Little Baguio of Mindanao; Kapatagan

It was one random afternoon, I was on my bed browsing on Instagram and came across the feed of @theyolove and saw his recent travel posts, by looking all the photos i was captivated and it makes me want to visit the place as soon as possible, when i knew it was in Kapatagan (from the geotagged), then i asked "where is Kapatagan located?" , so i immediately googled the place and found some helpful articles which gave me insights and inputs about Kapatagan, moreover, i watched Biyahe ni Drew in Davao Del Sur feat. Kapatagan episode which influenced me more to pushed through with my travel plan. Eventually, i decided to have a weekend solo travel to visit the place and experience the beauty of Kapatagan. (special thanks to Isko (@theyolove) for helping me finalized my itinerary, answering my queries (kahit makulit ako) and giving me travel tips.)

WHERE IS KAPATAGAN?

photo courtesy: Google images

Kapatagan is situated in the mountainous region in the northern part of Digos City province of Davao Del Sur, it will take you around 45 minutes from the City proper of Digos going to Kapatagan. Moreover, Kapatagan is also known to be one of the entry point for climbers who aspire to  traverse the Majestic Mt. Apo. 

THE ROAD TO KAPATAGAN:

the foggy road on the way up to Kapatagan, Davao Del Sur

   

good enough the weather cooperated on my way up,
pero sobrang lamig ng hanging dumadampi sa balat 

TRANSPORTATION:

Gensan to Digos bus terminal  one way :  145 php

Digos bus terminal to habal2 terminal one way 20 php

skylab driver/tourist guide/photographer (good for 2 pax) : 300-500 php 

ACCOMODATION:

I stayed in  Mt. Apo Highland Resort , actually di pwedeng magput-up ng tent sa Hillside instead they only allow it in (lake mirror), but i insisted and beg them and so they allowed me, haha.

since i brought a tent with me i only paid 200 php, (tent rental isnavailable at Lake mirror 250 php/head) 

Glamping at its finest

                                     
   

Mt. Apo Highlands Resort's accomodation 

PLACES TO VISIT:


👉 BAGOBO TRIBE WOODLANDS VILLAGE

     (di ko na to nadaanan, di ko nasali sa itinerary ko, pagkadating ng Kapatagan, eto                  talaga ung first spot na madadaanan)

👉 CAMP SABROS 

     Entrance fee: 50 php

   main pasyalan talaga to ng mga turista, pwede niyong ma try dito ang extreme rides like      zipline, cable car (di ko na triny, kasi pagdating ko ang dami nakapila, ayokong pumila,          sayang ang oras, so picture taking na lang, sulit naman!)

                                     

feels like in Baguio

                                               

     

my photobomber, the Majestic Mt. Apo

Dorin, my ride on my way down the hills of Camp Sabros
horsebackriding fee: 50 php

                                              
👉 KUBLAI KANN/ AGONG'S HOUSE

you will enjoy the amazing artworks of kublai kann perfectly exhbited all around the around the area, (i entered the place for free)

                          

                                   
👉 BACOCO FALLS 

     walang entrance fee, undeveloped pa ang lugar

actually di rin to kasama sa iti ko, yung habal-habal driver ang nag introduce sakin sa falls nato, sabi ko sa kanya, sige game puntahan natin, on our way there, napawow na lang ako sa daanan, extreme rough road, promise sobrang sakit sa puwetan and nakakapagod magbalance, ika nga "difficult road often lead to beautiful destination" so laban lang dapat. when we arrived, kelangan mo pang mag trek ng mga 5 - 10 mins mins. pababa ng bundok papuntang falls.

trail to Bacoco falls

                                           
 at ng dumating na kami sa falls (with my driver), eto na ang bumungad samin 

                                               
👉 MARAWER HOT AND COLD SPRING
     
    Entrance fee: 20php 
    

refreshingly cold spring

a dipped in their hot spring tub

                               
👉 VIRGIN FALLS
      
 No entrance fee

eto talaga yung pinakachallenging sa lahat, kagaya ng bacoco falls, undeveloped din ang spot na to, nahirapan pa kami hanapin kung saan to banda, tanong ng tanong sa mga         lokal, and eventually nahanap din namin, mejo mahaba-habang lakaran din ang susuungin pababa ng bundok na madamo and madulas, nakakaubos ng energy so dapat prepared ka talaga and dapat may baon na tubig.

Virgin nga!

                                             

                                               
👉 MT. APO HIGHLAND RESORT (LAKE MIRROR)

     Entrance fee: 50 php  

from the name itself LAKE MIRROR , it's a mirror like lake wherein the beautiful scenery reflects on the lake, it is recommended to come here early in the morning catching the sunrise, sobrang linaw ng lake and u'll get the chance to see the reflection of Mt. Apo na sobrang ganda. 

flip flop 

                                           
👉 MT. APO HIGHLAND RESORT (HILLSIDE)

this was my last stop, actually natapos ko ang kapatagan tour ng 5pm, nagstart nga pala ako ng 9am, so basically kakayanin naman ang day tour, but i opted to stay for a night as planned coz i wanted to try camping on top of the mountain. sobrang lamig sa lugar na to since nasa taas talaga siya ng bundok, para ka talagang nasa Baguio with pinetrees around , they also have stawberry farm, with the view, you can see all green (mountains and trees) and you can witness here a good view of Mt. Apo, (btw, dito nga pala nag stay ang Biyahe ni Drew when they had their Kapatagan trip, dito din matitikman yung CIVET Coffee, ano yun? google niyo na lang, haha, di ko rin naman triny, di ako mahilig sa kape, unlike in lake Mirror, may makakainan dito.

room accomodation

view from the top of the resort

early morning view feat. Mt. Apo

strawberry farm in the resort

                                     

to sum up my Kapatagan Edgecapade, it was  absolutely, tremendously amazing and i can say it was really worth the travel, everyone will surely LOVE this place, from all the tourist spots, the fun-thrilled activities, the cold climate (#BAGUIOFEELS), the countryside vibe and the serenity of the entire place. Truly, Kapatagan got it all.

