Not Your Ordinary Cable Car and Zipline Experience at 5th Mountain Adventure Park

“Cable Car ride tomorrow morning!” Kuya Avel mentioned to us before we headed to our respective hotel rooms on Friday night.

I pictured it to be something similar to the one in Genting Highlands and the cable car ride I experienced in Hongkong when I was a kid – something that is good for four passengers and glass shield for protection.

Good morning! Magandang Gen San!
Good morning! Magandang Gen San!

We woke up at 4am and left the hotel at 5:30am. We went on a bumpy journey to Olympog, General Santos City to reach the 5th Mountain of Balakayo Adventure Park. When I say bumpy, I really mean bumpy. I then imagined it to be a part of the ‘adventure’ hihi.

Simple Life
Simple Life
Bonsai Paradise
Bonsai Paradise

The sun is high and the weather is fine. We were welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. James and Twilight Betonio and boy, I just love the scenery! You can see a glimpse of the Sarangani Bay and the city of General Santos too. Not to mention the luscious trees and beautiful mountains surrounding the place. Magandang Gen San talaga!

Half of the group are first-timers (me included) and the newest attraction of the place is the cable car.

Are you ready for the ultimate Cable Car ride?!
Are you ready for the ultimate Cable Car ride?!

Where’s the cable car? Is that one under renovation?” I asked in an innocent manner.

Mica, that’s the cable car already. Open air!” Kuya Avel replied.

OMFG. For Real?!

Apparently, he’s telling the truth LOL. I was scared at first because yikes, look at that! Is this the beta testing day of the open-air cable ride? What if we encountered some death-defying malfunction while at the middle of the ride? I didn’t sign up for a travel insurance yet!

Ok, i’m overreacting in my mind LOL.

This guy ziplined his way to the other side of the cable car line 0_0
This guy ziplined his way to the other side of the cable car line 0_0

The cable car can accommodate 4-6 people per ride depending on the height and weight of the passengers. Being the adventure junkie that I am, I volunteered to be part of the first group. The technique there is do not look down because you’ll get scared if you’re not used to it.

Rina, Tiara and Me before the 'takeoff'
Rina, Tiara and Me before the 'takeoff'
My Green Nail Polish blends with nature. Thanks to Pretty Tipsy *winks*
My Green Nail Polish blends with nature. Thanks to Pretty Tipsy *winks*

Together with Tiara, Rina, Charles, Leah and Mark, the first group rode the cable car back and forth. It was a bit scary at first, but the scenery is just too good to be true. I’m glad that this part of the Philippines managed to keep the ‘clean and green’ look of the mountains. Magandang Gen San, indeed.

Oh, it's so good to be true!
Charles, Leah and Mark - Now Leah is a bit more relaxed hehe

The is-that-safe-because-it-looks-so-unreal-but-heck-i-wanna-try-it cable car ride costs Php200. Not bad, huh?

Our next stop is the breakfast buffet area. What a lovely way to start the first Saturday of September! Gutom na ako! Hehe πŸ˜›

All set for breakfast!
All set for breakfast!

5thCable-Zipline25

5thCable-Zipline24

5thCable-Zipline23

5thCable-Zipline22

5thCable-Zipline21

As usual, we had a healthy and funny breakfast time. Credits to Kuya Avel and Kuya Don for the morning entertainment show πŸ˜›

Also, check this comfort room. Open Air din!

The Comfort Room Zone
The Comfort Room Zone
Tsaraaaannnn!!!
Tsaraaaannnn!!!

OPEN AIR is OPEN AIR. ANNA DIZON is ANNA DIZON. (what?!)

Now let’s proceed to the zipline part. I am a zipline fanatic and I got intrigued with Kuya Fitz and Kuya Don‘s testimonial about their first zipline ride in the place, which took place in Febuary. They claim that the zipline is quite fast compared to the rest that they’ve tried and that the take-off part is quite scary.

