I have always been afraid of heights. I’m not quite phobic, but you can never make me jump off a cliff to dive into the sea or waterfalls, for example.
True, I’ve included bungee jumping and skydiving in my bucket list, but doesn’t everybody have them?
I knew that when it comes to extreme adventures involving heights, I would never be able to cross them off my list. That is, until I took The Plunge in Danao, Bohol.
The Plunge is reportedly one of the world’s highest canyon swings with a 75-meter free fall. The launch deck is situated 200 meters above the canyon floor, and the free fall takes around four seconds. It is the bestselling attraction in Danao, and the scariest as well. Not everyone who goes to Danao manages to take the Plunge.
The river 200m below the launch deck.
I first went to Danao a couple of years ago as a guest of the local government unit there. Considered one of the poorest municipalities in the early 2000s, Danao has become the center for eco-adventure activities in Bohol, thanks to its adventure park formally known as E.A.T. (Eco, Educational, Extreme Adventure Tour) Danao. (Read Things to Do in Bohol: Danao Adventure Park)
As one of the guests of the LGU, I had the opportunity to try all the attractions in Danao. However, the thought of dropping off into nothingness turned my knees to jelly, so I took the zipline instead as well as the cable car. I promised myself then that next time I would visit Danao, I would conquer my fear of heights.
The launch deck (upper left) 200m from the canyon floor.
Early this year, I went back to Bohol on assignment for Mabuhay, the inflight magazine of Philippine Airlines (Read: Bohol—Beyond the Tarsiers). Danao was included in the itinerary, and my editor gave me strict orders to try out the Plunge. Just thinking about it made me extremely nervous. However, I knew that with or without the assignment, I had to face my fear.
It was a rainy day, so aside from a group of Australian guys, it was just us from the magazine. I watched the group take turns at the Plunge, hearing their shouts as they went down, seeing their smiles as they were pulled up. How hard could it be?
I learned that it was really, really hard. I was 100% determined to push through with it, but as I was walking towards the launch deck, I had to force myself to take one step after another. With knees shaking and butterflies in my stomach, I looked down into the river 200 meters below, and I was gripped by so much fear that it was all I could do to stop myself from screaming and bolting away.
I never knew walking a couple of meters towards the edge could be so hard!
I learned at that time how debilitating fear could be. I knew I was safe, I knew nothing would happen to me, but the thought of the free fall almost got the better of me. I put myself on auto-pilot and although my mind was screaming “I can’t! I can’t!” my feet continued walking to the edge of the launch deck.
The guy handling the rope asked me how I preferred to fall: feet or head first? I chose to fall upside down, thinking I would rather not see the ground rushing up to meet me.
My expression says it all.
When I was in position, with my feet tucked into the rope and my hands behind my head, the guy yelled, “Are you ready?”
Quivering with fear, I tried to negotiate. “No! Give me a few minutes!”
Perhaps used to people having second thoughts at that point, he then shouted, “Yes, you’re ready! Bombs away!” and with that, he released the rope, and I fell into the canyon.
I remembered nothing of those moments, except the sensation of not being able to breathe. It was the longest 4 seconds of my life.
Swinging above the canopy after my plunge.
And then, the rope went taut, and I swung hard at first, this way and that, above the canopy. Feeling extremely relieved that I was alive, I couldn’t stop myself from shouting at the top of my lungs. I don’t even remember what I was yelling about.
I spent some time swinging, and it was the best moment of all, because by that time, I realized that yes, finally, I had done it. I had conquered my fear and lived to tell the tale.
Nobody had taken a video of my fall, but the following is the canyon swing in Nepal (the highest in the world), which is a bit similar to Danao. Of course, in Danao I didn’t see anybody show as much enjoyment as the people in the video did.
Did I enjoy myself? Yes, afterwards. Would I do it again? Probably not. The minutes leading up to the fall was sheer torture. Truly, our minds can be our worst enemy!
Aside from the Plunge (P700), EAT Danao also offers the following activities:
- Caving (P350)—beginners (two hours) and intermediate (3 hours hike with more vigorous activities)
- Cable car (P250)
- Zipline (P350)
- Rappelling 60m (P600)
- Root climbing (P400)
- Kayaking/River Tubing (P300)
- Bouldering/Rock Climbing (P200)
- Village tour (P300)
- (To be launched) ATV/buggy riding (P1,600)
- (To be launched) Ultralight (P2,200)
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. You can also book a Cebu-Bohol ferry ticket online here.
