We arrived at the Davao International Airport from Manila at about six in the morning on Friday. With no time for a brief rest, we immediately hailed a cab to the Ecoland bus terminal, where buses heading to other cities like General Santos, Cagayan de Oro, Koronadal, and Bukidnon can be found. We took a bus bound for General Santos City that passes right through Digos City, exactly where Camp Sabros is located (specifically Kapatagan, Digos City).
Zipline Camp Sabros: Digos City
Riding the Habal-Habal
We got off at the Digos Bus Terminal after an hour and a half, then took a tricycle for fifteen minutes directly to the "habal-habal" terminal.
"Habal-habal is a form of transportation (a customized motorcycle that can sit two to three passengers) usually found in mountainous and secluded places in the Visayas and Mindanao... It is also known to some as the 'Skylab'."
My girlfriend Marianne and I found ourselves sitting at the back of the motorcycle driver, careening madly through the rough and dirt road on our way up to Camp Sabros. After almost an hour of feeling like we were trapped inside a salt shaker, we finally arrived at our destination—well, not exactly, as we still had to hike a short distance more (about seven hundred meters) to reach the main camp itself.
The Camp Sabros Experience
We took a cabin that offered a wonderful, clear view of Mt. Apo and the people riding the ziplines passing right above us.
At Camp Sabros, you can take a total of six distinct zipline routes. The first is a three-hundred-eighty-meter line where you can pair up with someone. Marianne and I paired up together for this one. It offers an incredibly scenic route all along the way.
The other main line is the four-hundred-meter zip from a completely different vantage point. We wanted to get done with all the ziplines early, but we realized we were starving. So after a hearty lunch, a brief rest, and a few emo moments, we hit the cables again.
The Ultimate 800-Meter Drop
We next tried the treetop zip. It’s a vertical zip ride to a tall tree about forty to fifty feet high, where you can rappel in both descending and ascending modes, before taking another vertical zip to the other end. From there, a pickup truck waits to take you to the ultimate zipline—the massive eight-hundred-meter run. We definitely saved the best for last.
It was a truly great experience, and above all, completely SAFE. It’s a bit scary at first, but with all the heavy-duty harnesses securely supported by thick steel cables and safety checks, I couldn't see anybody becoming unsafe while doing this activity.
Camp Sabros Expenses
Accommodation: The cabin we rented cost 1,500 PHP a night—quite affordable considering it came with a clean bathroom featuring a bathtub and a veranda with a wonderful view.
Zipline Package: The fee for the complete zipline experience is 700 PHP per person. This covers all routes, including the 380m, the 400m, the treetop rappel, and the massive 800m drop plus the cable ride.
Transit Costs: The bus ride from Ecoland Terminal to Digos City cost 40 PHP one way. The Habal-Habal ride from Kapatagan up to Camp Sabros was around 500 PHP roundtrip for two people (you can even arrange for them to pick you up the next day).
I hope this proves helpful to those planning or budgeting a trip to Camp Sabros!
