Earlier this year, we headed on
to Davao via Bukidnon through the BUDA Highway after spending a night in CDO.
My brother’s argument was that we had to take the longer route first. True
enough, this strategy would help us with our itinerary later on.
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| Olivia Sands Uraya Beach Resort |
Indulge in the Beauty of Samal Island
Davao City’s LGU made it very easy for visitors to make their way to the beautiful attraction that is Samal Island. Through Sasa Port, which is only a ten-minute drive from our condo unit, everything in Sasa Port is organized. It only cost our car Php 250 with four passengers for the fees. Then all we had to do was to queue up behind the rest of the vehicles crossing the sound to the Island Garden of Samal, and after ten minutes, we were already entering the island after having paid Php60 for four people for environmental fees.
Samal Island has many beautiful
resorts, ranging from the super affordable, to mid-range and the
splurge-worthy.
For the super affordable, we
first went to Kaputian Beach. With the help of Waze, it was a smooth ride. We
paid the entrance fee of only Php 15 per person and settled down. However, we
were immediately struck by boredom and decided to look for another resort with
a little more privacy. Again, a few searches and suggestions from our dear
friend Google led us to a mid-range resort called Uraya.
Now Uraya was very new, as it was
on its soft-opening when we chanced upon it. Though a handful of people already
knew about it, there were already families picnicking on the shore and couples
doing their prenup photoshoots in Uraya. How new is new? There was still
digging and construction ongoing beside the kitchen and the chef was also the
waiter. But all is good because these were all minor observations because the
beach is definitely worth it.
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| Olivia Sands Uraya Beach Resort, Samal Island |
What I liked the most about Uraya
is that it’s very clean, and I hope that the cleanliness is maintained. There’s
also a nice dock that stretches to the ocean floating. Imagine that it’s set
against blue waters reflecting clear skies, plus the white sand on the beach is
spotless. Just thinking about it makes me want to go back to Uraya. Not bad for only Php 150 per person.
But we didn’t stumble upon Uraya
immediately though. We thought of first trying our luck in the Pearl Farm but
to tell you honestly, we didn’t make it past the gates because day tours were
not allowed and a night in the resort would cost Php 24K! It was double the
rates of a standard room in Conrad Manila!
The Pearl Farm is a high-end
resort that offers dining options, watersports and offers unique experiences
for all its guests. However, that time, it wasn’t for us who were on a budget
during our trip. Perhaps we can enjoy the Pearl Farm the next time.
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| Guinness World Record for Monfort Bat Caves |
Visit Monfort Bat Caves
Also not to be missed in Samal Island is the Monfort Bat Caves. It’s a good experience for coming up close with a whole colony of fruit bats! For only Php100 per person, all you have to do is attend a short orientation and watch the bats’ activities in the caves.
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| One of a number of bat caves in the Monfort Sanctuary |
The Monfort Bat Colony is the
largest colony of Geoffrey’s Rousette Fruit Bats reaching approximately 1.8
million, earning a Guiness World Record. A visit is recommended for families,
kids and a group of friends to learn more about the importance of bats in the ecology.
However, visitors can stand only so long before a headache sinks in caused by
the stench of guano. It’s a good immersive experience though.
If you’re going around the island
by yourselves, Waze can help you out.
Experience Roxas Night Market
Back in the city, we were fortunate to be able to book a condo unit through AirBnB (hello Avida Towers!). Our AirBnB was so accessible as it was only ten minutes away from Sasa Port and only a three-minute walk to Roxas Night Market. Unbelievable right?
Roxas Night Market is the place
to be for Davaoeños after a long day that takes away the guessing for cheap
eats. I think we went back to the night market for at least a couple of times,
as there were rows and rows and rows of food from deep-fried, tasty desserts,
barbecue, puso (rice wrapped in leaves), grilled seafood, to summery mango
desserts and dimsum.
