Ten Top Reasons to Discover Davao

by J. J. Scott

With all the diverse areas to visit in the Philippines, Davao, on the southern island of Mindanao is not on the usual tourist’s route, which is a shame because the area has a lot to offer. Davao, the world’s second largest city is area, is an interesting cultural mix of Moslem, Chinese, and local ethnic groups, but the city is predominately Christian.

1. Temples: The huge Long Hua Chinese Buddhist temple has beautiful wooden floors and carved doors and walls. Not far away is the Taoist Temple, a fantastic red pagoda that houses holy icons of the Taoist religion. The Lon Wa Temple, set in environment of candle trees and bamboo with an imposing statue of the Buddha with his life depicted in wood carving, is home to the Buddha of Thousand Arms. Monks will also read fortunes.

2. Shopping: Aldevinco Shopping Center Davao City prides itself for having the most number of stalls and the diversity of their offerings. It is the best place for batik garments, brass products, ethnic accessories and souvenir shirts. They claim to have the most competitive prices for pearls. Other favorite items include fresh and candied fruits, orchids, There are also several traditional malls.

3. Crocodile Park: Crocodile Park is home to the largest crocodile in the country aptly named Pangil (“jaws”). In addition to the huge 19-foot crocodile and crocodile breeding program, the park has several species of crocodile, wild cats, pythons, turtles, lizards, monkeys and varieties of exotic birds found inside the mini-zoo. An animal encounter show where visitors can get up close to the animals is held every weekend at the park.

4. Eagle Conservation Center: The center is a sanctuary for the Philippine eagle and other animals native to the Philippines. The rare and endangered Philippine eagle is three feet in height and has a wingspan of seven feet. The Center is home to 36 Philippine Eagles, 18 of which are captive-bred. It also houses ten other species of birds, four species of mammals and two species of reptiles. Simulating a tropical rain forest environment, the Center offers visitors a glimpse into the country’s forest ecosystem. Although the exhibits are used primarily to help educate the Filipino people on conservation, the facility is also considered a major tourist attraction in Davao City.

5. Adventure: Mount Apo, literally the ‘grandfather” of all mountains at 9,691 feet is the tallest in the Philippines. Climbing Mount Apo takes four days and should be done with an experienced guide. There are many trails so climbers often ascend and descend through different routes to see more of the place. The adventurous can also go white water rafting, spelunking, hiking, and diving.

6. Eden Park: The park is a mountain paradise where one can commune with nature. Visitors can get a glimpse and a quick orientation of the Park's 40-hectare attractions and amenities on the 45-minute guided shuttle tour. There are jogging and hiking trails plus a fishing pond. There are numerous recreational activities including zip lines. Cabins and camping sites are available.

7. Plantation tours: Visit one of the many banana plantations and learn the process that takes the banana from the fields to markets all over the world. It is the number one export of the region. Observe copra making in “coconut country” on a tour of a coconut plantation. Tours are also available to durian farms. Durian is the fruit that people say. “tastes like heaven but smells like h___!”

8. Malagos Garden Resort: Besides being a resort with picturesque cabins, day visitors can see a bird show every Sunday. Amazing species of birds headline the Malagos Bird Show including eagles, hawks, parrots, crows, ostriches, and even ducks that perform astonishing tricks to the amusement of guests while educating the importance of conserving the environment.

9. Festivals: There are several festivals unique to Davao but the biggest is in August. The Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival showcases tribal cultures and craftsmanship with costumed street parades, dances, floral floats, and performances. The weeklong festival coincides with the harvest of local fruits such as durian, lanzones, mangosteens, and rambutan.

10. Samal Island: Called the Garden Island of Samal, Pearl Farm was once the Aquinaldo Pearl Farm where cultured pearls were created using the latest Japanese technology. Now Pearl Farm is a high-end resort. Accommodations are in buildings made in the local style, some of which are on stilts on the water’s edge. Guests can dive on two WW II sunken Japanese ships just a few feet off shore, swim in the two pools, and attend special night time shows, one of which highlights the culture of the Mindanao. Visitors to Davao not staying at the resort can book a day trip to the island.

Recommended accommodations: The Marco Polo Davao, www.davao.marcopolohotels.com, is the best of Davao with a new spa, lap pool, several restaurants, and other amenities including nightly entertainment. It is located in the city center and across the street from the Aldevinco Shopping Center.

Pearl Farm on Samal Island, www.pearlfarmresort.com, is a high end resort built in the Samal tradition with two swimming pool and special evening shows weekly.

For more information check www.davaotourism.com  and www.davaotourism.com.