Davao City Travel Guide: The Melting Pot of Mindanao

Davao

About Davao City

Tagged as the Philippine’s melting pot of diverse cultures, Davao City is a safe haven in Mindanao for those who want to experience modern city life and commune with nature’s offerings. With its contemporary malls and establishments, nearby world-class beaches and explorable caves, great restos and foods, superb adventures and lovely people, Davao City is definitely the place to be.

Davao
Eden Nature Park

It is home to the Philippine Orchid (waling-waling), the exotic Durian, the country’s highest mountain – Mt. Apo and the Philippine Eagle. You can also visit the Crocodile Park, feel the rapids of Davao River with the White Water rafting Adventure, and defy your fear of height in Davao’s latest attraction – the Zipline (Zip for Life).

Davao, the Premier City of The South, the City in Bloom, the Royal City. Experience it and find your own words that best describe how great this place is.

Davao
Durian country!

How to Get to Davao City

Davao City is accessible via air or land/water travel from major cities in the country and the South East Asia.

By Air

Philippine Airlines, Air Asia Philippines and Cebu Pacific fly to Davao from Manila, Clark, Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, Dumaguete, Tacloban, Tagbilaran, Caticlan, Puerto Princesa and Siargao. Meanwhile, Silk Air and Cebu Pacific connect the city to Singapore while Air Asia links it to Kuala Lumpur.

By Bus/Boat

By bus, Philtranco and PP Bus Lines have daily trips from Pasay or Cubao to Davao for an approximately 48 hours travel time. There are also regular bus and van trips from Cagayan de Oro, Butuan, Mati, Surigao, Tagum, Surigao City, Mangagoy,  Davao, tang and various cities and towns in Mindanao.

By ferry, the Port of Davao links the city to other ports of call in the Philippines and South East Asia.

Davao
Zip for life in Camp Sabros

Where to Stay in Davao City

As one of the country’s premier city, Davao offers a lot of accommodation for all segments of traveling market, from budget inns and lodges to high-end hotels and resorts.

Top-Rated / Highly Recommended Accommodations in Davao City

Marco Polo Davao HotelMarco Polo Davao Hotel
Poblacion, Davao City
Starts at 3,500 PHP
CHECK RATES
Seda Abreeza DavaoSeda Abreeza Davao
Poblacion, Davao City
Starts at 3,000 PHP
CHECK RATES

Recommended Budget Accommodations in Davao City

Tinhat Boutique Hotel and RestaurantTinhat Boutique Hotel and Restaurant
Poblacion
Starts at 1,000 PHP
CHECK RATES
First Pacific Inn DavaoFirst Pacific Inn Davao
Poblacion
Starts at 800 PHP
CHECK RATES
Samal
Go scuba diving in Samal

What to Do in Davao City

You will never run out of activities in Davao, here are some:

  • White Water Rafting in Davao River. Contact No: +63.082.301.2020 and +63.082.305.0099 (PhP 1,700/person)
    • Inclusions:
      • Transportation (From Crocodile Park to Rafting Area and back)
      • Free entrance at Crocodile park
      • Packed Lunch & Bottled Water
      • Use of Gears & Equipment
      • Guide Fee
      • Souvenir Shirt
      • Photo CD
      • Bonus ticket to Zip City, Butterfly House & Tribu K’mindanawan
  • Zipping (Zip for Life) – the longest zipline in the country in Camp Sabros. Contact No: +639208750015.
    • Rates:
      • Round Trip Cable Lift: P150/person
      • Tandem Zipline Ride 380 meters + Round Trip  Cable Lift: P200/person
      • Tandem Zipline Ride (380 meters + 520 meters) + Round Trip Cable Lift: P400
      • All Zip (380 meters + 520 meters + 800 meters) + Horse Back Riding: P500
      • All Rides (380 meters + 520 meters + 800 meters) + Round Trip Cable Lift + Horse Back Riding: P600 +
  • Taste Durian and Mangorind
  • Take a walk in Pryce Business Park at Bajada
  • Dine in Jack’s Ridge ‘s restaurants row overlooking the entire city
  • Visit the Philippine Eagle Camp, Crocodile Park, People’s Park and Malagos Garden Resort
  • Spend a day in Eden Nature Park – tour the area, try the skyrider (their own version of zipline), avail of their buffet lunch, taste their great salads, sun dried tomato dressing and other foods
  • Queue and crave for great tasting barbecues while waiting to be served at Penong’s
  • Taste the famous Foping’s Halo-Halo at Matina
  • Experience Davao Coffee in Bluegre Cafe
  • Shopping in modern malls and bargain hunting in the city markets
  • Climb Mount Apo or Mount Talomo
  • Beach Hopping, scuba diving, free diving or snorkeling in Samal
  • Spelunking in the caves of Samal and nearby province of Davao del Norte
  • See the waterfalls of Compostela Valley and Davao Provinces
Awao Falls
Go beyond the city, explore the waterfalls of Compostela Valley such as Awao Falls of Monkayo

