9 AWESOME CLIFF JUMPING SPOTS IN SIARGAO, PHILIPPINES

Siargao is a small island in the Philippines that from first glance may seem to have no cliff jumping opportunities. In fact, when I first arrived I thought there would be no jumping for my next 30 days on the island. Throughout our adventures, during the month we found quite a few spots ranging from 3m to 8m. These are the 9 best cliff jumping spots in Siargao … that we found!

I’m also going to add in a few rope swings to this blog post because while they aren’t 20m cliff jumps, most people who enjoy cliff jumps can get around a rope swing too so thought it might be valuable to know where they are. I know some of these aren’t huge jumps but anything above a few meters is always a good time so I hope you enjoy your air-time in Siargao!

Wondering about the best spot to stay on Siargao? I wrote this guide that breaks down the island into the best regions with my personal hotel/hostel/resort recommendations: WHERE TO STAY ON SIARGAO ISLAND

What to pack for the Philippines?: After four trips to the Philippines, there are some items you NEED to pack. You can Click Here to view my recommended Philippines Packing List.

Tayangban Cave Cliff Jump

Tayangban Cave Pool was one of the highlights of my many adventures throughout my month on Siargao. It was one of the best caving experiences I have had in Asia. For 15 minutes you swim and float in darkness, only aided by torches.

Bats fly around you until you finally emerge to the open cave pool where you can cliff jump from seven meters. This is where the real fun begins!

The water is dark and needs to be checked. The guide (mandatory to have a guide) told us it is 18ft deep. It is in their backyard so I trusted them but still did a depth check on my landing. Always check your own depth because it’s your body you are throwing into the water, therefore, you are responsible for your own safety!

You need to scale the rock wall by pulling yourself up with the hanging vines. Not incredibly difficult but likely too hard for some. Once at the top you have a nice little ledge for a straight shot down. Aim for the middle of the pool and you will be solid! We threw a few backflips, gainers and fun jumps with our crew.

Entry into Tayangban Cave Pool is just 70 pesos or $1.50 USD.

To read the full blog post including directions and details about Tayangban Cave Pool: Click Here

Magpupungko Tide Pools

The Magpupungko Tide Pools are one of the most popular attractions on Siargao Island. They are about 40 minutes from General Luna, which is the main tourist area. For just 50 pesos entry you can enjoy one of the most spectacular parts of coastline on the island.

Each day at low tide the tide pools are full of crystal clear water while the reef is exposed so you can walk around the tide pools. This is the location of the famous rock formation, which is balancing upright despite having a tiny base.

There are various spots to jump at the Magpupungko Tide Pools. The main rock in the middle is the best spot and you can jump from all sides. Depending on the time of day the water will be at different depths so make sure you check the depth of your landing area first. None of the landing areas are very deep.

I jumped off every side headfirst and doing flips and hit the ground softly a few times. The height ranges from a couple of meters to a maximum of 4 meters or so. This is probably the safest and most common spot to do a bit of cliff jumping in Siargao. However, it is quite small and won’t get your adrenaline racing if you are looking for some real height.

TIP: wear an old pair of sneakers or quick-dry water shoes. Climbing up these rocks suck if you’re barefoot. The rocks are incredibly sharp. It is possible but you will enjoy yourself twice as much if you throw on a pair of sneakers or reef shoes.

To read the full blog post about Magpupungko Tide Pools and how to read the tides to choose the perfect time for your visit: Click Here

Magkuku-ob Cave in Sohoton National Park

Sohoton National Park is an epic day trip adventure from Siargao Island. You can explore blue lagoons, and discover hidden caves.

However, there was one cave experience that ended with a 5m cliff jump. This was probably the most legitimate cliff jump we did during our time on Siargao although not the highest. It was a cliff so it gets the tick of approval.

Magkuku-ob Cave is one of the stops on the day trip. Our boat pulled up next to the cliff and we jumped straight off our longtail into the water. Without hesitation, we swam straight into the cave which went back about 20m. From here we had to climb up some ladders and rock climb for a few minutes before reaching sunlight again.

Now a very short, slippery hike back down the outside of the cave led us to a diving platform right next to the entrance of the cave. The only way back down is to jump from 5m off the platform and swim back to the boat. This is my kind of adventure. It’s great when your whole group gets involved, even those who aren’t too keen on jumping in.

Read the full blog post about Sohoton Cove National Park: SOHOTON COVE NATIONAL PARK TOUR

Sugba Lagoon Diving Board

Sugba Lagoon is one of the most popular things to do on Siargao. It’s a short day trip from General Luna, Siargao to a spectacular lagoon surrounded by epic mountains. 

Sugba Lagoon is an incredibly picturesque blue lagoon, which is, even more, epic if you check it out from the sky with the help of a drone. At the lagoon, you can hire a bamboo raft or SUP boards to explore.

