Kapatagan, Davao del Sur

Kapatagan with the view of Mount Apo

The highland valley of Kapatagan in Davao del Sur has recently become one of the most popular outdoor adventure destinations because of the many unique wonders and delightful sights to see and experience - a truly different kind of adventure anyone can enjoy; a perfect quiet respite from the noise of city life. Blessed with  lush greenery, the entire valley is rich with a variety of flora and fauna, towering forest trees and stately pine trees set in a landscape of wild grass and vegetation. Occasionally, Kapatagan is fully covered with a pleasant mixture of cool mountain mist and hoovering thick fog particularly in the early morning of the day and in the evening. 

Kapatagan is just one of the barangays of Digos City, with an estimated population of at least 8,000 inhabitants whose primary livelihood is vegetable cultivation, Tilapia breeding, coffee farming and recently, tourism. It is home to a number of flora and fauna species endemic to Mindanao and also to the King of the Philippine Skies, the great Philippine Eagle. Its close proximity to Mount Apo, the Philippines' highest mountain peak, makes it one of the major jump of points for mountain climbers preparing to scale the dormant volcano. The breathtaking view of Mount Apo from Kapatagan has been the subject of many photographers and countless articles in newspapers and magazine both locally and internationally.

Mount Apo with Kapatagan in the foreground

Within the wide expanse of Kapatagan is a natural pool of waters called, Lake Rosario. The lake used to be the main water source of Kapatagan, but in view of the ever increasing population, residents have started to breed freshwater fish such as Tilapia.

For those who are adventurous and love the outdoors, there are a number of popular destinations in Kapatagan which in recent years have brought much tourism and economy in Davao del Sur. These are: Mount Apo, Camp Sabros, Mount Apo Highland Resort (now called Camp@tagan Lake Mirror and Hillside), Kublai Art Garden, a Tibolo Village, and the famous Virgin Falls.

Camp Sabros

Camp Sabros is an outdoor adventure camp situated 3,980 feet above sea level on the cool highlands of Sitio Barras in Kapatagan. Opened to the public in December 25, 2007, it boasts of two long 380 and 400 meters zip lines called "Slide for Life" at 180 feet above the ground, roughly the height of a five-story building. The camp is surrounded by lush greenery of tall pine trees all across its landscape, and offers a relaxing view of Mount Apo and the surrounding mountain ranges. Its high elevation makes the weather in Camp Sabros cool all year round.

Mount Apo Highland Resort

Cages where Asian Palm Civets are kept to produce the world's most
expensive coffee, the Civet Coffee.

Mount Apo Highland Resort, now called Camp@Tagan Lake Mirror and Hillside, is situated in the uphill portion of Kapatagan. It is a two-part mountain resort complex: Lake Mirror which is set against a cold spring pool; and  a campsite perched in a hilltop called Hillside, hence where the Resort got its name. Moreover, there are  Asian Palm Civets (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) bred in captivity that produces for them the world's most expensive coffee, the Civet Coffee.

Agong House at Kublai Art Garden

Kublai Art Garden is definitely a place to visit, a jaw dropping experience guaranteed! Mindanaoan artist, Kublai Millan turned the entire place into one huge canvas filled with his artworks of various sculptures and art pieces perched in a landscape of lush Korean grass with Mount Apo and surrounding mountain range as the backdrop. A must-see in Kapatagan.

A Bagobo plating their famous Nilutlot in a platter of Banana leaves.

Located at the foot of Mount Apo and about five kilometers from Hillside is the Tibolo Village, a truly Mindanaoan tribal village that showcases the Bagobo culture at its best where visitors can spend the day and immerse with the community. Here, visitors will get to meet and interact with the Bagobos and learn their culture, take a peek of their houses, learn their traditional craft, and taste their famous "Nilutlot" cooked in bamboo, and many more.

Virgin Falls

And deeply hidden within the highlands of Kapatagan Valley is another wonder of nature to behold called, the Virgin Falls - a one tiered waterfalls about 20 meters high and some 10 to 15 feet wide of cascading waterfalls bordered between huge rock walls on each side surrounded with lush flora and fauna. Its natural pool of icy cold, crystal clear waters at the basin is too inviting to ignore.

For those who love nature and the outdoors, Kapatagan is the perfect adventure. Mount Apo Highland Resort offers day tours to Kublai Art Garden and the Tibolo Village.

Camp@Tagan Lake Mirror and Hillside

(formerly Mount Apo Highland Resort)

Kapatagan, Digos City, Davao del Sur 

8000 Davao City, Philippines 

Phone (082) 300-8636, (082) 286-8883 

Mobile: 0929-8256606, 0922-8569792 

Website psdgroupph.com 

Visit their Facebook page

How to get to Kapatagan 

The easiest way to reach Mount Apo Highland Resort is through private transportation. The site is about two hours drive from downtown Davao City, or an hour away from of Digos City. There are buses at the Ecoland Bus Terminal in Davao City that ply to Digos City, and public utility vans for hire from Digos Terminal to Kapatagan. 

