It’s been quite a while since I last visited my mother’s birthplace, Davao. In fact, I actually have more first cousins here compared to Quezon City, where I live. Because it had been such a long time, I thought of making our trip more memorable for my mom, especially since we just usually stay in the house during Christmas, and so we decided to book Villa Recurso, Kapatagan Resort in Digos City.
I’ve long wanted to climb the highest mountain in the Philippines, Mount Apo, which is located in Davao. However, my cousin said that in December, there is no clearing and Mount Apo is usually cloudy. The weather was also so cold that you would almost forget you were still in the Philippines.
Because of this, my cousin suggested that we just stay at a resort at the foot of Mount Apo, and she found Villa Recurso, which seemed to offer a lot of activities. Plus we can bring their dog, which the accommodation allows. Come along and see the amenities that Villa Recurso has to offer!
The Villa
The place we stayed in was good for 8 people, and they called it the Family Villa, which cost ₱12,000. The accommodation looked beautiful. Paired with the cold weather, this chalet-style villa was a perfect match. It felt as if you were in a cold country. There was also a parking area right in front of our villa.
The Room
This villa has two rooms and a loft-style layout, with each room able to accommodate four people. They also provided thick blankets because it was really cold in this area.
Jacuzzi
The jacuzzi is also inside the villa, which made it feel extra special. However, the jacuzzi didn’t have a heater, so my cousins and I had to tough it out in the December cold.
We did encounter a problem using the jacuzzi, as it stopped producing bubbles. I think they were experiencing an issue with the electricity supply at the time, likely because Villa Recurso was fully booked.
Videoke
Our villa also had its own videoke, aside from the one in Villa Recurso’s common area. That’s when I confirmed they were indeed having issues with the power supply — we couldn’t use the jacuzzi while the videoke was turned on.
Shower Room
The villa had two shower rooms — one near the living room, and another inside the jacuzzi room.
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Take a look at the video below to get a glimpse of the place.
@9jammoveswhat do you love about travelling♬ Luxury Apartments Interior – U-Music
The Common Area
Villa Recurso offers a variety of amenities that guests can enjoy. Here’s a glimpse of what’s available:
Swimming Pool
The swimming pool isn’t very large, but due to the extremely cold weather, no one dared to swim. I had initially planned to practice my breath-hold here since I had an open water freediving session in Samal the following day.
One side of the pool is made of glass, which actually makes it a fun spot for photos while soaking in the water.
Videoke
The videoke area is located on the second floor, to the right of the entrance. If you’re singing, the setup feels like you’re on stage, with the lyrics displayed on a TV in front of you. There are chairs arranged on the side for your “audience” — perfect for a mini concert moment, haha!
Ihawan and Camp Fire
There’s also a grilling station and a designated campfire area where people can gather around the fire. It looked like a great spot for open forums, late-night chats, or simply sharing drinks under the stars.
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Kawa Hot Bath
The kawa hot bath was included in our package — though I’m not sure if it comes standard with other villas, so it’s best to check in advance. It’s available for use until 8 PM, and you’ll need to request assistance from staff to get the fire going. Each kawa tub fits up to two people, but I am not so sure here anymore as I’ve seen on their Facebook that it can fit to at least 5 people 😂. My cousin and I used it one evening, and it really helped warm us up, while the rest of our family continued to shiver in the cold. The hot soak was a much-needed escape from the mountain chill — it definitely worked wonders, haha!
Billiards and Darts
I wasn’t able to check out this area personally, but you could see other guests playing from the lower level.
Mount Apo View
And of course — the highlight — the view of Mount Apo! Unfortunately, it was completely cloudy during our stay, so we didn’t get to see it.
Final Thoughts
Despite a few hiccups with the power supply, our stay at Villa Recurso was truly memorable. It was a refreshing break from city life, a rare Christmas spent in the embrace of nature and family. If you’re looking for a cool-weather getaway with a touch of rustic charm, this resort tucked at the foot of Mount Apo is definitely worth considering.
