Davao City Hotels

Mt. Apo is a famous mountain climbing destination in Davao as well as the Philippines. The mountain is a volcano that is already extinct and has a height of 2,954 meters above sea level.

The slopes of Mt. Apo in the north and northeast side are gradually descending. The west side slope of Mt. Apo has an abrupt descent going to the Cotabato Valley. The east side slope of Mt. Apo also has an abrupt descent down to the lowland areas of Davao.

The south and southeast slopes of Mt. Apo are bisected by two rivers, the Sibulan and Marawin Rivers. Mt. Apo has a flat and plateau-like area at the height of 2,400 meters. This plateau-like area at Mt. Apo is about seven square kilometers in land area with a cone that has a height of 500 meters. The slope at the northeast side of Mt. Apo actually drains into Tab and Davao rivers.

The forests within Mt. Apo extend up to a height of 2,700 meters and cover a land area of about 50 square kilometers. The lower slopes of Mt. Apo are cleared for various crop plantations like cassava, rice, and bananas. Coconut and Durian plantations are also abundant. Secondary woodland areas have been developed.

At the height of 1,000 to 1,600 meters, the primary rainforest of Mt. Apo can be found, which is abundant with epiphytes and ferns. The Vanda Sanderiana, a species of orchids that is endemic and endangered can be found within the primary forest of Mt. Apo in Davao. Within the ecosystem of Mt. Apo, lots of floras that can be found are endemic and most of these are on the verge of extinction.

Mt. Apo is a very majestic mountain that contains wonderful scenarios, which makes the mountain a famous destination for hiking and climbing adventurers in Davao. It takes four days for an average mountain climber to climb Mt. Apo up to the summit. Due to the availability of a service road going to the geothermal site in Mt. Apo, accessibility is now easier.

The following are some of the interesting attractions in Mt. Apo: lush vegetation, diverse wildlife, hot springs, lakes such as Agco Blue Lake and summit lakes, sulphurous volcanic cone, milky white water of Marbel River, lots of waterfalls such as Todaya Falls, and Mt. Sibulan and Mt. Talomo with their semi-circular summits.

For the thousands of Lumad tribal people living in the area, Mt. Apo is a very sacred place for them and is considered as their last resort for living.

Mt. Apo is truly a majestic and amazing natural structure where lots of lives depend on its rich ecosystem. And with many of the endemic in Mt. Apo that has become endangered, preservation and conservation drives must be strengthened.

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