Our 3rd day consists of White Water Rafting in Cagayan de Oro City. CDO is known as the white water rafting capital of the Philippines and with its very low rate (the local government has standardized the rates), it is a must to try it out if you’re in CDO.
RATES FOR WHITE WATER RAFTING:
- Beginner’s Course – 700php/person, 3 hours river run, 14 rapids (class I-II)
- Advance Course I – 1000php/person, 4 hours river run, 24 rapids (class II-III)
- Advance Course II – 1500php/peron, 5 hours river run, 27 rapids (Class III)
- Extreme Course – 2000php/person, 5 hours river run, 18 rapids (Class III-IV)
To further deepen your fear and apprehension:
- Class I – very easy, fast moving water
- Class II – easy to moderate, small to medium sized regular waves with some obstacles
- Class III – moderate to exciting, numerous waves that are bigger and a bit irregular, currents can be tricky
- Class IV – exciting, longer rapids with powerful waves and strong currents
- Class V – difficult, massive waves, violent rapids
- Class VI – limit of navigation, rarely run, considered un-runnable
There are several rafting companies to choose from, each one of them with different packages to avail. We chose the 1st Rafting Adventure Beginner’s Course. We added 250php for the CD of pictures. VERY IMPORTANT to note, if you’re travelling in a group of 2-3, make sure to contact any rafting companies in advance to make sure that they could include you in another group. I think the minimum number of people in a raft is 4. Luckily, we were able to join a family of 4. The jeepney picked us up early in the morning and we traveled for around 1 hour going to the rafting site.
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RAFTING COMPANIES TO CHOOSE FROM:
1. 1st Rafting Adventure Philippines
Telephone Nos: (088) 875-1270, (088) 856-3514
Mobile Nos: 0917-3255544, 0908-8849575
Email address: riverguide95@yahoo.com, riverguide95@raftingadventurephilippines.com
2. Kagay White Water Rafting
Telephone No: (088) 310-4402
Mobile No: 09177122323
Email address: dankaamino@yahoo.com
3. Red Rafts Cagayan de Oro
Telephone No: (088) 857-7238
Mobile Nos: 0919-5023617, 0917-8556983, 0922-8973175
Email address: nelson.cee@gmail.com
4. Great White Water Tours
Telephone No: (088) 856-2352
Mobile No: 0920-9380677
5. Golden Friendship White Water Rafting Corporation
Telephone No: (088) 858-9007
Mobile No: 0919-4924488
6. CDO Bugsay River Rafting
Mobile No: 0917-3284729
At the rafting site, the guides will be instructing you on the commands used during the ride as well as safety precautions. Of particular interest is the part wherein they will teach you what to do when you fell off the boat. Very, very important to listen to these instructions because even though you have helmets and life vests, rocks jutting out from the river can still scratch you up.
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4 most important things to remember: Forward!, Stop!, Paddle back!, Paddles up high five! These are the instructions the guide would be shouting at you during the river ride. It is a team sport so paddle very vigorously to avoid flipping the boat off. If you can’t paddle anymore, hold on to dear life haha.
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Also found on the starting site are several stores where you could buy sunblocks, arm guards, souvenirs, etc. What to wear? Just make sure to have your arms and legs covered or placed with sunblock since you would really be baking under the sun. Also, wear shoes/slippers that have straps so as to avoid it being plunged into the river. You could also opt to not bring underwater cameras/waterproof cameras since there would be a guide paddling in a kayak ahead of you taking action shots/videos. It’s very worth it to purchase it.
After lots of briefing and lots of thinking of backing out, we are ready to try out our first ever white water rafting!
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The beginner’s course consists of 14 rapids and in between those rapids, there are some peaceful clearing wherein you could swim or just relax. The water is very cold but you’ll eventually get the hang of it. It was a bit disconcerting at first though because even if you don’t exert any effort, you will find yourself slowly gliding down the river, which, if you have a paranoid brain as mine, you would imagine yourself being left by your boat and finding yourself in the rapids in no time haha. Another IMPORTANT thing to note, once you’re in the boat, it is imperative that you remember that to your right side is Bukidnon and to your left is CDO. I don’t know why haha but the guide told us it is our bearings if ever we fell of the boat (luckily, that didn’t happen to us).
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It was a very exhilarating adventure. Not only is your adrenaline pumped up, but you could also enjoy an amazing view! From rocks, to trees, to falls, the river is just one majestic place! And the rapids did not fail, at one point I was just holding on to dear life and not paddling anymore and shouting at the top of my lungs hahaha!
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Anyway, after 3 hours of rapids, paddling, swimming, and lots of high fives with the paddles, we finally emerged at the drop-off point. It was such a huge achievement for us since we are both afraid of rivers and both of us don’t know how to swim. We finished at around 1pm. We decided to pass by the hotel and then after do some city tour of CDO.
So if ever you find yourself in CDO, NEVER miss an opportunity to try out their Whitewater Rafting!
By the way, the CD pictures will be picked up at their office a few hours after the rafting. It is located at #86 Jongko Bldg. Arch. Hayes Street, CDO. For us, it was a walking distance from Victoria Suites.
Up next, City Tour of CDO!
Read more:
Conquering Northern Mindanao: Getting to CDO and Camiguin
Conquering Northern Mindanao: Katibawasan Falls at Camiguin
Conquering Northern Mindanao: The Different "Springs" in Camiguin
Conquering Northern Mindanao: White Island Beach at Camiguin
Conquering Northern Mindanao: The Sunken Cemetery in Camiguin
Conquering Northern Mindanao: Old Church Ruins and Walkway to the Old Volcano
Conquering Northern Mindanao: DIY City Tour of CDO
Conquering Northern Mindanao: Food Tripping at Limketkai Mall
Conquering Northern Mindanao: How To Go To Bukidnon
Conquering Northern Mindanao: Dahilayan Adventure Park
Conquering Northern Mindanao: Eating Fresh Pineapples in Bukidnon
Conquering Northern Mindanao: How To Get To Iligan City
Conquering Northern Mindanao: Maria Cristina Falls
Conquering Northern Mindanao: Tinago Falls
Conquering Northern Mindanao: Summary of our Trip
amazing pictures!!
ReplyDeletewhite water rafting tips
Docs,
ReplyDeleteA couple of Whitewater lingos.
"Put-in" is the starting point.
"Take-out" is the end point. Not "drop-off".
cheers,
CDOKayaker