Dahilayan Adventure Park: Riding Asia's Longest Zipline

At 1,500 meters above sea level in the Bukidnon highlands, the air is cool enough to require a light jacket. Pine trees, rare in the tropical Philippines, stand in groves around a park where the main attraction is a steel cable running 840 meters across a forested canyon. You clip in, step off the platform, and for approximately 90 seconds you are flying, faster than you expected, quieter than you feared, above the misty upland forests of Mindanao with a view that stretches, on a clear day, all the way to Macajalar Bay.

This is Dahilayan Adventure Park, home to the zipline consistently called the longest dual zipline in Asia. At 840 meters at up to 80 kilometers per hour, in cool mountain air, over forest that exists nowhere else this close to sea level in the Philippines, it is extraordinary.

About Dahilayan Adventure Park

Dahilayan Adventure Park is located in Barangay Dahilayan, Manolo Fortich, in the province of Bukidnon, about 45 kilometers south of Cagayan de Oro City. The park sits within a private upland forest estate developed over two decades into one of the most complete adventure destinations in Mindanao. The elevation is the park's defining characteristic. At 1,500 meters, Dahilayan sits above the cloud layer on many mornings, meaning your first experience of arriving may be driving through mist before emerging into clear air and pine-scented coolness.

The Ziplines

Dahilayan runs two zipline systems. The main event is the 840-meter Forest Zip, a dual zipline running two cables in parallel so that two riders can race side by side. The descent drops approximately 100 meters, with speeds reaching 70-80 km/h. Duration: approximately 60-90 seconds. The ride begins with a safety briefing, harness fitting, and weight check (maximum 120 kg per rider). There is also a 180-meter Cable Cart that hangs passengers in a reclined position at slower speed, good for those who want the view without the speed or for younger visitors who meet the requirements.

Other Activities at Dahilayan

• Canopy walk: Suspended bridges through the pine and mahogany canopy, suitable for all fitness levels
• Rappelling: Guided descents of canyon walls ranging from beginner to advanced faces
• ATV rides: All-terrain vehicle trails through the upland forest (30-60 minute options)
• Wall climbing: Outdoor artificial wall with routes for beginners through advanced climbers
• Nature trails: Self-guided walks through the park's forest sections, good for birdwatching

Getting to Dahilayan Adventure Park

From Cagayan de Oro, the drive takes approximately 45-60 minutes via the Bukidnon Road through Manolo Fortich. The road is well-maintained, scenic, and lined with pineapple plantations and vegetable farms as you gain elevation. Alternatively, take a CdO-Bukidnon bus from Agora Terminal to Manolo Fortich (1 hour), then hire a habal-habal to the park (15-20 minutes, PHP 100-150). The easiest option is a Dahilayan Adventure Park tour from CDO that includes hotel pickup, transport, and activity packages.

Practical Information

• Opening hours: 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily (last zipline ride approximately 5:00 p.m.)
• Zipline fee: PHP 500-700 for the 840-meter Forest Zip (check current rates when booking)
• Weight limit: 40-120 kg for the Forest Zip. Minimum age: 7 years
• Accommodation: The park has its own lodges and glamping options for overnight stays. Staying overnight allows you to experience the forest at dawn
• What to wear: Closed-toe shoes (mandatory for the zipline). A light jacket, even in summer, as the Dahilayan mornings are cool enough to be uncomfortable without one

Combining Dahilayan with CDO Rafting

The two-day Mindanao adventure itinerary pairs white water rafting on the Cagayan River with a Dahilayan day. Day 1: arrive CDO, afternoon rest and city exploration. Day 2: white water rafting in the morning (3 hours on water). Day 3: Dahilayan Adventure Park (full day in the highlands). Day 4: travel to Camiguin or Davao. This combination, river in the lowlands and zipline in the highlands, gives you the full range of what Mindanao's natural terrain offers in terms of adventure.

The Bukidnon Highlands

Dahilayan sits in Bukidnon, the Philippines' interior highland province, a vast plateau averaging 700-900 meters above sea level, covered in pineapple and sugarcane plantations, cattle ranches, and patches of remaining montane forest. The drive to Dahilayan from CDO passes through this landscape: pineapple fields stretching to the horizon, vegetable farms climbing terraced hillsides, horses grazing in meadows that look implausibly European for the tropical Philippines. If you have time, stop at a roadside stall for fresh strawberries, corn, or the highland coffee that Bukidnon produces in increasing quantities.

Is Dahilayan Worth the Trip?

The zipline alone is worth the 45-minute drive from CDO. Combined with the other activities, the cool highland air, the drive through Bukidnon, and the possibility of an overnight stay in a forest lodge, Dahilayan is one of those destinations that gives more than it promises. The most interesting thing is standing at the edge of a Philippine highland forest at 1,500 meters, watching mist move through pine trees, and feeling the temperature drop with each meter of altitude gained. Some destinations are worth visiting for their superlatives. Dahilayan is worth visiting for its atmosphere. The zipline is just the reason you came up the mountain.