Map to Kapatagan

Images courtesy of the following:

Mount Apo Highland Resort

skyscrapercity.com

Mr. Art Boncato of the Department of Tourism

Virgin Falls

Virgin Falls

Kapatagan Valley has recently become one of the most popular outdoor adventure destinations in Davao del Sur because of the many unique wonders and delightful sights to see and experience - a truly different kind of adventure  families, relatives, groups of friends, or colleagues from the office will truly enjoy. It offers a perfect getaway to relax and be one with nature right in the middle of a remote mountain valley full of lush vegetation and a rich variety of flora and fauna amid towering forest trees and stately pine trees mixed with the cool mist of fresh mountain air far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday demands and noise of urban life. 

The highlands of Kapatagan is located in Digos City, Davao del Sur. It is also popular jump off point among mountaineers preparing to scale the peak of Mount Apo - Philippines' highest mountain peak.

Valley of Kapatagan with the view of Mount Apo

Within the valley, and only a few hundred meters from each other, are a number of popular destinations: Camp Sabros, Mount Apo Highland Resort (now called Camp@tagan Lake Mirror and Hillside), a Tibolo Village, and the Kublai Art Garden where various sculptures and art pieces of Mindanaoan artist, Ray Mudjahid "Kublai" Millan, are showcased in a landscape of lush greenery with Mount Apo and surrounding mountain range in the backdrop.

Virgin Falls

And deeply hidden within the highlands of Kapatagan Valley is another wonder of nature to behold called, the Virgin Falls. This one tiered waterfalls is certainly a welcome oasis in the middle of thick bushes and huge towering ferns and cogons in an agonizing trail of sharp rock formations and stiff climb. But all the strenuous effort and exhaustion is nothing compared to the fulfillment of seeing this stunning beauty of nature: tall in all its regalia is about 20 meters high and some 10 to 15 feet wide of cascading waterfalls bordered between huge rock walls on each side and crowned with a lush flora and fauna here and there. The welcoming icy mists of the waterfalls as one enters the area is as soothing as the serenity of the entire wonder with only the rapid rush of waters from high above blended with the musical chirping of wild birds hovering gently around and the swaying sound of the trees can be felt, heard, and awed at. The colours of the earth amid a perfect weather are all too inviting to ignore the lure of the waterfalls' natural pool of icy cold, crystal clear waters at the basin. It is a heavenly landscape to behold and a moment to be one with Mother Nature.

How to get to the Virgin Falls

The easiest way to reach Kapatagan is through private transportation. The site is about two hours drive from downtown Davao City, or an hour away from of Digos City proper. There are buses at the Ecoland Bus Terminal in Davao City that ply to Digos City, and public utility vans for hire from Digos Terminal to Kapatagan. There is a 20 minute or so motorcycle ride readily available at the Kapatagan Market that go to the jump-off point. From the jump off point, it takes another 45-minute to an hour hike to the Virgin Falls itself.

Map to Kapatagan

Images courtesy of Mount Apo Highland Resort and kentoy@panoramio.com.

Tibolo Village

Urban life can be so boring and too noisy at times, particularly the everyday demands of routine work in the office which can definitely be insanely toxic and stressful, and what could be a more perfect getaway to relax and be one with nature than to be right in the middle of a remote mountain valley full of lush greenery and a rich variety of flora and fauna among towering forest trees and stately pine trees mixed with the cool mist of fresh mountain air while learning a thing or two about indigenous culture and their simple ways of life . . . but in Tibolo Village at Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur!

Tibolo Village is home to a Bagobo tribe. Located at the foot of Mount Apo, the Philippines' highest mountain peak, the cultural experience it brings is truly amazing that one will wish to visit over and over again. Here, you will get to meet and interact with the Bagobos, take a peek of their houses, learn their traditional craft, and taste their simply prepared but delectable food. 

Tibolo Village is located at the foot of Mount Apo

The Village

Big House where "Lumad" like activities are held

It is a truly Mindanaoan tribal village that showcases the Bagobo culture at its best where visitors can spend the day and immerse with the community and learn their culture. For a minimal fee, visitors may stay or sleep in a hut similar to the ones used by the Bagobos, perfect for bonding moments with families, groups of friends, colleagues from the office, or team buildings. There is also a big house for special activities and occasions of the "Lumad" like assemblies which has now become a favorite venue for weddings and receptions, business meetings, conventions, corporate events like seminars and workshops. Visitors will also get to learn the traditional craft on how to weave the T’nalak - a piece of handcrafted clothing specially woven by Bagobo women. The Bagobos showcases their traditional craftsmanship in the way they fashion tribal accessories and clothing woven in vibrant colors and intricate designs. 

