Awake Siargao: Siargao, Philippines 🏄🇵🇭

I attended Awake Surf Retreats last January, and it was honestly one of the most beautiful experiences I’ve had in Siargao.

I’ve been living on the island for three years, but this was the first time I experienced it as a guest. For once, I wasn’t organizing anything, planning logistics, or thinking ahead. Everything was taken care of. All I had to do was show up. That alone felt like such a gift.

I found myself in awe of my own island home all over again. We visited restaurants and spots I had never tried before, and it reminded me that no matter how long you live here, there’s still so much to explore. It made me fall in love with Siargao even deeper.

Surf-wise, this retreat was transformational for me. I almost drowned in 2024, and since then, I’ve carried quiet fear in the water. My coach, Jason, knew about it and handled it with so much skill and care. By the end of the week, my anxiety was gone. I was enjoying the waves again. Being surrounded by such solid surfers in the lineup, and learning from one of the best longboarders on the island, helped me rebuild not just my skills, but my confidence. I genuinely improved, but more importantly, I healed something.

Rem is an incredible host. I’ve known her since our CrossFit days back in 2023, but getting to know her more deeply during this retreat was such a blessing. She creates a space that feels intentional, warm, and beautifully curated.

And the girls I met, Vicky, Charlotte, and Jossica, I’ll cherish those friendships forever. There’s something special about bonding through waves, shared meals, and island adventures.

Incredibly grateful for this experience. If you want to experience Siargao in a deeper, more intentional way, this is it. 💙

I did a private retreat in February 2026 and LOVED it. Rem is a force of joy, good vibes, caring, and competence. She packaged a place to stay (the Bajala hostel), daily transport to the breaks (motorcycles, vans, boats), a wonderful coach (Estong), and maybe most importantly--figured out which break was best each day, depending on the swell, tide, winds, my skill level, where the crowds would be, etc. I wanted to work on carving and turns, and my coach made sure I was positioned to go for the right size waves and was extremely patient and gave great feedback and encouragement as I slowly improved. There was one other person also doing a private retreat at the same time, and it was nice to connect with him as well. Even in the middle of the rainy season, Siargao is incredibly beautiful. I will definitely be back!!

We had the most beautiful week with Awake Siargao. From the very first day, everything felt welcoming, relaxed, and perfectly organized — especially great for beginners. We felt comfortable right away and made great progress in a short time.

Rem is incredible and truly thinks of every detail to make the retreat special. From the lovely place we stayed at, to the amazing restaurants, stunning surf spots, and the extra activities, everything was thoughtfully chosen and came together perfectly. The surf instructors were outstanding and played a huge part in making the experience so enjoyable and confidence-boosting.

We can’t recommend this retreat enough and would love to come back — we already miss it! 🌊✨