Siargao: The Ultimate Day Trip

The surfer’s paradise island of Siargao in the Philippines is an untouched gem full of natural wonders. We rented a private car for the day to take us on a journey out from the main town of General Luna, but if you are comfortable on a scooter you can rent one and drive yourself around for a much more budget-friendly adventure. Either way, we will give you the perfect itinerary to see the best this island has to offer in one day.

Step one: check the tide charts. We are heading to the mesmerizing Magpopongko Natural Rock Pools and Flats, a place that can only be enjoyed at low tide. If you have a drone, the sight of these enormous rock pools carved into the oceanside stone will blow you away, but even from the ground, the view is incredible. The pools are filled with perfectly clear water and surrounded by stunning rock formations. Nothing can compare to the feeling of sitting on the edge of a natural pool in the ocean, watching the waves crash just behind you.

Step two, towel off and head slightly North to have lunch a Trogon’s Perch, a beautiful hotel that has a restaurant overlooking the ocean. Savour a cocktail and a delicious lunch in front of a perfectly scenic backdrop to add a touch of luxury to your day.

Next up, as you begin the drive back towards General Luna, you can stop at the Tayangban Cave Pool. We couldn’t make it into this spot due to time constraints, but it seems like a unique experience. You will descend through a crack in the rock and walk in the darkness through freshwater pools. At the end of this journey is a small rock pool with places to cliff jump into it around the edges. 

Continue your journey down to the Massin Bridge River Swing and Secret Lagoon. While the famous coconut tree you may have seen people swinging off all over Instagram is no longer in use, what remains is possibly an even better attraction. A guide will paddle you down the river on a bamboo raft, through an endless meandering pathway of beautiful trees and plants towering on either side of the water. The furthest point you reach is the so-called “secret lagoon”, where the pictures far outshine the reality of the location. Still, the paddle back to the main road will be just as lush and magical as the way in. 

The final stop on today’s tour is a quick one. Simply pull over to the side of the road at the coconut tree lookout point (easy to find on Google Maps), and marvel and the vast beauty. In this case, the reality far outshines any photographs, as all of our cameras failed to capture the magnitude of the towering tree forest. 

And that is the end of your unforgettable Siargao adventure, where you have witnessed natural wonders and hidden gems that will leave you forever in awe of the island’s beauty. Now feel free to spend the rest of your days relaxing beachside with a San Miguel, content in the knowledge you managed to fit all of your sightseeing into one day.