Even before our current president has won the elections, we have already heard so many good things about Davao ~ wonderful beaches, great seafood, and nice people. So again, when a promo came, we booked a flight to Davao. We arrived at Davao just a few days before the city's ex-mayor, now the country's President's inauguration.
Below is a quick view of our itinerary.
DAY 1
No late departures for us, so we were right on track with our plans. We arrived in Davao at the ETA indicated in our CEB Itinerary, which was a little before 1PM. They said people in Davao are honest so we did not hesitate to book a taxi that will bring us straight to our hotel. The travel time from airport to Seda is a little less than 30 minutes. Because we haven't had our lunch, we just checked-in, left our bags in the room and headed over to Abreeza Ayala Mall to look for a place to eat. We had our lunch at Hukad sa Golden Cowrie, and tried their Lechon Kawali and Grilled Tuna. We ate in banana leaves, making everything smell so good. The food was generally good but I expected more on the tuna. Either it wasn't as fresh as I expected or maybe I'm really not a fan of tuna.
Next, we headed to Davao Crocodile Park. I initially though that the place is pretty much the same as the crocodile farm in Palawan, which is just what the name suggests, but I was wrong. This is Davao's zoo. And there are more animals than just crocodiles. What makes it more awesome is the animal show, where you are not only entertained but you also get to learn new trivia. Some examples are the difference between monkeys and apes, with the former having tails while the latter has none, about the Oranggutan coming from two words Orang which means Tao and Gutan which means Gubat, and them having 97% of human DNA, about hornbills which are frugivores (a word I just learned that day), wherein males catch food as a way to show off, and once they were able to win the heart of the female, they will be with them for life as they are monogamous. Talk about #mayforever. The animal show also teaches us about manners of bless, shaking hands and kissing through our mammal friends, and also includes bird shows like Blue who taught the audience proper biosegregation and Nigel who knew how to ride an ecofriendly bike, both amazing talent shows, that tries to instill in us caring for our environment.
It's not only the mammals and birds that do the show, there was also a show by the star of the place - the reptilian crocodile. I won't say much, but if you plan to watch this one, Be prepared to get wet!
The ticket we bought for the park includes not only the entrance to the park, the animal shows, but also an entrance to the butterfly garden and the Tribu K'Mindanawan Cultural Presentation and Fire Show, where we headed next. This place is also a restaurant, so you can have dinner while watching the spectacular shows.
DAY 2
We had a relaxing morning, extending our sleep and taking some pictures at the hotel's pool. We checked out early so we won't be late on the scheduled ferry trip at 1PM to Samal Island. We had our lunch on the way, at Penong's Seafood and Grill.
The travel from the wharf to Samal Island is around 45 minutes. It was hot and humid, the kind of weather that easily brings you to sleep, but the surrounding nature convinced me not to close my eyes for a second. On the way to Samal, we saw flying fishes (called bangsi). It was just so amazing how nature can entertain you without effort.
We booked a night at the Pearl Farm Resort, just to know what the fuss is all about. The resort did not disappoint. We were welcomed with a refreshing drink and towel, and a breathtaking view.
After checking in, we have the next 20 hours or so to explore the resort, take a dip in the infinity pool or in the other pool that's more private and peaceful, snorkel in the beach, sunbathe, enjoy the gameroom, or just relax in that comfy bed.
For dinner, since there is no other option in the private island, we dined in the resort's restaurant. We had buffet and watched the cultural show with performances from Pangkat Silayan of the University of Southeastern Philippines. They even engaged the audience when they tries to ask some to join them in doing the tinikling.
DAY 3
We woke up early to make most of the remaining time. We had Breakfast Buffet, included in our room package, then headed straight to Malipano Island. The small boat going to Malipano Island is part of the resort's amenities, so there's nothing to pay. The place was very private and the beach was full of starfish. Never have I seen that much starfish in my life! Every step, every turn, there's another one!
At 12 noon, we checked out from Pearl Farm and waited for the ferry that will take us back to the city. Pearl Farm also brought us to our third hotel, Casa Leticia, so we did not experience any more hassle in bringing our bags and looking for a cab.
A few blocks away is Davao Dencia's, where we had our late lunch. We tried their lechon paksiw and the much acclaimed lumpiang shanghai, which are both good, but their lugaw is a must-try! It looks so simple but it's so yummy!
Just right in front of our hotel is Davao City's People's Park. It was a Sunday so the park was a bit crowded, nonetheless the place is clean and serene, not rowdy. The place is a typical park, with lots of trees, birds, and benches, but what sets is apart is the number of life size statues all over the place.
If this is not your thing, there's a garden at the far back of the park. The place is so calm, and very few people go to that space, so you if you need some time and space, this is the place for you. :P
After visiting People's Park, we went to St. Jude Thaddeus Parish, which is a single ride from the park for our Sunday mass.
