Davao City Travel Guide

Mention "Rodrigo Duterte" to some Filipino and you are certain to receive one of two responses -- ferocious adulation or sour disgust.


Without doubt, he's a polarizing figure.   But no matter where you stand with this guy, 1 thing is not in question -- town that he dominated as mayor for 22 years is among the nation's greatest and most innovative.  We'd heard many great things about Davao ahead of our trip and it was nice to discover that all it sounded authentic.  The town was cleaner compared to Manila and it felt safe to walk round.


What struck me was the way the pawnshops in Davao appeared more like retail jewellery stores when compared with this mini-fortresses we've got in Manila!   Most significant of all, the taxpayers of Davao Appear to honor President Duterte.  Our cab driver for 2 weeks went on and on about him and all of the good he has done for Davao.



And it was not from fear or blind worship.  It seemed more like a kid mature enough to comprehend that each of the difficult matters his disciplinarian father made him were to his own good.  We must experience that firsthand on our visit to Davao and with this manual, we expect you do also.

 This summit of summer is subsequently followed with the monsoon period from May to October.  If you are not a lover of these weather extremes, I then suggest avoiding nowadays.   It is the coolest and driest period of the year.       In the airport, you may take a cab to your hotel.  Make sure you have a metered cab because operators supplying "set deliveries" will cost you 2-3 times as much.  A cab from the airport into the city centre should run you about PHP 240, based upon the location of the resort.  Travelers to Samal will probably be coming at the airport taking a ferry to the island.  More on this later.  Most travelers will likely fly to Davao however there can be other methods to get there based on where you're.  I suggest assessing 12Go Asia to locate route possibilities that are available to you.  You may click the hyperlink or use the widget under. 

 HOW LONG TO STAYIn case you are the sort of traveler who does not like to hurry, then I would say 4 nights at Davao is ideal.   With only 3 nights at Davao, we jumped Samal with this trip since I did not believe we had sufficient time.  I recognize in hindsight however that we did.  It might have made our trip a whole lot more feverish and quicker paced, but it's possible.  Following Is a 3-night destination for travellers using ADHD

Day 1Arrive as soon as you can, then go right to your hotel on Samal Island. 

Day 3 Hire a vehicle for the entire day.  If you begin early, approximately 8 AM, then it is likely to stop by Malagos Garden Resort, the Philippine Eagle Center and Eden Nature Park around precisely the exact same day.  If You Would like to do the "Sky rides" in Eden Nature Park, then it is best you see them in this sequence:  If you're able to make it into Eden Nature Park by about noon, then that will be ideal because the purchase price of entry includes lunch.  If you cover the weekend (Fri-Sun), then it matters in so you go to these areas since the above rides in Eden Nature Park are available from 8AM-12NN and 1-4PM.  You may remain as long as you need within this region before driving back into town.  I propose having dinner in Jack's Ridge the exact same night to make whole use of this rental vehicle.    Jeepney rides begin at PHP 8 plus a small double space should cost approximately PHP 1,000 per night, less if you are getting one.  Since lots of the attractions are situated out town, it is possible to lease a chauffeured car for eight hours to get anywhere between PHP 2,000-3,000 based on the automobile.

 If you're going to be sharing a space with somebody, then a budget of about PHP 2,500-3,000 per day each individual ought to be a lot.  Add a bit more if you will be spending some time on Samal Island since lodging there'll be more costly.   You can attempt Gaisano Mall, Abreeza Theater, or SM Mall.  I have read that Aldevinco Shopping Center together Claro M. Recto Ave. presents good exchange rates too.  However, as much as you can, consider altering your cash in Manila if possible as you will likely get much better rates there.

As an alternative, you may even draw PHP from an ATM.  The prices are competitive.  Just make sure you advise your lender you're going to use your ATM card abroad so that you do not encounter any difficulties.    It is about a few blocks from town hall and can be smack dab in the center of the town's old commercial centre, only a fast jeepney ride from Bankerohan Market and Gaisano Mall. 

Once I reserved the room, the last one they had was that the massive living room that goes for PHP 2,700 each night.  It was fine, but was available, we'd have been perfectly pleased with the compact dual for only PHP 1,500.  If you are traveling alone, then their regular only goes for PHP 1,000.   It is worth noting that another reason I picked this place is since the proprietor, Mel, supplies a favorite Davao food tour.  Unfortunately, she had been off on vacation during our stay so we were not able to perform it. 

Should Bahay ni Tuding sounds appropriate for you, then it's possible to reserve a room via Booking.com or even Agoda.  Clicking on those links will bring up a lot of resort listings in Davao, not only Bahay ni Tuding, so make sure you look around and hunt for the one which most suits you.  As an alternative, you can perform an internet search on AirBnB too.




 Move SkyCycling in Eden Nature ParkSituated about one hour's drive from town centre, Eden Nature Park is a 80-hectare mountain hotel that is home to over 100,000 pine trees.  Surprisingly, only approximately 5 percent of this hotel is organic.  The remainder had been replanted in the early 70s in a bid to reestablish the foliage removed by illegal logging.  An admirable and remarkable effort really.   

