Davao: Zip Lining at Zip City Hilltop

Davao is not only blessed with lush nature parks, exotic wildlife and beautiful beaches. It is one of the top adventure destinations in the Philippines offering many different kinds of exciting pursuits for the thrill seekers. It is famous for its white-water rafting, diving, trekking and zip lining. It hosts the longest zip line in Asia and there are three more zip line facilities around the region.

On our second day in Davao, I finally got to experience the Philippines’ very own zip line at Zip City Hilltop in Barangay Langub. I had previously tried zip-lining a year ago at Menara Tower in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where it was known as a “flying fox”. This time however, I had a scenic view of Davao Gulf and Mt. Apo instead of towering skyscrapers around the city. Still fresh from our 3 hour river tubing adventure in the morning, we headed straight to Barangay Langub to zip line before visiting GAP Farm Resort.

The Zip City zip line prides itself as being the most scenic, accessible and the friendliest to all ages. Compared to the Xcelerator zip line which is about 1 kilometer, the one at Zip City is only a third the distance and way slower. But I guess this is fitting for first timers and makes for a tamer zip lining adventure where you can enjoy the scenic vista instead of just screaming your lungs out! It isn’t for the faint-hearted though – you still traverse 320 meters of cable that is 120 feet above the ground and dismounting from the edge of the platform could still be daunting especially for those who have a fear of heights.

After paying the zip line fee at the reception area and donning safety harness and helmet, we all climbed up the spiral metal staircase to the unloading platform and excitedly waited for our turn. We all chose to zip solo instead of the tandem ride. While standing at the edge, final safety check was done and then we launched into a heavenly 30 second glide through the picturesque landscape. The feeling is a mixture of excitement, anxiety and delightful euphoria.

ZIP CITY
Location: Hill Top Davao, Barangay Langub, Diversion Road, Ma-a, Davao City
Length: 320 meters long, around 120 feet above the ground
Zip Line Fee: PhP200
Contact Numbers:
+6382-2822339,
+6382-2861055
+639236586049
Email: davaowildwater@yahoo.com.
Website: http://www.zipcity.psdgroupph.com

OTHER ZIP LINE FACILITIES IN DAVAO

XCELERATOR Zip Line – the longest and fastest zipline in Asia managed by Outland Adventure
Location: Carlos P. Garcia Highway (Diversion Road), Ma-a, Davao City
Length: 200 feet high, 1 kilometer in length and sends one flying at a speed of 100 kilometers per hour.
Zip line Fee:
300 – includes equipment, the raft ride, and the guided hike to the zip line’s launch point.
950 -1250 (corporate rate)
Contact Numbers:
(082) 2245855,
(082) 271-6067
Mobile: (0918)6184330.
Email address: outland_adventure@hotmail.com.

CAMP SABROS Zip Line – second longest zip-line in the Philippines
Location: Kapatagan, Digos City Davao del Sur
Length: 380 meters, Slide of Life 400 meters
Zip-line Fee:
Solo Ride : PhP 200.00
Tandem Ride” PhP 150.00/head
Round trip: PhP 400.00
Contact Person: Edwin Sacdalan – +63.920.875.0015

How to Get to Camp Sabros

By Private Car – Hire a private vehicle from Davao City or General Santos City – a four-wheel drive vehicle or SUV is recommended) that would take you to Kapatagan, Digos City. Travel time from Davao City is around 2 hours. You can park your vehicles at the base camp of Mt. Apo National Park and Mountaineering-Trekkers Information Center, which is a military checkpoint in Sitio Baras, Kapatagan, Digos City. From here, you have the option to ride a motorcycle (PhP30/pax) or to trek uphill for about 20 minutes to get to Camp Sabros.

By Public Transport – Board a bus at the Ecoland Bus Terminal in Davao, either Davao Metro Shuttle, or Weena Bus. Travel time is about 1.5 hours. Better contact vans for hire to take you to the trekkers checkpoint when you get to Digos City bus terminal.

SKY RIDER Zip Line
Location: Eden Nature Park Mountain Resort Inc, Matina Town Square, Mc Arthur Highway Matina, Davao City
Length: set of 200-meter long steel cables suspended roughly 20 meters in the air between two steel towers, around 20 seconds of thrilling ride
Zip line Fee: 150 round trip
Contact Numbers:
Tel. Nos: +63 82 299-1020, +63 82 296-0791
Fax: +63 82 299-0313
Mobile No.: +639189307590
Website: www.edennaturepark.com.ph

How to Get to Sky Rider Zip Line

You may hire your own vehicle or book beforehand for the shuttle service to the park with pick-up point and drop-off point at Matina Town Square also known as MTS. The shuttle service has two trips every Saturday and Sunday at 8:30a.m. and 11:00a.m. and  two return trips at 1:30pm and 4pm. The cost is around PhP200.00/person while special trips on weekends is around PhP1,500.