Sulu Province | Sulu Travel Guide + 6D Itinerary [UPDATED 2023]

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN TRAVELLING TO SULU PROVINCE

Whenever I think I have seen it all in the Philippines, it always gets better.

Last summer, I had the chance to visit Sulu. I must say once you get there, you’ll be struck and realize that it can easily rival the most popular beach destinations in the country.

Sulu is home to some of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen. I mean just look at the picture below! The islands are raw and void of any structures. There’s a sense of magic and adventure as you explore these untouched shores.

Discover Sulu with this comprehensive travel guide. Find out all the must-see Sulu tourist spots and breathtaking sights of this often-overlooked island in the south of Philippines.

IMPORTANT

Before you visit, register and coordinate with the Sulu Provincial Tourism Office. They will guide you with your accommodations, tours, and transfers within the island. DIY is not advised.

HOW TO GET TO SULU FROM MANILA

There are no direct flights from Manila to Sulu. The itinerary is Manila – Zamboanga – Sulu.

From Manila, take a flight going to Zamboanga City. From Zamboanga, there are two ways to get to Jolo City, Sulu’s capital.

By Air

Travel by Air with Sky Pasada. While this option is more expensive, I prefer it because the travel time is only an hour. The cost is Php3,600 per person for a one-way ticket. To book your ticket, just call their lines:

Sky Pasada travels only on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, only at 8 AM. To make it a “connecting flight”, book the 4 AM MNL-ZMB trip. This should give you an hour before your next flight going to Jolo.

When you reach the arrival area, go out and turn left to go to the departure entrance. Proceed to the Sky Pasada counter, a small counter just beside Air Asia. You are only given a 5kg free check-in baggage allowance. Anything in excess is an additional Php200 per kilo so be mindful of your luggage weight.

Note: As of January 2023, the Zamboanga to Jolo Sky Pasada route stopped operations. You may directly message them for more info.

By Sea

Travel by Sea with Montenegro Lines: Maria Rebecca and Maria Diana. Opting for the overnight ferry can take you about 7-8 hours to reach Jolo. The cost per person ranges from Php 700-1000. It’s also more affordable if you have a lot of baggage. They don’t weigh your bags as you board the ferry.

From Zamboanga airport, take a cab to go to the port. Since this is an overnight trip, the ferry departure will be at 9 PM. Again, coordinate your flight time from Manila to Zamboanga.

There’s a ticketing office near the port. You can buy your ticket a day before or on the day. When you arrive at Zamboanga, make sure you have enough time to buy one as it quickly sold out.

The city’s local tourism office can also assist you with purchasing your ticket.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The best time to visit Sulu is during the dry season. March to June is ideal as the sea is normally calm and steady. Going during typhoon season can put you to risk of strong currents during island hopping. There are islands where the boats travel through an open sea.

PLACES TO VISIT IN SULU

1. Jolo City

Sulu Provincial Capitol

A trip to Sulu is not complete without a visit to the Sulu Provincial Capitol. It adopted an Islamic architecture with its mosque-like structure, golden domes, and spires.

Inside, there’s colorful stained glass art by the Tausug national artist, Abdulmari Imao.

Facing the capitol is an urban park. While the park isn’t huge, it certainly makes up for the details. The garden features a water display from a marble fountain. It has a block paving pathway for strolling and several shaded benches perfect for relaxing.

Sulu National Museum

A few meters away from the Provincial Capitol is Sulu’s museum. At the entrance, you will be greeted by a wooden vessel model that was used for early sailing. The museum houses ethnographic materials that represent Sulu’s cultural heritage. It has artifacts, indigenous textiles arts, tools like blades and sheaths, historical documents, etc.

Mauboh Beach

Mauboh beach is located in Patikul, a 10-15 minute drive from Jolo City. It has powdery sand and clear waters. It makes for a good diving spot because of the coral patches and the big Japanese shipwreck. You’ll encounter a lot of fish in the shipwreck area and more as you swim further. Because of its accessibility to Jolo, this beach is usually packed with locals.

Mauboh Boulevard

Lined with restaurants, this boulevard runs along the shores of Mauboh beach. This area is popular among locals for its nightlife. The restaurants feature traditional Tausug exteriors, decorative lights, and tasty Tausug food! There were also live band performances almost every night for a lively atmosphere. It’s perfect for a local seaside dining experience.

2. Hadji Panglima Tahil

If snorkeling or diving is your thing, this is the place to be. We saw a lot of large fish, corals, anemones, clownfish, blue tang, pufferfish, lionfish, and helicopter fish. We even spotted some moray eel, sea turtles, and squids.

Bangas

Bangas is the islet closest to Jolo. Just a 30-minute boat ride away. The shoreline is short, and the sand is a bit coarse. But the marine life was well worth it!

