The town of San Benito in Siargao Island has added a new tourist draw, one which is bound to attract many adventure-seeking travelers.
It’s the Surfing Aerial Zip Line, a thrill ride that allows visitors to enjoy the vastness of the town’s mangroves from above, while being whisked away from one end of the platform to another.
At 2.2-kilometer long, it is one of the longest ziplines in Asia. In fact, many claim that it is, in fact, the longest. To give you an idea of how long that is, it takes more than two minutes for an individual to reach the end platform once “released” from the jump off point.
To get to the starting platform, visitors must take a 132-step hike, which could be a bit of a workout for some. But the view from there is breathtaking—just enough to give the thrill-seekers a preview of what’s to come.
Unlike other ziplines where visitors are harnessed in a Superman pose, this zipline offers a “hammock ride,” where individuals literally just sit on a sturdy hammock.
The aerial zipline was constructed for P12 million.
Guests who ride the zipline would get an unobstructed view of San Benito’s mangroves, which are said to be the place’s “local version of Chocolate Hills,” made even lovelier with splendid islets covered with white sand adjacent to them. Mangroves in San Benito are the oldest in Siargao and covers more than a thousand hectares.
Local officials hope that tourists, both foreign and domestic ones, would include the zipline in their next visit to Siargao, which is world-famous for its beaches’ powerful waves that attract thousands of surfers every year.
San Benito has lesser known, but equally idyllic islands—Caob, Pagbasayan, and Poneas. It has an awesome sandbar where visitors can snap beautiful photos from. Pagbasayan, the biggest isle, houses Casa Desideria, a popular accommodation that offers a “back-to-nature stay.”
The zipline attraction opened briefly in September of last year amidst the pandemic, but had to close down to avoid the further spread of the disease. (Tip: Follow its Facebook Page to get the latest updates on its re-opening).