For dinner, we hailed another taxi to Roxas Avenue. Have you ever been to Mercato or Banchetto? Well, Davao has their own such market place right in Roxas Avenue. Street food, street food, and more street food!
DAY 4
For our Day 4, the first stop in our itinerary is the Philippine Eagle Center. Because this place is far, and it is very unlikely that the taxi we booked via Grab can get another customer going back, and because it will also be hard for us to book another Taxi on the way back, we decided to rent it for the whole day.
I first learned about the Philippine Eagle Center about a year ago when Pamana was released into the wild. Too bad that we did not get to see him as he was shot just a few months after his release. :(
Even though I've seen shots of the place in TV, I did not expect it to be a real forest, moreso to be housing various fauna and flora, other than the endangered Philippine Eagle. I was awed. The place houses a number of Philippine eagles (Kaibigan, Fighter, Mindanao, Hiyas and Dakila to name a few), monkeys, wild boar, Philippine brown deer, owls, and more.
Our next stop supposedly was Malagos Garden Resort. Unfortunately, the place is under renovation, so we just bought our favorite Malagos Dark Chocolates!
Since we did not enter Malagos Garden, we had more time to visit Eden Nature Park, much recommended by most drivers in Davao. It was a little bit far so when we got there we did not waste any time. We paid for the entrance fee and booked a tour of the place, which includes a snack of your choice (diet diet muna!)
The tour lasted about an hour with around 3 stops (Flower Garden, Tinubdan, and Lola's Garden). We went through the park's vast mangosteen trees, their different amenities, the hiking trail, and the plantation of dragon fruits.
On the way back to the city, there were a lot of stores selling mangosteen, pomelo, and durian, so we then opted to buy some for our pasalubong.
For our late lunch/early merienda, we tried the Shawarma Pizza from Dexter's Pizza, located just a few blocks away from our hotel It's something different, we did not expect to like it that much, but we did! We were able to finish the whole pizza, just the two of us. Just thinking about it now, makes my mouth water.
After this, we just had some rest as we had a long day, not to mention the long travel plus some trekking. We met a friend during the night and we were treated for dinner at the nearby Penong's Seafood and Grill. This time we also tried their pinakbet, and it was also good. I was actually wishing someone could framchise Penong's and bring it in Manila.
DAY 5
For our fifth day, we did our own D-I-Y City Tour, starting off at Museo Dabawenyo. The museum is for free. It's a collection of arts and photographs, and shows the culture of the different groups of people in Mindanao.
Next, located just a few steps away is the Davao City Hall, where Sara Duterte took oath as mayor, just the day before. We just went around and took some pictures of the place. Just right across is the San Pedro Cathedral, where you can also head on to say a prayer or hear the mass.
Afterwards, we hailed a cab to bring us to Lachi's Sansrival Atbp. and sample the sansrival. For someone who is not a big fan of sansrival, I have to say that you should definitely try this! The crunchiness, creaminess, and the sweetness are all just right.
That's all for our city tour. We went back to our hotel and pack our things, so we can head back to the airport. But before that! We stopped by Ahfat Seafoods Plaza which is a Chinese restaurant that serves seafood. The price is a bit higher than Penong's but that's because the serving is so huge, we were not able to finish it, despite the great taste. I think the serving was good for 5-6 people! So the price is still cheap compared to those in the metro.
No late departures for us, so we were right on track with our plans. We arrived in Davao at the ETA indicated in our CEB Itinerary, which was a little before 1PM. They said people in Davao are honest so we did not hesitate to book a taxi that will bring us straight to our hotel. The travel time from airport to Seda is a little less than 30 minutes. Because we haven't had our lunch, we just checked-in, left our bags in the room and headed over to Abreeza Ayala Mall to look for a place to eat. We had our lunch at Hukad sa Golden Cowrie, and tried their Lechon Kawali and Grilled Tuna. We ate in banana leaves, making everything smell so good. The food was generally good but I expected more on the tuna. Either it wasn't as fresh as I expected or maybe I'm really not a fan of tuna.
Next, we headed to Davao Crocodile Park. I initially though that the place is pretty much the same as the crocodile farm in Palawan, which is just what the name suggests, but I was wrong. This is Davao's zoo. And there are more animals than just crocodiles. What makes it more awesome is the animal show, where you are not only entertained but you also get to learn new trivia. Some examples are the difference between monkeys and apes, with the former having tails while the latter has none, about the Oranggutan coming from two words Orang which means Tao and Gutan which means Gubat, and them having 97% of human DNA, about hornbills which are frugivores (a word I just learned that day), wherein males catch food as a way to show off, and once they were able to win the heart of the female, they will be with them for life as they are monogamous. Talk about #mayforever. The animal show also teaches us about manners of bless, shaking hands and kissing through our mammal friends, and also includes bird shows like Blue who taught the audience proper biosegregation and Nigel who knew how to ride an ecofriendly bike, both amazing talent shows, that tries to instill in us caring for our environment.