Many thanks to Hannah Reyes for my pictures here!
To make it easier for your trip planning, book a Bohol countryside tour which will cover the Blood Compact Site, Baclayon Church, Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary, Loboc River Cruise Buffet Lunch, Bilar Manmade Forest, Chocolate Hills, and Souvenir Shopping. Rates start at $29.
How about you? If given the chance, would you also take the Plunge?
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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30 Comments. Leave new
Does The Plunge have a schedule?
I wonder if I could take the plunge 😀
Would you know if the “ride” is still working to date? Their website says “under maintenace” :'(
I wonder if I would take the Plunge, what would my reaction be, knowing that I fear heights! I would love visiting that adventure park soon, since I’m already done with Dahilayan Park. I would try that bungee jump.
That was adventurous and thrilling! I wish I do have the guts to try that myself 😀
I also love to go to Bohol because of its features but unfortunately I’m stuck at work and responsibilities.
Sayang. No video. Reading your blow-by-blow though was enough to make my hands sweat. It reminded me of the time I went bungy jumping where else but in Nepal, the same place showm in the video you posted. Kudos for taking the plunge! Bungy jumping na!
Hi Aleah, you go girl! So proud of you. Fear of heights is something not easy to conquer. Danao looks beautiful from your first photos. I think it lovely how the river snakes through the lush hills. I’d like to try all the adventue activities they offer (He! He! We’ll shall see). Thanks for the interesting post. Another one place in my list of Philippine must see and do.
Brave, brave girl. Heights are also a fear that I have to conquer but I’m not quite sure how to go about doing it. Taking a plunge like this, I know that I’d constantly wonder whether the cord would snap. Looks fun though!
@ Stvolpina: Thanks. Am proud of myself too 😀
@ Gaye: I’m pretty sure you’d be the first one there, ikaw pa!
Gosh, Aleah! Bilis ng pintig ng puso ko while reading. Kakatense! I’d love to try too!
well done!!! 🙂
@ James: Just jump! Yeah, that’s what I kept telling myself hehe I knew I was happy because it was over!
@ Ken: This is not exactly bungee jumping, but close enough. 🙂
i want to try bungee jumping too. Sarap!
Now, this one i should try! This fear springs from our desire to be always in control (of our life); that’s why we feel ‘happy’ and ‘free’ when we let go. Or whatever. just jump, James!:)
@ Photo Cache: Yeah, once was more than enough for me to do this! hehe
@ Fifi Leigh: Umm…thanks.
nice greenery. bungee diving and zipline look scary. It should be called, Death Wish, Part 1, the documentary about people seeking to die
good job. i like your honesty when you said you’d probably not do this again. i think we put things in the bucket list so that we can try to do them ONCE, not all the time, then it’s not a bucket list item.
@ Gelo: Going to Mars is chicken compared to this! hahaha I’ll refer you if they need more contributors. 😀
@ Romel: Yeah, it’s memorable. Try it once!
@ Ding: Second time’s the charm! Good luck hehe
I promised myself I should do this when I have the chance to go back to Bohol! Congratulations!
nice adventure. I hope I can do the same.
aleah, you daredevil you!
at first you’re scared to try then i just shook my head upon reading you chose head down feet up! goodness. so what’s next after this buwis-buhay stunt? (i know, application to mars!)
can i make friends with your editor in mabuhay too? *kidding*
enjoy!
@ Tamsin: I wonder what makes us put things in our bucket list which we have no plan of doing? hehe I’m not afraid of planes, but I am really scared of heights and falling! I think I would love the SkySwing in NZ though. I hope someday I can do that 🙂
@ Angela: Agree 100%. It is indeed a lovely feeling afterwards! We just have to push thru despite our fears!
Congratulations on concurring your fear! To me that is one of the best feelings in the world. After doing something like this you feel like you can do anything.
And yes, I would definitely take the plunge, even if I might be just as scared as you.
I smiled reading this, because it’s exactly how I’d imagine myself to be in the same situation. Except I don’t think I’d have gotten anywhere near the platform edge in the first place! I did do a SkySkwing in Rotorua, New Zealand with two other girls I met white water rafting the same morning, and didn’t enjoy it at all. Definitely not before, certainly not during and not even after. I just felt sick, cursed a lot, and feared for my life. And yet, skydiving is also on my Bucket List too! (I think it’d be easier to do than bungy jumping…though I’m also scared of planes…aghhhhh!)