Saving, splurging and rappelling in CDO

MANILA, Philippines – It was a weekend of many firsts and a trip of facing fears at my recent trip to Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon.

I constantly felt like I was swallowing my gut and calming my shaking nerves.

This was a journey I will never forget. 

How to get there 

1) Save: Book way in advance.

If flying, wait for the Cebu Pacific seat sale, where your ticket may go down to Php 1,800 roundtrip.

A cheaper alternative is to take a ferry. The Superferry Super Value rate is at Php 1,530 roundtrip.

2) Splurge: If you’re the type who cannot book in advance because of an erratic, hectic and unpredictable schedule but want to go on that trip anyway, a CebuPac non-seat-sale ticket may cost up to Php 5,300 roundtrip. 

What you may save if you book ahead: about Php 3,500.

Where to stay

1) Save: In CDO, affordable rooms are available at the VIP Hotel. Rates start at Php 1,092 per night. The place is old but clean. 

2) Splurge: Try Mallberry Suites beside Robinsons Mall Limketkai Center. This is a no frills businessman’s hotel with restaurants Rosso Steakhouse, Café Berde, Blue Duck Bar and a lounge for cocktails.

Rooms are quaint at Php 2,980 for an executive deluxe, the staff is efficient and the mall is only a few steps away.

The difference between staying at the VIP Hotel or the Mallberry Suites: about Php 1,888.

Where to eat 

1) Save: For quick budget meals, there are rows of lechon manok kiosks on Masterson Avenue to choose from. 

2) Splurge: On your way to Bukidnon, have lunch at the Del Monte Golf Club. Tenderloin steaks go for Php 770 with soup, salad and mashed potatoes, perfect for carnivores.

For seafood lovers, try the grilled prawns at Php 580/plate. 

Siam is a savory Thai restaurant at Limketkai Center and a local favorite. Try the Tom Yum Goong soup at Php 280, Thai spareribs with sesame seeds at Php 190 and steamed fish fillet at Php 200. (Tip: make it extra spicy). 

Where to play: Get yourself a 3-day extreme adventure

I decided to splurge on the activities CDO and Bukidnon have to offer, so I cannot give “save” options here (after all, we’d like them to be safe and we’re also paying to quality of equipment and supervision, among others):

1) Day 1: Zip Line (Php 500) and Drop Zone (Php 700/pair)

I screamed “like a baby boy” said the operators at the adventure park in Dahilayan, Bukidnon.

I thought my biggest hurdle was the 840-m zip line (Php 500). I was dead wrong. That was easy.

What had me pale, sweating and nauseous is their newest attraction, the Drop Zone. The Drop Zone is a 120-foot head-first free fall a la Superman rushing to rescue a falling Lois Lane.

And damn, I did scream like a baby boy (hey, I was also exercising my lungs, okay?).

2) Day 2: Extreme White Water Rafting (Php 1,200/person)

I loved the thrill of almost capsizing and leaping to the “high side” whenever the rapids got the better of us.

There are 4 rapid trails: Beginners, Advanced, Expert and Extreme.

We were tempted to go for the Extreme trail until our guides told us that even the Marines could not survive it without wiping out. So we settled for the Expert trail and high-five’d with our paddles after every intense rapid — exhilarating! 

3) Day 3: Mapawa Falls River Trekking (Php 1,300/person)

This is not for the faint-hearted even if the scenery looks like the set of Avatar.

You only have a few moments to take in the beauty before facing gut-wrenching challenges. 

First up was the 25-ft. cliff jump. With my heart in my throat, I just took that leap of faith.

When you think the trek is finally over — your legs are pumped and high on endorphins — you face one final fear: to rappel down a 65-ft. drop. You can’t even see where your feet will go. 

That was a weekend of many firsts, fears and shaking nerves.

That was a weekend of facing fears head on and living to tell the story.  

I will say it again: this was a journey I will never forget. – Rappler.com