General Luna to Magpupungko Rock Pools by Bike — 70 km East Coast Day Trip

If there’s one bike day trip from General Luna that every visitor on Siargao should do, it’s this one: a relaxed 70 km round-trip ride to Magpupungko Rock Pools, the island’s most famous tidal pools, on the quiet paved roads of Siargao’s east coast.

The route is mostly flat, fully paved, scenic from end to end, and the reward at the turnaround is one of the most photogenic swim spots in the Philippines — the Magpupungko Rock Pools at Pilar, where the receding tide reveals natural turquoise pools carved into the volcanic rock. Plan your ride to arrive at low tide and you’ll get the postcard moment.

At a glance

• Where to start: General Luna town centre (Tourism Road, near Cloud 9 boardwalk)
• Destination: Magpupungko Rock Pools, Pilar — Siargao east coast
• Direction: north along the Siargao Circumferential Road
• Best months: January to April (driest, calmest winds)
• Recommended bike: any — hybrid, e-bike, gravel or road all work on this 100 % paved route
• Critical timing: arrive at low tide (check the daily tide chart)
• Entrance fee: ₱50 at Magpupungko (₱20 for parking a bike)
• Refuel stops: Catangnan (km 3), Cloud 9 boardwalk (km 5), Maasin junction (km 15), Pilar town (km 30)

Why this is the best easy-to-moderate bike ride in Siargao

Three reasons this loop is so popular with cyclists staying in General Luna:

• It’s fully paved. The whole Siargao Circumferential Road from General Luna north to Pilar is in good condition. No broken concrete, no sand, no surprises.
• Almost flat. 200 m of elevation gain over 70 km. The Pilar approach has one gentle rise, otherwise it’s rollers.
• The destination is iconic. The Magpupungko Rock Pools are one of the three or four “must-see” spots on Siargao, alongside Cloud 9 and Sugba Lagoon. Reaching it yourself, by bike, is much better than a packed van.

Surface and traffic

100 % paved on the Siargao Circumferential Road and Tourism Road. Tarmac is generally smooth except for a few patches near Catangnan and around Pilar village itself.

Traffic is low to moderate. Expect more activity between General Luna and Cloud 9 in the morning (tricycles dropping surfers off), then very quiet from Catangnan to Pilar. On the way back, watch for tour vans returning from Magpupungko in the late afternoon — they drive fast on this stretch.

The route, segment by segment

1. General Luna → Cloud 9 → Catangnan (0–5 km)

Roll out north on the Tourism Road, past the Cloud 9 boardwalk and surf-shop area, then follow the road around to Catangnan. This is the busiest section — keep right, watch for tricycles.

2. Catangnan → Tawin-Tawin → Pansukian (5–15 km)

The road leaves the surf town and opens into coconut groves. Few buildings, mostly roadside palms and the occasional sari-sari store. Lovely morning light if you start around 06:00–07:00.

3. Pansukian → Pilar (15–30 km)

The road bends slightly inland through Pansukian then heads back to the east coast for the final stretch to Pilar. A gentle rise around km 24. Pilar town itself is small but has a couple of restaurants if you want a coffee before the rock pools.

4. Pilar → Magpupungko Rock Pools (30–35 km)

At Pilar, follow the signs east toward the coast. The final ~3 km on a smaller road takes you straight to the Magpupungko Rock Pools parking and entrance. Pay the ₱50 fee, lock your bike, walk down to the pools.

5. Swim, snack, photos (turnaround)

Plan at least 1 hour here. The pools are exposed at low tide — at high tide, you see ocean waves crashing against the rocks instead. Either is beautiful, only low tide gives you the swim. Cafés and a few food vendors at the entrance.

6. Magpupungko → General Luna (35–70 km, same route reversed)

Smooth retrace south. The afternoon wind on Siargao tends to come from the east, so you’ll have a slight tailwind on the return leg. Get back to Cloud 9 / General Luna by 17:30 to avoid riding at dusk.

Bike recommendation

This route is so accommodating that almost any bike works:

• Hybrid — perfect. Comfortable upright position, modest tyres, all the gears you need.
• Gravel — overkill on this fully paved ride, but very comfortable. Bonus: you can detour onto sand paths near the rock pools.
• E-bike — great for non-cyclists who want the experience without the effort. 70 km is comfortably within range on a full charge (no need to recharge at Pilar).
• Road bike — fastest option if you want to make the round trip in 3h30 without the swim stop.

See our bike fleet for details, or pick your category directly: gravel, road, e-bike, mountain bike.

Critical: time your ride with the tide

The Magpupungko Rock Pools are tidal. At low tide, the natural pools are exposed and you can swim, jump from rocks and walk around. At high tide, the area is submerged — still beautiful but no swimming.

Check the Pilar tide chart the day before. Low tide windows usually last 3–4 hours. Aim to arrive at the start of the low tide window so you have time to swim before the ocean comes back. Several free tide apps cover Siargao — Tides Near Me, Tide Charts, and Windy all work well.

If your low tide is early (5–7 a.m.), it’s a sunrise ride. Mid-morning low tide (10 a.m.) is the sweet spot — sunrise start from General Luna, swim at Magpupungko, back before the midday heat.

Logistics, safety, what to bring

• Start time: dawn (5:30–6:00) is ideal. The tropical sun gets brutal after 10 a.m.
• Water: 2 L minimum. Refill at any sari-sari along the way.
• Cash: ₱200–500 covers the entrance fee, bike parking, water and a snack.
• Swimwear and a towel: obvious, but easy to forget when packing a saddle bag.
• Sunscreen, cap, light long sleeves: the east-coast road is exposed.
• Lock: included with our rentals. Keep your bike chained at the Magpupungko entrance.
• Avoid riding at night — see our cycling Siargao guide for the safety section.

Variants and combinations

• Sunset version: flip the schedule — leave General Luna at 14:00, reach Magpupungko at 15:00, swim until ~16:30, ride back to Cloud 9 in time for sunset. Only do this if you’re back in town before dark.
• Extend to Pacifico Beach (+ 30 km return): from Pilar, continue another 15 km north along the coast to reach Pacifico Beach, then turn around. This makes it a ~100 km day — solidly into Coconut Road Short Loop territory.
• Combine with Sugba Lagoon (next day): Magpupungko is east coast, Sugba Lagoon is west coast (Del Carmen). Two contrasting day trips back-to-back.
• Easier first ride: if 70 km feels too much for day one, start with the General Luna Easy Loop (26 km, flat).

How this route compares to our others

Route	Distance	Surface	Difficulty
General Luna Easy Loop	26 km	mixed	Easy
General Luna → Magpupungko	70 km	road	Moderate
Coconut Road Short Loop	48 km	mixed	Moderate
Coconut Road Loop	127 km	mixed	Hard