SOX2.0 TRAVEL GUIDE for 6D5N

SOX2.0 TRAVEL GUIDE for 6D5N Long Post Ahead

— PURELY DIY, and Updated Rates. #SoxisNext #VisitMindanao #LovethePhilippines

Provinces:

-Saranggani (Gumasa Beach)

-South Cotabato (Lake Sebu and Lake Holon)

-Sultan Kudarat (La Palmera Ridge)

-Cotabato (Grand Mosque)

-Maguindanao (Blue Lagoon & Pink Mosque)

-General Santos

-Davao Occidental (Balut Island)**Sana.

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**the budget was divided by 3pax. (The more, the cheaper)

Day1: GLAN, Saranggani

5am- CRK-GenSan via @CebuPacific ₱2300 rt

7am- General Santos Airport

Taxi to KCC Mall ₱600

*May kalayuan kung lalakarin hanggang exit ng airport, pwd namn sumakay sa taxi hanggang exit lang (₱100) then trike nalang going downtown (₱20/pax)

KCC to Glan: ₱150.00/pax (1hr travel time)

Punuan ang biyahe ng van so bring patience and allowances sa itinerary, in our case 30mins bago napuno.

10:00am arrival in Glan.

Trike to Isla jardin del Mar (20mins land travel)

Contact: Kuya Ching +63 955 154 3644

₱100/way/pax

Entrance fee:

₱300.00 for sightseeing, consumable sa resto nila.

Add ₱70.00 if magswimming.

(Maganda ang view, medyo mabato nga lang sa shore kaya hindi na kmi nag swimming)

Lunch to their resto para ma-consume ang ₱300/pax

Sidetrip: TourTown Signage for overlooking view of Gumasa Beach

1:00pm- back to Gensan (Bulaong Terminal) ₱150.00

2:00pm- Bulaong Terminal to Surralah (2h30m)₱200.00/pax

4:30pm-Surralah to T’boli (30m) (₱50.00)

**Lagpas 5pm na kmi nakadating kaya naman sarado na ang tourism office, for our Lake Holon Hike kinabuksan sana buti nalang may contact ako sa Tourism na napakabait. Hello to mam Essah ng tourism ng tboli, fb page: Lake Holon. Ina-update ko siya habang ppunta kami kung saan na kmi banda at dahil alam dn nyang di kami aabot sa 5pm ng office, nag send nalang kmi ng mga valid ids, then yung OR namin iaabot nalang daw nya, kita nalang kmi sa terminal pag andon na para hindi na kmi pumunta sa tourism office.

**sa mga Aakyat ng Lake Holon, you need to secure your OFFICIAL RECEIPT dapat kayo ay nakapag down payment in advance ₱210.00/pax for entrance fee to reserve your slot since limited ang pwedeng umakyat.

**same day hike, they accomodate guests from 8am-12noon lang, pero kung kinabukasn pa ang akyat ninyo, 8am-5pm pwd ka nila i-accomodate sa office nila

**hinabol namin ang 5pm dahil gusto namin makaayat kinabukasan ng madaling araw dahil kung hind namin nahabol or hndi kmi mineet ni mam Essah, malamang hntyn pa namin magbukas ng tourism ng 8am kinabukasan para sa OR nmin na kailangan bago makaakyat

**better coordinate with their tourism officers

Rates:

₱210.00 daytour

₱310.00 overnight

₱410.00 2nights

₱600.00 one habal (good for two) per way

₱600.00 guide (good for 10pax)

₱60.00/pax bangka from station 5 to campsite

**dun kami sa daytour lang since siksik ang itinerary

**magbibigay ang tourism ng contact ng habal driver para magsusundo sa inyo from your homestay going to the jump off

We had dinner in Enriquez after we met ms. Essah para iabot OR nmin. No OR, No Hike dahil hhingin ito sa Receiving jump off.

Homestay: Lemnoslon Cultural Village

09654531609 (₱350/pax) so 2nights kmi dito

We bought our some trail foods na sa 7-11 for tomorrow’s hike.

Habal to our Homestay ₱50/pax kasi gabi na daw, pag maaga pa ₱30.00 lang yan.

Take a ligo muna para fresh, rest, prepare things for tomorrow hike then sleep na

*no electricfan no ac sa homestay namin, very tboli life pero malamig wala din lamok.