I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THIS DESTINATION TO BE ONE OF YOUR TRAVEL DESTINATIONS!!

what makes MATI lovable?

So this is just a flashback post in one of my past travel Edgecapades, to be exact, a year and a month ago when i visited the simple yet  beautiful city of Mati in the province of Davao Oriental, though year has passed but the wonderful memories I had back then are still fresh (fresh like a lumpia) in my memory bank.

Maybe yung ibang makakabasa neto will ask how come I still recall  the details of this travel, it is because I drafted a travel details of this trip in my facebook account, PINAGHANDAAN ko kasi talaga to, kasi alam ko sooner or later gagawa talaga ako ng blog, finally eto na nga, after a year meron na, akalain mo un!,  haha

Dahican beach

Sige na eto na, sisimulan ko na aking kwento, at first I was hesitant to go to this place kasi I was hearing feedbacks before that aside sa malayo yung lugar eh madami daw NPA, but with a lot of research and reading of travel blogs, parang ok naman tsaka safe naman for travelers ang lugar. So, as a traveler dapat lakasan talaga ng loob, sabi ko nga sa sarili ko “kung kaya ng iba, kakayanin ko rin”  ayun na nga I planned everything well on my itinerary like on what to do, where to eat (actually sinunod ko lang yung BIYAHE ni Drew itinerary) may dinagdag lang akong konti. In additon, I thought i will be on a SOLO travel, but luckily nakasabay ko si @marknight85 isang kaibigang tunay na kakauwi lang from the Land down under. (oh ayan special mention kana!)

Where is Mati Located?

Mati is a small and the only city in the province of Davao Oriental
 (photo courtesy: Google Wikepedia)

TRAVEL DETAILS:

 Transportation:

Gensan to Davao City (Ecoland bus terminal): 

Travel time: 3 to 4 hrs via bus  fare: ranging from php220 to php250

From Davao City (Ecoland bus terminal to Mati bus terminal:

Travel time: 4 to 5 hrs travel time via bus  fare: Php 250

                    3 to 4 hrs travel time via van  fare: Php 200

From Mati Bus terminal to Mati city central 

Travel time: 10 mins. viaTricycle  fare: 10 pesos/head 

 Accomodation:

   BAYWALK hotel (double bed) php 650/night 

WHAT TO DO: 

                                               #wheninMATI

strolling around the city Baywalk and have a photo op
 in the I Love Mati Sign

introduciing DAVOR

Make sure to visit their city museum, where everything about Mati is artistically presented, (mabubusog talaga ang mata mo sa loob, super SULIT!) 

How to get there: ride a tricycle from City Central, fare: 20php per head

Note: video taking inside the museum is not allowed

this is your captain selfieing

Another MUST TRY: Ultralight plane ride in Mindanao Saga flying club Airport Mati, which is a 15 minute flying experience, seeing Mati on a birds eye view especially the long stretch of Dahican beach.  

How to get there: ride a tricycle from the city proper going to MSFCA 

                      fare: ranging from 50 -100 php/head 

   biyahero tip: pakyawin ang trike (para di ka  iiwan, aasa kang malingat ka lang saglit anjan pa rin sila) 

                        pero seryoso, pakyawin mo talaga yung trike para di ka mapagod sa pgalakad palabas ng 

                        airport sobrang layo kao nung highway galing sa loob.

waiting for the waves

at ang di pwedeng ma miss pag nagpunta sa Mati, ang mag swimming, mag skim board and mag Surf sa DAHICAN. unfortunately, di pwede and alon para sa beginner/first timer kagaya ko ang pag susurfing so skim boarding na lang ung pinatos namin, kinabukasan, ang sakit sa katawan woooh! sobra. saklap!

Skim boarding lesson 101 fee: 150 php/hr 

pag sinwerte kat pwedeng mag surfing lesson eto babayaran mo: 500 php/hr 

BTW, before you'll reach the city center of Mati City, pwede kau mag dropped by sa isang view deck kung saan litaw yung sleeping dinosaur kung tawagin, dun pwede kayong mag photo op!, yun lang.. (google niyo na lang ano itsura ng place) 

WHERE TO DINE:

located along the city baywalk


kap station along the main road  going to city central,
            hinanap talaga namin to since kasama to sa nafeature  ng biyahe ni drew      

             
      
The famous  la-ni's kan-anan,
 3 min walk lang  from our hotel accomodation

P.S. sobrang dami pang makainan sa Mati, basta nasa City center ka, kaliwaan (pero di dapat ganon, dapat stick to one ka, matuto kang makontento) LOL, with regards sa presyo, don't you worry, affordable naman.


WILL I RECOMMEND IT TO YOU? definitely YES, di ka magsisi, Promise!