Things to see and do Dipolog

20 minutes from Barangay Lake. Six years ago, five families settled around this mysterious lake, a supernatural place where they modestly cultivate their small plots of garlic, sweet potatoes, cabbage and sayutis, the delicious cristophines.

Amy and his family welcome you in their modest house and prepare fresh, but very healthy, vegetable and corn meals. Coffee is prepared with grilled corn. They fish for congresses and carp in the lake.

Legends weigh around this very deep lake. American researchers had sent divers, who had never been able to reach the bottom and who were never back on the surface. These disappearances are still talking in the region.

It houses 64 ha of fauna and flora and a reserve. A joint project with Japan's Environment Organisation, OISCA.

To get a glimpse of Dipolog and its surroundings, we recommend climbing the three thousand steps leading up to Peak Linabo, which is only 460 metres above sea level. The walk is not long, less than two kilometers, but quite physical. A fine view of Dapitan and Dipolog awaits you. At the summit, a chapel where some come to meditate. At the foot of the peak, you can refresh yourself at the Balintawak spring, next to which a camping area has been set up (5 kilometers from the town center).

As its name suggests, the park is located in barangay Cogon, around 25 kilometers from Dipolog. This thick tropical forest covers 300 hectares. It is classified as a protected reserve by the government to ensure that an ecological balance is maintained. The park is open to all, and is a pleasant getaway for short hikes in the heart of the forest, as well as for macro-photography enthusiasts, thanks to its rich and accessible flora and fauna. The place is always very quiet and relaxing.

This is the original village of Dipolog's first inhabitants, the Subanons. It lies along the Dipolog River (6 km from the town center). Its inhabitants transport their goods by river to the city. Every Saturday, they go to the market. It's very pleasant to hire a boat to go up the river, meet the locals and admire their traditional houses. We meet the river workers, who dive and dive to retrieve the gravel at the bottom that will be used to make cement.

It's a surprising place, to say the least. Part restaurant, part café, part art gallery. A table is reserved for you in a very intimate corner of the garden, among the lush tropical plants and crazy sculptures of owner Eddie Fabancura. An art gallery features contemporary works by young artists from different parts of the country. The evening lights create a supernatural atmosphere. The cuisine, simmered in the oven, is excellent.