Hmmmm….

idunwanatrek. can i just take pictures instead?
idunwanatrek. can i just take pictures instead?

So we trekked our way to the departure point and i got tired in an instant LOL. Can I just zipline on my way up? Of course, that’s not possible LOL.

Mark being assisted by a female crew
Mark being assisted by a female crew

It’s nice to see female crews handling the zipline ride. They gave instructions and assured to us that we’re in safe hands. I think I went on 4th an managed to take a video of my ‘first flight’ in seating position (will post it tonight!). When I say fast, i really mean fast!

5thCable-Zipline34

According to GenSantos.com, the first zipline fondly called the ‘Yankee Line’ is 800 meters long with the speed of 80 kms per hour over a 2,000 meter drop ridge between two of the highest peaks of Balakayo.  It is also the third longest zipline in the Philippines and the fastest in the countr. The second zipline is called the X-ZIPLINE, which is 400 meters long. Whew! Now I know!

Happy Yipee Yehey!






Scary but worth-trying Cable Car + Healthy Breakfast + Thrilling Zipline rides = PERFECT SATURDAY MORNING!!! We went back to General Santos’ City proper to meet up with the rest of the gang who just arrived from Manila, Davao and those who didn’t wake up early. You guys missed a lot!

  • Pitstop 1Β  5th Mountain Adventure Park, Balakayo, Brgy Olympog, GenSan
  • Owner/Breakfast Sponsor: Mr. & Mrs. James and Twilight Betonio
  • Prices:  Zipline – P250; Xtreme Cable Car Ride – P200
  • Facebook Page:  Fifth Mountain

Special thanks to Charles and Fitz for some of the pictures used in this post! πŸ˜€

32 Comments

  1. naalala ko yung palabas na Frozen. hehe.. nakaka-inggit naman.. gusto ko din mag SEX tour πŸ™‚

    September 24, 2011
    Reply
    • Senyorita said:

      Sali ka next year! Worth it siya, Ivan. Friendly pa mga tao πŸ˜€

      September 24, 2011
      Reply
  2. mark said:

    WIN!! Pero bumpy nga, makailang beses ba namang muntikan ng nauntog ulo ko!! Haha. But it was all worth it. Ewan ko kung bakit hindi ako masyadong natakot sa cable car. Ang gondo kasi ng view like what you’ve said “it’s just so good to be true i don’t want to take my eyes off the view!!”

    As for the zip line, grabeh, dun ako natakot…like Mountain to Mountain ang drama! Ang taas lang tapos, mas mahaba pa kesa sa cable car. hehe

    September 24, 2011
    Reply
    • Senyorita said:

      Haha ayos sa linya ah! Dapat pala nilagay ko rin yung ‘i can’t take my eyes of the view’ LOL πŸ˜€

      Natakot ako nung una ko siyang nakita, pero nung gogorabels na tayo, keribumbumbels na char :))

      September 24, 2011
      Reply
  3. 13thwitch said:

    hahah! takot ako sa cable car ^.^

    September 24, 2011
    Reply
    • Senyorita said:

      Buti na lang na-overcome agad yung fear haha! πŸ˜›

      September 24, 2011
      Reply
  4. mervz | pinoyadventurista.com said:

    natawa ako dun sa Anna Dizon is Anna Dizon… wahahaha!!! i wanna try that cable car too… haizt! this post makes me more excited with my GenSan trip next year… πŸ™‚

    September 24, 2011
    Reply
    • Senyorita said:

      Anna Dizon is Anna Dizon talaga kahit sa write-up ko lang siya nabasa hehe πŸ˜€

      Btw, i suggest you contact Avel and Orman in Gen San para sa super gandang Magandang Gen San experience! πŸ˜€

      September 24, 2011
      Reply
  5. Chris said:

    Looks awesome! So green. And again with the delicious food :-p

    September 24, 2011
    Reply
    • Senyorita said:

      Thanks Chris! Are you convinced enough to visit the Philippines? πŸ˜›

      September 24, 2011
      Reply
  6. chinchan said:

