(Feature Image from Davao Del Sur Tourism Development and Promotions Office Facebook Page)

Brace yourself for an adventure feast in Davao Del Sur! One of Digos City’s frequented tourist destinations, Camp Sabros in Barangay Kapatagan is known to be the adventure retreat resort that weaves the thrill of heart-pounding activities with the comforts of cozy Western-style cottages, breathtaking views, delights of exceptional highland dining experience, and a chance of foggy climate. 

The mountain retreat is an accidental discovery by one of the 5-brother owners during his biking adventures. Before its inception, the land was bare of pine trees. After purchasing this parcel of land, the new owners planted pine trees and began their private mountain retreat. The idea of sharing the experience of the magical spot with the public sprouted what is now Camp Sabros. The family owners began to build from scratch and designed an American Western theme park to share their love of the experience. They curated personal vintage collections around the park, and certainly, each piece triggers nostalgia, especially for guests from the Baby Boomers, Generation X, and the Millenials.

During the Domestic Tourism Invitational Program of the Tourism Promotions Board with the Davao Del Sur Tourism Office, we had the experience to visit and experience the highland Camp Sabros. For 3 calendar days, we’ve got to set foot and try their accommodations, feel the relaxing retreat place, the vibrant pine forest scenery, the cool mountain climate, the adrenaline-filled activities, and their luscious food. 

ACCOMMODATION: COTTAGE FEATURE 

The Upper White House – Feature and Review  

We are blessed to be assigned to the Upper White House Cottage of Camp Sabros. It is located one cottage away from the view deck and with a low inclined ascending footpath. It is a two-story portion separated by the underground level which is the Lower White House. 

The Upper White House features an American cottage style of exterior design with a subtle mix of local touches. Upon entering the cottage, the welcome hall features a unique large wall clock detail and a corner table. There was an enough space to fit eight pairs of hiking shoes in this very hall. On the right side is the spacious room that can fit 2 king-sized beds, we had an extra mattress setup by the wall. There is a kitchen nook with a moderate sized sink, a coffee facility, water dispenser with weak flow, basic utensils, and overhead cabinets. It also has a dining set between the room and stairs.

The Toilet and Shower feature a clean toilet seat with a bidet and the shower portion is separated with a glass wall. It also features a vintage-style showerhead. The lavatory is located outside the shower. The Another Dining Table is on the Veranda and offers sweeping pine forest canopy views and Mt. Apo. Before we capped the night, we spent a moment of quick chitchat with housemates while enjoying the foggy climate. There are bar stools where you can lounge by the ledge and enjoy the scenery.

The Attic Deck features a more spacious Living Area with a large flat television set and two queen-sized beds. Another bed is located inside the private room. It also has a separate toilet and shower room plus a spacious lavatory including enough guest kits with a towel rack on the parallel wall. It features sofa sets but found it a bit dusty and saw some white stains on it. An old leather lazy boy chairn sits beside the sofa.

I think this is one of the best private spots in Camp Sabros to marvel at the views thanks to floor-to-ceiling clear glass walls facing Mt. Apo view directly. We opened some of the windows to adjust the ventilation we opted since it is naturally cold there. The place is indeed quiet and only the crickets and distant coos were are background music then.

I got the best wake-up view since the extra mattress I slept on was right beside the glass wall. As soon as my eyes peeled, the clear skies unveiled the uncapped view of Mt. Apo with the sunrise beginning to pierce through the horizon.

DINING OUTLETS 

The Tavern 

A roomy cafe inside the adventure retreat complex featuring a spacious veranda with sweeping views of the valley and the towering Mt. Apo.  The interiors feature a curated vintage collection of the brother owners that offers a quick tour back in time. During our visit, we are able to try their desserts, cakes, and coffee-based beverages while waiting for a downpour to dampen. We had their cheesecakes and chocolate cake slices and the warm sips of my cappuccino were a treat against the cold and soggy weather. 

