This trip I booked bound for Davao is supposed to be for our Mt. Apo climb but since it has been closed for rehabilitation, the said event was cancelled. Our backup plan is to climb Mt. Parker or Mt. Talomo instead. Two weeks before the flight, I’ve asked some from the group about our itinerary but no one seems to be interested in pushing it through. Since I am determined to use my Cebu Pacific piso fare tickets, I did some research about Lake Holon and check the map what’s nearby provinces I can possibly include in my 7-day stay in Mindanao. With the help of a few friends who just recently did almost the same itinerary, I am determined to do it even if I am alone. And so the 7-day solo SOCCSKSARGEN backpacking became a plan. I must say that this has been the most liberating solo backpacking I’ve done by far.
At last! After two hours of hiking, we reached the viewing deck!
Itinerary:
Day 1:
8AM - depart from Davao to GenSan (Yellow Bus Line @ Ecoland Terminal) php240
11AM - ETA GenSan (take trike to SM)- P10
12PM - Lunch @ SM GenSan (meet my friend I met from Kalanggaman trip – libre lunch! Nice! Haha)
01PM - ETD Gensan To Glan Sarangani (Take tryke to KCC Mall, ride van to Glan Php100 then Trike to Gumasa Beach Php60)
02PM - Check In to Coco Beach (1200 nipa hut room good for 2); Coco Beach has the best shoreline but you can check nearby resorts for cheaper options.
03PM - Free Time (Swim and explore the Beach)
I have packed dinner for I am alone and I don’t want to go anywhere for Coco Beach is somehow isolated and you’ll need to ride a trike/habal for a minimum fare of P30 one way to get to one place to another. Your best option for dinner is to dine at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resto so that you can visit the resort too. I heard that it the ambiance is nice at Isla Jardin.
09PM - Lights out
Day 2:
06AM – Breakfast (bread and coffee – hot water available at the resort’s resto for p10); kada galaw dito may bayad wag magpa stress kung ang habol mo ung beach
11AM – Checkout (trike to Glan – P100)
12PM - ride van back to GenSan – P100
1PM – ETA GenSan (late lunch at KCC mall – P150)
2PM – meet my friend in GenSan and left my bag to his place
3PM – ETD for Saranggani Highland Resort
4PM – Lure Party at Saranggani Highlands (unlimited spawning of rare pokemon! Sarap! Halos ayaw ko ng umalis)
Ordered their famous buko halo halo – libre ulet :D
7PM – ETD for Tiongson (GenSan’s dampa version)
8PM – dinner at Tiongson (more tuna and seafood) – P500
10PM – coffee with my GenSan friends at GenSan High Street – P100
12AM – lights out
Day 3:
630AM: breakfast at a Tapa House downtown (libre)
800AM: ETD van for Surallah (P30)
930AM: ETD van for T’boli from Surallah (P40)
10AM: ETD T’boli Tourism (P20 – registration fee)
Tent rental fee P250 (tent good for 2 pax)
1030AM: ride skylab to Kule jumpoff (bought packed lunch along the way – P50)
Skylab ride from Tourism to Kule jumpoff is 450; Tourism to Salacafe jumpoff is 300
12PM: ETA Kule jumpoff (buy rice, canned goods for dinner and bfast assisted by my guide – P110)
Guide fee: Kule trail 600(good for 1-10 pax; Salacafe trail 300 (good for 1-10pax); regardless if it is dayhike or overnight
1230PM: started trek from Kule
230PM: ETA Lake Holon’s viewing deck (photo ops)
300PM: trek to campsite (ride pumpboat to cross the lake to campsite; P50/person)
330PM: ETA campsite (setup camp)
4PM: free time (swim, rent kayak, explore the lake)
Kayak rent is 100 for an hour
Naligo ako sa lake nde nako nag kayak.. :D
Ligo fee sa CR P10
630PM: dinner (fried fresh tilapia from the lake; 1 kilo fresh tilapia is only for P50 – dinner and bfast na naming ni kuya guide)
7PM: free time (coffee; Tiboli coffee P15)
9PM: lights off
Day 4:
05AM - wake up (coffee watch sunrise at the crater)
06AM - Breakfast
07AM - Free time, Explore the lake (photo op)
08AM - Start trek (monkey Trail)
10AM - Jump off (Habal Habal to tboli 300)
11PM - Back at T'Boli
12PM - Travel to Lake Sebu (Van from T'boli to Surallah p60 + Surallah Lake Sebu p45)
01PM – Sundo ni kuyang Guide from Lake Sebu terminal; Check In to a hotel nearby Punta Isla because punta Isla is fully booked at that time (Punta Isla Lake Resort 700/night) P550
03PM - Free Time (Habal habal to Adventure park – entrance P20, Zip Line p300, Explore 4 waterfalls - Easy Trail, Nanay Dulay Weaving Center; donation P20)
07PM - Dinner at Bob Nowong
08PM - Lights off
Day 5:
05AM - wake up (coffee at the lake)
530AM – ride kayak and explore the lake; lotus flower viewing and photo ops (free: kayak from the hotel, I paddle the kayak alone :D)
630AM – T’boli museum (p20 entrance)
700AM – ETD T’boli Surallah (p45)
830AM – Surallah to Isulan, Sultan Kudarat (P80)
930AM – ETD Isulan (photo op, Sultan Kudarat provincial Capitol)
10AM – ride van bound for Cotabato (advised the driver to drop me at Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Pink Mosque)
11AM – ETA Pink Mosque (photo ops)
1130 – travel to Cotabato by bus (P100)
1PM ETA Husky Bus Terminal (ride jeep to downtown, P8)
130PM – late lunch at Jollibee (P150)
230PM – checkin at New Diamond Hotel (P650); rest, freshen up
330PM – ride jeep to highway (husky terminal) P8 then rent a paying paying (trike; P300, 2 way and let ur driver wait)
500PM – attended the mass at Cotabato Cathedral (since it was a Sunday)
600PM – explore City Plaza and City hall
700PM – back to hotel / dinner
900PM – lights off
Day 6:
06AM - wake up call, breakfast
07AM - Travel to Midsayap, walk from hotel to public transport terminal (van php60)
09AM - ETA Midsayap terminal (haggle for habal2 to Asik Asik falls - 700 roundtrip, other option is take double tire jeep only 1 trip per day at 10AM, buy lunch, eat along the way, recommended is habal2)
1030AM - ETA Asik Asik falls, start trek 30 mins
11AM - Explore the falls. free time, lunch
130 – habal habal back to Midsayap
330PM - ETD to Midsayap
9PM – ETA Davao, checkin to (paid P900 for its good for 2 but normally it is only at P650)
11PM – late dinner
1AM – lights off
Day 7:
9AM - wake up call, breakfast
12PM – Checkout (leave my bag at the receptionist)
2PM – late lunch with a friend from Davao
4PM – tried Bluegrey’s Durian Coffee
5PM – free time; Peoples Park, buy pasalubong,
630 – back to hotel, freshen up
7PM – travel to airport (Grab taxi: P180)
9PM – ETD Davao to Manila
11PM – ETA Manila