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Day2: Lake Holon, t’boli, South Cotabato

4:00am Wake Up Call

5:00am- Habal to Kule Receiving (1h)(super rough road)

6:00am- Orientation and Prayer

**we chose Kule-Salacafe Trail, Start kayo sa Kule if you wanted to see the Lake Holon from above, andito yung Viewpoint. Baba sa Salacafe, mas madali pero masa mahabang lakaran)

9am- Lake Holon View Point (PhotoOps)

10am-Descend to Lake Holon, bangka to campsite

Rest. Tulog. Kain lang, photo ops

1:00pm- start descent to Salacafe

4:00pm-Salacafe Receiving

Habal to T’boli, kain sa may Food Hub.

Back to homestay

–

Day3: Lake Sebu and La Palmera, Sk

5:00am wake up Call

6am-Check Out

Depart to Surallah Terminal (30m) (₱50)

Depart to Lake Sebu (1h) (₱150)

Meet Tour Guide

Kuya Jun Aranas : (0906) 758 6256

₱800 two Habal for 3pax

₱200 per pax to rent tboli outfit

– Lotus Viewing

Bangka: ₱200/pax

– 7 Falls Zipline

Entrance: ₱20

Zipline: ₱300(weekdays) ₱350(Weekend)

Rent go pro: ₱600/₱400 (dun kami sa 600, mas wide daw pero nalowbat sa 2nd ride kaya nirefund namin 200)

Picture softcopies: ₱200.00 to be sent to ur phone (Android only) or Email (pag iphone phone mo)

12noon Lunch

1pm- Depart to Marbel (1hr) (₱150)

Meet our Guide for La Palmera Ridge

Kuya Jeff Abid: +63 935 351 8156

₱1200/pax/habal pick up and drop off the next day

*2hrs habal from Marbel to La Palmera

*we decided to stay overnight at Homestay in La palmera. Para merge ka talaga sa Nature.

We booked for ₱1200/3pax

*I don’t recommend overnight stay in La Palmera mismo, pwedi mag stay sa mga hostel na nasa ibaba. 20m away from the Ridge. Why? Malamok at madaming insekto kung saan kami nag stay, no enough water source, pinag-igib lang kami. For dinner, nagpaluto nalang kmi sa caretaker doon for ₱1000 (tinola, adobo and rice)

**sa first homestay (station1) madaming surot kaya nagrequest kmi if pwdng Tent nalang kasi hnd kami

Makakatulog doon pero wala na daw tent, they decided to transfer us sa station2, malapit din sa ridge, mas ok, concrete pero wala p dn water source pag-iigib ka lang din. Maliit ang room. Kinabukasn, sinisingil kami additional bayad magkaiba pla may-ari from station 1 n 2. We told them na sila nlang mag-usap regarding don since nung nilipat kmi wala naman sinabing mag-add kami sa 1200.

**if no choice kayo, pwdi na sa ang station2. Pero hnd peede sa maarte

**better stay sa mga hostels na nasa ibaba nalang, or daytour nalang kung kaya ng oras

**pero ang kagandahan sa mga homestay dito, paggising mo ay ang napakagandang view ang bubungad sayo

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Day4: Maguindanao and Cotabato

5:30am-Wake Up call

6:30am- Photo Ops sa Ridge with Kuya Jeff

Then depart na, hinatid kami sa Datu Paglas (sakayan going Tacurong)

**you can have sidetrip sa Pangadilan Falls

Van going Tacurong (30mins) (₱40)

Trike to Isulan Capitol (₱150/3)

*pahintay nalang sa trike then proceed na sa Husky Bus Terminal

Bus to Pink Mosque (Kanto Salvo) (40m) (₱92)

Pyong-payongan to Pinkmosque (₱100/3)

Van To Blue Lagoon (30m) (₱100)

Van to Bobong Crossing (Grand Mosque) (20m) ₱50

Habal to Grand Mosque (₱500 rt for 2habal)

Rent Hijab and dress (₱90.00)

Habal to husky bus terminal

Bus to GenSan (4h) (₱429.00)

*pwd naman Van (3h) (450.00)

**Vans are Faster, but Buses are Safer.

7pm dinner muna sa GenSan Jollibee baka kasi mas masarap Jbee dito.