The Rebel Bar & Restaurant

An open-air bar and restaurant featuring the icons of the 1950s and beyond is one of the best spots to lounge while in Camp Sabros. This is very dining hall where we shared our dinner and breakfast. At dinner, we had a jolly disco-style entertainment while waiting for our dishes. The group exchanges groovy dance steps with rave music playing. It is really fun and nostalgic. 

At dinner, we had Barbecue, Pinakbet, Shrimp Sinigang, Braised Pork, and capped with refreshing Iced Tea. The dishes are acceptable in terms of flavor profile and quality. It is a pity for me since I do not eat pork, but tried their sauce to catch their flavor profiles – no understatement. During breakfast, we ordered the plated service and I chose the Beef Tapa plate. It took quite a while to arrive though. The marinated beef came in tender to bite with a balanced sweet, garlicky, and savory aftertaste. I had their Cappuccino again to perk my morning up. 

ENTRANCE FEES* (Waived for overnight guests) 

• Php100 Adult
• Php80 Senior
• Php50

ACTIVITIES

Package Rates* per person

• Php200 Round Trip Cable Lift
• Php250 Tandem Zipline Ride (380 meters) and Cable Lift
• Php350 Direct Zipline (380 meters + 520 meters) 
• Php500 Direct Zipline with Multicab Trails (Cable Lift + 800 meters zipline)
• Php450 Tandem Zipline 380 meters, Tandem Zipline 520 meters, and Round Trip Cable Lift
• Php600 All Rides Cable Lift, Tandem Zipline 380 meters, 520 meters and 800 meters
• Php200 Horse Back Riding 

We had the opportunity to try their “All Rides Package”. The experience is exhilarating, especially on the 800-meter-long zipline. The rides cross the valley in between the Camp Sabros and the mountain ridge on the other side. A multi-cab ride service will be waiting for you on the other side to ferry guests to the other platform for the next ride. That ride to the highest zipline deck is the best of them all. Loved the roller coaster ride experience. All in all, we got the 4 rides back and forth and the experience is indeed captivating and breathtaking. Would love to try it again if given a chance to return to Camp Sabros. Kudos to the team handling the zipline and cable car activities. They were all accommodating and assured our safety.

THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN VISITING CAMP SABROS

• Day tour during weekdays is from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM, up to 9:00 PM on holidays and weekends
• Cellular Signal is Weak to Absent 
• No Wi-Fi service, Enjoy 90s-style conversation
• The climate gets cold at night, ready your jackets 
• If you are to document your zipline experience, have your imaging devices strapped and secured to you.
• Prepare for weather inclement as mountain climate could be erratic 
• Clean As You Go
• Camping not yet honored

OVERALL SERVICE REVIEW 

The Check-In service took quite a while and led the group to wait in Rebel Bar and Restaurant. It is ok for me since we get to bask in great nostalgic music, finger foods, beer, fun, and more moments to bond with tour mates. We saw how the team hoisted safely our meals to the upper deck using their devised elevator for logistical efficiency.

The Wait Service in my experience is acceptable. They are able to obtain and deliver my orders and requests. Others experienced delayed Breakfast Meal service like waiting for an hour. I placed this in writing for you to be ready and prepared in case this situation arises during your visit to Camp Sabros. To avoid such, suggest being thorough with your requests. Coming from hospitality industry myself, delayed orders are never an excuse.

The Check Out service however is a different story. We are scheduled to check out earlier to follow our itinerary, and some of our tour mates experienced resort staff outworldly knocking loudly at their doors hours prior to our check out. They felt as if they had done something wrong and the loud knocking seemed inappropriate. This experience though did not hampered my enjoyment. Still, we had an overall pleasant overnight stay experience at Camp Sabros.

For reservations and inquiries, you can contact them at below details: 

• Address: Sitio Baras, Barangay Kapatagan, Digos City, Davao Del Sur
• Landline: +63 82 286 2376
• Mobile: +63 999 381 5765 | +63 966 711 0365
• Email: inquiry@campsabros.com
• Website: https://www.campsabros.com/
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/campsabros/
• Instagram: 
• Google Maps Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/WrwvRQqJK8rCtoPdA

*prices may change without prior notice