There were a lot of corals and fish close to the shore. Just put on your snorkeling gears, and you can see them even at arm’s length. The further and deeper you go, the more jaw-dropping the underwater views are. And be ready to swim with a lot of fish! Different schools of fish were swimming left and right.

There’s also a jumping board for those seeking a thrilling cliff jump.

A few meters from the beach is a walkway and stairs that lead to a viewpoint with a panoramic view of the saltwater and freshwater.

Bubuan

Bubuan is a 90-minute boat ride from Jolo. About an hour away from Bangas.

This snorkeling spot has the perfect combination of a breathtaking beach and lively marine life. Its soft, white sand and crystal clear waters are home to a variety of colorful corals, which made our snorkeling experience feel like swimming in an aquarium.

There is a concrete boardwalk for taking pictures and a diving platform so you can easily get to the corals. If you prefer beach bumming, you can just chill by the shore and enjoy the waves.

3. Parang

Parang is probably my favorite municipality in Sulu. It’s only an hour’s drive from Jolo city. The beach resorts are just next to each other. The entrance fees range from Php10 to Php20 per head only.

Mang Sali

The highlight of this resort is the Maldives-like overwater walkway and cottages. They also have a beautiful beach swing facing azure waters. For active groups, friends and families can enjoy beach volleyball.

Tanduh Beach

Sulu’s most picturesque beach! I always say that this must be how Boracay looked before being developed. There’s a long stretch of white beach with crystal-clear turquoise water and rows of palm trees. Being here is like being in a photoshopped postcard!

Biraddali

Parang’s famous photogenic boardwalk is located here. At the end of the walkway is a perfect spot to jump and swim. 

Underneath the concrete boardwalk makes for a very cool photo!

Payong Payong

If you prefer a more secluded experience, you can opt to stay here. It’s a bit further from the other resorts I mentioned. This resort is relatively small, with just about 4 cottages. You’ll feel like you own the entire beach.

4. Capual

Capual is a 2-hour drive from Jolo. When you arrive in Omar, rent a boat to go to Capual island where the beaches are.

Taiwan Beach

The dwarf coconut palms farm makes this spot unique. The beach here is rocky, but the seascape is picturesque. I recommend spending just a few minutes here at most to walk through the dwarf palms.

Bagunbun Beach

This beach can be a quick stop en route to the main destination, Sani Sani beach. It’s not a popular stop so you’ll have the entire island to kick back savor some sweet solitude under a farm of gently swaying coconut trees.

Sani Sani Beach

If I were to name my favorite beach in Sulu, it’s definitely Sani Sani! For starters, crowds were nonexistent. There were also no structural developments within the island. Purely raw and untouched. Then there were black beach basalt rocks that adds to the ruggedness of the place. And if it doesn’t sound like paradise enough already, the beach has crystalline waters bordered by the finest white sand! It’s easily one of the best tropical beaches in the Philippines. No island can compete with the experience.

Tandang Mairan Rock Formation

Ah, a local favorite. Locals flock here to see the scenic artwork of nature, a well-defined layer of sedimentary rock. You shouldn’t miss taking photos of this dramatic rock formation.

In addition to the stunning coastline, the waters that surround Capual are beautiful in their own right. One of the best diving I’ve ever done has been here. The corals were so colorful and fully alive.

Sikulay Hill

After a tiring day, cap your entire trip by watching the sunset here. There’s a short trail leading up to the hill. When you reach the top, you’ll see several photo view spots overlooking the sea which makes for a great sunset photo. They have a well-kept garden with varieties of exotic flora and fauna. The entrance fee is Php20.

WHERE TO EAT

1. Shara’s Coffee Shop

A traditional café that serves Bangbang Sug and Kahawa Sug. Bangbang Sug is a set of Tausug pastries. It usually consists of bread, rice cakes, sweet potatoes, and fried bananas. It’s best paired with Kahawa Sug, the Sulu native coffee. This place is a must-visit to get a feel of the local culture.

Best time to go: Breakfast

2. Nice Isnack Haus

A small but popular food hub best known for its Satti, a local breakfast staple. Satti is a grilled beef or chicken skewer dipped in sweet and spicy red sauce. It’s paired with rice molded into cubes and a soda. They also have the best burger in town! Their pure beef burger was a winner.

Best time to go: Breakfast/Merienda

3. D’Cousins

A well-known restaurant in the center of the city. It’s usually packed with locals so the atmosphere is fast-paced. They offer lots of choices of native Tausug cuisines. My favorite was the Beef Kulma. Similar to Caldereta but with added curry, making the flavor more Malaysian. If you want to explore the Tausug flavors, this is a good place to try a little bit of everything.

