La Palmera Mountain Ridge | Through Sultan Kudarat’s Endless Greens

August 8, 2023August 8, 2023 Rex Lim Lim 2023, ADVENTURE, BLOG, BUDGET, HOW TO, ITINERARY, mountains, sultan kudarat, TOURIST SPOTS, TRAVEL, TRAVEL GUIDE

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Columbio, Sultan Kudarat: As underrated as the majority of the places in Mindanao, La Palmera Mountain Ridge will surely leave you in awe with its vast panorama of mountain ridges filled with a swaying sea of cogon grass.

Wearing the new Next Trail Gradient Tee – Black. See you out there!

The Grand La Palmera

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As cliché as it may sound, but visiting Columbio will really remind you of the old adage “Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations”.

From the municipal hall of Datu Paglas in Maguindanao Del Sur, you will be riding a habal-habal that will take you to 24 kilometers of mostly rough roads and Palm plantations.

After half an hour, the air started to cool a little bit, and right then and there, we were greeted with, I think, one of the most beautiful views to witness when visiting the SOCSKSARGEN region.

There are three stations in La Palmera where you can choose to stay. Hiking in here is just very light and not really tiring at all. First is Station 1 where there are small Nipa Huts and a good vista of the mountains. Next, is Station 2, where most guests are ferried into because of its wide space which has a small restaurant and store, nipa huts, and the Grand La Palmera signage.

Last but not least is Station 3, located at the highest elevation and farthest of the three. Here, there are rooms you can also spend the night, and man-made structures where you can take photos, but there are no stores in here to buy stuff.

Endless Greens

“La Palmera” was coined after the extensive Palm Tree plantations in the area that are used to make Palm Oil and so much more. These Palm Trees are the source of income for most of the locals and B’laan people in the area.

During our visit, the almost endless landscape of green rolling hills was a sight to behold, it took me a few minutes to take it all in. Definitely, an underrated gem that only a few brave souls have been able to see.

Just like the Chocolate Hills of Bohol; La Palmera also has two seasons that offer different views depending on the time of your visit. During the rainy season, the mountains are covered in verdant green cogon grasses, then by the time summer approaches, all the grasses start to wither, turning the landscape into a barren brown color.

In terms of peace and security, Sultan Kudarat has come a long way from all the negative connotations they get from years ago. Today, over a hundred habal-habal drivers ferry tourists around the town, proof that there is nothing to be scared of when visiting this landlocked province.

How to Get There

La Palmera Mountain Ridge is located in Brgy. Sucob, Columbio, Sultan Kudarat

From South Cotabato

The nearest Airport is the General Santos International Airport.
From General Santos City Bulaong Terminal, take a van or bus bound for Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat. From Tacurong, take another bus bound for Makilala and ask to be dropped off at Datu Paglas Municipal Hall.

From Davao City

Another alternative if the flight prices are expensive in GES is to opt for Francisco Bangoy Airport in Davao.
From Davao Airport, take a taxi to Venus Transport Terminal in Talomo, Davao City. Upon arrival, take the Isulan-bound vans then ask to be dropped off at Datu Paglas Municipal Hall. (380php/pax, 2.5hrs travel time)

At the Municipal Hall of Datu Paglas in Maguindanao Del Sur, there are Habal-Habal drivers that would be more than willing to take you to La Palmera, Pangadilan Falls, and Fetam Klego Underground River. (24kms – Datu Paglas to La Palmera, 20-30 minutes travel time)
We highly recommend our habal driver Joe Surdilla for touring us around Columbio.
- Contact Number: 0905 145 4768
- Rates: Starts at 1500php/head for Pangadilan Falls and La Palmera Mountain Ridge.

Entrance Fees (As of August 2023):
- Pangadilan Falls: Entrance Fee – 50php/pax, Cottage – 200php/group
- La Palmera Ridge: Entrance Fee – 50php/pax, Fan Rooms – starts at 1500php/2pax, basic amenities.

Prepare accordingly, the habal ride is long, and the rough roads leading to these destinations are really rough. River crossings are also involved.
There are stores where you can buy snacks at La Palmera and Pangadilan, but it is best to prepare beforehand.
Respect local culture and traditions.
Always follow Leave-No-Trace (LNT) Principles at all times.