Sugba Lagoon makes this list.. marginally. Siargao isn’t overflowing with cliff jumping so a cool diving board scrapes in. The diving board at Sugba Lagoon is about 4m high and has a pretty epic backdrop. It may not be the most thrilling leap you will ever take but the scenery makes up for that.

To read the full blog post about how we got the cheap route to Sugba Lagoon: Click Here

Hidden Tree Cliff Jump at Sugba Lagoon

Sugba Lagoon has gotten quite busy. When I visited in 2017 we shared the lagoon with about 15 people. Fast forward two years and I find myself in a line of thirty people to jump off the diving board. Not a vibe. Luckily I knew there was another spot nearby so off we headed.

The best thing to do is to rent a stand-up paddleboard or a kayak. If you are facing away from the diving board you will paddle to your right and follow the rocks around the corner. It is a 500m paddle. We swam but it’s far and many people wouldn’t enjoy the swim!

Once you get into the other lagoon, enjoy the serenity of no other tourists. Keep your eye out for a platform on the far side of the lagoon. It has been semi-dismantled now for some reason but is still climbable.

However, it is quite dangerous. The steps up the tree are missing and you are literally stepping between nails on a slipper branch. Slip off and you have a 7-meter fall onto the rocks. So, attempt this one at your own risk. Many were doing but one slip and you are in big trouble.

At the top of the tree is a nice wooden platform, which I would see is about 7-8 meters high. It has epic views of the lagoon and you can see how deep the water is from up there. We never touched the bottom once but do your own depth check in case rocks or branches lurk below the surface.

The jump was awesome and easily the BEST cliff jump in Siargao and easily the highest official jump! Here’s a little video of my jump.

 

Club Tara Resort Diving Board

During our day-trip around Sohoton National Park, we stopped at a random resort. It had a strange waterslide and we weren’t quite sure what the deal was when we arrived. However, the diving board at Club Tara is pretty epic. It’s a 5m diving board with spring.

You can send some pretty fun backflips and dives from this board into crystal clear water. The scenery is spectacular just like Sugba Lagoon. From the diving board, you look out over an entire lagoon.

Tak Tak Waterfall

The only waterfall on Siargao Island may seem like a bit of a drip compared to some of the epic waterfalls in the Philippines. However, this obligatory visit actually turned in to one of my favorite adventures on Siargao.

The waterfall has two spots you can jump from. The water is not very deep and changes depth throughout the pool at the bottom so do treat these jumps with care and check exactly where you will land for debris and rocks.

The first jump spot is straight off the falls itself. You can climb down from the top of the falls after scaling the hill from behind or you can climb up from the bottom. Essentially you can jump from a number of different heights depending on how high you think you can survive in the depth of your landing spot!

The second spot is from the tree that hangs over the pool at the bottom of the waterfall. This is a super cool jump spot and a spot we hung out in for almost an hour. It was definitely the most unexpected cliff jumping spot in Siargao.

To read the full blog post about Tak Tak Waterfall: Click Here

Poneas Island Hidden Lake Rope Swing

There is a hidden lake inside Poneas Island, which can be reached as part of a San Benito Island Hopping Tour. To read about my tour of Poneas Island and the nearby Islands you can click here.

At the lake, there is a pretty solid rope swing and if you are game you could even climb up the tree (it’s a tough climb) for a 5-meter cliff jump. Most people will stick to the rope swing. Here are a few photos from the rope swing!

Maasin River Rope Swing

On my first visit to Siargao in 2017, this rope swing didn’t even exist. But a few years later, it is one of the most hyped land attractions on Siargao with the locals getting around it heavily as a must-visit location. A uniquely bent plam tree hangs out over the small river to create a perfect photo-op and now a perfect rope swing location. The locals have mastered the techniques and will put in a show, half for fun and half hoping for a sneaky tip. Entry into the rope swing area is just a couple of dollars and gives you unlimited swings and fun so the set-up is pretty fair in my opinion as the locals stay there all day collecting the rope and keeping things safe and fun. Here’s my epic fail on the swing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Jackson Groves (@jackson.groves) on Nov 25, 2019 at 1:56am PST

WHERE I SUGGEST TO STAY ON SIARGAO

Budget Hostel in General Luna: The White House:  The best budget option for dorm style/hostel accommodation on Siargao Island is called The White House in General Luna. For just $10 a night you can grab yourself a dorm bed.

Value Pick in General Luna: Lampara Siargao Boutique Hostel: Lampara Siargao is an oceanfront boutique hostel conveniently situated on the exotic island of Siargao. 

