Siargao is famous for its surfing, but when the waves are calm, there are still plenty of things to do on the island. One such place is Beto Cold Spring, a perfect spot to swim, cool off, and have fun.
Beto Cold Spring is the most beautiful cold spring I’ve gone to. It’s along a river with multiple jump points and a couple of pools for swimming.
Though serene in beauty, Beto Cold Spring is also lively. There are two karaoke stands, snacks and drinks for sale, and even kayak rentals. There is so much to do there!
Beto Cold Spring Complete Guide
Beto Cold Spring has two areas. One side is all about relaxation, while the other is for those seeking a bit more fun.
The first area is a shallow pool where the cold spring originates. It’s the perfect spot to simply relax, soak in the cool waters, and escape the heat.
The second area is where things get lively. A bamboo walkway stretches over a deeper part of the spring, complete with a jumping platform and a rope swing. This is where most people hang out, taking turns swinging or diving into the water.
Above the bamboo walkway, there’s a sari-sari store with a karaoke machine. If you’re looking to grab a snack, enjoy a cold drink, or just sit in the shade between swim sessions, then this is your spot. Karaoke is 5 pesos for 2 songs, so don’t be afraid to pick up the microphone, it may just turn into a party.
One cool activity at Beto Cold Spring is renting a kayak to explore the nearby mangroves and village. It’s a short paddle, but the current can be strong depending on the time of day. If you’re not a confident paddler, it’s worth hiring someone to paddle for you, so you can sit back and enjoy the surroundings.
We visited Beto Cold Spring three times during our adventures in Siargao. Each time, we discovered something new about this amazing spot.
How to Get to Beto Cold Spring in Siargao
Beto Cold Spring is a 20-minute motorbike ride from General Luna in Siargao. The drive is beautiful and peaceful, with smooth roads lined by palm trees.
The map below is accurate and leads you directly to Beto Cold Spring. As you approach, you’ll go down a steep hill that turns into a dirt path, where you park your motorbike. Be careful going up and down the hill, as it is extremely steep.
Beto Cold Spring isn’t accessible by car, so if you’re not planning to ride a motorbike, I recommend having a tuk-tuk drop you off.
Location: Beto Cold Spring – Google Maps
Beto Cold Spring Prices
- Entry Fee: 30 pesos per person
- Parking: 20 pesos per motorbike
- Rentals: 100 pesos per hour (blue kayak), 200 pesos per hour (yellow kayak)
- Karaoke: 5 pesos for 2 songs
Beto Cold Spring: Our Experience
After a long day of exploring Siargao’s north shore, we were tired and decided to stay closer to General Luna. That’s when we discovered the beautiful Beto Cold Spring. We’ve been to several cold springs in the Philippines, and while they’re usually not the most scenic, they each have their own charm. But Beto Cold Spring stands out—it’s a truly beautiful spot by the river.
We paid our entrance fee at the gate and crossed a rock bridge over the river. This bridge separates the cold spring into two sections: a smaller, shallow pool perfect for lounging and a larger, deeper pool for jumping. We decided to start in the smaller pool.
While swimming in the smaller pool, we chatted with Jose, a surf instructor who owns Jose Surf School. He explained to us that this pool is where the cold spring originates. He told us to swim to the edge to feel the water flowing in. Sure enough, when we swam over, we could feel the cool water gushing up from the ground into the pool—it was amazing!
We also met another woman whose auntie owns Beto Cold Spring. She mentioned that this land has been in the family for a long time but they finally opened it to the public a few years back.
After cooling off in the smaller pool, we made our way to the main area, and I immediately heard the sweet sounds of karaoke—exactly what I wanted! I’m not joking. On the way there, I even told Trey I was hoping to convince people to sing karaoke with me tonight. Luckily, it didn’t take much to get Trey to join me.
I kicked things off with “Cool Down” by Kolohe Kai, which is a Hawaii song that is popular in the Philippines. Karaoke only cost us 5 pesos for 2 songs, so it was a steal!
After singing karaoke, it was time to join the main swimming area! This spot is right off the river, where they’ve built an awesome L-shaped bamboo bridge. You can jump off the bamboo, and there’s even a diving platform and a rope swing!
