Hiraya Surf Hostel

Most of the guests are solo travellers, so it’s easy to meet people. There’s often something happening, from dinners and surf sessions to just hanging out. I spent two weeks here and felt at home from day one. The staff were so friendly and upbeat, they made me feel like part of the family. A perfect place to unwind, meet great people, and feel welcome. I’ll definitely be back!💕💕💕

The big dorms didn’t feel crowded, and we initially liked the community feel, with a family dinner and Saturday party. The receptionist was very friendly when we arrived, but be ready for cold showers. We left after a few sleepless nights because we found bed bugs in our bed. We told the staff and got no apology. We’d seen several reviews mentioning bed bugs, so it seems the hostel knows about the issue. The whole room needs fumigating, since they can burrow in wood, which I can only assume is happening in the dorms. We weren’t offered a refund for the discomfort. They offered to move us, which was kind, but by the time we returned to our original room, new guests had already been put in the infested beds. That’s extremely poor. They don’t provide toilet paper or even offer it for sale at reception, and you have to pay 50 pesos for drinking water. We liked the idea of family dinner, but both of us had upset stomachs, and several other guests got sick from the food. You need a scooter to stay here because the road floods. When we asked about a shortcut to cloud 9, we were told there wasn’t one, but a kind local showed us a quick walking route that saved loads of time. Hostelworld’s rating seems too high given the recent bed bug reviews. The hostel needs to sort this out instead of taking more bookings.

I had a great time at Hiraya and made lots of friends. The guests and staff are really social, and there are activities arranged day and night. The room was spacious as. My only issues were the shower pressure and the road to the hostel, though I guess that’s just Siargao. No biggie, we managed, and it became part of the fun. I was really happy with my stay.

Sky made my stay, and it was so easy to make friends at this very social hostel. The cafe is affordable and tasty, and the beds are spacious and comfortable, though there’s no curtain. They can also arrange surf lessons and have the instructor pick you up. The road is rough, especially with potholes when it rains, so you should only drive if you’re experienced. Also, the bathroom water seems to be refined saltwater. After 3/4 days my skin broke out badly and is still recovering, and my hair got very dry and started falling out. Great hostel experience apart from those things.