Dexter PrieteWhile Maragusan is highly celebrated as the “Summer Capital of Davao de Oro” for its towering peaks and sweeping misty valleys, many travelers stick strictly to the heavily commercialized municipal corridors. But if you branch off into the serene, rural landscape of Barangay Mapawa, you will find a locally guarded paradise that strikes a perfect balance between family-friendly comfort and raw backcountry exploration: Alcuizar Hangout Nature Park.
Operated with a highly welcoming, backyard-style hospitality, Alcuizar Hangout is a refreshing mountain-river sanctuary. Developed with vibrant garden patches, dual ice-cold swimming pools fed directly by a rushing river, and a quick hilltop hiking trail, it serves as an exceptional budget-friendly basecamp for families, campers, and day-trippers seeking relief from the lowland heat.
🏔️ Quick-Reference Visitor Matrix
| Amenity / Accommodation | Rate / Specification | Practical Field Notes |
| Day Tour Entrance | ₱30.00 per person | Extremely budget-friendly day-use rate |
| Overnight Admission | ₱80.00 per person | Ideal for pitch-tent campers and night-stayers |
| Table Rentals | ₱50.00 – ₱100.00 | Simple, open-air wooden tables |
| Cottage Rentals | Varying Rates | Plenty of sheltered cottages dotting the gardens |
| Parking Facility | Dedicated Parking Area | Secure, flat off-street space inside the property |
| On-Site Store | Basic Dry Goods & Food | Stocks snacks, drinks, and camping essentials |
🌊 The Dual Cold Pools: Sourced Directly by the Mountain River
The crowning glory of Alcuizar Hangout is its chemical-free swimming pool system. The property features two distinct pools, both fed continuously by a rushing river of deep-cold, pristine mountain water. Because the water never stagnates, swimming here is an intensely refreshing, ice-cold experience.
[ Mountain River Source ] ──► [ Pool 2: Riverside Basin ] ──► [ Pool 1: 2ft to 7ft Family Pool ]
1. The First Developed Pool (Entrance Area)
Located near the main entrance, the first pool is designed for general recreation, families, and children. The pool layout transitions smoothly from a shallow 2-foot shelf for kids up to a deeper 7-foot channel for confident swimmers.
2. The Second Pool (Riverside Basin)
Positioned further into the property, the second pool is built directly beside the cold flowing river. This pool is highly favored by trail-weary hikers who want to transition easily between raw river wading and controlled pool swimming.
🏔️ Pure Mountain Hydration & The Farmland Hill Hike
Alcuizar Hangout preserves the raw, unadulterated resource elements of Mapawa’s landscape. If you look up toward the cliffs framing the property, you will see a stunning natural water supply system:
💧 Pure Rock-Filtered Water
The resort’s primary source of clean drinking water is collected directly from the upper mountain cliffs, where a pristine curtain of water springs cleanly from the rock faces. It is a testament to the untampered watershed system of Barangay Mapawa.
The 15-Minute Hill Hike
For hikers looking to squeeze in a quick tuhod-tested workout before taking a cold plunge, a nearby hill sits right beside the property boundaries.
- The Trail: A short, steep 15-minute hike leads you up the hill.
- The Terrain: While the majority of the hillside has been converted into active agricultural farmland, the trail takes you directly along the edges of the fields, passing through beautiful remnants of old-growth forest trees that shield you from the sun. The summit offers a peaceful, panoramic overview of the Mapawa valley.
- The Hidden Waterfalls: If you are craving a deeper wilderness adventure, talk directly to the property owners. They maintain a trail leading to a hidden, untouched waterfall located further along the mountain vein—though it requires a much longer and more rigorous trek.
🏡 Lush Gardens, Cottages, and Camp Life
Aside from its rugged trail elements, Alcuizar Hangout is highly family-friendly. The owners have carefully developed the grounds by planting beautiful garden patches and lush ornamental flowers, giving the resort a peaceful, botanical atmosphere.
Plenty of wooden cottages dot the lawn to shelter families, while budget-conscious barkadas can rent simple wooden tables ranging from ₱50 to ₱100. A dedicated on-site store is fully operational to supply guests with food, hot coffee, and instant meals, and a flat parking area ensures your vehicles sit safely off the main road. The authentic country atmosphere is rounded out by the resort’s friendly resident pet dogs who happily welcome guests at the gate.
🔄 Mapping Your Maragusan Water Loop
To get the absolute most out of your trip to Davao de Oro, Alcuizar Hangout serves as an excellent starting point or winding-down station for an extended highland loop.
You can kick off your journey down in the agricultural lowlands of New Corella, exploring the famous multi-tiered limestone shelves of the waterfalls in New Corella. From there, ascend into the cool, misty heights of Maragusan. Before tackling the wild, chemical-heavy plantation tracks of Bukal sa Kanal Hot Spring, secure a cozy cottage and wash off the road dust in the pristine, deep-cold waters of Alcuizar Hangout.
For more honest, field-tested trail maps, budget logs, and secret camping guides, head back to our Manakaay ug Bukid homepage to plan your next wild weekend loop safely.
🧐 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Where is Alcuizar Hangout Nature Park located?
A: The park is nestled inside the scenic, quiet countryside of Barangay Mapawa, Maragusan, Davao de Oro.
Q: How much does it cost to enter and stay overnight?
A: The resort is incredibly budget-friendly:
- Day Tour Entrance: ₱30.00 per person
- Overnight Stay: ₱80.00 per person
- Table Rentals: ₱50.00 to ₱100.00
Q: What is the pool setup and water source?
A: There are two swimming pools on-site. The family pool near the entrance features depths ranging from 2 feet to 7 feet. The second pool sits directly beside the river. Both pools are completely chemical-free, fed continuously by the rushing, deep-cold water of the mountain river.
Q: Where do the drinking water and pool water come from?
A: The pool water is sourced directly from the adjacent flowing cold river. The drinking water is naturally filtered, harvested directly from a pristine curtain of water that springs from the mountain rocks above the resort.
Q: What side activities are available at Alcuizar Hangout?
A: Aside from swimming and lounging in the gardens, visitors can take a short 15-minute hike up a nearby hill that winds through farmland margins and pockets of forest trees. For extreme trekkers, the owner can also coordinate a longer trek leading to a hidden, undeveloped waterfall deeper along the mountain vein.
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