“Can you show us a different beach this time around?” I asked our Siquijor guide, Dennis, as our tricycle sped through the deserted highway loop around the island. We’ve been to a few of the famous beaches around Siquijor; Tubod Beach and Salagdoong Beach, particularly, but we knew this island still has a few more sandy secrets right up its mystical sleeve.

THE UNENDING TREE TUNNEL TO KAGUSUAN BEACH

From the highway circumnavigating Siquijor, we turned a bend from Barangay Minalulan in the town of Maria and crossed over to barangay Lilo-An. The road was narrow, set on both sides by lush trees bending right at the top, forming a sort of leafy cathedral ceiling for us. It might be the desertedness of the path but it seemed the road wasn't going to end.

► SEE: SIQUJOR TRAVEL GUIDE

KAGUSUAN BEACH LOOKS LIKE AN ABANDONED RESORT

And as I was about to ask our guide if we’re there yet, we stopped on what seemed like an abandoned parking lot. He pointed to a concrete stairway and told us to go ahead, he’ll watch our belongings from here, he said. He also warned us to be extra careful with our things, as although the beach may be deserted, there were instances in the past where bags were snatched right by the beach by using a stringed hook.

BACKPACKERS TANNING THEMSELVES AT KAGUSUAN BEACH

With those worrisome thoughts in mind, we descended the stairwell, dried up leaves crunching underfoot as we went along. Those negativities, however, were soon quickly forgotten as the azure waters of Kagusuan Beach emerged into view. Indeed, our guide could’ve never picked a better place for us!

EXPLORING KAGUSUAN BEACH'S MINI COVES

We were expecting to have the beach all to ourselves, but surprisingly, a few European backpackers, the one we swung ropes with at Cambugahay Falls, beat us to it. Well, we never did mind as Kagusuan stretches for a quarter of a kilometer with mini coves set between rocky outcrops; enough beach for us all.

NOT SO NICE WEATHER AT KAGUSUAN BEACH

CORAL BOULDERS ALONG KAGUSUAN BEACH

I heard that this place had been closed to the public before, for some reason or another, and I can see traces of its past from skewed brick barbecue pits, rusty barbed wires, broken toilets, and dilapidated fences. But such disrepair could never tarnish the beauty of the place.

KAGUSUAN BEACH HABAGAT WAVES

LOCAL TOURISTS DWARFED BY ROCK BOULDERS AT KAGUSUAN BEACH

NOT REALLY THE BEST TIME TO SWIM

Kagusuan Beach’s sand is part rough corals, pebbles, and fine white sand. The water is aquamarine blue even if it’s the habagat (south west monsoon) season and the waves slamming the shore’s quite strong. But what sets this beach apart from those I’ve already visited in Siquijor are the numerous giant coral boulders littering the beach, some reaching more than ten feet high and overgrown with vegetation and gnarly trees.

ALMOST DESERTED AT KAGUSUAN BEACH

WE’LL SURELY VISIT AGAIN

From Google Maps, I saw traces of a reef some meters away from the shore, but even though we’ve brought our snorkeling gear, the waves were just too strong for a safe swim. We were confident though that we’re gonna see what’s under Kagusuan Beach, if not now, then in the future. This would not be our last visit to this place, we’ll surely be back when the waves are calmer and more welcoming.

UPDATE 2020 ~ KAGUSUAN BEACH IS NOW CLOSED

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Kausugan Beach has closed to the general public as of October 2017. The road going to the beach has been gated and a No Trespassing Sign has been put up by Federated Realty Corporation, the land surrounding the beach's owner, due to, some say, a crime committed on the beach.

Although it is reported that there's really no one guarding the gate, and one could easily jump through it, it is still a crime to enter the property. Enter at your own risk. As of the moment, it is uncertain when Kausugan Beach would open to the public again.

Recommended Whole Day Siquijor Tour Guide/Driver:
Dennis Caspes
(0947) 789-8337 | (0936) 110-7863
Tricycle (3pax) ~ PHP1,000.00
Van (10pax) ~ PHP2,000.00

Kagusuan Beach
Address: Brgy. Lilo-An, Maria, Siquijor
Entrance Fee: PHP 30.00 per person
Opening Hours: Open 24 Hours, Daily
GPS Coordinates Map: 9.126672, 123.688428

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