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What do you usually think of when you think of Bohol? Yes, the Chocolate Hills. Or those cute, wide-eyed tarsiers. Panglao for divers and beach lovers, the Loboc river for the romantically inclined. Baclayon and other churches for those who are interested in history, and the internationally renowned Children’s Choir. All these are the standard things to do when you are in Bohol.
For the adventurers at heart, though, there is another very good reason for going to Bohol: the Danao Adventure Park.
Danao is a small town around two hours from Tagbilaran City. Considered one of the poorest municipalities in the province in the early 2000s, it has now grown to be Bohol’s center for eco-adventure activities. Managed by the local government of Danao in cooperation with a non-government organization, the adventure park is also known as E.A.T. (Eco, Educational, Extreme Adventure Tour) Danao, offering a range of exciting activities that are sure to push anyone’s limit.
View from the zipline, 200m above ground.
“We will finish the 1.5km long zipline before the end of this year,” Danao’s chief of police PO3 Norman Nuez said, in whose house a colleague and I stayed when we went there. “This is in addition to the existing zipline that we have now.”
A zipline is a zipline, right? Wrong! In Danao, the zipline (P350/person) is connected to two cliffs, and one is treated to a wonderful sight of a long and winding river 200 meters below. Line 1 is 460m long; reaching the end of it, you would then need to walk a bit to reach Line 2, which is a bit longer at 480m. At the other end waits a photographer who’s always ready to take a good shot (a printout costs P50/photo).
It was my second time to ride a zipline (my first was in Corregidor) and I chose to lie face down, looking at the river and the thick vegetation hundreds of meters below me. I loved the feeling of seemingly flying over everything, and it seemed to end so quickly.
Me on the cable car with my trusty umbrella (well, it was drizzling!).
We also tried the cable car (a.k.a. Sky Ride, P250/person) which was parallel to the zipline. It was nice because unlike the zipline, it went very slowly. However, it lacked the adrenaline-inducing ride of the latter.
For those who are more adventurous, Danao has its version of a bungee jump. Called the Plunge (P700/person), it is a 70m freefall requiring utmost courage and will from every first timer. You would be geared up, brought to the loading platform and be made to choose how you would like to be dropped: lying or sitting down?
A guy being brought up, minutes after he plunged into nothingness!
A panel is then lowered, you would be dangled over the cliff, and with a cry of Bombs Away! the rope is released and you would plunge through space, the sheer terror perhaps of the freefall robbing you of the ability to even cry out. After around 10 seconds or so (probably the longest in your life), the rope would tighten around your body and you would swing gently for a few times over the treetops.
Did I try it? Nope! I didn’t feel ready for such an adrenaline-pumping action. According to PO3 Sarah Dupio who went with us that day, though, it would only be scary the first time around. She did it once, then went back to do it again the second time around, loving the rush when her body plunged through space.
This is the Francisco Dagohoy Marker in honor of the hero who made Danao his headquarters.
We only stayed a very short time in Danao so I wasn’t able to experience more of what it was offering. Next time, however, I will come back to try out the following:
• Caving (P350)—there are two levels: one for beginners (one hour hike, approximately 400m), and intermediate (3 hours hike with more vigorous activities)
• Rappel 15m with root climbing (P400)
• Rappel 60m (P600)
• Kayaking/River Tubing (P200)
• Bouldering/Rock Climbing (P200)
How to go to Danao, Bohol:
From Tagbilaran: Take a tricycle to the Dau terminal and then take the ordinary bus to Danao (P85). From the Danao terminal, ride a habal-habal (motorcycle) to the Danao Adventure Park for around P30.
From Tubigon: If you’re taking the ferry to Bohol from Cebu, go to Pier 1 and take the Tubigon ride. It’s nearer Danao. From the Tubigon port, take the bus to Danao (P60) and the habal-habal (motorcycle) to the Danao Adventure Park. If there’s no direct trip, go to Sagbayan (bus) for P30, and then another bus to Danao for P30.
Of course, you can rent or bring your own vehicle too. Well, when are you going to Bohol to try these out?
Aleah Taboclaon is a location independent writer, editor, and the travel blogger behind Solitary Wanderer. She's partial to slow travel, and prefers extreme adventures like hiking and caving over sightseeing. She likes running (completed one marathon, training for the next!), diving (PADI open water diver), and traveling with her Kindle. Follow her on Instagram and Pinterest!
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22 Comments. Leave new
I love your post and I’m super excited to try “THE PLUNGE” 2 weeks from now. Weeh!
everyday po ba may bus from tubigon port going to danao?
@ Lakbay: I will definitely do that next time I drop by there 🙂
@ Izah: Let me know how that trip will work out for you! So many plans! hehe
so excited 🙂 Pangatlong balik ko na itong november trip sa bohol. hopefully this time magawa ko na. the first one kasi the usual tourist spots saka 2nd year college palang ako noon so sunod lang ng sunod sa itinerary ng magulang. lol. 2nd time was for work. this 3rd time will be for celebration haha.
hahaha! i tried the plunge it was scaaaarrryyyy… but the feeling was rewarding, i felt like a badass after hahahahaha
@ Lynne: You’re welcome. Hope your trip there pushed through!
kudos, you hv a very detailed IT, can you pls adv me on how can we go from Danao to chocolate hills cause we are planning to visit on May this year. thanks and regards
@ Goneagain: Thinking of going back? I haven’t tried caving and kayaking, but that’s what I would like to do next time.
You went to Danao at a good time. A couple of years ago, they only had the trek, caving and kayaking. And we couldn’t do the last because rains made the river too dangerous.
They also advertised a good meal with organic vegetables for the tour but our meal was hastily prepared and with none of the veggies I was looking forward to. The tour was also rather sloppy.
I have to say the gear (helmets, flotation vests, etc) was good. I hope they’ve been maintained.
@ Bon: I missed eating seafood in Bohol. When we went there, there was a fiesta and the dishes were meat. 🙁
Feast season in Bohol is April to May. I also love Bohol. I have a great experience in Bohol like catching “kasag” for our dinner along the shoreline with “Sulo”. Tawag nila dun, “Ma-nooo sa gabii”.
@ Ashley: I’ll find out 🙂
@ Tina: You can do it! Tell us later about your experience, okay? 😉
I will meet Danao very soon, I dunno if I can handle the plunge! But I want to 🙂 Thanks for the info 🙂
How will we go from Danao to Chocolate Hills? Would you know? 😀
@ Red: The Chocolate Hills are just hills which turn chocolate brown during the summer (the grass die). I’m sure if you want to Plunge/bungee jump, you can do it 😀
@ Peppyvagabond: I’ll try it next time *nginig* haha
@ Brenna: Do try the Plunge! At least you have months to get psychologically ready. I didn’t 😀
ah. this is my dream place! i wonder if kakayanin ko yang plunge nila. dream ko pa naman magbungee jump! will take note of your tips. bound for cebu-bohol ako in august. 🙂 thanks!
EAT Danao is definitely not for the faint-hearted. You should have tried the plunge! It was an awesome experience for me, parang umangat bituka ko when I was in freefall. haha. and the zipline is definitely breathtaking, with a spectacular view of the gorge. Makes me want to go back.
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Zipline? The Plunge?? Ah, I’m too cowardly for those – I think I’ll just stick to the ‘Chocolate Hills’ – not sure what they are, but they’d be less scary, right?!?!
Claire, even SM MOA now has a zipline. Imagine that? haha
We will never run out of ziplines now in our country, they are sprouting like mushrooms 🙂 But Danao Adventure Park is one good reason for me to go back in Bohol.