Coconut Road Short Loop — 48 km Half-Day Ride from General Luna

The 127 km Coconut Road Loop is the bucket-list ride on Siargao, but it’s a serious commitment — sunrise start, all-day in the heat, and you need the legs. This 48 km short loop is the smart alternative when you want a real ride, the famous Coconut Road experience, and to be back at the beach by lunchtime.

You leave General Luna by the main road to Dapa, cut inland on the Osmeña-Pilar Road, join the southern stretch of the Coconut Road through Maasin and Antipolo, then loop back via Santa Monica and Quezon Street to General Luna. Less than 3 hours of pedalling at a relaxed pace, 280 m of total elevation gain — moderate, not hard.

At a glance

• Where to start: Datsco bus stop, General Luna (Tourism Road end)
• Direction: Counter-clockwise — west to Dapa first, return via the southern coast
• Best time of day: Sunrise to ~10 a.m., or 15:00 → sunset
• Recommended bike: gravel bike. Road bike OK with 32 mm+ tyres. E-bike doable on a full charge (48 km is well within range).
• Refuel stops: Dapa (km 11), Maasin / Antipolo area (km 20), Santa Monica (km 35)

Surface and what to expect

About 85 % paved (Dapa-Union-General Luna Road, the 890, Santa Monica-San Isidro Road) and 15 % rougher concrete or hard-packed Coconut Road sections. Nothing technical, but you’ll be glad of slightly bigger tyres on the inland stretches.

The Osmeña-Pilar Road climb (km 11–17) is the only “real” effort of the day — gentle, rolling, ~5 km of inland forest road. The descent into Antipolo / Maasin is the highlight: fast, smooth, ocean glimpses on your right.

The route, segment by segment

1. General Luna → Dapa (0–11 km, paved)

The familiar warm-up: head west out of General Luna on Tourism Road, then onto the 890 toward Dapa. Easy spinning, mostly flat. In Dapa, last reliable shop and ATM before the loop begins.

2. Dapa → Osmeña-Pilar Road (11–17 km, paved + light gravel)

Turn right onto the Osmeña-Pilar Road, the inland route that cuts toward the western coast. Quiet road, gentle uphill, dense palm forest both sides. This is where the day starts to feel like a proper Siargao ride.

3. Coconut Road south section: Maasin → Antipolo (17–25 km, mixed)

You join the southern half of the Coconut Road through Maasin and around Antipolo. Long, mostly straight stretches under the coconut canopy, alternating between solid asphalt and patches of cracked concrete. Beautiful in the morning light.

4. Santa Monica → Quezon Street (25–38 km, paved)

Roll southeast on the Santa Monica-San Isidro Road. Smooth tarmac, very little traffic, ocean views to your left. You’re on the home stretch.

5. Quezon Street → General Luna (38–48 km, paved)

Quezon Street takes you back through Dapa and onto the Dapa-Union-General Luna Road for the final 9 km back to town. Mostly flat, often a tailwind in the afternoon.

Bike recommendation

A gravel bike with tubeless 38–45 mm tyres is the perfect fit. You’ll move quickly on the paved sections and shrug off the rougher Coconut Road patches.

A road bike with 32 mm+ tyres works fine if you’re confident on broken concrete and don’t mind slowing down for a few sections. An e-bike is a great option here too — 48 km is comfortably within range on a full charge, and the assist makes the Osmeña-Pilar climb a non-event.

Logistics, safety, what to bring

• Start time: sunrise (5:30–6:00) or late afternoon. Avoid 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. heat.
• Water: 1.5 L is enough; refill in Dapa or Santa Monica.
• Spares: spare tube, plug kit, mini-pump.
• Sun: SPF 50, light long sleeves recommended for the inland section.
• Cash: ATMs in General Luna and Dapa.

Variants

• Easier (~26 km): stick to the General Luna Easy Loop if you prefer no climbs and no Coconut Road sections.
• Full version (127 km): when you’re ready, ride the full Coconut Road Loop — same start, but adds the entire northern coast through Burgos and the upper Coconut Road.
• Sunset start: leave at 15:30, finish under the canopy of the Coconut Road as the light goes gold around km 22.