Nestled in the heart of Sarangani, Maitum offers an exhilarating adventure for water enthusiasts through its white water tubing experience. The pristine waters of Maitum River provide the perfect backdrop for this thrilling activity. As you embark on this aquatic journey, the lush greenery and scenic landscapes along the riverbanks create a breathtaking setting.
Maitum white water tubing isn’t just about the rush of adrenaline. It’s a chance to connect with nature uniquely. The river meanders through dense forests and picturesque terrain, offering participants a glimpse into the region’s rich biodiversity. It’s not uncommon to spot various bird species and even catch a glimpse of local wildlife while navigating the rapids. So if you’re up to the challenge, read along to learn about our experience and get useful tips.
The Maitum White Water Tubing Experience
After witnessing the beauty of Mlangen Falls, I decided to follow through on our adventure with an adrenaline-pumping experience. I thought of nothing else to fulfill the assignment than white water tubing in Maitum. I scoured the internet for information and made the most out of what little details I found. Maitum is a small town anyway so it wasn’t very hard to ask for instructions from the locals.
From the town proper, we drove to Brgy. New La Union. We took the turn to the left before reaching a bridge. There’s a sign pointing to where you’re supposed to go if you’re headed to the white water tubing spot and it’s hard to miss. The drive was through a concrete road and it only took 15 minutes to reach the jump-off.
There are several resorts in Brgy. New La Union, that not only offer accommodation but white water tubing activities as well. We chose the very first resort that we found. Upon arriving, we were ushered to the registration area. The person in charge was accommodating. He quickly ran through a briefing, explaining the fees and what needs to be expected. After the briefing, I paid the fees and went on to choose our guide. The guide-to-participant ratio is 1:1.
Once we were ready, our guide drove us on their motorcycles up the highlands where the starting point of the white water tubing was located. The ride only took 5-10 minutes. From the parking area, we walked 20 minutes along a slippery trail with minor inclines.
We immediately set ourselves up for the activity upon arriving at the spot. Our guides made sure that we were comfy before we began the adventure. The ride was pretty uneventful at first until the first plunge. I was still holding my GoPro to take videos of our adventure but our guide took it from me so I could focus. We free-fell on a 3-foot cascade. My raft overturned and so did Pani’s. I wasn’t hurt and it was reassuring to know that apart from our guides navigating us through the rapids, there were two other men on standby in every critical spot.
Not far away from the first fall was another 2-foot fall and this time I managed to stay in my raft. This isn’t my first time with water tubing. I had experienced it before in Antique but the most recent was in Real, Quezon. Despite my experience, I still get the same unnerving feeling and excitement.
The exhilarating ride continued alternating from weak to strong rapids. There were about 4-5 free fall in small cascades that followed. We chose the 4-kilometer adventure so it took us almost an hour to cover it all. The whole time I was smiling from ear to ear and was simply having a great time. I was also fascinated to see small children skillfully navigating through the rapids as if they weren’t even dangerous.
White water tubing in Maitum wasn’t so dangerous after all. Yes! It is an extreme adventure but with a skillful guide, it is easy to turn it into a safe, fun, and memorable experience.
How To Go To Maitum White Water Tubing Site
From Manila – Fly to General Santos City. Once there, ride a jeep to the bus terminal. Hop on a Yellow bus going to Maitum and alight in Brgy. New La Union (P500/way | 4Hrs). Hire a motorcycle to take you to the white water tubing spot (P35/way | 15 minutes).
Useful Travel Info
- The white water tubing fee starts at ₱250/head. If you would like to make the most of it, I recommend the 4 KM distance for ₱300/head. The fee already includes the guide and safety gear.
- Some resorts charge an entrance fee of ₱30/head which covers the use of toilets and baths, swimming pools, and other facilities.
- You can also rent a cottage for your group which costs ₱300 for one whole day of use.
- Some resorts offer paluto so if you prefer not to be hassled preparing food and carrying it with you then this would be a perfect alternative.
- To capture your white water tubing adventure perfectly, you can hire a local photographer for ₱200 for your entire group. Note that these aren’t professional photographers but they’re good at snapping photos and footage of your adventure.
- There are resorts in the area that offer rooms for overnight stays. The rate starts at ₱700/night.
- Maitum is such a small town and there exists only a few food options which are usually not available on weekends.
- Bring enough cash since there are only a few ATMs in Maitum and they’re offline 95% of the time.
There you have it, lovelies. I hope you enjoyed this post about our white water tubing adventure in Maitum. If you want to keep tabs on my adventure, follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Until next time. Ciao!
You can watch our video on Tiktok here – https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSNo93HbL/.
