Mount Apo the mountain to be sacred ground and a place of worship. A number of genealogies of Lumad leaders in South Central Mindanao trace their roots to Mount Apo. For the Lumads, the term "Apo" was coined from the name of their great grandparent "Apo Sandawawa". At , Mount Apo is the highest mountain & volcano in the Philippines. It is one of the country's most popular climbing destinations. Several trails lead to the summit, coming from North Cotabato and Davao provinces. Arguably the easiest route to the National Park is through Kidapawan with an average hike taking 3–4 days roundtrip.
Apo Reef and is about in depth. Likewise, reef limestone and coralline sand on the east and southeastern sides dominantly underlie the area. The main geographical feature of Apo Reef is submerged, but three islands mark it on the surface: the Apo Island, Apo Menor (locally known as "Binangaan") and Cayos del Bajo ("Keys of the bank", locally known as "Tinangkapan"). The islands are uninhabited. Since the declaration of “no-take-zone” policy at Apo Reef Natural Park in 2007, only protected area personnel and members of the Task Force MARLEN (Marine and Apo Reef Law Enforcement for Nature), who are task to implement