2.  Contribute to the Protection of the Philippine EagleLocated around a hour's drive from the city centre and just down the street from Malagos Garden Resort, the centre is home to both rescued and captive-bred Philippine Eagles, in addition to some other birds of prey and a couple of mammals and reptiles.  There is a minimal entry fee that goes towards the conservation of the endangered animals.   They are enormous! 

3.   However, being the gourmands we're, the major attraction for us was the food.  They take Malagos Farmhouse chocolates and cheese that are arguably the nation's best.  They only recently opened a chocolate memorial that you might discover interesting also. 

4.  Become Environmentally Aware at D' Bone Collector MuseumLaunched by an American residing in Davao, D' Bone Collector Museum is an odd but eye-opening Selection of bones from a Wide Array of creatures.  Here you will discover complete skeletons of puppies, horses, reptiles, ostriches, a tiger, dolphins, even just a 41-ft sperm whale.  Together with lots of the aquatic creatures having expired from the usage of energy, this tradition is a sobering reminder of how our activities can frequently have a catastrophic effect on the surroundings.  A must see, especially in the event that you have children. 

5.  Enjoy Fresh Durian in Bankerohan MarketWith Davao being the middle of durian production from the Philippines, you can not leave without trying this notoriously plump but tasty fruit.  Try it in Bankerohan Market that's the city's most important industry.  Just jump on any jeepney bound for "Bankerohan" and it'll take you directly there.  Make sure you search for the Puyat manufacturer that's reportedly the ideal. 


6.  Research Samal Island We skipped Samal Island with this excursion but beachgoers must make it a point to spend a minumum of one night.   Samal Island is available from Davao City through a twenty-minute ferry journey. 

Jet GThis location is intriguing.  Situated at the rear of a gasoline station, Jet G is a Chinese restaurant which was also suggested for us from a local food blogger.  Nearly every individual dining that night was Chinese (and talking in Chinese also), that has been a testament to the validity of the meals.  The apps in their tv were!   


2.  Jack's RidgePopular among locals and tourists alike, Jack's Ridge gives the best opinion of Davao.  About a 20-minute taxi ride in the city centre, it is a wonderful spot to have dinner and revel in a few beers.  Make sure you go through the night to completely appreciate the opinion.    Many public areas like restaurants, resorts, and cafes could have free wifi however, the relationship is not as great nor as dependable.


Because of this I suggest renting a pocket wifi device so you've got uninterrupted wifi access in any way times.  You can lease a unit from Konbini Rentals to get PHP 450/day.  It is going to provide you wifi rates of around 42 mbps and permit you to join up to ten devices.  They will provide the wifi device to some resort in the Philippines per day until you arrive.  The bundle includes bubble wrap and a self-addressed plastic sheeting so that you may drop it off at the front desk of the final resort prior to leaving the Philippines.  This was not available in the time but Smart Communications, among the nation's top wireless service providers, recently launched a pocket wifi rental agency known as GoLocal.  I have not used it but Smart is a good company and their leasing costs are less than Konbini.  They do not adhere to the conventional daily lease strategy.    Conveniently, they provide airport pick-up and drop-off too along with Metro Manila hotel shipping. 



2.  Buy Travel InsuranceIn case you are a non-Filipino, I strongly advise you receive travel insurance before visiting the Philippines.  Truth of the matter is, you can't know what can occur.  A lot of our infrastructure is not as developed and should you visit areas like Sagadaor even Batad at which you are able to slip and hurt yourself if trekking, using travel insurance is going to be a lifesaver.  We purchase travel insurance from World Nomads because each long-term traveler I understand recommends it.  In the sound of this, they are the very best in the market with a mile.  Not only do they supply a high policy limit for medical costs (around USD 5 million together with the conventional bundle) they also cover things like trip accidents, missed flight connections, theft/loss of passport and bags, etc..  Follow the connection or use the widget under to find out more and receive a free travel insurance quote from World Nomads.  It is super fast and simple. 


 HOW to go around Jeepney rides begin in PHP 8 and also take you pretty much everywhere you wish to go from town.  If you will just be in town for a couple of days though and do not wish to waste any time getting lost, I propose simply cabbing it.  Taxi fares are fair.


As stated in the above itinerary, it is possible to lease a chauffeured car for eight hours to get anywhere between PHP 2,000-3,000.  It is much pricier than just taking public transport but it's also much quicker, convenient, and more comfortable.  Additionally, you will be certain to see these places in 1 day.  You can assess Davao Car Rental for prices.


Ways to get CHEAP AIRLINE TICKETSEver since I tasted my initial piso cuisine from Cebu Pacific, I have been hooked to cheap airline tickets. 



All these piso fare tickets are restricted and sell quickly, so you need to be fast.  To provide an edge, I propose enjoying their Facebook webpage and after them on Twitter to rapidly learn about these chair earnings.  If you check off "Get Alerts" on Facebook, then you will get instant alerts each time they post something new. 


As an update, we can highly recommend The Bourke Hotel Davao City http://thebourke.com/ and here's how to find them https://goo.gl/maps/pwCJ6Z2nnMN2

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