Maasin River: Top Things To Do In Siargao
Off the road, hidden beneath a bridge you will find the Maasin Bridge River Swing. 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. You can just visit the jump spot if you don’t fancy the tour or if you’re on a budget.
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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 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 the attractions when you like, as well as spend as much time at each place as you wish.
If you don’t want to drive a scooter you can Hire 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!
![Scooter on Siargao - Best way to get around](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4f04c0_d31d57ce6bd34891b5c14f588ad00237~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/4f04c0_d31d57ce6bd34891b5c14f588ad00237~mv2.jpg)
How Much Does The Maasin River Bridge Swing Cost?
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.
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!
![Jumping Platform At Maasin River](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4f04c0_f2dae79d717a4de6b9dc14ceed956910~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/4f04c0_f2dae79d717a4de6b9dc14ceed956910~mv2.png)
Swimming In The River
You can also 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.
![Maasin River Blue Boats](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4f04c0_064121b3103f489bb1ec46a65ffd618d~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/4f04c0_064121b3103f489bb1ec46a65ffd618d~mv2.png)
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.
![Mangroves in Siargao](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4f04c0_a2240e1202654a2dbb9f3bf505739d8c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_551,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/4f04c0_a2240e1202654a2dbb9f3bf505739d8c~mv2.jpg)
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 the island's 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 its epic waves.
We use Booking.com and HostelWorld for all of our stays around the world!
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.
Top Things To Do On Siargao
We recommend a minimum of a week on Siargao, especially if you want to learn to surf. The island has an abundance of activities for you to explore and it’s also a great island for digital nomads. Here’s our highlights.
![Alegria Beach, North Siargao](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4f04c0_153912a6705f4dfa99888dd4fab953f1~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1742,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/4f04c0_153912a6705f4dfa99888dd4fab953f1~mv2.jpg)
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 beaches 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
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
For the adventure seekers out there why not try Siargao's Wakepark!
Essential Travel Items You Need
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Jungle Formula - High Deet Mosquito Spray The weak sprays will not work! Make sure to bring a high deet percentage spray made for the tropics. We also use Mosquito Wipes. | |
Water Shoes - Lightweight with Protection Stay protected from Sea Urchins with these, also useful for snorkelling, waterfall hikes and more. We also love our Microfibre Towels and Dry Bag. | |
Universal Travel Adaptor With Multiple USBs Life while travelling will never be the same again! Charge multiple devices all at once in any country... game changer. |
Top Tips For Travelling The Philippines
If you’re visiting the Philippines here are our top travel tips:
Book flights in advance - they can become expensive if you leave it last minute… oh and check your luggage allowance to skip expensive check in fees at the airport. Don't forget your Apple Airtags to track your bags
Agree on taxi prices upfront - when getting into a tuk-tuk, tricycle or taxi, make sure you agree on a price or they have a meter, so many tourists get ripped off with a huge price tag at the end of the ride.
Take it slow - don't feel the need to see all the islands, we recommend picking a few and doing them properly. See the island in full, find some locals and sing Karaoke..
Embrace the chaos and get stuck in, the locals are friendly and love to help and share information about their home!
For a checklist of what's needed to pack for your trip, read: How to Pack for Backpacking to South East Asia: Backpacking Essentials and Accessories
We love our DJI Mini for all of our drone shots!
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. 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.
![Review Of The Maasin Bridge River Swing](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4f04c0_a30d98d9eb1f4945a72a77fd6d8454c5~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/4f04c0_a30d98d9eb1f4945a72a77fd6d8454c5~mv2.png)
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