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| Food choices in Roxas Night Market, Davao |
I love that it’s clean, safe and
definitely has many food choices for people who just can’t make up their minds (I’m
one of those haha). For a group of four, the most damage can hike up to about Php800,
compared to eating in a pricey resto. Here, it’s affordable and very
satisfying. Yum, right?
Be A Chocolatier in Malagos Garden Resort
Oh Malagos.
Malagos is synonymous to Willie
Wonka for me, as during my first time staying here, I chanced upon production
day in the chocolate processing plant and the aroma of chocolate wafted throughout
the whole garden.
For a start, Malagos is not just
a garden resort but has also made a name for itself in the international
chocolate scene as it supports local cacao farmers and constantly showcases its
chocolate products abroad. For first-time visitors, a self-guided day tour can
be availed of at the front desk for an entrance fee of Php 200. A map shall be
given to you and you can make your way through the butterfly garden, the
chocolate museum and other sites along the way.
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| Museo de Mariposa, Malagos Garden Resort Self-Guided Tour |
The butterfly garden is a peaceful
stroll along the garden as each guest is immersed in how to pick out flowers
and shrubs that attract butterflies, and an exhibit is open to all visitors. I particularly
liked the handmade book about paru-paru superstitions, too bad I couldn’t
bring home a copy of it.
The highlight of this visit has
to be the Chocolatier Experience, learn how to make your own chocolate for only
Php 450 per person, both kids and adults can do this. Malagos chocolate is 65%
dark chocolate and they have been exported all over the world. The cacao is
grown on the farm and the chocolate factory is onsite. While waiting for your chocolate to be packed, you can sit at the cafe and enjoy some chocolate mousse, chocolate ice cream and classic chocolate cake.
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| Enjoying chocolate mousse, chocolate ice cream, and a chocolate shake in the Malagos Cafe |
Here’s some advice, store your
DIY chocolate in the ref immediately, avoid leaving it in any hot areas so that
your chocolate won’t melt. The finished product is also a good gift to share
with family and friends.
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| Finished product of our Chocolatier Experience in Malagos Chocolate Museum |
Eden Nature and Adventure Park
We arrived in Eden Nature and Adventure Park right before lunchtime and just in time for the buffet. For only Php 700 per person, we were able to refuel in time for the tour around Eden Nature Park. Meals prepared in Eden are all grown organically in their farms. Outside, there are shops showcasing flowers and plants for sale and other products from the park.
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| Posing in the Giant Picture Frame in the Flower Garden, Eden Nature and Adventure Park, Davao |
There are so many activities to
do in Eden such as going on a tour, swimming, fishing, and skyriding. We opted
for the guided shuttle tour around the 40-hectare attraction that took 45 minutes.
With three stops, we were also able to take photos in the various gardens. Tour
guides can also teach you fun poses in each stop. Tours are on a first-come,
first-serve basis so it pays to be early.
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| Acting silly in the Cultural Village at Eden Nature and Adventure Park |
What I really liked about Davao is that it's accessible to many attractions and makes a worthy stop for a road trip. That, plus there's endless options for food whether it's save or splurge. After Davao we made our way back to Bukidnon and finally stayed with family in Balingasag and Jasaan before staying in Cagayan de Oro.
That's it for my Davao travel guide, and from a more personal note, thank you for sticking with me throughout the various travels I take. Keep the comments and the love coming, you know I love hearing from you, my readers!
Reminders
· When visiting other nations, we are responsible for our own behavior and should observe proper customs as the locals do, as we are only guests in their country.
· Be responsible
travelers by disposing of trash properly and being courteous to those you meet,
especially the elderly and locals.
Where we stayed: AirBnB 25th floor Avida Towers Hosted by Prosperty Property (AirBnB) with a view of Samal Island
Where we stayed: AirBnB 25th floor Avida Towers Hosted by Prosperty Property (AirBnB) with a view of Samal Island
Note: All
input is based on my personal experiences in Davao City. Our group made
arrangements prior to our travel dates. This is in no way, a sponsored post.
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