The best zipline ever! Boy was it so overwhelming as I flew over the waterfalls of Lake Sebu. I was speechless the moment I saw the tallest one below. Abso-freaking-lutely jaw-dropping!
🇵🇭LAKE SEBU ADVENTURE PRIMER🇵🇭
✈️🛳🚌 How to get to Lake Sebu, South Cotabato:
⏺ Take a plane from Metro Manila to General Santos City (e.g. Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific).
⏺ Hail a taxi to Bulaong terminal (travel time: 30 – 45 minutes).
⏺ Ride a van bound for the town of Lake Sebu (travel time: 2 – 3 hours).
⏺ Hire a motorcycle that will take you to the tourist spots of Lake Sebu.
🏄🏝🚴 Sites to Explore/Activities:
Lake Sebu (best spot for sunset)
Lake Seloton (best spot for sunrise)
Lake Lahit
Seven Falls (Hikong Alo, Hikong Bente, Hikong B’Lebel, Hikong Lowig, Hikong K’Fo-I, Hikong Ukol and Hikong Tonok)
My visit to the summer capital of South Cotabato transpired as part of my solo backpacking trip in July 2016. I’ve been meaning to check this place off my bucket list. For those who are not familiar with the place, the municipality of Lake Sebu is located in the province of South Cotabato. Lake Sebu is also the name of the largest lake in this town. 📍Hikong AloAfter my quick side trip to the Grand and Pink Mosques of Maguindanao and Provincial Capitol of Sultan Kudarat, it was time to continue my journey to South Cotabato. I had my lunch first in Isulan before hopping on a public van going to Surallah Integrated Terminal. I then transferred to a jeepney en route to Lake Sebu. 📍Hikong BenteI reached the quaint town of Lake Sebu before 4:00 PM. My guide was already waiting for me at the terminal. We made our way to Punta Isla Lake Resort to check in my stuff before going to the waterfalls. Because it’s a mainstream family getaway in Mindanao, being South Cotabato’s Summer Capital due to its cool weather, I was fortunate that it wasn’t crowded during my visit. It was a weekend but considering it’s the month of July and the onset of rainy season, I got the tourist spots all to myself.The fastest way to see the waterfalls would be to ride the zipline but you also have the option to do a waterfall circuit and trek for hours to see each waterfall up close. But I couldn’t afford to allot time for this time-consuming activity so I just opted for the shorter route: getting airborne and seeing the waterfalls from above.When the grandiose waterfall made you too small like an ant…It was almost dusk when we returned to my accommodation. I took this shot of Lake Sebu while waiting for my dinner. You shouldn’t miss out on tasting the savory tilapia dishes in Lake Sebu’s restaurants. I am not a fan of tilapia but they actually taste so good when I tried it. I was even surprised at myself that I was able to consume the tilapia dish good for 2 – 3 people which I ordered at the restaurant of Punta Isla.The next day, my guide picked me up early in the morning and we drove to another attraction in the municipality where you’ll get to see a nice view of this lake inside a resort. 📍Lake SelotonIf Lake Sebu is perfect for long exposure shots during sunset, this lake known as Lake Seloton on the other side of the town is a popular spot for sunrise.We then headed to Mountain Log Resort where we cruised on a small wooden boat to get a close-up encounter with the lotus plants of Lake Sebu (although some say that these are actually indigenous pink water lilies). Just remember that these flowers bloom from sunrise until 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM. My guide brought me back to Punta Isla to get my stuff. By 8:00 AM, I was already on my way to General Santos City.
⏰⏳ SAMPLE ITINERARY:
DAY 1
8:00 AM ETA General Santos City Airport
9:00 AM ETD for Lake Sebu
12:00 PM ETA Lake Sebu / check-in / lunch
1:00 PM Explore the Seven Falls Eco-Park / zipline
5:00 PM Sunset photo shoot at Lake Sebu
DAY 2
5:30 AM Wake-up call / ETD for Lake Seloton for sunrise
6:00 AM ETA Lake Seloton
7:00 AM ETD for Lake Sebu
7:30 AM Boat tour at Lake Sebu
11:00 AM Check-out
12:00 PM ETD for General Santos City
💰💶 ESTIMATED BUDGET (for a solo traveler): Php 4,000 – Php 5,000 (exclusive of airfare)
***Expenses may vary depending on the type of accommodation you will avail and personal consumption of food and other necessities. If traveling alone, you will solely shoulder the motorcycle tour rates.
