Extreme for a Day in Region X

Mike Banos
March 31, 2007

A growing number of extreme sports enthusiasts are trooping down south to test their wits and wills against the growing rep of the white water of the Cagayan de Oro River. As the country's first and only year round white water rafting destination, perhaps it's only appropriate that this city and the region to which it is a part of lay claim to the title as the Extreme Sports Capital of the Philippines.

Beyond its official numerical X designation as one of the country's administrative regions, it has developed over the years a number of the X sports destinations that hard core X sports aficionados all over the country have found worth their while to come back to again and again.
Here are three worth mentioning that are within easy reach of the casual visitor or hard core X sport fanatics:

Perhaps adventuresome tourists or novice X sporters would do well to take first crack at the Makahambus Adventure Park. Just 25 minutes from the city proper and 10 minutes from the Lumbia airport (for those who can't wait upon landing or are catching a plane), Indiana Jones wannabes can cross a 120-meter long sky bridge 150-feet off the ground spanning centuries old trees to admire the view of the spectacular Makahambus Gorge from various perspectives.
If that doesn't get your adrenaline flowing, rappel 120 feet down the gorge or brave the 120-meter "Slide-for-Life" Zip Line for only P500 for the whole package or P300 for either Skybridge and Zipline, or Rappelling only.

Makahambus hill has a hallowed place in Philippine history: here local hero Apolinar Velez led the Mindanao Battalion to victory over the Americans in the 'Battle of Makahambus Hill' in June 4, 1900, the only victory of Filipino forces over the U.S. forces in Mindanao during the Philippine-American War.

Further east through the Maharlika National Highway going east and turning right through to the Gardens of Malasag Eco-Tourism Village, lies a 2,490 hectare forest reserve developed by the late vice president Emmanuel Peleaz a mere 30 minutes away from the city proper. It includes a cattle ranch, a forest reserve and the Mapawa Nature Park.

Your P40 entrance fee will buy you access to the park's extreme sports attractions which includes a six-stage zipline course which costs P250 per head, though you can also limit yourself to the first three stages which includes a 60-meter zipline, 25 meter monkey bridge and 70 ft. zip and 13 ft. rappel for only P125/head.

Or try the more advanced second stage with a 100 meter zipline and 100 meter zip return for only P100/head and take your option of a 40-feet rappel at P50/head or 100 meter zipline and 40-foot rappel for P150.

You can also give their trampoline a try, it's only P25 per head for 10 minutes of totally inane or totally entertaining trampoline, whichever frame of mind pervades you that day.
Or you can go horseback riding through the 2,000 hectare reforestation area for only P75/head for a 15 minute trail ride to P175/head for one hour, free riding instructions included. There's also a 3 hr. trail ride to the park's 55 foot waterfalls or 2 hr. cowboy trail ride through the cattle pasture.

You can also coordinate with the management for a variety of team building activities including greasy pig, palosebo, cattle wrestling show, ecological trek, obstacle course, bonfire or camping (day or night). The park has amenities which include view decks, picnic tables, camp ground where you can pitch your tents (day or night, min. 12 pax @100/head), light a bonfire, or go dipping in the swimming hole.

But for that truly unforgettable Xperience, take their River Trekking and Canyoneering Package, your personal epic saga which starts at 7am and ends at 3pm, for only P950 /head (minimum 5 pax) inclusive of bottled water, snacks, packed lunch, trek guides, mountaineering equipment and life vests.

That may sound pretty steep but consider the following Xtreme Adventure: you start off with a 30 minute ride on a trailer pulled by a farm tractor while being briefed on the reforestation project. At the drop off your group takes a 15 minute trek downhill to the river where you all don life vests for a screaming waterslide down a 25 ft natural waterfall, followed by a 30 foot jump from another waterfall and a rappel down a 65 ft. waterfall. After lunch, you can either trek back to the trailer or ride back to the park on horseback (costs extra through). Or you can camp out in the park or stay overnight at the ranch with bed and breakfast, though prior arrangements for this are necessary.

But if all that's still too tame for you, then it's the DOME Expedition Tours by Detour: The Adventure Company for you, which includes the famous Noslek Canopy Walk in Claveria, Misamis Oriental and an option of spelunking in the Kweba de Oro in Barangay Lumbia or Pinoy whitewater rafting using lashed salbabidas.

Definitely not for the faint-hearted, you start off the first day of your weekend X adventure with an hour long trek from Magbais, Mat-i in Claveria to reach the access deck where you will be fitted with a safety harness for your walk in the clouds 3,500 feet above the sea level and 24-36 meters above ground. Your adventure starts with a 40 meter zipline to the first view deck and it will all be hanging "monkey" bridges from there. From you vantage point above the forest canopy, you will have a bird's eye view of the virgin forest in a watershed that's been declared an eco-tourism zone. On your way back, you have the option of a cold dip in the pristine waters of a natural pool with a small waterfall. You can also walk upriver to see more such pools and waterfalls.

Next day, you it's a two-hour spelunking (caving to the uninitiated) of the Kweba de Oro which includes a 110ft rappel down to the cave entrance and a two-hour trek inside the cave following an underground stream through a cavern festooned with stalagmites and stalactites. After lunch, you get up close and personal with the mighty Cagayan River with "Pinoy" white water rafting. It's all fun, no fear, with rafters as young as 70 and as old as two having previously made the trip. You will navigate 6.4 kms. of the Cagayan river with 14 rapids rated Class 3-4 (5 being the highest) with safety helmets and life vests provided by your outfitter.

The nifty thing about DOME's Expedition Tours is the convenience of being able to arrive by plane in the first flight from Manila, go to either the canopy walk or spelunking and Pinoy rafting in the afternoon, yet still have enough time left to make it back home with the last flight around 5:30PM.
The canopy walk will set you back from P1,933 per head for a minimum group of three but goes down to P800 per for a group of 10. A half-day's tubing would cost you P900 per head and P1,500 for a full-day. Spelunking at the Kweba de Oro ranges from P1,717 for a group of three to as low as P760 for a group of 10.

Of course, for the ultimate adrenaline rush, few can match the thrill and adventure of a day's white water rafting in the Cagayan River.

Most of the six 'outfitters' offer two types of runs: the beginners/amateur course runs 12.9 kms. with 14 Class 2-3 rapids and lasts 3.5 hrs. including side trips while the advanced or extreme/expert course is longer at 18.6 kms and can take up to 5 hrs with 14 Class 2-4 rapids.
The beginners course costs P900 per person (minimum of five persons) and includes a cavern side trip, jeepney transfer to the rafting area from the Park Café in Plaza Divisoria, briefing on rafting, provision of safety and protection equipment, river and rescue guides, and a fresh shower and change of clothes at the disembarkation point. The longer advanced/extreme expert course costs P1,300 per person (min. of five pax) with much of the same amenities.

Rafters are provided with safety and protection equipment including a certified rafting helmet, life vest certified for white water sports, paddle which can also serve as a safety tool in emergencies, and throw bags with ropes with which a dunked passenger be hauled in from up to 10 meters away by rescuers.

Additional safety measures include the deployment of a rescue raft manned by two experienced river guides with every run, first aid kit, and emergency rescue vehicle which can bring any accident victim to the nearest hospital in 20-25 minutes.

Rafters are advised to wear comfortable close fitting shirts, preferably quick-dry; short pants preferably light and quick drying, and strap-on sandals or aqua shoes. Other mandatory stuff experienced rafters bring along are extra clothes and under garments, towel, swimsuit and sunscreen.