, the capital of the Southern Mindanao Region,
is one of the world’s largest cities in terms of land
area, spanning 244,000 hectares.
In recent years, the sprawling urban metropolis has emerged
as the business, investment and tourism hub for southern Philippines,
winning the hearts and minds of its visitors through its people’s
gentle smiles and its diverse cultural and natural riches.
The gateway to the East ASEAN region, Davao City is a melting
pot of diverse migrant and indigenous communities, resulting
in a unique charm and culture that is woven into a rich tapestry
of ethnic and contemporary styles.
Davao City’s slogan, “From Islands to Highlands”
perfectly captures its wealth of attractions. The city boasts
some of the finest beach and mountain resorts in the country,
and close proximity to the Philippines’ most captivating
diving spots as well as its highest peak, Mt Apo.
An ideal tourist destination, Davao has it all - cultural
interludes, beautiful beaches, fascinating dive spots, and
myriad opportunities to commune with nature at its finest.
Top 10 Things to See
and Do in Davao City
Attractions in Davao
Philippine Eagle Nature Center
The
Philippine Eagle Nature Centre in Calinan treats visitors
to a rare glimpse of one of the world’s most endangered
bird species, the Philippine Eagle or Pithecophaga Jefferyi.
Now close to extinction, the Philippine Eagle’s last
remaining natural abode is in the Mt Apo range.
The Philippine eagle stands a metre tall and has a wingspan
of two metres, making it the second largest eagle in the world.
Distinguishing characteristics include bluish eyes, a warlike
headdress of spiky feathers, and a large, sharp, curved beak.
The centre, which breeds and cares for this valuable national
icon, is home to more than 30 Philippine Eagles, including
Pag-Asa, the world’s first Philippine Eagle born in
captivity by artificial insemination.
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Culture and Heritage
Davao City may now be a sprawling metropolis but its roots
are steeped in Mindanao culture. The city was originally inhabited
by eight tribes, including the Bagobos, Mandayas, Manobos
and T’bolis. The cultural inheritance of Davao City
is showcased at the Davao Museum at Insular Village. Here
can be seen costumes, accessories and implements of the different
tribes of Davao.
The tribes of Davao have elevated their weaving to an art
form, with each tribe having distinct patterns and techniques.
The T’boli weaving centre at the Waterfront Insular
Hotel Davao features the production of the colourful Tinalak
fabric, while the Dagmay weaving technique of the Mandaya
tribe takes centrestage at the Pearl Farm Beach Resort.
The Aldevinco Shopping Center in downtown Davao houses several
shops selling the arts, crafts and fashions of southern Philippines.
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Fruits
Mindanao is the food of the Philippines; Davao, its fresh
fruit platter. Davao City’s many farms are major exporters
of bananas, pineapples, mangosteens, durians, and pomelos,
among others. These fruits are abundant in the markets and
stalls lining the city’s streets at a fraction of their
price elsewhere in the country.
The Davao Durian has several varieties, most popular ones
being the Arancillo and the Puyat, and is known to be stronger
and a tad more bitter than its Malaysian counterpart. So plentiful
is this exotic “King of Fruits” in Davao City
that it has penetrated the market for everything from ice
cream and candy bars to jams and coffee.
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The Malagos Garden Resort
This 12-hectare resort in the Davao City highlands offers
more than just accommodation. The Malagos Garden Resort is
dedicated to the protection and conservation of the environment,
and this commitment shines through in its various attractions
and activities.
Permanent fixtures include a butterfly sanctuary, horseback-riding
trails, orchid farm, petting zoo, and works of Philippine
national artist for sculpture Napoleon Abueva. An accredited
wildlife farm, the resort also has the world’s only
waling waling forest, the latter being the Philippines’
most important orchid species. Malagos Garden Resort holds
various interactive wildlife shows every weekend.
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Eden Nature Park & Resort
At
2,500 feet above sea level, this mountain resort has some
of the best views of Davao City and the Davao Gulf. Nestled
in the city’s lone pine forest, the 40-hectare Eden
Nature Park & Resort is perched on the slopes of Mt Talomo.
Touted as Davao City’s natural paradise, the resort
has hiking trails of varying difficulty, a horse park, a multi-purpose
sports field, a fishing village, flower gardens, greenhouses,
vegetable and garden herb terraces, and fruit orchards.
Faint lights twinkle at the firefly sanctuary, birds sing
in the aviaries, while deer dart about in a designated area.
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Island Garden City of Samal
Some
700 metres south of Davao City is the Island Garden City of
Samal, an archipelago of nine islands in the Davao Gulf. Pride
of the place on Samal island belongs to the Pearl Farm Beach
Resort, a 45-minute boat ride from Davao City. The 14-hectare
resort was once, as its name suggests, a pearl farm where
thousands of white-lipped oysters transported from the Sulu
Sea were cultivated for their pink, white and gold pearls.
Now transformed into a luxury resort, Pearl Farm remains luminescent
with its promise of privacy, elegance and comfort.
The attractions of the Island Garden City of Samal extend
beyond white sand beaches and posh resorts. Samal’s
underwater vistas have made it one of the country’s
top destinations for diving. Dive sites in the area include
the Coral Garden & Marine Park, Ligid Island, and Talicud
Island. Samal Island’s many caves allow for spelunking,
while its inland rugged terrain make hiking and mountain-bike
expeditions popular options.
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Mount Apo
The
Philippines’ highest peak at 2,594 metres, the majestic
Mt Apo is a favourite of hiking and adventure travel enthusiasts.
While the ultimate reward is the breathtaking view from atop
Mt Apo, the journey itself serves up its own share of wonders
such as hidden waterfalls,
rapids,
lakes, hot springs, sulphur pillars, and endangered plant
and animal species, including the Philippine Eagle and the
waling waling orchid known scientifically as the Vanda Sanderiana.
The trek to the summit of the extinct volcano takes around
four days. The most established trail is the Kidapawan trail,
approximately four hours by land from Davao City.
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