A Bagobo weaving the traditional T'nalak

Part of this cultural exchange, visitors will get to feast on "Lyurot" or "Nilutlot," a Bagobo cuisine cooked traditionally inside a bamboo. One sumptuous dish is called, "Nilutlot na Manok," a dish of native chicken cut into several bite-sized pieces and then tenderized in its own juices in coconut milk (Gata ng Niyog) cooked with a reasonable amount of ginger, onions, and other spices, then pressure steamed inside a bamboo over fire until done. The bamboo added a layer of natural flavor to the already flavorful recipe. When the bamboo is cracked open, the result is a creamy, and flavorful treat of tenderized chicken served in a plate of banana leaf.

Nilutlot cooked inside a bamboo over fire

A Bagogbo plating Nilutlot

Nilutlot na Manok

Nilutlot na Manok is served alongside with cooked rice in a banana leaf platter of cooked corn Bagobo style, salted dried fish, vegetable salad, and for dessert, a cassava cake also cooked inside a bamboo. The bamboo had kept the cassava cake moist with some burnt portions for a toasty flavor. Choice of their delicious ground rice coffee, lemon grass tea, and a refreshing fruit juice is also served.

A platter served alongside Nilutlot

Lemon Grass Tea and Ground Rice Coffee

The Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) has long supported such cultural exchanges through its project called, "Volun-Tourism for Cultural Survival" that offers immersion packages that promote  mutually beneficial learning experiences for the traveling tourists and the local communities. The DOT also offers a 3-day immersion called, "Cultural Journey". This package facilitates a quick cultural orientation to volunteer-tourists on the landscapes of upland dwellers. Other package include a Cultural Exchange for six days and a Cultural Exposure for 12 days. These packages are open all-year round for small and big group tours.

For those who want to experience Bagobo culture in Kapatagan, Mount Apo Highland Resort offers day tour to Tibolo Village:

Camp@Tagan Lake Mirror and Hillside

(formerly Mount Apo Highland Resort)
Kapatagan, Digos City, Davao del Sur
8000 Davao City, Philippines
Phone (082) 300-8636, (082) 286-8883
Mobile 0929-8256606, 0922-8569792
Website psdgroupph.com
Visit their Facebook page

How to get to Tibolo Village

The easiest way to reach Tibolo Village is through private transportation. The site is about two hours drive from downtown Davao City, or an hour away from of Digos City proper. There are buses at the Ecoland Bus Terminal in Davao City that ply to Digos City, and public utility vans for hire from Digos Terminal to Kapatagan. There is also a motorcycle ride readily available at the Kapatagan Market.

Images courtesy of Mount Apo Highland Resort and Mr. Art Boncato of the Department of Tourism

- - - o0o - - -

Today is Mother's Day.

GOD took pieces of everything wonderful to make MOMS.

 HE took the fragrance of a flower, the majesty of a tree, the gentleness of morning dew, 

the calmness of a quiet sea, the beauty of the twilight hour, the soul of a starry night, 

the laughter of a rippling brook, the grace of a bird in flight.

Then GOD fashioned from these things HIS most beautiful creation.

And when HIS masterpiece was through, HE called it MOTHER!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Kublai Art Garden

Agong House

Kapatagan Valley has recently become one of the most popular outdoor adventure destinations in Davao del Sur in view of the many unique wonders and delightful sights to see and experience - a truly different kind of adventure anyone can enjoy, be it with families, relatives, groups of friends, or colleagues from the office; it is a perfect quiet respite from the everyday noise of urban life. The entire valley is blessed with lush vegetation and a rich variety of flora and fauna amid towering forest trees and stately pine trees in a well manicured grass, and which, at times, is fully covered with a pleasant mixture of cool mountain mist and thick fog particularly in the early morning of the day and in the evening.

Kapatagan Valley with Mount Apo in the background

Within the valley, and only a few hundred meters from each other, are a number of popular destinations: Camp Sabros, Mount Apo Highland Resort (now called Camp@tagan Lake Mirror and Hillside), a Tibolo Village, and the nearby Virgin Falls. And in the midst of these is the Kublai Art Garden where various sculptures and art pieces of Mindanaoan artist, Ray Mudjahid "Kublai" Millan, are showcased in a landscape of lush greenery with Mount Apo, the Phlippines' highest mountain peak, and surrounding mountain range as the backdrop.

