MAGPUPUNGKO ROCK POOLS – SIARGAO
A half-day trip to the Magpupungko Rock Pools is one of the most popular things to do on Siargao Island, and for good reason! A scenic 45 min drive up from the main tourist area of General Luna will lead you to a beautiful beach where natural rock formations create crystal clear rock pools at low tide. Click below to watch our vlog from the day we spent at Magpupungko!
You’ll see many tours in town that offer to take you to Magpupungko (often combined with Sugba Lagoon as a full day tour) but we definitely suggest driving up on a scooter if you can. Scooter rentals are abundant in General Luna and will cost you on average between 300 and 400 pesos for a day. The road leading to the rock pools is generally smooth and not too crowded, and offers some amazing views! We love renting scooters and driving ourselves because it allows us to stop wherever and whenever we want and really soak in the beauty that surrounds us.
When to go
The most important thing to note when planning a visit to Magpupungko is that you absolutely need to go at low tide. The Magpupungko rock pools are tidal pools and are only exposed at low tide. We arrived about one hour before low tide and stayed about one hour after and would recommend you do the same. Do ask around or check the tides online before going, as the tides change daily.
How much it costs
Upon arrival at Magpupungko, you will need to pay 20 pesos per motorbike for parking and then 50 pesos per person to enter. This is a real steal if you ask us! This gives you access to the rock pools as well as the beautiful beach which is a great place to get some rest and a tan after a few hours at the rock pools. You can also rent snorkeling gear or an assortment of colorful floaties for 100 pesos each. There are a handful of shops selling snacks and cold drinks on the beach. We had some of the best coconut water we’ve ever tasted for only 20 pesos per glass. Check our vlog above to see our reactions!
What to bring
There isn’t really a safe place to leave your belongings so we would suggest bringing as little as possible. That being said, we always carry our camera equipment with us. We had both our cameras, multiple lenses, phones and the drone and we didn’t have a problem at all. Just always try to keep an eye on your bag as it does get quite busy at low tide. If you have a dry bag, you might want to just put your belongings in it and keep it with you.
If you have an underwater camera, this is a great place to put it to use! The water is crystal clear so it makes for great underwater photos.
Last but definitely not least, we really recommend bringing a pair of water shoes. Not only will this help you when entering the rock pools as the rocks at the bottom are slippery and sharp in some places, but you will really need water shoes to be able to climb up on the rocks and jump in the pools. These rocks were extremely sharp and even hurt our hands as we were trying to climb up. We got our water shoes from Aleader and we love them! Our friend Ish even borrowed Sam’s shoes to get a few jumps in as his flip flops were just not cutting it.
If you still need some convincing before booking your flights to Siargao, click here to see 25 photos that prove Siargao is an Island Paradise!
