Complete travel guide to the Maasin River and its famous bent palm tree rope swing on Siargao Island, the Philippines.
The Maasin River Siargao was once just a quaint little river town on the island’s Circumferential Road. However, ever since an opportunistic local erected an awesome rope swing on the picturesque, bent palm tree hanging over the river, the spot got international acclaim thanks to social media.
The truth is, this bent palm tree swing on the Maasin River is now a little bit touristy. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not worth checking out on your visit to Siargao. In this quick guide, I’ll detail everything you need to know about this unique attraction, including how to get here, costs, what to expect, and tips for avoiding the crowds.
Featured in: Siargao Island Travel Guide
How to Get to the Maasin River Bent Palm Tree SWing on Siargao
You'll have two options for getting to the Maasin River rope swing spot on Siargao. You can either check this spot out on the famous Siargao Land Tour, or rent a motorbike and ride here yourself.
Here's a breakdown.
Option 1: Join the Siargao Land Tour
If you’re short on time, or if you want to explore a bunch of different highlights on Siargao in a single day, then a good bet is to book the Siargao Land Tour. This is the most popular tour on the island and covers a few must-do activities including:
- Coconut Road
- Magpupungko Rock Pools
- Bent Palm Tree Swing
This trip includes hotel/hostel pickup from General Luna, lunch and everything else you'd expect from the top-rated tour on Siargao.
Don't Miss: Siargao Island Hopping Guide
Option 2: Rent a Motorbike (independent)
For independent explorers, rent a bike in General Luna for between 250-350 pesos per day. This is how I explored much of Siargao during my visits.
Getting to Maasin River Siargao is easy and the roads on this stretch from General Luna are well-maintained, sealed and smooth the whole way. The easiest way to get here is to simply plug in the coordinates in the map below, which is accurate.
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Where is the Maasin River?
The Maasin River is located on the Siargao Circumferential Road. It's approximately 18 kilometres from General Luna, which should take you about 25 minutes if riding independently. You'll know when you're at the right spot when you reach the iconic red bridge crossing the Maasin River.
Stop here, and look to your left. You'll see the famous bent palm tree and the Siargao swing just a little ways up the river. You can park your bike here in Maasin for free.
- Google Maps Pin: "Maasin Bridge River Swing"
Maasin River Bent Palm Tree Rope Swing Siargao
Entrance Fee: 20 PHP
You can walk down the banks of the Maasin River on Siargao towards the bent palm tree. However, you'll need to pay a 20 PHP entrance fee to use the swing. This fee is payable per person but you can use it as many times as you like.
There's also an iconic bamboo raft and sometimes you'll also meet a friendly man with a small outrigger rowing boat. Locals will offer you to take photos with the raft for 20 PHP and the man offers trips further upstream to a secret blue lagoon for 500 PHP.
The Siargao swing on the Maasin River is quite fun. It's not a huge drop but it's the picturesque surroundings that makes this so popular. The river is lined with dense, tropical palm trees that make for quite a scene.
Tip: We drove past the Maasin River a few times at midday while exploring the island of Siargao. Let me tell you– this spot gets busy! I recommend getting here early to beat the crowds. I'd say you'd have it all to yourself if you visited around 6-8am.
More: Best Siargao Tourist Spots
More Photos from Maasin River Siargao
More Things to do in the Area
As you might expect, there's absolutely loads to see and do on Siargao besides surfing! Below are some nearby attractions that I definitely recommend checking out if exploring the island by scooter or motorbike.
Also,. don't miss a trip to Sugba Lagoon or the epic Sohoton Cove on your trip to Siargao Island!
Where to Stay on Siargao
When planning accommodation on Siargao, you'll want to know that the main tourist hub is called General Luna. Here, there is solid tourism infrastructure like hotels, resorts, guest houses, restaurants, clubs, bars and tour offices. Below are my favorite picks for where to stay.
Tip: I've written a comprehensive Siargao accommodation guide as well which goes into a lot more detail on places to stay, don't miss it!
- Luxury Villas: Las Palmas Villas and Casitas Siargao - every popular luxury villas located within 100 meters from the beach. Includes swimming pool, bar, and tropical gardens.
- Luxury Resort: Kalipay Resort - the best tropical suites in Siargao, located in an excellent central location that is quiet at night but still very close to everything you need.
- Mid-range beach house: Surfing Carabao Beach Houses - beachfront tropical huts on Malinao beach with air conditioning and an awesome surf vibe.
- Hostel With a Vibe: Ilakai Hostel - the best hostel in General Luna with very impressive reviews.
More Siargao & Philippines Travel Guides
I hope that you've enjoyed this quick guide to the Maasin River Siargao and its famous bent palm tree rope swing! For more travel guides and adventure inspiration, make sure to check out some of my other articles from the Philippines as well.