Fly high and beyond

Balakayo Zipline Adventure

If you want to fly like Mary Poppins and swing through the jungle like Tarzan, the Fifth Balakayo Zipline Adventure in General Santos City is for you.

The adventure park, towering to a height of approximately 2,000-meter drop ridge, is owned by James Betonio and Twilight Benzonan-Betonio and was named after Paolo Coelho’s novel ‘Fifth Mountain.’

It playfully hides on the highest peaks of mountainous Barangay Olympog, overlooking Saranggani Bay and the city proper, with three ziplines that will make you shout out your lungs as they swing you in the air.

The ziplines are called the Yankee Line that’s 800 meters long and takes the riders as fast as 80 kilometers per hour. There’s also the 400 meter long X-Zipline that runs at 30 to 40 kilometers per hour. The third one is still under construction, called Extreme Zipline that stretches at 650 meters long with a speed of 90 kilometers per hour.

Fifth Mountain also has an open-air cable car that lets the riders enjoy a 400-meter long ride and has the same speed as the X-Zipline.

From Barangay Lagao, it will take you 30 to 45 minutes to reach the highlands via Conel Road on wheels. As you get closer to the highlands, the road gets rougher and what makes the journey even harder is the steep road.

The thing is, if your vehicle can’t make it to the steep, rough, and rocky road, you have to get out of the car and walk approximately two kilometers to reach the final destination and try the best ride of your life.

Heading towards the adventure park do not really need any mountaineering skills and gears. However, following the trail towards the tourist destination in the middle of the day is a constant battle with the heat.

People had different reactions during the zipline ride. While others screamed like they were being chased by zombies and some looked like a fetus while holding the rope, I just kept my cool and enjoyed the fresh air and the scenery to release my stress while having an adrenaline rush, which is still one of the best feelings in the world.

Indeed, the Fifth Mountain of Balakayo Adventure Park gives an opportunity for thrill-seekers, adventurers and busy bees an opportunity to unwind and experience the beauty of nature. (Tiziana Celine Piatos)