Luxury Pick in General Luna: Nay Palad Hideaway: Nay Palad Hideaway is one of the most luxurious accommodations in the Philippines. With its beautiful outdoor pool, terrace with either garden or ocean views, comfy seating areas, and is the resort you will see featured on Instagram all the time!

WHERE I STAYED ON SIARGAO ISLAN

Siargao is pretty straightforward when it comes to picking a region to stay. 90% of people choose to stay somewhere near General Luna. All of the bars, restaurants, tours, ports, and hotels are near General Luna and Cloud 9 surf break.

There are a couple of other regions you could stay in like Pacifico but unless you are purposely looking for isolation, General Luna is your spot. So what are my suggestions for where to stay in General Luna?

First, I’ll tell you where I stayed. Because I stayed for over a month, I managed to find an Airbnb. It was 4 blocks back from the beach, had wi-fi, A/C, a private bathroom, patio and inside were just two bunk beds.

It was super basic and I stayed here with two mates and my sister. It was 900 USD for the entire month, which we split four ways so it was just $225 each.  There’s a photo below of our sweet Airbnb pad on Siargao Island.

Save money in Siargao by staying at an Airbnb! Get a FREE $40 Airbnb Coupon by using my code when you book! 

Best time to visit Siargao Island

The best time to visit Siargao depends on what you are looking for. Many consider the best time of year when the weather is best but that also means crowds. I will give you a few options below about when is the best month to visit Siargao Island:

September: Siargao hosts the ‘Cloud 9 Surfing Cup’ each September, an official WSL Pro event

July – November: The best time period for surfing in Siargao is July until November. The easterly Mindanao current provides the islands with waves that came from the deepest regions of the Pacific.

March-May: If you aren’t as interested in the surf but are craving that sun. March until May should bring you guaranteed sunny days. But it’s the Philippines so you can’t guarantee it.

Where is Siargao Island Located

Siargao is located in the region of Mindanao in the Philippines. Mindanao is the southern region of the Philippines.

How to get to Siargao Island

When I visited in 2017 there was only one flight a day from Manila and one from Cebu. Now there are 10-15 flights a day so the question of how to get to Siargao has become much easier. Without going into deep detail on every single option. These are the options for how to get to Siargao:

• Fly from Manila $90-$100
• Fry from Cebu  $90-$100
• Ferry from Surigao City to Siargao Island $5

There are ferries that leave from Manila and Cebu but they go to Surigao City first and then Siargao Island.

ARE YOU FOLLOWING MY SIARGAO SERIES OF BLOGS

Sunset: 11 AWESOME SUNSET SPOTS ON SIARGAO ISLAND

Cliff Jumps: 9 CLIFF JUMPING SPOTS IN SIARGAO

Where to Stay: WHERE TO STAY ON SIARGAO ISLAND

Island Hopping: SIARGAO ISLAND HOPPING – GUYAM, DAKU & NAKED ISLAND

Ultimate Guide: 40 AWESOME THINGS TO DO ON SIARGAO

Itinerary & Expenses: SIARGAO ITINERARY & EXPENSES ULTIMATE TRAVEL GUIDE

Sohoton Cove Itinerary: SOHOTON COVE NATIONAL PARK TOUR – CAVES AND LAGOONS

Visit Sugba Lagoon: SUGBA LAGOON FROM SIARGAO ISLAND

Hidden Lake on Poneas Island: DISCOVER THE HIDDEN LAKE OF PONEAS ISLAND, SIARGAO

MORE PHILIPPINES BLOGS

I have also visited many other places in the Philippines that you may want to add to your itinerary and remove one of the locations I visited. There is no right way to travel to the Philippines. The reality is that you will miss some awesome places no matter what Philippines backpacking route you take. You can check out the links below to my other Philippines backpacking guides.

Caramoan: CARAMOAN ISLAND HOPPING

Romblon Island: ROMBLON TRAVEL GUIDE: 17 AWESOME THINGS TO DO

Tablas Island: TABLAS ISLAND TRAVEL GUIDE: 20 AWESOME THINGS TO DO

Sibuyan Island: SIBUYAN ISLAND TRAVEL GUIDE: 9 AWESOME THINGS TO DO

Sohoton Cove: SOHOTON COVE NATIONAL PARK TOUR – CAVES AND LAGOONS

Carabao Island: CARABAO ISLAND TRAVEL GUIDE: 5 THINGS TO DO

Cebu Itinerary: CEBU 5-DAY ITINERARY – DETAILED ADVENTURE TRAVEL GUIDE

Cebu Things To Do: 16 AWESOME THINGS TO DO ON CEBU

Philippines Backpacking Guide: PHILIPPINES BACKPACKING: 2019 BUDGET TRAVEL GUIDE

Ultimate Philippines Itinerary: ULTIMATE PHILIPPINES TRAVEL ITINERARY FOR 3-4 WEEKS