It felt like a bit of a party with locals and tourists hanging out, enjoying the vibe. The local boys kept trying to get me to swing off the rope, but I had to pass—I’ve face-planted every time I’ve tried it in the past! Maybe by next year, with a little more arm strength, I’ll give it another shot, haha.
Next to the bamboo bridge, I noticed some blue and yellow kayaks and decided to rent a blue one for 100 pesos. It was big enough to fit both Trey and me, so we set off for an hour-long paddle.
After paddling down the river, we ended up at a small local village, and it was such a cool experience to watch the villagers go about their daily lives from the water. We wanted to explore further, but we had to turn back as the tide was getting lower and the current stronger. Thankfully, I had Trey to paddle because when I tried on my own, it didn’t go too well—I was pretty terrible at it!
After our adventures around the river, we decided to chill at the sari-sari shack for some snacks and more karaoke. We were having a blast singing when Jose and his friends showed up and absolutely killed it on the mic. It turns out one of his friends, Jay, was celebrating his birthday! If there’s one thing you should know about Filipinos, it’s that they can sing. It turned into an impromptu party that we won’t forget.
Where to Stay in Siargao
Choosing where to stay in Siargao is pretty straightforward. General Luna is the island’s main tourism hub. Most of the accommodations, restaurants, and shops are located in General Luna, and it’s also where all the tours and activities depart from. If you want to be close to everything, General Luna is the place to be.
Here are our recommendations on where to stay in Siargao:
- Luxury: If you’re looking for the best place to stay in Siargao, Las Palmas Villas is hard to beat. It has everything you would expect from a resort, including a swimming pool, a garden, and a full-service restaurant and bar.
- Mid-range: Camanolo Homestay is located right in the heart of General Luna, but down a quiet side street. The rooms are clean and all have their own private bathrooms and AC.
- Budget: We enjoyed our stay at Hostel Bajala so much that we ended up extending it a few times. The place is clean, cozy, and comfortable. We couldn’t ask for more.
If you prefer to find your own place to stay, you can visit Booking.com to explore all your accommodation options in Siargao.
What to Pack for Siargao
Here are some of our must-have items you might not have thought of when packing for a trip to Siargao.
- Crocs: During our time in Siargao, I was so glad to have Crocs to protect my feet when exploring caves and islands. They are the ultimate shoe in the Philippines for a reason – many Filipinos wear them too!
- Earplugs: If you’re planning to do any island hopping while in Siargao, I recommend bringing a set of earplugs for the boat rides. Most boats in Siargao have super loud diesel engines that will make your ears ring!
- Sunscreen: For some reason, sunscreen is expensive in the Philippines and I’ve even encountered places selling fake sunscreen that doesn’t work! So I recommend bringing your own sunscreen to Siargao.
- Dry Bag: With all the sand, salt, and water flying everywhere during our adventures out to Siargao’s islands, I was so glad to have a dry bag to keep all my things safe from the elements!
- Travel Towel: In my opinion, a travel towel like this one is super necessary for a trip to Siargao! It packs down nicely and was there for me anytime I went swimming, or just needed to brush sand or dirt off.
Our Siargao Google Maps Locations
Want a free map of all of the locations mentioned in this post? Sign up in the box below and we’ll deliver one right to your inbox, plus our top tips to help you plan your Siargao trip!
Can’t get enough of Siargao?
We spent 16 days in Siargao and found so many things to do there—from caves to beaches, mangroves, and lagoons. To help fellow adventurers, we’ve put together guides to the best places we found. You can check them out by clicking the links below.
- Start planning your trip here: Siargao Travel Guide
- Our ultimate guide to Siargao: 26 Awesome Things to Do in Siargao
- Our Siargao accomodation/area guide: Where to Stay in Siargao
- How to plan your Siargao vacation: Siargao 3 Day Itinerary
- Our Siargao Beach Guide: 15 Best Beaches in Siargao
- Our favorite place to swim in Siargao: Beto Cold Spring
- Our most intense adventure in Siargao: Exploring the Marvelous Somyot Cave
- Our favorite day tour in Siargao: Sohoton Cove
- Our favorite beach in Siargao: Pacifico Beach
- How to rent a motorbike in the Philippines
I hope our guide to Beto Cold Spring in Siargao helps you out on your adventure!
