Tucked away in an isolated area in Valencia, Bukidnon, Lake Apo remains one of the best kept secrets of the town. It is my second time here but up until now, the locals have said that the number of visitors each year has remained stagnant. Situated in Sitio Lawa, Barangay Guinoyoran, Lake Apo has maintained its scenic views of the crater lake which mirrors the nearby hillside landscapes.
To get to Lake Apo, you can take a bus to Valencia in Bukidnon. If you're coming from Manila, the nearest airport is through Laguindingan (you can book via Cagayan de Oro). From the bus station, you can ride a tricycle (habal-habal) or jeepney that will take you to Sitio Lawa.
They do not sell food in Lake Apo so it's best to bring your own food. What we did was we bought two whole roast chickens, three platters of rice and ate boodle style. Some of the locals sold corn and bananas.
There are a lot of things to do in Lake Apo. First, you need to rent a floating cottage which will take you to the center of the lake. You can swim, kayak and even fish! According to our guide, the lake is home to a variety of fishes including the popular Tilapia. And you could do all that for just a price of 330 PESOS!!!! YES, we only spent 330 pesos to experience what Lake Apo has to offer.
Across the lake is a small inn and you can stay overnight for around 2000 pesos. But we chose to only do a daytrip after staying overnight in Manolo Fortich, a 2 hour drive away from Valencia.
Overall, Lake Apo is a great place for a weekend with your family and friends. The place is quiet and you can have it all to your selves to relax and have some fun. Don't forget to bring some sunscreen and card games! Oh, and of course, good speakers for some good music.
If you have any questions on Lake Apo, feel free to leave a comment below.
Hello ian, good review :) . Hows the road to Lake apo? Im planning to go there via private vehicle (Honda Fit) .
ReplyDeleteHi Sydney! The road to Lake Apo is a combination of rough roads and concrete cemented roads but it's easily accessible if you go with your private vehicle :)
Delete