Maasin River Siargao: Kayaks, River Swing & Palm Trees
Just off the main road, hidden beneath a bridge you will find the Maasin River Siargao. A slice of paradise amongst the tropical forest, the main attraction here is enjoying the peacefulness of being on the river in a traditional boat ride to a tranquil lagoon.
A few years ago the famous bent palm tree and swing stood proudly across the Maasin River. Unfortunately, due to typhoon Odette the palm tree fell and now in its place is a man-made platform for jumping with a series of different heights. Aswell as this, there are local boats which take you through the jungle along the river into a beautiful lagoon, however if you don’t fancy the tour or if you’re on a budget, you can just visit the jump spot .
Read on for everything you need to know about visiting the Maasin River Siargao, from the entrance fee, how to get there, what the activities are and if we think its worth it.
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Don't miss this amazing Island Hopping Tour in Siargao, exploring Daku, Naked and Guyam Islands' pristine sandy beaches.
Where Is The Maasin River Swing?
The Maasin River is found on the east side of Siargao, close to Tayangban Cave and on the way to the Magpupungko Rock Pools.
The drive from General Luna to Maasin River will take around 20 minutes on a scooter, the roads are well kept and not too busy.
How To Get To The Maasin River Swing?
The entrance is off the main circular road round the island, you’ll see a parking area for scooters and tourist vans just after a bridge, park here. There is a small parking fee of ₽20 and the man will put a plank of wood on your seat to keep your scooter cool in the midday sun.
We recommend hiring a scooter on the island as it’s the most convenient way to get around, we rented ours for ₽300 a day. This will give you the freedom to visit Siargao's best attractions when you like, as well as spend as much time at each place as you wish.
For those who dare to drive abroad: hire a scooter. For groups & families: hire a tour.
If you don’t want to drive a scooter, we recommend Hiring a Tourist Van or tricycle to take you around the island. This will cost more and therefore something you need to consider if you’re a budget traveller like us!
Maasin River Siargao Entrance Fee
If you just want to relax at the cliff jump and have a swim in the river, the entrance fee is ₽30 per person. If you wish to take the river cruise to the famous swing, a boat costs ₽600 for up to 3 people, making it more worthwhile if there is a small group of you rather than for solo travellers. So how much it costs depends on what activities you would like to do.
What To Expect At The Maasin River Bridge Swing?
The Jumping Platform
The man-made platform rises above the river with three different jumps, all at different heights. The tallest one was 4m and we watched many people jump, backflip and throw themselves off the top. There is no diving due to the depth of the pool below, many people’s feet hit the bottom after their jump but the river bed is soft mud rather than rock, so you shouldn’t have any problems.
If you're an adrenaline seeker then why not try Siargao's Wakepark!
Swimming In The River
You can also just go for a swim by the platform, this makes it a great budget friendly activity if your funds don’t stretch to the river boat, or if you’re travelling alone and can’t justify the boat price.
Maasin River Boat
Jump in one of the blue river boats and head downstream through tropical trees to a secret pool where you can cool off. If you head early in the morning this would be such an amazing and peaceful boat tour, winding down the Maasin River admiring the wildlife and sounds around you. As you can see in the photo below, they have a lot of boats! So it might take away the magic if you visit midday.
Siargao's day trip to Sohoton Cove with Stingless Jellyfish is one to remember!
Maasin River Rope Swing And Bent Palm Tree
Unfortunately, the palm tree fell during a typhoon meaning it no longer stands proud across the river. Instead of the rope swing a jumping platform has been built in its place.
Other Things To Do At The Maasin River
Mangrove tour
Fireflies watching
Bamboo raft
Don't miss this amazing Island Hopping Tour in Siargao, exploring Daku, Naked and Guyam Islands' pristine sandy beaches.
Best Places To Stay Siargao
Siargao has lots of accommodation whether you’re looking for a surf school, a luxury resort or a budget hostel you’ll be able to find somewhere.
We recommend staying in the main hub of General Luna as this is where most of the restaurants are located, as well as easy access to most of Siargao's best tourist attractions. If you want to get away from the crowds you could head up north and stay in Pacifico, which is the northern hub of the island best known for being home to some of Siargao's best surf spots.
We use Booking.com, Agoda and HostelWorld for all of our stays in The Philippines!
Below we share some recommend places to stay in General Luna, Siargao:
Where We Stayed In General Luna
We chose the budget option of Dream Catcher Nipas when staying in General Luna mainly due to the kitchen which allowed us to cook our own breakfasts and lunches. These are very basic triangular huts which have mattresses on the floor so don't expect anything fancy, but the location is perfect for General Luna and the grounds are lovely.
We recommend a minimum of a week on Siargao, especially if you want to learn to surf. The island also has an abundance of activities for non-surfers to explore and it’s also a great island for digital nomads. Here’s our highlights.
Top Pick: Magpupungko Rock Pools
A natural attraction that is stunningly beautiful at low tide. You can spend a couple of hours exploring the beach, cliff jumping and swimming in the warm Tidal pools!
Can’t Miss: Learn To Surf
A must in Siargao due to the world famous waves, there are lots of beginner spots and shops offering surf lessons.
Best Beach: Pacifico Beach
A surf beach located North of the island with endless white sand, chill vibes and sunshine.
Off The Beaten Track: Tayangban Cave Pools
A short cave system with a crystal pool at the end to relax in.
Other Blogs On Siargao
Best Siargao Tours
Top Recommended Activities
Don't miss this amazing Island Hopping Tour in Siargao, exploring Daku, Naked and Guyam Islands' pristine sandy beaches.
Siargao isn't called the Surfing Capital of the Philippines for no reason! Book your Surf Lessons Here
This day trip to Sohoton Cove with Stingless Jellyfish is one to remember!
Tips For Travelling Siargao
If you’re visiting Siargao here’s our top travel tips:
Stay in the General Luna and Cloud 9 area to be amongst the beautiful chaos and be in walkable distance from the best bars & restaurants.
There’s lots to do for non-surfers on the island, don't forget to try out the Siargao Wake Park!
When getting around the Philippines in a tuk-tuk, tricycle or taxi, agree on a price upfront and try to have the right change handy.
Use an E-sim like Airalo to stay connected and remove the hassle of a physical SIM, don’t rely on Wi-Fi as the island has frequent blackouts.
Go on the 3 island tour to see the true beauty Siargao has to offer, it’s not all about surfing after all…
For the surfers, hire a scooter with a surf rack and visit Siargao’s best surf spots
Final Thoughts On The Maasin Bridge River Swing In Siargao
If you’re going to head off on the river boat this activity is great, you get to be paddled through the serene landscape before enjoying time at the secret pool. For this we recommend visiting earlier in the day, otherwise the magic might be taken away with the crowds.
If you’re on a budget however, and thinking of just doing the jumping platform, we think there are better cliff jumping spots such as at the Magpopongko Rock Pools and our favourite Salagdoong Beach. However, if you're going for a swim and want to checkout the river, it's still worth visiting the Maasin River Siargao for its beauty and peacefulness.
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