A founder-led surf and wellness retreat in Siargao, created from a real life reset by the sea.
Our Story
Awake Siargao Retreats was created for people who are ready to slow down, reconnect with themselves, and experience surfing in a way that feels supportive, personal, and deeply grounding.
We are not a party surf camp. We are a boutique surf and wellness retreat based in Siargao, Philippines — designed for solo travelers, couples, and small groups who want to progress in the water, feel taken care of, and experience the island in a beautiful, well-organized way.
At the heart of Awake is one simple belief: you should not have to abandon the life you have built just to feel alive, healthy, and connected again.
Sometimes, one intentional week by the ocean is enough to remind you what balance can feel like.
Meet Rem
Remalyn Hijara
Founder, Retreat Host & Fitness Coach.
From The Philippines.
Hi, I’m Rem, the founder of Awake Siargao Retreats.
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I grew up by the sea in a small town called Maasin — a name that means “salty.” My childhood was shaped by the ocean, but also by hardship. There were days when a meal was just rice and salt, and as a kid, I sold halo-halo on the street to help my mom.
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I do not share this for sympathy. I share it because it shaped me.
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It gave me resilience, drive, and a deep work ethic. It also taught me to push, achieve, and keep going long after I was tired. For a long time, I believed success meant doing everything in my power to escape where I came from and create a better life for my family.
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So I worked.
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A full scholarship carried me through college. I graduated Cum Laude at 19, became a CPA at 20, and built a career in finance, working with two of the Big Four accounting firms and some of the biggest companies in the country.
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From the outside, it looked like success.
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But behind it was exhaustion. Long hours, constant pressure, and the quiet feeling that I had built a life I was supposed to want, but could not keep living in the same way.
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Walking away from that career was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made.
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Surfing is what brought me back to myself.
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The city had pulled me far from the water for years, but the first time I stood on a surfboard, something clicked. It felt physical, emotional, and familiar all at once — like coming home to a part of myself I had forgotten.
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That feeling eventually led me to Siargao, where I have now lived by the ocean for nearly a decade.
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Here, surfing became more than a sport. It became a practice in patience, courage, humility, and joy. Yoga became my first real doorway into wellness. Fitness gave me strength. And the slower rhythm of island life helped quiet a mind that had been running for years.
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But looking back, it took leaving a career, giving away my things, and moving to an island to finally learn how to take care of myself.
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Awake was created so others do not have to make an entire life change to experience that kind of reset.
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You can come for one week.
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You can surf with your own coach, move your body, recover properly, eat well, sleep deeply, and let the ocean bring you back into rhythm. You can be supported, guided, and looked after — without having to figure out every detail on your own.
This is why I created Awake.
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For the person who has been working hard for years and wants to feel like themselves again.
For the beginner surfer who wants real support, not pressure.
For the solo traveler who wants connection without a party scene.
For the couple or small group who wants something beautiful, active, and meaningful to share.
For anyone craving a week that feels both restorative and alive.
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Awake is personal to me because it comes from a life I have actually lived.
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And every retreat is built with that same care: thoughtful coaching, warm hosting, local knowledge, and the belief that progress feels better when you feel safe, seen, and supported.
One retreat at a time, my hope is simple:
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That you leave Siargao not as a different person, but as someone who feels more connected to the person you already are.
Why Awake Siargao Exists
Awake Siargao Retreats was designed for travelers who want more than a vacation, but less than an overwhelming “wellness program.”
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Our retreats bring together surf coaching, movement, recovery, beautiful stays, and thoughtful island logistics — so you can arrive, exhale, and focus on what you came here for.
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To surf better.
To reset by the sea.
To feel stronger, calmer, and more present.
To experience Siargao with people who know and love this island deeply.
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Whether you are a complete beginner, an experienced beginner, or someone returning to the water after time away, our approach is supportive, personal, and progression-focused.
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We keep things intimate so you are not lost in a crowd. We work with trusted local surf coaches and island partners. And we handle the details that make a retreat feel smooth: airport transfers, surf transport, board matching, tide and wave calls, wellness sessions, recovery, and the little things that make the week feel easy.
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This is a surf and wellness retreat for people who want to be active, cared for, and genuinely restored — without the noise of a typical surf camp.
A Local, Founder-Led
Retreat Experience
Awake is proudly Filipina-founded and locally rooted in Siargao.
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That matters.
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It means the experience is shaped by real island knowledge, long-term relationships, and a deep respect for the place we call home. From choosing the right surf spots for your level, to working with trusted coaches and wellness partners, to helping you experience Siargao beyond the surface, every detail is guided by care.
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You are not just booking a retreat package.
You are being welcomed into a thoughtfully held experience — one that is personal, professional, and grounded in the island itself.
