Is Siargao's WiFi Really Fast Enough to Work Remotely? I Tested It for 30 Days

I spent 30 days working from Siargao - living in General Luna, hopping between cafes, beachside resorts, and the occasional hammock - to answer the question every digital nomad keeps asking: can you reliably work remotely from this surf island? Short answer: yes, with planning. Here's the full story, real speed numbers, where I tested, and what to pack.

Quick TLDR

• Most accommodations in General Luna have decent internet for remote work (video calls, Slack, file uploads) - expect averages of 15–50 Mbps on resort WiFi.
• Mobile internet (Globe and Smart) is a reliable backup; peak 4G/5G speeds hit 100+ Mbps in town, but consistent speed ranges 10–40 Mbps.
• Latency can be higher than in Metro Manila (30–120 ms). For audio/video calls, schedule important meetings outside peak evening hours.
• Bring at least two SIM cards, a power bank, and be ready to tether or switch locations for stable connections.

Where I stayed and tested

I based myself in General Luna (the main tourist hub near Cloud 9). Testing locations included:

• Three mid-range beachfront guesthouses that advertise "fiber" or "strong WiFi"
• Two higher-end resorts claiming dedicated internet
• Several cafés and restaurants around the main strip
• Mobile-only tests using Globe and Smart prepaid SIMs with data loads
• A morning co-working attempt at a small shared-space café that rotates power and internet load

Most of the island's tourism services, cafes, and resorts are concentrated in General Luna. Outside of that - inland villages and the northern beaches - coverage thins quickly, and internet may drop to slow 3G or none at all.

What I tested and how

• Daily speed tests (Speedtest.net) at different times: morning (8–10am), afternoon (2–4pm), and evening (7–10pm)
• Upload/download, jitter, and ping (latency)
• Video call quality (Zoom/Google Meet), screen-sharing, and file uploads to Google Drive and FTP
• Random stress tests: simultaneous upload + Zoom + background syncs

I recorded results for both fixed WiFi in accommodations and mobile data (SIM tethering). The goal was realistic: can I run a full workday, join 2–3 video calls, and upload/download files without losing hours to bad connectivity?

Real speed numbers (what I actually measured)

Note: numbers are averages gathered across multiple spots in General Luna during my 30-day stay. Speeds vary by location, provider, time of day, and weather.

• Resort/guesthouse WiFi (claimed fiber or DSL):

  • Average download: 25–45 Mbps
  • Average upload: 6–15 Mbps
  • Latency: 35–80 ms
  • Typical experience: good for 1080p video calls, moderate large-file uploads (sizable uploads took several minutes)

• Better resort / dedicated connection:

  • Average download: 50–100 Mbps
  • Average upload: 15–25 Mbps
  • Latency: 30–60 ms
  • Typical experience: smooth remote work, multiple Zoom calls, quick uploads

• Café WiFi:

  • Average download: 10–30 Mbps
  • Average upload: 3–10 Mbps
  • Latency: 40–120 ms (higher when crowded)
  • Typical experience: fine for email and quick calls; noisy or inconsistent during meal rushes

• Mobile data (Globe & Smart, prepaid SIMs, 4G/4G LTE; occasional 5G in town):

  • Average download: 15–60 Mbps (peaks 80–200+ Mbps in best spots on 5G)
  • Average upload: 5–20 Mbps
  • Latency: 25–90 ms
  • Typical experience: excellent backup and sometimes primary connection if you're in central General Luna. Coverage drops outside town and in coconut groves.

The good stuff (why Siargao is viable for remote work)

• Plenty of accommodations now advertise stable internet. Many have improved since the island's tourism boom a few years back.
• Mobile backup is realistic: both Globe and Smart work well in town - buy both SIMs if you can.
• If you choose a higher-tier resort or a place that explicitly offers "business/fiber" internet, you'll often get speeds comparable to smaller cities.
• The lifestyle trade-off is real: surf in the morning, work midday, sunset breaks - you can have a healthy routine and still be productive.

The pain points (what to watch out for)

• Power outages happen occasionally. Bring a power bank or ask accommodation about generator schedules.
• Peak evenings (7–10pm) are the worst for congestion. If you have crucial client meetings, avoid scheduling them during dinner/after-surf time or use a mobile hotspot as backup.
• Outside General Luna, coverage and internet reliability decline fast. Don't plan full workdays on remote beaches unless you have clear confirmation of wired internet.
• Upload-heavy work (large video files, big backups) can be slow and inconsistent; plan uploads for off-peak hours or use local coworking options if available.

Practical tips for working 100% remotely in Siargao

1. Choose accommodation wisely

   • Ask directly about wired connection vs. shared WiFi. Request an ethernet option if you need the most stable link.
   • Read recent reviews specifically mentioning "WiFi for work."

2. Bring backup SIMs and data

   • Buy both Globe and Smart prepaid SIMs on arrival. Top up with daily/weekly data plans.
   • Use mobile tethering when resort WiFi is weak. In many cases, a good 4G tether is faster than overloaded resort WiFi.

3. Prioritize latency-sensitive tasks

   • Record powerpoints or presentations offline and upload them during off-peak hours.
   • Do large uploads/downloads early morning or late at night.

4. Power planning

   • Keep a reliable power bank and, if you can, a travel UPS for short outages.
   • Confirm generator schedules with your host; sometimes internet is also affected during generator switchovers.

5. Use tools that tolerate flaky networks

   • Use Slack, Gmail offline mode, and Google Docs to avoid losing work.
   • Use call fallback: if Zoom degrades, switch to audio-only or use mobile voice.

6. Test immediately on arrival

   • Run a speed test right away and confirm with the host. If speeds are far below what was promised, ask for alternative spots or upgrade options.

Is Siargao better now than before?

Yes. Over the last few years there have been noticeable improvements in network infrastructure and telecom operator efforts to serve tourist hotspots. Local businesses also realize that many guests now need reliable internet. However, infrastructure in Siargao is still island-level - not Metro Manila level. Expect a balance: very usable internet with occasional hiccups.

Which provider should you get?

Both Smart and Globe are commonly used. My personal notes:

• Smart: slightly better in some inland pockets and often better 5G availability in main town.
• Globe: very competitive speeds and good overall coverage. Best practice: carry both SIMs. If one provider falters, the other often saves the day.

Rough Cost expectations

• Accommodation WiFi: usually included in the room rate; some boutique places offer "premium" faster packages for a small extra fee.
• Prepaid data: you can get affordable day/week data promos from both Globe and Smart for reasonable prices. Expect to spend anywhere from PHP 100–700 per week depending on usage.

Final thoughts (yes, you can work here - with caveats)

Siargao is absolutely workable for remote work for most knowledge jobs: coding, writing, marketing, customer support, and many freelance roles. If your role requires constant ultra-low latency or uploading terabytes of data daily, it's not the best choice. But for regular video meetings, team collaboration, and file sharing, plan well, have backups, and you'll be fine.

If you want my one-line advice: pick a place that advertises a dedicated wired connection, bring two SIMs, schedule big uploads for mornings, and don't expect Metro Manila consistency - but expect plenty of productive, beautiful days.

Happy remote working - and don't forget to surf between meetings.