I can fly (and swim): An Extreme Bukidnon Weekend

December 06, 2010 Travel

If adventure is what you seek, Bukidnon and Cagayan de Oro can take you to the extreme. 

After a media tour organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to celebrate Mt. Kitanglad as an ASEAN Heritage Park, I had the opportunity to soar and plunge at the area's popular adventure destinations. 

The Dahilayan Adventure Park (www.dahilayanadventurepark.com), which boasts Asia's longest dual cable zipline, is located at a buffer zone of Mt. Kitanglad and is a major boost to the province's tourism efforts.

We received a briefing from Mechanical Engineer Elpidio 'Elpi' Paras, the owner and founder of Dahilayan Adventure Park, regarding the park's tourism success. He mentioned that the park attracts over 10,000 foreign and local tourists each month.

We began our adventure with the 320-meter and 150-meter ziplines, warming up before experiencing the main attraction—the thrilling 840-meter zipline.

Before taking off, we received a thorough briefing. The journey to the launch pad aboard the 4x4 was an adventure in itself, with every bump and turn adding to the thrill of the impending zipline experience.

Suspended at 4,700 feet above sea level, the zipline propels riders through the lush landscapes of Dahilayan at an exhilarating average speed of 45 kph.

Lucky for us, we were sponsored by the Adventure Park operators, so I only spent a few bucks on the souvenir shot. The 840 Meters zipline costs Php 500.00, while the 320 Meters and 150 Meters ziplines are priced at Php 250.00 each. For those eager to experience it all, there's an all-ride package for Php 600.00.

The zipline experience was nothing short of exhilarating, providing awe-inspiring views of the stunning beauty that Bukidnon, a province I had yet to fully explore, has to offer.

Next on my adrenaline-packed itinerary was White Water Rafting in Cagayan de Oro. 

With two days left in Cagayan de Oro, I decided to give it a shot. I found the contact information for Kagay (www.cdorafting-map.com/) on a blog. The basic 3-hour rafting experience costs Php 700.00 per head, while the more advanced 4-hour option is Php 1,000.00. This fee covers transportation, guides, and gear. 

Kagay, meaning river, is considered one of Cagayan de Oro’s premier whitewater rafting outfitters. Their river guides have undergone training from both the International Rafting Federation and the Philippine National Red Cross.

The thrill of navigating the rapids with newfound friends made the experience even more exciting and memorable.
Percy, our guide, proved to be exceptional, ensuring that all participants were briefed and ready for the thrilling adventure that awaited us.


It was an absolute adrenaline rush, punctuated by moments of sheer awe as we were granted the opportunity to simply take in the breathtaking scenery of the majestic Cagayan River. 

The adventure concluded with delightful meals and engaging conversations.

Kelly is a public relations professional and entrepreneur whose projects have assisted multinational organizations, small and medium enterprises, government officers, international organizations and non-governmental organizations. She is partner-consultant of RubyComm-K.Austria, a public relations management and consultancy company. Kelly is also a former government employee having served at the Department of Tourism for two years. Being mountaineers, Kelly and her friends travel by land, sometimes on rough roads and trek for hours to give a new lease of hope to students. She is co-founder of the group TREK or Trails to Empower Kids.

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