TUCKED within a lush patch of trees and plants in Baguio District is one of the newest tourist sites in Davao City.
With its iconic steel dome, refreshing spring pool, and patches of bamboo, the Bamboo Sanctuary and Ecological Park in Malagos, Baguio District is a refreshing addition to the ecotourism scene of Davao City.
April Faye Lee, resident manager of the Bamboo Sanctuary, said their visitors can find 32 kinds of bamboo, which includes endemic species, at the ecological park. Some of the bamboo species you can find here are the dwarf bamboo, vine bamboo, Japanese bamboo, and the rare pink bamboo.
She said they have highlighted the bamboo for their visitors to appreciate this humble plant.
"Bamboo is taken for granted here but if you go to other countries it is called a miracle grass," Lee said. She added that bamboo can be beneficial to the environment as it is good for carbon sequestration and prevents soil erosion.
Aside from the beautiful and lush scenery at the Bamboo Sanctuary, there are also a number of activities you can enjoy here.
Inside the massive steel dome, one can enjoy playing target shooting with a bow and arrow. If you are feeling more competitive, the combat archery is something you should enjoy with your friends. But if you feel like you just want to chill and relax with friends, they have some board games for rent.
At the fish pond, you can either go fishing or kayaking. Fishing is at P120 for an hour and Kayaking is at P220 for 30 minutes.
You can also take a dip in their spring pool, which sources its water one kilometer away from the bamboo sanctuary. Their pool is not only clean but also refreshingly cool.
When you are done enjoying some of the activities they have to offer, proceed to their restaurant and enjoy some good food.
The Bamboo Sanctuary and Ecological park also caters to teambuilding activities. They have the Bamboo Challenge, where they will be the ones to handle the teambuilding of the clients.
Lee said in the coming months they will be adding more amenities and activities for their guests to enjoy. Being constructed right now at one portion of the ecotourism site is the Bamboo Museum, a hut made entirely of bamboo. They will also soon have a soccer dart, which will be an inflatable dart board where you kick balls to hit the target.
Visit the Davao Bamboo Sanctuary and Ecological Park in Malagos, Baguio District, Davao City. Their weekday rate is pegged at P250 for adults and P150 for kids; this includes the use of the spring pool and the archery activity. For the weekends, it is pegged at P600 for adults and P400 for the kids; aside from the use of the pool and archery activity, it also includes the buffet lunch.
For inquiries or reservations, you may contact them at (082) 228-6116, 09755139805, and 09176212652. You can also visit their Facebook page (facebook.com/davaobamboopark) for more details about them.