TUCKED into the misty foothills of Barangay Kapatagan, Digos City, Montefrio Garden Resort is the mountain escape you didn’t know you needed.
Just over an hour from Davao City, it’s the perfect quick getaway for anyone craving adrenaline — or simply lounging with a cup of local coffee in the crisp mountain air, the closest thing to winter you’ll find in the tropics.
We arrived on a cloudy Tuesday with a crew of journalists and creators ready to tick off the resort’s signature feats.
First, Davao Region’s first and only closed-type 400-meter cable car: a smooth, swaying ride that serves up postcard-perfect views of Apo’s summit—serene one minute, heart-in-your-throat the next, especially when the gondola sways gently in the mountain breeze. Then we swapped cables for horsepower on the 45-minute ATV circuit (now officially part of the Department of Tourism XI’s Davao Adventure Challenge).
Revving 400cc quads, we tore through muddy switchbacks and lung-busting inclines, guided all the way—thrilling yet totally beginner-friendly.
For the truly bold, Montefrio also offers guided day hikes to Mt. Apo’s peak (also a DAC activity), with a comfy overnight stay at the resort to recover.
In one whirlwind day, we got mud, heights, epic vistas, and that sweet post-adventure coffee high—all without ever leaving Davao. If you want a quick trip that feels like a real escape, put Montefrio at the very top of your list.
Trust me, Apo’s backyard has never been this much fun.
