12 Best Sunset Photography Spots in Siquijor

Every evening, Siquijor puts on a show. The sun drops toward Negros Island, painting the sky in shades from soft peach to fiery crimson. Fishing boats become silhouettes. Palm trees sway against painted backdrops. And for those with cameras ready, magic happens.

Siquijor’s west coast is perfectly positioned for sunset photography, with the added bonus of Negros’ mountain silhouette on the horizon. This guide covers the island’s best locations—from famous beach viewpoints to secret spots only locals know.

Understanding Siquijor Sunsets

The Geography Advantage

Siquijor’s west coast faces Negros Oriental across approximately 20 kilometers of open sea. This creates several unique photo opportunities:

• Negros Silhouette: Mountains visible on clear days add depth
• Open Water: No obstructions between you and the horizon
• Island Scale: Easy to reach multiple spots on the same evening
• Low Light Pollution: Pristine twilight conditions after sunset

Seasonal Considerations

The sun’s position shifts throughout the year:

• March Equinox: Sets due west
• June Solstice: Sets northwest (best for northern beaches)
• September Equinox: Sets due west again
• December Solstice: Sets southwest (best for southern beaches)

Use apps like PhotoPills or The Photographer’s Ephemeris to plan specific alignments.

The Spots

1. Paliton Beach

The Classic: Paliton is Siquijor’s most photographed sunset location for good reason. The crescent beach, rope swing, and western orientation create a perfect storm of photo opportunities.

What to Capture:

• Rope swing silhouette against sunset sky
• Reflections in wet sand at low tide
• Swimmers backlit by golden light
• Palm trees framing the scene

Crowd Factor: Moderate to high. Arrive early to secure your spot. Entrance: Free (beachfront restaurants expect some purchase)

2. Solangon Beach Cliffs

Why It’s Special: While everyone shoots from the beach, the cliffs above offer unique perspective—looking down on the golden water, including the beach itself as context.

Best Approach: Walk north from Coco Grove or access via the road leading to hillside resorts.

What to Capture:

• Bird’s eye beach scene
• Boats and swimmers as tiny elements
• Coastline curves catching light

3. Tubod Marine Sanctuary

The Reflection Shot: When conditions align—no wind, high tide—Tubod’s protected waters become a mirror, doubling your sunset.

Timing: Check tidal charts. Higher water levels create better reflection pools. Entrance: ₱50 sanctuary fee

Technical Tips:

• Get camera low, near water surface
• Use wide angle to include both sky and reflection
• Small aperture (f/11-f/16) for extended depth of field

4. San Juan Beachfront Road

The Flexible Option: Can’t decide? Drive slowly along the coastal road as sunset approaches. Pull over wherever the light looks best.

Variety Available:

• Beach access points with sand foreground
• Rocky sections with textured coastline
• Elevated spots where road climbs
• Village scenes with local atmosphere

5. Coco Grove Beach

The Resort Experience: If you’re staying at or visiting Coco Grove, their beach offers sunset photography with creature comforts—a drink in hand, food available, comfortable seating.

Access: Resort guests free; day visitors may need to consume at restaurant Vibe: More polished, less rugged than other spots

6. Cantabon Cliffs

The Secret Spot: Most tourists don’t venture here, which means you’ll likely have this dramatic clifftop to yourself.

Getting There: Motorbike recommended. Turn inland where signed toward Cantabon Cave, but take the first coastal spur road.

What to Expect: Raw, undeveloped clifftop. Bring your own seat. Worth the effort for solitude.

7. Larena Lighthouse Area

Architecture Meets Nature: Including the lighthouse in sunset compositions adds a storytelling element—human presence in the landscape.

Compositions:

• Lighthouse silhouette against sky
• Wide shot with lighthouse, sea, and sunset
• Detail shots of lighthouse catching golden light

8. Sandugan Viewpoint

The Panorama: The bay’s curve means light plays differently across the water, creating bands of color and texture.

Best For: Wide panoramic shots, timelapse sequences Local Tip: Fishing boats often return at sunset, adding foreground interest

9. Kagusuan Mangrove Edge

The Different Shot: While others shoot palm trees, mangrove silhouettes offer distinctive, gnarled shapes rarely seen in tropical sunset photography.

Wildlife Bonus: Herons and egrets often roost in mangroves at sunset—potential bird silhouettes.

10. Maria Church Grounds

The Cultural Shot: Sunset light on old stone churches creates warm, nostalgic imagery. The church grounds face west enough to catch good light.

Respect Note: Be mindful of evening mass schedules and worshippers. Photography is generally welcome but discretion is appreciated.

11. Lazi Convent Grounds

Historic Golden Hour: The massive convent complex—claimed as the largest in Asia—glows warm in sunset light. A different sunset shot entirely from beach scenes.

Best Angles: From the plaza looking at the convent; from inside the convent courtyard; details of light on coral stone.

12. Secret Beach (San Juan)

The Adventure Shot: Finding and reaching this beach is half the experience. It’s not marked, requires either local knowledge or determination to find.

Hints: South of Solangon, look for trails between properties leading to the water. Ask locally—“secret beach” is a known term.

Reward: Complete solitude, untouched atmosphere, your own private sunset.

Technical Guide

Camera Settings for Sunset

As Sun Approaches Horizon:

• ISO 100
• f/8-f/11
• Shutter speed for proper exposure (typically 1/125-1/500)
• Underexpose by 1/3-2/3 stop for richer colors

Sun at Horizon:

• Same ISO and aperture
• Faster shutter as brightness increases
• Watch histogram—protect highlights

After Sun Sets (Afterglow):

• ISO may increase to 200-400
• Slower shutters acceptable
• Often the most colorful period

Dealing with High Contrast

Sunset scenes often exceed camera dynamic range. Solutions:

Graduated ND Filter: Darkens sky, balances with foreground HDR Bracketing: Capture multiple exposures, blend in post Expose for Highlights: Let shadows go dark, lift in post Silhouettes: Embrace the contrast, let foreground go black

Composition Principles

Rule of Thirds: Place horizon on upper or lower third Leading Lines: Use shoreline, piers, or palm rows Foreground Interest: Rocks, boats, people add depth Negative Space: Sometimes simple is powerful Reflections: Include water mirrors when available

Practical Planning

Daily Routine for Sunset Shooting

1 hour before sunset: Arrive at location 45 minutes before: Scout compositions, set up tripod 30 minutes before: Begin shooting wide scenes 15 minutes before: Focus on sun approaching horizon Sunset: Rapid shooting, adjusting settings 15 minutes after: Chase the afterglow 30 minutes after: Blue hour begins

Combining Spots

Siquijor’s small size means you can potentially hit two spots in one evening:

• Shoot golden hour at one location
• Drive 10-15 minutes
• Catch blue hour at second location

Requires quick packing and knowing your route, but doubles your variety.

Weather Reading

Best Conditions: Scattered clouds, clear horizon Good Conditions: Partly cloudy, any pattern Challenging: Heavy overcast (flat light, no color) Wild Card: Storm clouds with gap at horizon (dramatic)

Beyond the Camera

A reminder: sometimes the best sunset experience doesn’t involve photography at all. Choose one evening to leave the camera behind. Sit on the sand, watch the colors, and let the moment exist only in memory.

Photography is wonderful, but presence is priceless.

Catch the other golden hour with our sunrise photography guide or find all the best shots at our Instagram spots roundup.