It's not only the mammals and birds that do the show, there was also a show by the star of the place - the reptilian crocodile. I won't say much, but if you plan to watch this one, Be prepared to get wet!
Up close and personal
Various species of birds in the park
Amazing Fire Dance!
Cultural Music and Dance
DAY 2
We had a relaxing morning, extending our sleep and taking some pictures at the hotel's pool. We checked out early so we won't be late on the scheduled ferry trip at 1PM to Samal Island. We had our lunch on the way, at Penong's Seafood and Grill.
The seafood is so gooood, me and my travel buddy were able to finish all these!
The travel from the wharf to Samal Island is around 45 minutes. It was hot and humid, the kind of weather that easily brings you to sleep, but the surrounding nature convinced me not to close my eyes for a second. On the way to Samal, we saw flying fishes (called bangsi). It was just so amazing how nature can entertain you without effort.
We booked a night at the Pearl Farm Resort, just to know what the fuss is all about. The resort did not disappoint. We were welcomed with a refreshing drink and towel, and a breathtaking view.
Welcome to Pearl Farm!
A bird racing with us to take a dip on the sea (see bottom left)
The infinity pool and the infinite sea
Villas by the sea
Our room, however, is not one of those villas. We opted for the less expensive room, located at the top. It may be far from the beach but it provides a nice view.
The first hotel I've been too that has a Holy Bible on the bedside table. Nice!
For dinner, since there is no other option in the private island, we dined in the resort's restaurant. We had buffet and watched the cultural show with performances from Pangkat Silayan of the University of Southeastern Philippines. They even engaged the audience when they tries to ask some to join them in doing the tinikling.
Pangkat Silayan performing various cultural dances
So delicious! So many to choose from!
There was also some game during the night. They showed us the story of the resort so we pocketed more trivia about the place, the artist Francisco "Bobby" MaƱosa, Mt. Apo Island, native tribes.
We woke up early to make most of the remaining time. We had Breakfast Buffet, included in our room package, then headed straight to Malipano Island. The small boat going to Malipano Island is part of the resort's amenities, so there's nothing to pay. The place was very private and the beach was full of starfish. Never have I seen that much starfish in my life! Every step, every turn, there's another one!
At 12 noon, we checked out from Pearl Farm and waited for the ferry that will take us back to the city. Pearl Farm also brought us to our third hotel, Casa Leticia, so we did not experience any more hassle in bringing our bags and looking for a cab.
A few blocks away is Davao Dencia's, where we had our late lunch. We tried their lechon paksiw and the much acclaimed lumpiang shanghai, which are both good, but their lugaw is a must-try! It looks so simple but it's so yummy!
Just right in front of our hotel is Davao City's People's Park. It was a Sunday so the park was a bit crowded, nonetheless the place is clean and serene, not rowdy. The place is a typical park, with lots of trees, birds, and benches, but what sets is apart is the number of life size statues all over the place.
Aye, Aye, Davao!
who won't love these life-size Mario figures?!
Just look at this kid's excitement!
After visiting People's Park, we went to St. Jude Thaddeus Parish, which is a single ride from the park for our Sunday mass.
For dinner, we hailed another taxi to Roxas Avenue. Have you ever been to Mercato or Banchetto? Well, Davao has their own such market place right in Roxas Avenue. Street food, street food, and more street food!
That Durian Ice Cream is a must try. It tastes heavenly!
(Note: I'm not a fan of Durian candies)
(Note: I'm not a fan of Durian candies)
DAY 4
For our Day 4, the first stop in our itinerary is the Philippine Eagle Center. Because this place is far, and it is very unlikely that the taxi we booked via Grab can get another customer going back, and because it will also be hard for us to book another Taxi on the way back, we decided to rent it for the whole day.
I first learned about the Philippine Eagle Center about a year ago when Pamana was released into the wild. Too bad that we did not get to see him as he was shot just a few months after his release. :(
Even though I've seen shots of the place in TV, I did not expect it to be a real forest, moreso to be housing various fauna and flora, other than the endangered Philippine Eagle. I was awed. The place houses a number of Philippine eagles (Kaibigan, Fighter, Mindanao, Hiyas and Dakila to name a few), monkeys, wild boar, Philippine brown deer, owls, and more.
A spile?
Reminds me of Hunger Games!
Flora on the way to seeing Fauna
Up close and personal with Fighter!
Everyone was watching Pacquiao's fight!
Me taking a picture of the snake skins!!