Trike to chosen Hotel (₱30/pax)

Check in: Hotel Giorgio (Santol Corner, Dadiangas North) ₱4000/3 (2nights)

Bili bili muna babaunin para bukas na Beach time!

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Day5: Balut Island, Davao Occidental (SANA)

Contact: Sir Jm of Balut travel and tours

Package rate: ₱2200 – DAYTOUR

Downpayment: ₱500/pax

Exclusions: Van going to and from Balangonan Port (₱500/pax)

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Story time..

a day before the tour I kept on messaging the fb page of Balut Island to confirm our tour, dito plang matagal na ang reply, nawawalan pa ng signal pag nakakausap ko sya thru call via their fb page. He gave me the phone number of the van driver na pipick-up sa amin sa Hotel. So I called the driver to inform him kung saan kami ppick-up then he said okay.

Buti nalang tinawagan ko, hindi pala siya na inform man lang na susunduin kami according to him buti daw tinawagan ko siya.

2:30am wake up call

3:30am Pick-up sa Hotel (3h) (₱400/pax lang singil)

7am arrival sa Balangonan Port

**8am pa ang dating ng bangka from Balut Island, so while waiting, nag-stay muna kami sa Van na sinakyan namin since andoon pa din sila naghhntay ng pasahero

Mula sa bangkang padating at wala pa maayos na waiting area sa port.

**Siningil kami ng fare sa bangka ₱300/pax (2h daw byhe sa dagat) while waiting sa bangkang padating. The boat fare is included sa babayaran na 2200, so tinatawagan ko si Sir Jm, bat kami sinisingil walang sagot. Nag-forward nalang sya ng number mismo ng STAFF daw nyang naghhntay sa island na mag-aassist sa amin since OUT OF TOWN sya that day.

**Kinontak ako ng STAFF, Sabi niya, magbayad daw kmi boat fare dito, irerefund nalang nila kadating namin sa Island. Edi okay.

**while waiting, some locals and drivers interviewed us about our tour, when they knew na DAYTOUR lang kami, iisa lang sagot nila “HINDI KAYA NG DAYTOUR, Wala na kayong masakyang Van pauwi ng Gensan, dapat mahabol din last trip ng bangka unless rerent kayo maliit bangka pabalik dito”

**Kinabahan na kmi dito, so I messaged the fb page again to Clarify kasi hindi kami nainform sa ganitong sitwasyon. Kaya lang, ang tagal bago sumagot kung may masasakyan ba, nag arrange ba sila ng masasakyan namin o wala.

**I called the “Staff” about our concern. We are just asking for ASSURANCE na makakauwi Kami that day since tinanggao nila kmi for DAYTOUR.

**Hindi ako nabigyan ng malinaw na sagot ng staff, he kept telling me na itetext nya muna si Sir Jm about the concern. Time is running, padating na ang bangka we need to decide if go through or not. Ang reply nya “mam may nakausap na daw si sir jm na ppick up sa inyo na van mamaya.” i asked the contact number of that driver, when I checked, heto din number ng driver na sumundo sa amin sa Hotel. Buti nalang nandoon pa kmi sa van nya that time so I asked him directly. He said “Wala pong sinabi sa akin si sir jm regarding sa pagsundo, at hindi ko dn kayo masusundo kung TATLO lang kayo, lugi, nangyari na sa akin yan dati pinasundo sila bglaan ngauyon pala 5 lang sila, lugi.”

So that’s it. I ri-risk pa ba namin? Lalo na wala ako makuhang sagot na assurance mula sa staff puro nalang itetext ko po si Sir Jm. Hetong isa namn, hndi mareach out.

**8am na, andiyan na ang bangka. We refunded the boat fare tinulungan kmi makiusap kunin ni kuya driver. Locals n van driver kapag sinasabi namin yung Jm ang operator, madami daw issues n bad feedback

**tho nahanap ko siya dito sa diy travel group na may nakapagtry na at okay naman.

**Siguro sa mga overnight stay okay pa ang service pero sa mga Daytour, I don’t recommend. Alanganin, hindi makontak sa ganitong sitwasyon

**In short, hindi kami tumuloy na.

**pagkaalis namin sa Port, sumabay ulit kami sa Van pabalik pero nag padrop na kmi sa Glan, para doon nalang magbeach. sayang naman ang araw dvaaa?