Below are some of the images of various sculptures and art pieces in Kublai Art Garden:

Right at the very heart of these sculptures and art pieces is the Agong House - a must-see at Kapatagan Valley. It is a nice, one-of-a-kind, small, eccentric-looking structure shaped and patterned after a musical bronze percussion instrument called, "Agong" widely used by Muslims and the indigenous tribes of Mindanao. The house is a masterpiece in itself, perched in a garden of various sculptures and art pieces. The Agong House is actually the rest house of the artist himself, Kublai Millan, who is very gracious in allowing visitors to take a peek inside his uniquely built vacation house.

Agong House with a huge sculptured hand in the foreground

Kublai Millan practically created the entire place into one huge canvas filled with his artworks. Truly amazing! Kublai Art Garden is definitely a place to visit, a jaw dropping experience guaranteed!

For those who want to visit this awesome place in Kapatagan, Mount Apo Highland Resort offers day tour to Kublai Art Garden.

Camp@Tagan Lake Mirror and Hillside

(formerly Mount Apo Highland Resort) 

Kapatagan, Digos City, Davao del Sur 

8000 Davao City, Philippines 

Phone (082) 300-8636, (082) 286-8883 

Mobile: 0929-8256606, 0922-8569792 

Website psdgroupph.com 

Visit their Facebook page

How to get to Kublai Art Garden

The easiest way to reach  Kublai Art Garden is through private transportation. The site is about two hours drive from downtown Davao City, or an hour away from of Digos City proper. There are buses at the Ecoland Bus Terminal in Davao City that ply to Digos City, and public utility vans for hire from Digos Terminal to Kapatagan. There is also a 5 to 10 minute motorcycle ride readily available at the Kapatagan Market.

Map to Kublai Art Garden

Images courtesy of Mount Apo Highland Resort

Mount Apo Highland Resort

For those who love nature and the outdoors, Mt. Apo Highland Resort is the perfect adventure. Now known as Camp@Tagan Lake Mirror and Hillside, it is located in the uphill portion of Kapatagan in Digos City, Davao del Sur. The Resort is owned by Philip Dizon, who brought us Davao Crocodile Park, and Maxima Aqua Fun, Davao Butterfly House, and many more . . .

Mount Apo Highland Resort is actually a two-part mountain resort complex: the lower level portion is set against a natural cold spring pool called Lake Mirror; and a campsite perched in a hilltop called Hillside, both of which provide a picturesque view of Kapatagan and Mount Apo - the Philippines' highest mountain peak and home to the King of the Philippine Sky, the great Philippine Eagle. 

The Resort is a popular destination for families, groups of friends, corporate outings, team building activities, and a perfect getaway from the noisy urban life. Here, one may relax and be one with nature, and experience outdoor adventure. Facilities for swimming, fishing, boating, horseback riding, and mountain trekking are readily available. Food may be catered at the new Mount Apo Highland Restaurant where a variety of locally prepared food is offered, and of course their famous Mount Apo Civet Coffee. Guests may also bring their own food.

Lake Mirror

Mirror Lake is designed to be a convenient halfway campsite for those preparing to climb the peak of Mount Apo. It has camp houses for overnight stay, each of which can conveniently accommodate two to four guests, and there are several tents for camping. Guests may also bring and pitch their own tents at the camping ground alongside the lake. There is a bonfire pit and a kitchen for easy food preparation and cooking. 

Campsite

The Restaurant

Interior of the Restaurant

At the Restaurant

Usual sight at the Resort

The entire resort is surrounded with lush forest trees and stately pine trees, and at times covered with thick mountain fog. Guests are advised to bring jackets as Kapatagan is usually cold particularly in the early morning and in the evening.

Mountain fog at times covers the Resort

Mount Apo Highland Resort also offers day tours to the nearby Tibolo Village, home of a Bagobo tribe, and the Agong House of acclaimed artist Kublai Millan at Kapatagan Valley.

How to get to Mount Apo Highland Resort at Camp@Tagan Mirror Lake and Hillside

The easiest way to reach Mount Apo Highland Resort is through private transportation. The site is about two hours drive from downtown Davao City, or an hour away from of Digos City. There are buses at the Ecoland Bus Terminal in Davao City that ply to Digos City, and public utility vans for hire from Digos Terminal to Kapatagan. 

Map to Mount Apo Highland Resort at Mirror Lake and Hillside

Contact Information

Camp@Tagan Lake Mirror and Hillside

(formerly Mount Apo Highland Resort) Kapatagan, Digos City, Davao del Sur 

8000 Davao City, Philippines 

Phone (082) 300-8636, (082) 286-8883 

Mobile: 0929-8256606, 0922-8569792 

Website psdgroupph.com 

Visit their Facebook page

Images courtesy of Mount Apo Highland Resort