Our next stop supposedly was Malagos Garden Resort. Unfortunately, the place is under renovation, so we just bought our favorite Malagos Dark Chocolates!
Since we did not enter Malagos Garden, we had more time to visit Eden Nature Park, much recommended by most drivers in Davao. It was a little bit far so when we got there we did not waste any time. We paid for the entrance fee and booked a tour of the place, which includes a snack of your choice (diet diet muna!)
The tour lasted about an hour with around 3 stops (Flower Garden, Tinubdan, and Lola's Garden). We went through the park's vast mangosteen trees, their different amenities, the hiking trail, and the plantation of dragon fruits.
"Somewhere over the rainbow.."
At Tinubdan - Bagani (warrior), Balai-Kalimudan (traditional house), Bebalay-baylan (Shaman's House) , Kaingen(a traditional shifting cultivation)
Just a selected few of the medicinal plants in the park's Lumadong Tambal
Mangosteen Plantation (located right in front of Lola's Garden)
On the way back to the city, there were a lot of stores selling mangosteen, pomelo, and durian, so we then opted to buy some for our pasalubong.
After this, we just had some rest as we had a long day, not to mention the long travel plus some trekking. We met a friend during the night and we were treated for dinner at the nearby Penong's Seafood and Grill. This time we also tried their pinakbet, and it was also good. I was actually wishing someone could framchise Penong's and bring it in Manila.
DAY 5
For our fifth day, we did our own D-I-Y City Tour, starting off at Museo Dabawenyo. The museum is for free. It's a collection of arts and photographs, and shows the culture of the different groups of people in Mindanao.
Next, located just a few steps away is the Davao City Hall, where Sara Duterte took oath as mayor, just the day before. We just went around and took some pictures of the place. Just right across is the San Pedro Cathedral, where you can also head on to say a prayer or hear the mass.
D-I-Y Short City Tour
That's all for our city tour. We went back to our hotel and pack our things, so we can head back to the airport. But before that! We stopped by Ahfat Seafoods Plaza which is a Chinese restaurant that serves seafood. The price is a bit higher than Penong's but that's because the serving is so huge, we were not able to finish it, despite the great taste. I think the serving was good for 5-6 people! So the price is still cheap compared to those in the metro.
Below is a summary of our expenses (per PAX):
Airfare - Php 1,295 MNL-DVO-MNL via Cebu Pacific
Hotel Accomodation:
Seda - Php 1,834
Pearl Farm - Php 5,275
Casa Leticia (2 days) - Php 2,184
Entrance Fees and Package Tour - around Php 750
Meals - around Php 2,800
Transportation (includes one whole day Taxi Rental) - around Php 2,500
A little less than Php 17,000 is actually a bit pricey for a Davao Trip. But we promised ourselves that this will be this year's personal treat. So we opted for a cab when you could ride the jeepney and trike, we booked a night at Seda and Pearl Farm (both a little bit pricey for my standards), and did not skimp on food either. If you're on a budget, I believe you can travel Davao for less than Php 10,000. There are other resorts in Samal that are a lot less pricey.
For further reviews and comments on the hotels,
Seda had some stains on the sheets, something I surely did not expect
The shower room in Pearl Farm is a little cramped and there was no Wifi in the room, only in the common room. It also seemed that one water bottle was already opened
For Casa Leticia, it provides what you can expect of the price. Nothing fancy, but the location is the best. The room we booked comes with a free buffet breakfast. The food served is the typical Filipino breakfast, with some kakanin, and also cereals. That, to me, is a big plus.
For some tips,
You should try out the hito sold on various eateries along the way from Philippine Eagle Center. We've heard this so many time that it's really a must try. I now regret that we did not.
Book a night or two at Eden Park. There is so much to do in this place that a day tour may not be enough.
When going to Pearl Farm, you should instruct the driver to bring you to Davao Beach Club as we were initially dropped off at Marina Wharf, where most boats going to Samal are located. Or better yet, use the resort's pickup service which I think is included on the hotel price but we were not informed by the resort. The cab drivers and most bystanders also don't seem to know about Pearl Farm.
Buy mangosteen! Buy pomelo! They are really so much cheaper compared to those sold in the metro.
For some tips,
You should try out the hito sold on various eateries along the way from Philippine Eagle Center. We've heard this so many time that it's really a must try. I now regret that we did not.
Book a night or two at Eden Park. There is so much to do in this place that a day tour may not be enough.
When going to Pearl Farm, you should instruct the driver to bring you to Davao Beach Club as we were initially dropped off at Marina Wharf, where most boats going to Samal are located. Or better yet, use the resort's pickup service which I think is included on the hotel price but we were not informed by the resort. The cab drivers and most bystanders also don't seem to know about Pearl Farm.
Buy mangosteen! Buy pomelo! They are really so much cheaper compared to those sold in the metro.
