road that links the neighbourhoods, you may catch passing motorbikes or early-morning nature sounds, so light sleepers should ask for a room deeper into the garden.

Our take

From reading through plenty of real reviews, Buddha's Surf Resort is a well-rounded pick for couples and budget-minded surfers who want a relaxed tropical-garden mood without paying a lot. The strengths are the midway location between Cloud 9 and General Luna that's easy to reach in both directions, the new 2025 saltwater pool, the yoga room, the in-house surf classes, and Starlink Wi-Fi that's faster than you'd expect — plus a team reviewers can't stop praising. If your trip looks like waking up to ride out to Cloud 9, coming back to soak in the saltwater pool, doing a bit of yoga, then riding into town for a good dinner with a quiet garden to retreat to, this delivers good value. If you're after a beachfront resort you can walk to the waves from, full shared facilities, or genuine luxury, the compact size and motorbike-dependent location may not be the best fit. Overall we give it 8.8/10, best for couples and surfers who want an easygoing garden mood on a comfortable budget.