Here’s Why You Should Visit the Municipality of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, Philippines.

The Municipality of Sta. Cruz is among the nine (9) distinct municipalities in the province, Davao del Sur, and one (1) component city, namely the City of Digos, Bansalan, Matanao, Magsaysay, Hagonoy, Kiblawan, Padada, Sulop and Malalag. This is also the oldest municipality among the other. In fact, according to an article entitled Welcome to Sta. Cruz, it is more than a century-old municipality that was legally created last October 5, 1884 and it is the third oldest town in Mindanao. The Bagobo term LABO, which means marshes, was the first name given to this gulf. The first inhabitants of the region were members of the Bagobo-Tagabawa tribe, commanded by Datu Ali.

Pioneers claim that Sta. Cruz got its name in 1880, when Spanish colonizers tried unsuccessfully to convert the stubborn residents to Christianity by planting a cross beneath a shelter. Another group of immigrants settled close to the cross that was close to the location of the current municipal building, and the area became known as "SA CRUZ," which translates to "at the cross."

Aside from this colorful history of Sta. Cruz, it is also a dwelling place for the diverse wildlife species. Who would have thought that there is a tarsier here in our municipality? It is an abode for different kindhearted ethnic tribes; from the Badjao, to the Tausug, Maranao, Bagobo-Tagabawa and Taga-Kaulo—they made the municipality a meaningful home. It is also a pleasant natural setting for majestic tourist destinations. From highlands to lowlands: from the peak of tall mountains, following the trail of mountain ranges, to the cold and pristine waters in the rivers and long water falls, to the unexplored strange caves, down to the clear and satisfying beaches. Meanwhile, while travelling has been becoming a trend these days, plenty of travellers have been visiting those different tourist destinations oftentimes.

Therefore, in this article, I will be showcasing the different tourist spots. Here's why you should visit the Municipality of Sta. Cruz.

Let's take our first trip first, to the highlands of Sta. Cruz. Welcome to the Spectacular Sta. Cruz!

Mountains

Mt. Quibarangan/Mt. Quibarangan

—it is located in Sitio Langan, Coronon, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, Philippines, my place of residence. It takes a couple of hour before you can reach the peak, however, exhaustion is worth it once you can see this.

Mt. Fortune

—located at Malusing, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur is Mt. Fortune. It is the last one to be discovered by the tourists, and the last one to be recognized by the Department of Tourism in Sta. Cruz.

Mt. Loay

—is located at Sitio Loay, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. It is the first mountain peak to be frequently visited by tourists. You can see the whole Sta. Cruz once you are at its summit.

Mt. Dinor

—Sinoron, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur is the location of the famous Mt. Dinor. It is the home for various wildlife species.

Bamboo Peak

—is located at Jose Rizal, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. It's a good location to witness the beauty of the creator.

Rivers

Langan River

—located at Sitio Langan, Coronon, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, Langan river is mostly visited by tourists from the Mt. Loay, Mt. Fortune and Mt. Dinor. Since there is a mountain range that connects each places, Langan river is the last stop of some hikers.

Pilan River

—located at Sitio Pilan, Sinoron, Sta. Cruz Davao del Sur. Tourists can pass here if they want to reach the peak of Mt. Dinor.

Sibulan River

—located at Darong, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, Sibulan River has been a tourist spot for water tubing. The river is very long why it is appropriate for the said activity. It is situated near the national highway.

Water Falls

Mini Asik-Asik Falls

—located at Sitio Pilan, Sinoron, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, the Mini Asik Asik falls would captivate your attention with the relaxing feature. It can just be seen near the Pilan River.

Mailum Falls

—is located at Sitio Langan, Coronon, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. It's the only known waterfall in our place which can be seen few kilometers away from my home.

Tomari Falls

—less than a year after it was officially launched, Tomari Falls emerges as one of the most visited waterfalls in Sta. Cruz. It is situated in Sibulan, Sta. Cruz with a light 3-4 kilometers of trekking.

Tacub Laya Falls

—three years prior to this lovely waterfall in Saroso, Sinoron, Sta. Cruz's debut, it has been considered one of the Sinoron Ecopark's must-see sights. This may be the farthest waterfall in Sta. Maria and requires a strenuous 13-kilometer hike from barangay hall. Cruz in terms of trekking distance, but unquestionably one of the most pristine because to its location within the Buribid Mountain Range's forested region.

Biga Waterfalls

Rock Formation

—the most unique feature located at Sitio Pilan, Sinoron, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. It showcases different piles of rocks, showing magnificent formations. This can just be seen beside the Pilan river.

Beach Resorts

Pasig Islet Beach Resort

—located at Brgy. Bato, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. If you want an ‘instagrammable’ tourist spot, you can't go wrong with Pasig Islet.

Tajos Beach Resort

—located at Sto. Niño Village, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur is the domain of Tajos Beach Resort—YDURS place. If you're finding a tourist spot with relaxing view while having a decent foods and drinks to intake, this place might be the one you are looking for. It is a combination of a beach resort and café and grill restaurant.

And there ends our adventure for today. There's so much thing that our municipality can offer. As a resident myself, I feel so proud that I belong to this community wherein nature is part of our life. Tourist spots are not the only thing that my place has to offer. There are some tourist attractions that I was not able to include since there are only few informations, and I'm not familiar to them. There are still plenty of them and I will discuss them in my next articles.

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Let me guys know which tourist attractions you liked the most through commenting on the comment section below. Stay safe and see you around.

LIVE LONG AND PROSPER!