No adventure to Siargao is complete without a visit to the Magpupungko Rock Pools. It’s a coastal area on the eastern shore of Siargao with all sorts of little tide pools that are exposed during certain parts of the day.
In the middle of the main tidal pool is a massive rock, which serves as a popular cliff-diving spot. With plenty of action, it’s no wonder this place is a popular spot in Siargao.
In this guide, I’ll explain everything you need to know about visiting the Magpupungko Rock Pools in Siargao, including how to get there and what to expect when you arrive.
Magpupungko Rock Pools Complete Guide
Magpupungko has quickly become one of Siargao’s top attractions, making it easy to visit and a great spot whether you’re traveling solo or with a group.
The tide pools have plenty of action and we saw lots of people having a good time swimming in the water and jumping from the rock in the middle of the largest pool. There are also ample exploration opportunities at the little nooks and crannies surrounding the tide pools.
The rock pools are located next to a beach which is a nice spot in itself. But the beach is a little rocky, as expected.
Magpupungko Rock Pools are best visited during low tide when the tide pools are exposed. During high tide, the waves crash over the tide pools, making it difficult and dangerous to explore the area.
The beach at Magpupungko is best visited during high tide when the water has more sand.
The area around Magpupungko is built up to accommodate tourism. The road leading up to Magpupungko has many parking lots so you can easily find a spot any time of day. Lining the beach are snack stands and restaurants so you can grab a bite to eat after swimming and exploring.
- Magpupungko Rock Pools entry fee: 60 pesos per person
- Magpupungko Rock Pools parking fee: 20 pesos per motorbike
How to get to Magpupungko Rock Pools
Magpupungko Rock Pools is located in the Pilar region of Siargao, about a 45-minute motorbike ride from General Luna. It is located on the Siargao Circumferential Road on the way to Siargao’s north shore, so you can stop at Magpupungko on your way to Pacifico Beach or The Marvelous Somyot Cave.
When turning on the road that goes to Magpupungko Rock Pools, you’ll need to stop at the hut to pay your 60 peso entrance fee. The entrance fee is a mandatory government environmental fee.
Parking at Magpupungko Rock Pools
Parking at Magpupungko is a little tricky.
After paying your entrance fee, you’ll turn down the road and drive toward the coast.
As you drive toward the coast, people will flag you down to try to stop you. They want you to park at their parking lot. They will say that parking is full and you need to park in their lot. But that’s almost certainly not the case.
Instead, I recommend driving all the way to the beach entrance and parking at one of the lots there.
All the parking lots charge the same price, so you might as well go to the one that’s closest to Magpupungko itself.
Magpupungko Rock Pools: Our Experience
Getting to Magpupungko Rock Pools was a fun journey outside of General Luna.
As we motorbiked along the Siargao Circumferential Road, we passed through a few villages. The road was mostly empty until we reached the turn-off for Magpupungko. It was easy to find since a huge sign marked its location along the roadside.
As we turned onto the road to Magpupungko, we were flagged down and stopped by a man sitting in the hut. We paid him our entrance fee and continued down the road, only to be flagged down by a few others trying to get us to park in their parking lot.
We kept driving until we got to the last parking lot and parked there, paid the attendant our parking fee, and were on our way.
We timed our visit to Magpupungko with low tide because we wanted to see it in its full form. The rock pools were calm and filled with people swimming and jumping off the rock into the water. It was honestly kind of a hectic scene since everyone came to visit the rock pools at the same time.
Even though the pools were crowded, it was a great place to explore, with marine life hiding in the crevices of the rocks and little caves scattered throughout the area. Walking around, we were able to fully appreciate the beauty of the pools and their surroundings.
We put on our snorkels and jumped in the rock pool. The clarity honestly wasn’t the best, but I saw little fishes swimming in and out of the rocks so I’ll call that a win.
As we swam around in the pools, a group of locals climbed onto the rock in the middle of the pool. They didn’t hesitate to put on a show and what we witnessed were some of the craziest flips off the cliff.
A few days later, we came back to Magpupungko for high tide. It was a completely different experience.
First of all, nobody was there to collect an entrance fee when we visited during high tide. However, the parking attendant was still there so we paid our parking fee.
We walked through the gate, stepped on the beach, and looked over the area.
Most people were hanging out on the beach instead of the rocks. Only a few were at the tide pools.
It was definitely more dangerous to be out in the tide pools during high tide. Every once in a while a set of waves came crashing through. We stayed on the beach.
Despite the risk, it was incredible to see the pools transformed by the ocean.
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: Big Waves Boutique Hotel is located right in the heart of General Luna, in a local neighborhood. 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
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Are You Following Our Siargao Blog Series?
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
- 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 you enjoyed our guide to Magpupungko Rock Pools in Siargao. Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions! 🐸
