For some blue-sky thinking on a zip wire ride over the mountains of Dahilayan in Bukidnon, northern Mindanao, head to Zip Zone at Dahilayan Adventure Park, now holding the honor of being the longest dual zipline in Asia.
Enjoy 840 meters of lush greenery and breathtaking views of the mountains of Dahilayan from a launch point 4,700 feet above sea level. A Zip Zone package tour starts from P1,200 (about US$27) per person, including cost of of zipline rides, transportation from Cagayan de Oro to Dahilayan and back, set lunch and light snacks and white-water rafting. Tel: +63922 880 1319
Forest Park in Barangay Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, is another adventure destination popular with families. Located at the foot of Mount Kitanglad, Forest Park offers you an action-packed holiday, riding ATVs, taking a spin in their Zorb or water Zorb, or having a go at a high jump at the Bungee Trampolines. Stop by Forest Park Café or picnic under the pine trees at the Forest Park Zoo. Tel: +63917 715 4399
WHERE TO STAY
PineGrove Mountain Lodge offers a 180-degree view of Mount Kitanglad Range Natural Park and a patio where guests can enjoy bonfires and barbecues. Tel: +63917 622 3204
Stay at Dahilayan Gardens and Resort, a stone’s throw away from Dahilayan Adventure Park. Tel: +63 917 7147229
WHERE TO EAT
Cowboy’s Grill in Dahilayan serves T-Bone steak, porterhouse steak, and ostrich steak. Tel: +63 917 702 4416
Botanica Gardens serves mostly pasta using herbs freshly picked from its backyard garden.
On your way to Bukidnon, stop by Del Monte Restaurant at Camp Philips and try their famous steak. Camp Philips is home to a vast field of pineapples covering about 9,000 hectares of land with a golf course and a view of Mt. Apo.
Bourbon St. Bistro in Cagayan de Oro serves a soulful creole cuisine and killer cocktails for lunch, dinner and late night suppers. Bourbon St. Bistro is at Rosario Arcade, LimKetKai, Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro.
HOW TO GET TO THERE
Cebu Pacific Air and Philippine Airlines fly daily from Manila to Cagayan de Oro, from where it takes about an hour-and-a-half of road travel to Dahilayan, passing through the Del Monte Camp Philips and the pineapple fields. Contact Dahilayan for information on their shuttle service.
MAKE A SIDETRIP TO CAMIGUIN ISLAND
For beach lovers, visit the Paras Beach Resort on Camiguin Island. Tel: +63 917 7152284
Originally publishe in InFlight Traveller December to January 2011. Updated July 2015