I bumped into an acquaintance a few days ago, and she saw some of my recent posts on Facebook about my zipriding adventures at Mapawa Nature Park and Dahilayan Adventure Park. She asked me, “…weren’t you scared?” I answered honestly: “Terrified. But my excitement won out.” I mean, imagine zipriding 1.3 kilometers!
This visit was on November 2012, which makes this another major throwback post. At that time, this zipline, which stretched for 1.3 kilometers, was the longest single zipline in Asia. I’m pretty sure that there are other ziplines claiming that spot now, though.
But I digress.
End of November 2012 and we found ourselves on another work-related trip. This time, we went to Butuan City in the province of Agusan del Norte. It was quite a pleasant surprise, because Butuan City is such a beautiful place, and we rarely hear about it, especially at home. It was during this trip that we made that side trip earlier to some spots in nearby Surigao, and I talked about our visit to the Tinuy-an Falls here.
And then, close to the end of our trip, we found another relatively free day. We went to the seminar venue, joined the technical sessions in the morning and had lunch. The afternoon sessions were not really applicable to us, and we were leaving for home the next day, so we wanted to do something fun (and reckless) on our last afternoon in Butuan City.
On the several times that we went to and from the seminar venues, we always spotted the tarps advertising the Delta Discovery Park. And its zipline. And I was still very much enamored with these contraptions that I remember lobbying among my companions that we should try it.
And when we had an afternoon with nothing to do and nowhere to go, we asked around on how to get there. AND WE WENT THERE.
From the center of town, we rode on a jeepney that dropped us off at the turn-off to Brgy. Bonbon, where Delta Discovery Park is located. From there, we rode on the back of motorcycles or habal-habal, for Php30.00 each, if I remember correctly.
Ten minutes later, we arrived at the Reception Area of Delta Discovery Park.
Delta Discovery Park, which first opened its doors on May 2011, is a natural park that made full use of its natural terrains for its various activities. Today, I hear it is a popular venue for special occasions and functions, and I wouldn’t blame them. The place is like an oasis just a little bit out of the city.
At the Reception Area, we registered and looked over their offerings. Some of which you can read from the sign in the pic above.
There were two ziplines: the 400 meter one and the 1.3 meter one. They were offered separately, though, at Php350.00 and Php650.00 per person, respectively. We found it quite expensive, and if we had to pick just one, it didn’t make sense to go for the 400-meter one, right?
So we signed up for the 1.3-km one. There were five of us, and except for Sammy and I (we were together on my previous two ziprides), the other three were first-timers. But we didn’t give them a chance to refuse going along. 🙂
A 4×4 jeep came around to take us to the Zipline registration area. It was just a 5-minute ride, but it was to a higher elevation.
At the registration area, we filled up forms/waivers, indicated our weights (oops!) and got suited up. So hyped!
Except for us, there was only one group ahead of us, and there were only about 3 of them. I think it helped that it was a Friday afternoon, and a workday, so there was no crowd, and no waiting to be done.
There was also a short briefing delivered by the Zipline Safety Officer (that’s what they called themselves).
Actually, this was not the launching area. We again rode back on the 4×4, and were explicitly told to “KEEP OUR HELMETS ON” because it’s going to be a very rough ride.
And IT WAS. It was a dirt-road adventure unlike any other. The driver seemed to take pleasure in plunging down steep slopes and roaring the vehicle up the side of the mountain. We were hanging on for dear life while laughing uncontrollably. Just check out my miserable efforts at taking photos while inside the vehicle!
That was, by far, the roughest ride on a four-wheeled vehicle that I’ve had so far, and it lasted for 20 minutes!!
And finally, we arrived at the launching area. We had to wait for around 10 minutes for the other group ahead of us to go. This kinda upped the anticipation even more. 🙂
This is the view from the launchpad. The landing area is a speck in the distance. 🙂 It looks prettttty far.
But it looked very secure. Granted, we were not as strapped as I expected, because it was loose, but the tarp that held us up was substantial enough to carry our entire bulks.
It was a single zipline, so we had to go one at a time. No tandem or dual ziprides here. 🙂
Look at them go!
When it was my turn, I asked if I could hold my point-and-shoot camera with me. And I was told I could, but at my own risk. They tried to dissuade me, saying I might forget to fold my hands across my chest when I’m close to landing, but I swore up and down that I won’t, and so they relented.
Strapped, suspended and ready, I had this huge grin on my face as I waited for them to shove me down the line,
And when they did, WOO-HOO!
What makes this different from my Dahilayan experience, was that the zipline was not straight, or directly leading to the landing pad. It dipped in a few places, giving you a closer look of the canopy down below. It was all sooooooo greeeeen~
Several times I felt like the breath was rushing out of me, especially at one point where I had to zip right through the middle of a gorge, and when I looked down, I felt like the ground was coming up to meet me, or that I will scratch against the sides.
Take a look at the photos below. Yes, it was thhhhaaat close to the ground. Phew. Headrush.
Then you surface to see more greenery~
As I was nearing the landing area, I had to steel myself and remind my stubborn brain to remember what we were instructed to do.
But not until I took a few more photos. haha!
Three of my companions were already at the landing pad, waiting. And taking photos. Thank you, Ate Fredda!
In the photo below, you can see a glimpse of the launching area.
It lasted for a little more than 90 seconds, or a minute and a half. It felt shorter than that to me, and if only we had more time (and money), we would have gone on a re-ride. Yes, even if we had to go on that bumpy ride again.
I think, after this, my companions became more adventurous. 🙂 I am so glad we got to try this, even if it was never part of the plan when we were drawing up an itinerary for our visit to Butuan City.
For sure, I want to be able to zipride again, but somewhere just as long, or even longer. After this, I tried the short ones at home, specifically at the Winaca Eco-Park, and it was only 50 feet, and I was utterly disappointed. Which is not fair, I know, but I cannot help the way I feel.
With full and pounding hearts, and spirits so high they can touch the sky, we bade goodbye, so grateful, to Delta Discovery Park.
I hear that Delta Discovery Park has transport services for those who want to visit the place. For more info on Delta Discovery Park and their services and other offerings, check out their Facebook Page here.
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