Best time to go: Lunch

4. Little Qeefs Barbeque Grill

A relaxed restaurant located along Mauboh boulevard. The place is al fresco, spacious, and has plenty of seats. It’s quite comfortable for big groups. I loved their chicken barbeque, it was flavorful and the serving was big. I paired it with a hot bowl of Tiyula Itum (tinolang itim), a black soup made of burnt coconut with braised beef.

Best time to go: Dinner

5. Shoreline Restaurant

An over-water bamboo restaurant standing on Mauboh beach. They are famous for Chicken Inasal and Pyanggang. Pyanggang is a stewed and grilled chicken, cooked in burnt coconut sauce. They serve a large chicken with two cups of rice. Don’t forget to ask for Palapa Itum, the burnt coconut sauce for an added smokey flavor. The floating restaurant concept with its ambient lighting really adds to the vibe of the place!

Best time to go: Dinner

GETTING AROUND

If you’ll be in Sulu, your base will be the province’s capital Jolo city. To get around Jolo, you can take the Tricycles around town. A trip can cost Php40-50.

If you plan to visit further towns such as Parang and Capual, you can rent a tamaraw with a driver for the day. Tamaraws are the local jeepney-like mode of transportation. The rent is Php2,500 to 4,000 with a driver, depending on the destination. Around 8-10pax can fit inside.

WHERE TO STAY

1. Sulu Peacekeeper

2. BigBytes

3. ND Dorm

Location: Gandasuli Kasulutan Village, Jolo

THINGS TO PACK

• Malongs and scarves
• Sunscreen
• Sun hat or caps
• Dry bag
• Slippers
• Beach mat
• Rash guard and leggings/bike shorts or diving suit
• Loose pants and comfortable tops
• Diving or snorkeling equipment
• Toiletries
• Towel
• Camera equipment
• Power bank

In case you forgot to bring some of your necessities, you can buy the rest from New Sincere Convenience Store. This grocery store is located at the center of Jolo City. I was surprised to find everything that I needed here! They have everything that you can find in a regular Puregold grocery, and more. They have imported products, beach necessities, snorkeling equipment, varieties of snacks, etc.

PASALUBONG FROM SULU

One of Sulu’s most popular products is the native Sulu coffee, Kahawa Sug. The cost per pack is only Php100-200 for 200g. Sulu coffee has a strong full-flavored coffee flavor that is not too acidic and not too bitter. There was also a mangosteen variant which I found unique. I bought one and I really loved it! You can buy native coffee packs from New Sincere Convenience Store. I also liked the coffee sold at Sharas restaurant.

For traditional Tausug handicrafts and novelty items, you can visit Simply Joy Boutique. They have colorful hand-woven scarves, malongs, table runners, traditional clothing, etc. I bought a Tausug cookbook with a traditional book design cover.

SULU ITINERARY 6D5N

Day 1: Arrival in Jolo

• City tour
• Café at Shara’s
• Sunset at Mauboh
• Dinner at Mauboh Boulevard

Day 2: Hadji Panglima Tahil

• Snorkeling at Bangas
• Lunch

*Make sure to leave the island by no later than 2 pm, strong currents might be experienced on the way back to Jolo.

Day 4: Parang

• Chill and lunch at Tanduh
• Biradadali
• Sunset at Mang Sali
• For families or big groups, go to Payong Payong for privacy.

Day 3: Hadji Panglima Tahil

• Snorkeling at Bubuan
• Lunch

*Make sure to leave the island by no later than 2 pm, strong currents might be experienced on the way back to Jolo.

Day 5: Capual Island

• Brunch at Omar
• Picture taking at Taiwan beach
• Sani Sani beach – stay here the longest!
• Picture taking at Tandang Mairan Rock formation and snorkeling
• Sunset and relax at Sikulay Hill

Day 6: Departure

TAUSUG GREETINGS

• Hello – Salam
• Thank you – Magsukul
• How much – Pilasin?
• This – Ini
• Excuse me – Mag maaf

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

• Register and coordinate with the Sulu tourism office for your visit. They will guide you with your accommodations, tours, transfers, etc.
• Respect the local culture. Dress conservatively. You can never go wrong with a stylish shirt and loose pants. Pack swimming attires that will cover your arms and legs.
• Sulu is an Islamic town, so most places only serve chicken and beef.
• Bring enough cash. There are limited ATMs on the island. Only cash transactions are accepted.
• Tourism on this island is in its early stages. So don’t expect the facilities to be fancy or developed. But hey, it adds to the off-the-beaten-path experience!
• Sulu’s beaches and snorkeling spots are unspoiled. Let’s do our part and take care of the corals and marine life.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Sulu is a bit far from Manila, but it’s definitely worth the trip. It’s one of the few remaining unspoiled islands in the Philippines, and the beaches are world-class. The culture is unique, and the locals are proud of their island. It’s a place that offers something truly different.

Kudos to the local government for their efforts to promote safety and develop tourism efforts.