Sample Itinerary

Davao – Samal 3D/2N Itinerary

Day 1:
– Arrival / Transfer to Samal
– Island and Beach Hopping: Isla Reta, Babu Santa Beach, Kaputian Beach or Pearl Farm Beach Resort
– Proceed to Davao City
– Dinner at Jack’s Ridge

Day 2:
– White water rafting
– Davao Crocodile Park
– Dinner at Penong’s

Day 3
– Day tour in Eden Nature Park
– Depart Davao

Comments

  1. Jerrina

    Can you provide an itinerary for first timers in Davao?

  2. You need to take part in a contest for one of the finest blogs on the net.
    I most certainly will recommend this web site!

  3. […] beach is almost an hour by boat from Davao‘s Sta. Ana wharf, fare is not more than P100. Cottages are available for rent in the […]

  4. larry

    pls provide contact info for tandem scuba diving in davao. salamat

  5. Been to Davao last year, siguro half ng activities na nakapost dito nde ko nagawa..hehe

    And that would be enough reasons to go back in davao 😀

  6. SHINCHAN

    ok ba sa casa ruby pensione house? balak namin magrent ng bahay, dami kasi namin!

    Sorry Shinchan, I haven’t tried Ruby yet. I hope readers of this post who have been to Ruby post a feedback of the place.

  7. sakura

    san ung pnakamurang inn or lodge?

    punta kme nxt wek davao!

    mas ok pag tipid s lodge, waldas sa lakwatsa!

    try mo sa Davao Medical Shool Foundation, it is a dormitory, pero okey na rin ang mga rooms. As low as P250/head/night, contact number: (82)226-23-44.

    O kaya, D’COUNTER PENSIONE (Pension House) Tel: (6382) 221-3664. Medyo mas mahal lang dito pero mas maganda.

  8. jen

    davao is one of my favorite place i’ve visited. nice blog

    thanks jen, nice meeting you and the rest of the kewl batch 9 😀

    := Bleue (aka Lakwatsero) =:

  9. Indeed Davao is the best place for me… Ang Daming pwedeng puntahan dito…

  10. io

    mr. lakwatsero! so kanus-a man ka mubalik davao? hehehe. see you soon. 🙂

    hi io, hapit na kay gusto naku matry yung zipline 😛
    nice meeting you io, so as hope and the rest of the cool batch 9

    := Bleue (aka Lakwatsero) =:

    1. aishy

      io.. lalake ka? io pangalan sako uyab! hahaha.. basi ikaw ni ha! hehehehe..

  11. gusto ko din pumunta ng davao

  12. Haha! :0 Nice naman Blueu!

    Oo nga pala.. Walang derechong daan mula sa amin sa Mindoro to Romblon…

    Babalik ka pa ng Batanggas Pier ulit para makarating sa Rombon. Hehe 🙂

    I hope makarating ka sa amin sa Mindoro.

    Oo nga pala, for now nasa Manila muna ako… Nag-enroll kasi ako balik school na ulit! 🙂

  13. ayos ‘to! tara, davao…

    Yeah! super adventure! let’s go!

    := Bleue (aka Lakwatsero) =:

Comments are closed.