Hoping to get this post out before the Brrrrrr months set in. I’m not really sure why. I just feel the need to do so. Looking at my calendar (naks! Calendar talaga!), my next adventure won’t be in 7 weeks, at least. Unless something good comes up to shake things up a bit. But before that, when you’re in Bacolod, have you ever heard of this place called Campuestohan Highland Resort?
I actually hadn’t heard of the place until I was looking for places to visit while we were on our 5-day stay in Bacolod City. The City of Smiles, as Bacolod City is dubbed, has a lot to offer by itself, but if you step off into the outskirts, there are even more things to discover.
Like the Campuestohan Highland Resort. Check out their official page for more info.
This was actually a side trip, and prior to going to Bacolod, there were no concrete plans to go there. However, when we arrived, some acquaintances made the suggestion to check it out, as they have even spent the night in the resort. On our part, we didn’t spend the night, but when we saw a break in our schedule for the day, we decided to devote the few hours left of the day to Campuestohan.
That explains our not-really-for-a-day-at-a-rural-theme-park outfits, as you can see below.
Located in Talisay City, around 24 km away from downtown Bacolod City, the Campuestohan Highland Resort describes itself as a “rural theme park resort”. And it fits.
It sits on over 5 hectares of rural land, close to Mt. Makawili, and it offers itself up as a year-round getaway for those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of city lights and city life.
Entrance fee for adults is Php 200.00, and it already covers use of the swimming pools. For other activities you opt to take on, there are additional charges to be paid.
Upon arrival, I already noticed two things: first, the place was cool, thanks to the fresh breeze blowing from the surrounding mountains. But it was still warm since, well, this is Bacolod and, compared to my definition of highlands (and considering where I came from), this is not as high or as cool enough.
The other thing I noticed is how the place has something to offer to everyone. Of all ages. Families, groups, couples, solo trippers… there are stuff to do here. Rides and play places for kids? Check. Rides and thrill challenges for adults? Check. Swimming? Check. Frolicking in the wave pool? Check. Nature appreciation? Check.
We got there on a weekday, but there were still a considerable number of people. There are stores to buy snacks from, just in case you get hungry. That is besides the main restaurant of the resort where you can get a taste of local delicacies.
And if you are not really the type to go on rides or do any sort of physical activities, you can content yourself with simply walking around and checking out the carvings, statues, and various other installations.
From a theoretical standpoint, it seems like a mess. On one area, you have rows of drummer boys in colorful clothes lined up as if ready to strike up a beat for you to march to. On one side, there are Christmas and holiday-themed installations, like a gingerbread house, dwarves (sans Snow White) holding up ash trays, and of course, animal installations so colorful you’d do a double-take to figure out what creature it is supposed to be.
Elephants, horses, a giant panda… a giant gorilla dressed as Santa.
This is probably one of the weirdest things I’ve seen in a while. A giant gorilla in Santa garb.
Aptly named Santa Kong, surrounded by giant candy canes, snow, and Christmas-ball riddled Christmas tree.
By the way, this was in the middle of November (I know, backlog, you don’t have to tell me.)
So this thing was high, right? And we saw no “don’t climb” signs anywhere. So I just… had to. Just had to.
This must be how it feels to be “in the palm of one’s hand”. Only this time it was of the statue of a giant gorilla.
And close to Santa Kong’s hand is a recreation of the ruins of chopper/helicopter, supposedly swung around and smashed by Santa Kong on his rampage.
Seeing the image of that wreck, right below the word “HAPPY” is quite a juxtaposition, huh?
Kids and adults alike can also have a blast going around the Dino Park, where there are several statues and displays of different species of dinosaurs, of varying sizes, too. There are even a few ergonomic ones, with necks moving from side to side, all while a guttural sound emanates from within them.
Basically, it reminded me of the Dinosaur Island installations, but smaller.
Not everything is small, though, because there are a couple of huge-a$$ dinosaurs in the park, and if the signs are to be believed, it is the “BIGGEST AND TALLEST DINOSAUR IN ASIA”.
You have a thing for architecture? Not a problem, because the structures and buildings in the park follow a theme. I’m just not quite sure what the theme is, because there are old buildings reminiscent of what one would find in a farm. I wasn’t able to take a photo, but there is even a giant chessboard with life-size chess pieces. You literally have to pick up the pieces to move them.
And this one, this is one building with a recreation of Marilyn Monroe’s famous pose from a movie.
This is the main building, I presume, where the restaurant is. Looks quite grand, eh? When you enter, it’s just as grandiose, kinda like a cozy boutique hotel in the country.
By the way, if you’re interested, you can book to stay overnight in one of their cabins. I hear there is also a campsite with tents and the works, where you can basically do “glamping”. We spotted some of those tents, and when we approached one, had to backtrack immediately when we realized it was occupied.
Now let’s talk about the other activities that really caught my eye. And the few that we actually had time for (because rain was looming later that afternoon and we had hoped to do some activities before the rain poured).
They have a zipline, which we passed on because we found it a bit short. They also have Sky Bicycle and Horseback Riding.
I saw the Hamster Wheel and wanted to try it. You’ll basically be inside what looks like a hamster wheel and walk from one end of a rope to another, all inside that rotating wheel, suspended several feet aboveground. You can see a bit of that in the photo below.
And then I saw the Rope Course. Since three of my companions were up for it, we decided to go for the Rope Course.
The Rope Course has a fee of Php 200.00 per person. According to the resort, theirs is the “longest and most modern rope course in the country”. Recently, I saw the Rope Course at the Dahilayan Nature Adventure Park in Bukidnon, and Campuestohan was right; that one was maybe about 4th of the Rope Course right here.
Personally, this is my first time doing a Rope Course, although I did see some TV shows where it was featured. The most memorable of which was a Run! BTS episode. Tee-hee.
Going into it, I knew this Rope Course is going to be a challenge to my upper body strength. Balance, I don’t have too much of a problem with that. After all, I just keep reminding myself that I am strapped and secure.
But it really does take a toll on one’s upper body: arm strength, especially. All the stages in the course were not taken in the photos below, but basically, it was composed of logs, rubber tires, ropes, more uneven logs, more ropes…
We had gloves on, but at some point the ropes start digging into your palms, through the relatively thick gloves. The hardest part of the Rope Course for me, personally, was dangling from one hanging tire to another, and it did not help that I realized there were some water inside the tires. Yikes.
The good thing about this is how you can do it at your own pace. Unless, of course, the person behind you is in a rush, then you’d have to hurry, too, because the cables aren’t made for overtaking, I think. Once you’re locked in, then you have to follow the order that the cables were locked in.
At some point, if you fall down or need assistance somewhere in the middle, a staff member will come help you out. Either you bail out, or you continue on.
When we were done, it was exhilarating. I felt like I got a full-body workout, haha! As I am typing this, I feel this sudden urge to do it again.
Afterwards, we had a late yet hearty lunch at the restaurant, and halfway through lunch, it poured. The rain poured for a bit, and we were just glad to have been able to finish the Rope Course before it did. Of course, it also meant we were no longer up for a round at the Hamster Wheel. I doubt that they’d let us on it when it’s still wet from the rain, anyway.
We hung around for a bit, waiting for the rain to stop, then filed back into our hired van to go back to the City. An entire day is definitely enough to sample the best things about Campuestohan. Given the chance, it would be great to go on an overnight stay. Now we know better.
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