Fast forward to 2019, I decided to revisit Lake Sebu with my friend as part of our 11-day backpacking trip in Visayas and Mindanao.Our itinerary was ruined because our flight was delayed. Coming from Maguindanao, it was already dark when we reached the terminal in Koronadal City and the last passenger van already left. We sat by the vacant benches, not really knowing what to do. Right at that moment, I was spaced-out, exhausted and feeling sullen for our mishaps that day. If we spend the night in Koronadal, we would again need to adjust our itinerary. Besides, we already got a booked accommodation in Lake Sebu that night.We waited for a miracle to happen. It’s as if the multiverse heard our wish. A van driver decided to take us if there would be enough number of passengers going to Lake Sebu that evening. So we waited for more passengers. Luckily, the van was full in less than an hour. The two ladies who were with us inside the van asked us where we were going and they told us that they’re employees of our accommodation, Punta Isla. I asked them what time their restaurant usually closes. They were more than willing to help us so they contacted their co-employees to cook our dinner in advance. I ordered the sweet and sour tilapia dish I had in 2016.Upon arrival, our guide was waiting for us at the drop-off point. He took us to Punta Isla Lake Resort on his motorcycle. We were so famished when we reached the resort yet our night wouldn’t be complete without tasting their delectable tilapia dish for dinner.The next day, our wake-up call was early because we needed to catch the sunrise at Lake Seloton. Together with our guide, we were already on our way to this lake by 6:00 AM.We didn’t stay that long at Lake Seloton so we set off for the highlight of our Lake Sebu trip, the majestic waterfalls of this municipality.Our first stop was Hikong Bente, the tallest of all the waterfalls. We proceeded to one of the souvenir shops where we could rent T’Boli outfits for pictorial. It took some time before we were able to choose and finish changing into these colorful tribal attires but I knew it was going to be worth it.It was a bit of a hassle getting to the foot of Hikong Bente, all dressed up in our ethnic attire but that’s where the fun was. I wouldn’t trade this once-in-a-lifetime experience for the world. We stopped by this bridge and set up our cameras. The thick vegetation covering the area created the perfect atmosphere for long exposure shots.The familiar feeling of nature’s peaceful aura surrounding us that morning made me feel nostalgic. It’s been almost three years since my first visit but the experience was still as precious as gold. All the misadventures we encountered were definitely worth it.Waking up this early in the morning really paid off since there were no tourists yet while we enjoyed every minute of our stay at Hikong Bente. We then trekked back to the souvenir shop to return the outfits.Next on our list was the most accessible of all the waterfalls, Hikong Alo. We hopped on our motorcycle to reach its jump-off. One would need to walk just a couple of meters to get closer to this waterfall.It might still be early but it’s a good thing we were just right in time since the staff renting out T’Boli attires in this part of the eco-park were already setting up the outfits for visitors. I quickly changed into another one for pictorial.After capturing photos in my T’Boli get-up, I returned the outfit then decided to go back to the foot of the waterfall for this epic shot.
📜✏️ Tips/Reminders:
📌There are available resorts where you can stay in Lake Sebu. Book in advance if you are planning to visit during weekends, holidays and summer vacation.
📌The zipline ride is a must-try to witness the falls of Lake Sebu or you can trek for 4 – 5 hours if you want to get close to each of the waterfalls (not recommended for first time hikers).
📌Expect rain during monsoon season (June-February).
📌Always observe the LNT principles.
Because the zipline usually opens at 9:00 in the morning, we agreed to return to Punta Isla to have breakfast. Instead of just waiting and doing nothing at our accommodation after eating, my friend and I decided to avail of the boat tour offered by this lake resort. We didn’t want to miss this opportunity to go on this tour without wearing T’Boli attires. Luckily, Punta Isla got outfits which we could also rent. Imagine changing into this attire thrice that day.Since we didn’t want to use the outrigger boat of the resort for our photo shoot, we asked our guide if he could get one traditional T’Boli canoe which we could rent. This dugout boat is called “owung” or “owong”, made from hollowed trunks of lawaan trees. Luckily, a local who lives near Punta Isla gladly offered his canoe which we could use.It felt like we were in a race against time as we cruised the calm waters of Lake Sebu towards this portion of the lake populated with loads of lotus flowers. It was almost 9:00 AM and the flowers were about to close their petals.It was a bit challenging to balance myself on this canoe but the determined side of my personality was ordering me that it was imperative that I got a shot like this with the lotus flowers in the background.The lakeside area of Punta Isla was already crowded with tourists when we got back. We captured one last set of photos before returning our outfits.The queue was already quite long by the time we reached the eco-park to experience its zipline. That’s fine, I thought to myself. We were very much willing to wait. Considered as the highest in Southeast Asia, this ride is divided into two ziplines. This is the first line, where you will get the chance to see Lake Sebu’s highest waterfall below, Hikong Bente.As you move further closer to the end, you will see Falls # 3, 4 and 5 on your right (Hikong B’Lebel, Hikong Lowig and Hikong K’Fo-I respectively). On the other hand, trekking is required if you want to see the remaining waterfalls, Hikong Ukol and Hikong Tonok.You will then be asked to transfer to the starting platform of the second zipline with elevation lower than the first one. This ride above the forest will again take you to the three waterfalls forming like a zigzag staircase, now on your left side. At the end of this zipline are souvenir shops and a photo booth where you can pay for a print-out of the close-up shot of your ride above the waterfalls.I was still in a state of bliss from the unforgettable zipline experience as we drove back to Punta Isla afterwards. It felt as if it was my first, even though it was already my second time on that ride. We bid goodbye to Lake Sebu then took a van to General Santos. We had lunch at one of the malls in the city before getting on a bus en route to Davao City for the next phase of our tiring yet fun Spartan itinerary.
***For other destinations in SOCCSKSARGEN, you may visit this link.
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