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How & When to Visit the Magpupungko Rock Pools Siargao

How & When to Visit the Magpupungko Rock Pools Siargao

Olly Gaspar

By Olly Gaspar, full-time traveler for 6 years. I visit every place I write about & share real tips, photos, & advice from my trips.

Discover crystal-clear, aquatic-blue pools at Magpupungko Rock Pools. Includes everything you need to know to visit including transport, timings, cost, and tips from my visit.

If you’re considering a trip to Siargao, then you already know that this is an epic island with so much untapped adventure potential! One of the best attractions you’ll want to check out is the Magpupungko Rock Pools– a series of salt-water pools on rocky flats that are perfect for swimming and cliff jumping.

Magpupungko rock pools siargao

Where are the Magpupungko Rock Pools?

The Magpupungko Rock pools are located on the eastern coast of Siargao Island, the Philippines. It's approximately 40 minutes from the main tourist hub of General Luna. The closest town is Pilar and you'll find it on the Siargao Circumferential Rd.

Below I've pinned the exact location to help you find it. Note that Google Maps spells it as "Magpopongko".

Google Maps Pin: "Rock Pools and Flats"

Magpupungko rock pools near pilar, siargao

How to Get to Magpupungko Near Pilar

So, how do we get here? You'll have two main options for getting to the rock pools, which I've outlined below.

Option 1: Siargao Land Tour

For those short on time, or if you'd rather spend the day checking out all the best highlights on Siargao by a local guide, then you simply can't beat the very popular "Siargao Land Tour". This is the most popular tour on the island, and for good reason.

Not only does the Siargao Land tour visit the Magpupungko Rock Pools, but you'll also get to see both the epic coconut road and the rope swing on Maasin river.

Siargao palm tree swing

Option 2: Drive or Ride Independently

The second option for getting to the rocky lagoons is to do it independently. For this, you're going to need a motorbike.

This is the way I explored all the highlights on Siargao Island.

You can pick up a daily rental in General Luna for 250-350 pesos. Remember you'll always need to barter to get a fair price.

Siargao motorbike palm tree road

Directions to the Rock Pool

The drive to the rock pools takes about 40 minutes, following the Dapa-General Luna Road past the awesome palm tree viewpoint and down the famous palm tree road. When you get to the intersection at the Siargao Eagles's Statue, turn right onto the Siargao Circumferential Road.

Follow this past the famous coconut tree swing on the Maasin River and past the Tayangban Cave Pool. Soon after, the road gets a little winding as it wraps around the mangrove coves down to Pilar Port. Continue on and soon you'll arrive at the the rock pools.

There's a sign here that reads: "Magpupungko White Beach".

Sohoton cove diving board

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My Experience at the Rock Pools

As soon as we arrived on the white-sand Magpupungko Beach, we needed to walk over to the left (north) side, where we spotted the famous rock pools. There's one main pool at Magpupungko, which is actually split in two. The average depth is around 2-3 meters.

These rock pools are a special breed of blue. They really are beautiful and the dense, coconut palm backdrops make for some pretty incredible scenes.

Tip: You'll want to visit the rock pools at low tide. On high tide, the ocean laps into the pools. Surf Reports is a good source for checking tide times.

Magpupungko rock pools siargao
Magpupungko rock pools siargao

The Big Pool

The main rock pool at Magpupungko is the first one you'll find. This is the widest and you can swim comfortably, jump off the rocks, and explore the coastal caves.

This one is great for swimming since it's sheltered from the sea. This large, natural lagoon is very clear and very blue– trust me, if you have an underwater camera or a drone, you'll want to bring it!

Below are some shots that I captured on my visit.

Magpupungko rock pools swimming
Magpupungko siargao
Magpupungko rock pools siargao

Cliff Jumps (Rocks)

While not huge, one of the best things to do at Magpupungko Rock Pools is to jump off the large boulders. The one in the photos is right in the middle of the first pool.

We had loads of fun doing this and captured some fun photos as well. Remember to always do a depth check when cliff jumping.

Magpupungko rock pool cliff jump
Cliff jumping siargao
Magpupungko rock pools siargao

Smaller Pools And the Big Boulder

If you continue on around the headland for about 30 meters, you'll find some smaller pools and a huge, picturesque boulder on the edge of the coast. This is another great place to snap some photos. There weren't as many tourists at this side either when I visited, so it's a good spot to escape the crowds on busy days.

Big boulder at magpupungko rock pools siargao
Sea caves and pools at magpupungko siargao

The Love Heart Rock

In the middle of the first lagoon (pool), there is a very large boulder with some green shrubs and small trees growing from it. From the ground, it doesn't look that special, but, after sending my drone up, I noticed that it's cut as a perfect love heart shape! This makes for an interesting subject to shoot!

Magpupungko rock pools siargao island, philippines

Magpupungko Beach

The rock pools aren't the only attraction at Magpupungko Beach. In fact, the beach itself is pretty awesome. You'll find a few small local restaurants here too, which is great after a long day of adventure.

However, if you do visit at extra low tide, you'll find the beach is quite rocky. I'd say it's better to enjoy the pools at low tide and the beach at high tide!

Magpupungko beach

Tips for Visiting Magpupungko Rock Pools

Below are some tips you'll want to know before planning a trip.

  • Visit at low tide
  • Get here early - this place is swarming with people around midday
  • The rock pools are included in the very popular Siargao Land Tour
  • There is no entrance fee to visit and you are free to park your bike!

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.

Las palmas pool and palm trees on siargao island

1. Las Palmas Villas & Casitas Luxury

Very popular luxury villas located within 100 m from the beach in General Luna. Includes swimming pool, bar, and tropical gardens.

Soultribe beach retreat

2. Soultribe Beach Retreat Mid-Range

The best tropical retreat in Siargao. Located in an excellent location on Malinao Beach which offers a unique glamping style accommodation with BBQ dinners and free bicycle rental!

Sinag hostel 

3. Sinag Hostel Budget

The best hostel in General Luna with impressive reviews on popular booking sites. Great for those looking to save money and meet other like-minded travelers.

More Photos from My Trip

I hope that you've enjoyed my travel guide to visiting the Magpupungko Rock Pools on Siargao Island. While you're here, check out some of my other blog posts about Siargao and the Philippines– I bet you'll find something new!

Below are some more photos I took with my drone, underwater camera, and GoPro.

Magpupungko rock pools siargao
Swimming in blue water philippines
Drone photo magpupungko rock pools
Drone photo siargao rock pools
Rock pools siargao
Blue pools in the philippines
Thanks for Reading

I'm Olly Gaspar, adventure traveler from Australia. I’ve spent the last six years traveling the world full-time, sharing my first-hand experiences & photography in over 700 travel guides on We Seek Travel. I visit every destination I write about to bring you unique travel itineraries, epic hiking routes, fun tour ideas, travel & photography gear ideas, & interesting places to stay.

I only make genuine, worthwhile recommendations based on my experience, expertise, & research. If you buy through my links, I may get a commission, supporting this website at no extra cost to you. Read my Publishing Ethics Statement.