    Sayang di ako nakasama. tsk tsk

    September 24, 2011
    Reply
    • Senyorita said:

      Sali ka next year! πŸ˜€

      September 25, 2011
      Reply
  7. Marx said:

    Gusto ko talaga yung cable car! At first look, mukhang under renovation, pero un na pla ung cable car! Hehehe! πŸ™‚

    September 24, 2011
    Reply
    • Senyorita said:

      Oo nga eh haha napaisip ako LOL. Paano kaya kung ganito rin ang Cable Car sa Genting, noh? For sure todo nginig tayo nun haha!

      September 25, 2011
      Reply
  8. WoW! What an adventure Mica πŸ™‚ I love cable carts πŸ™‚

    September 25, 2011
    Reply
    • Senyorita said:

      Thanks Samuel! Have you tried riding in a similar cable car?

      September 25, 2011
      Reply
  9. Astig ng cable car! Reminds of the rusty old ferris wheel sa peryahan. Adbenchur!!!

    September 25, 2011
    Reply
    • Senyorita said:

      Perya ftw! =))

      September 25, 2011
      Reply
  10. kura said:

    haha! agree with gay. Parang chubibo nga. Cable car alone e scary na lalo na yung ride siguro. Sayang. Fail ang gensan ko. I chose Anilao together with Chyng kasi pero hindi naman ako nagsisi. Hindi naman siguro mawawala ang Gensan. heheh! i love ziplines!

    September 26, 2011
    Reply
    • Senyorita said:

      Hehe ok lang ‘yan for sure masaya yung Anilao adventure niyo nina Gael πŸ˜€ I suggest na sali kayo sa next s3X tour. Usually, February and September sya ginaganap πŸ˜€

      September 26, 2011
      Reply
  11. Mica said:

    I love riding cable cars!! Ziplining is such a great adventure, on some of the ones I have zipped on people hang upside down for a different view lol! Crazy!!

    September 26, 2011
    Reply
    • Senyorita said:

      I never dared to do the upside down position because that will deprive me from taking pictures and videos lol but hmmm… lemme try that one soon hehe. I only managed to do the sitting and superman position πŸ˜€

      September 26, 2011
      Reply
  12. Gladys | ByahengBarok.com said:

    OMG! that’s insanely scary! i’ve had several cable car rides before, and i don’t shy away from zip lines and even scary and adventurous carnival rides before, but this one… this one is just scary to death. hehe! though i’ll still probably try this when i get there πŸ™‚

    September 26, 2011
    Reply
    • Senyorita said:

      I was hesitant at first lol but at the back of my mind, I want to give it a shot and since I truly trust the organizers of the tour, i know they wouldn’t risk our safety πŸ˜€

      September 26, 2011
      Reply
  13. an saya! d ko pa na try yang cable car tour, kahet nga zipline eh! lol hope to invade Gen San next time! πŸ™‚

    September 26, 2011
    Reply
    • Senyorita said:

      Dapat ma-try mo na ‘teh hehe πŸ˜€ You must invade Gen San and the rest of the SOCCSKSARGEN area soon πŸ˜›

      September 26, 2011
      Reply
  14. dong ho said:

    malupit ang open air cr. ganda naman ng lugar.

    September 26, 2011
    Reply
    • Senyorita said:

      Para presko daw hehe. Makikita mo rin yung nagzi-zipline habang nagwiwiwi ka LOL

      September 27, 2011
      Reply
    • Senyorita said:

      Thanks Amer!

      September 27, 2011
      Reply
  15. Naalala ko tuloy yung last akong mag Zipline…
    Gusto kong ulit-ulitin… hehehehe,… Sana matry ko rin ito..:)

    September 28, 2011
    Reply
    • Senyorita said:

      Punta ka na sa General Santos πŸ˜€ Ok ang cable car at zipline woot πŸ˜€

      September 29, 2011
      Reply

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