**pagdating sa glan, doon palang nagreply ang Fb page “late lang daw nagising ksi galing work kaya hndi nakasagot agad” how come nakatext pa sya knina nung staff..

**Nagpromise naman na irerefund ang ₱1500 namin within the week, hoping kmi na totoo.

**So yun na nga, I think legit naman sila pero sa mga mag DDAYTOUR, Wag nalang po hehe.

van to Glan (1h30m) (₱300)

Tinawagan nlang namin si Kuya Ching Ulit to give us a ride sa marerecommend niyang magangdang beach pa sa Glan maliban sa Isla Jardin. ₱600 rt

We went to Horizon Beach Resort and the view did not disappoint us. Stunning. Breathtaking. Makakalimutan mo ang nangyari awhile ago.. dagat na dagat na pa man din kami.

Entrance fee ₱100

Open Cottage₱800

Swimming, Awrahan to the max. Eat all you can

3pm- Back to Gensan

Van to Gensan ₱150

Ligo muna sa Hotel then naglakad-lakad, kumain sa Oval Plaza, dami-dami street foods and iba’t iba pang masasarap na pagkain!!

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Day6: General Santos

6:00am wake up call

7am: trike to Fish Port Complex

**makakapasok po tayo basta rent ng botas ₱30.00

Bawal ang nakashorts.

**Picture Taking sa mga masasarap at malalaking Tuna.

**Pwdi pumasok ang trike bsta ipagrenta din ng botas si koya drver..

**Sidetrip kami sa mga properties ni sen.Manny (church,hotel)

**overlooking view pero mdamo wala dn mkikita

**Pasalubong Center (wala msyado pasalubong center sa Gensan so kung mamimili kayo, sa Lake Sebu nalanag)

**Public Market para sa Suha, Lansones at Marang.

Back to Hotel

*rest, ligo, check out at 12noon

**trike to Sm ₱20/pax

**LUNCH muna bago punta airport

Taxi to Airport ₱600

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At pagdating sa airport, naharang ang MARANG nmin kasi nangamoy na kaya lumabas muna kami ni Hazel para ubusin ang Marang sa Labas. HAHHAHA! Buti nalang maaga kami, buti nalang isa lang binili namin at buti nalang hinog na ang naibigay.

30 minutes laterrr, succeess, ubos na namin. Amoy

marang kami tuloy.

5pm- DEPARTURE from Gensan to Mnl

7pm-P2P to Sm City Clark ₱380

Total Damage per pax: ₱16,000

(Includes: Foods, pasalubong(1k), Accomodation, Fees)

Excluded: Airfare promo ₱2,300 rt

=₱18,300/pax

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**In our case, ako muna nagbabayad sa lahat ng expenses per day, lista muna then bago matulog, compute muna ang total then devide 3pax, doon palang sila magbabayad sa akin, less time consuming pag nagbayad ng isa-isa, minsan wala din barya. Kinabukasan, ganoon ulit.

**SOx is Safe to travel. Do research, contact your guides ahead, book your homestay ahead since hindi maganda pagabi sa daan na wala pang matutulugan.

**Ignore the stares. Wear proper attire especially sa mga muslim areas, sa mga mosques

**giving tips to your local guides is much apprecited

**you can visit Asik-Asik Falls in Alamada. As of now kasi, closed siya. Alternative visit Daday Falls you may contact kuya Yson.

**This is my second time in Sox, kaya Hindi na msyado naglibot sa Lake Sebu, pinili nalang. Mu first time I was solo, ngayon may jowaaaaa na nung bumalik.

**Hindi naman strict airport sa Gensan, 9kg ata handcarry backpack ko

**this is all based on out first hand experience it may vary depends on the situation

**Bring Cash, no enough atm sa mga area except Gensan

**Military Checkpoints are anywhere kaya Safe.

**mahirap mag DIY na siksik ang sked, pero okay din naman pag well planned especially the transpo skeds. Nakakapagod perooo MASAYA, Fulfilling and Best Experiences!!

Thank you, Hazel for tagging along again with us in our amazing race trip and being supportive sa mga mala-prenup na larawan.