6-Day Surf, Swim and Functional Fitness Retreat on Siargao Island, Philippines

The week is structured but not rigid. Day 1 is a soft landing: check in at 11:30, lunch at Kurvada, coconut ice cream and coffee at Coco Frio, then a two-hour sunset surf session before dinner at Lokal Hub. From Day 2 the volume picks up — a two-hour swimming lesson at Bulan Resort in the morning, lunch at Derecho, then 1.5 hours of functional training in Santa Fe in the afternoon. Day 3 starts at 06:00 with a two-hour sunrise surf, followed by breakfast at Sibol, an ice bath at Mujo, and a combined 1.5-hour swimming and functional session at Secret Beach, finishing with sunset there, dinner at Kanaloa and a massage.

Day 4 swaps the surf for partner functional training on General Luna Boulevard at 06:00, then breakfast at Anju Rinna Pastry & Resto Cafe, and the rest of the day goes to the tri-island hopping trip, with dinner at Thai Foon and another massage. Day 5 is the biggest day: 1.5 hours of swimming and functional fitness along the main General Luna beach at 06:00, breakfast at Low Tide Breakfast Bar in Mao Mao, lunch at Derecho, coconut ice cream at Coco Frio, then a two-hour surf session with a drone shoot. Sunset is at Catangnan Bridge, dinner at Naga, and a third massage. Day 6 closes with a two-hour sunrise surf, an ice bath at Mujo, breakfast at Love Coco Cafe and check-out at 11:00, with an optional lunch at Food Lab.

What separates this from a generic surf camp is the swim coaching. David de Benito competed professionally for over seven years and has a university background in sports science and psychology. Reviews from his swim students describe him improving stroke efficiency in a few sessions, teaching complete beginners to feel comfortable in the water, and getting a five-year-old to swim 15 metres unaided after 12 lessons. Swimming sessions here are not just time in the water — they include video analysis and individual feedback.

The location is General Luna, the main hub on Siargao, in Surigao del Norte in the southeastern Philippines. Siargao is the country's surfing capital, with Cloud 9 nearby and warm water year-round. The retreat runs in a tropical climate with highs of 28–33°C and humidity around 80–85%. The dry season runs March to early October; surf season peaks September to November. Airport transfers from Siargao Airport (IAO) are included, and the drive to General Luna takes about an hour.

What's included

- 5 nights accommodation at Villa Luna - Airport pickup and drop-off - Daily brunch and snacks - Water, tea and coffee throughout the day - Surf lessons with the retreat's instructors - 2 guided ice bath recovery sessions - Specialised workshops - Motorbike rental - 1-hour treatment - Group excursions and activities, including tri-island hopping with a traditional boodlefight lunch - Professional event photos - Transportation during the retreat - Parking - WiFi connection - Luggage storage

What's not included

- Flights - Visa fee - Travel insurance - Additional treatments - Additional activities not included in the itinerary - Lunches and dinners at the listed restaurants (unless stated) - Personal expenses