Davao City is located in the southernmost island group of the Philippines and is third most prominent and the largest city in country in terms of land area with 244,000 hectares of urban and agricultural land. Davao City is a place of contrasts and beauty, a place where every nook and cranny seems to hide something special.

Focal Point for Travel in Mindanao

Davao City has countless treats to offer visitors and travelers, the most important, at least for me, is that it can be one’s base of operations for the trip around the Davao region. The city’s airport has regular flights from around the country including Manila and Cebu, and its ports receive ferries from all the major ports in the Philippines. From the City, you can also get transportation to any point in the Davao Region, the surrounding provinces and the island group of Mindanao as buses, jeeps, rental vans and other ferries are readily available.

Travelling Around Davao City

When you’re in a city, they say that there’s no better to get to know a place than riding public transportation, not just taxis or really buses but also other available transportation methods. When in the Philippines this includes jeepneys. But if you’re afraid to get lost and not quite so adventurous then the taxis in Davao city will put readily get you to where you want to go and not try to rip you off.

Based on my experience, the cab drivers in the city always carry change to make sure they give the passengers exact change based on the meter unlike taxi drivers in Manila who expect you to round off the fare shown on the meter.

Accommodations

Davao City has hotels and accommodations to suit your budget and requirements. You’ve got the 4-star hotels such as the Waterfront Insular also from the Waterfront Hotel group, you can expect nothing but the best service and facilities from the Insular. Rates start at $90 per day.

The Royal Mandaya Hotel is one of the older hotels in the city but its years are a testament to the experience gained by its staff in providing service to its many guests. rates are between P3,800.00 for De Luxe rooms and P7,200.00 for the suite.

Marco Polo Hotel in Davao City  is another example of a Hotel with the most modern facilities, well trained staff and also rather pricey rooms which begin at $78.

You’ve also got a number of smaller hotels and inns around the city which provide excellent accommodations and facilities so don’t just think that you’ll have to stay at the expensive places in the City. You can visit the Microtel Inn & Suites where rates begin at $47 or Casa Leticia with rates beginning at P2,200.00.

Remember, unless you’re really there for the pampering of a hotel, the room is just a place for you to keep your belongings safe and for you to sleep in so you may not want something so expensive that it’ll restrict your travel because of your budget.

Davao Local Food

If you’re hungry then Davao is also a good place to walk around the look for a place to fill your belly. The City has got a huge repertoire of culinary delights waiting for you to taste, from Asian, European, American, and local Filipino.

The best grilled and Filipino dish in the city is said to be found in Penong’s , locals and visitors alike swear by this so its worth a visit. The best casual dining restaurant for me in the city would be Claude’s the food and wine are excellent and the ambiance, being located in an old house gives it a very old world atmosphere.

Another thing I enjoyed about Davao is that fact that Yellow-fin Tuna, crabs, tiger prawns and other seafood are so abundant in the City. In fact the price of food in the City is terribly cheap it’s almost a crime. Me and some friends found this place near our hotel which had an all you can buffet lunch for P120.00. Now you may think that there’s nothing special about that except for the fact that the buffet features deep fried tiger prawns, crabs, grilled tuna belly, and a whole gamut of seafood that would often cost an arm and a leg in Manila.

Coffee Shops

Every big city has a number of coffee shops and Davao City is no exception with almost 90 coffee shops, the most popular are Bo’s Coffee and Kangaroo Coffee. The laid back ambiance, relaxing music and fine choice of blends will satisfy the want of many discerning coffee lovers. You also must try the Durian Coffee. It’s very interesting!

Davao City Nightlife

Similarly, there are bars, clubs and casinos for travelers if you’re looking for something to do in the evenings. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation runs the casino in the city.

Davao City Golf Courses

The city has a number of gold courses around it, these include Apo Golf & Country Club and Palos Verdes Golf and Residential Estates where one can play an exciting round of golf set in the backdrop of Mt. Apo, the tallest peak in the Philippines.

Davao City Beaches

If you want to hit the beach, then you’re just boat ride away from the Garden Island of Samal, which features a number resorts, dive spots and beaches for visitors.

One of the most popular places to visit and stay at in Samal is the Pearl farm Beach Resort. As the name suggests, the resort was formerly a pearl farm used to cultivate oysters from the Sulu sea for domestic and foreign sales. It was later transformed into a beautiful resort catering to local and foreign visitors.

Davao Travel Tips

Davao was considered one of the most livable places in the country and it’s not just because of its management of development by balancing the environment, urbanization and historical preservation but also because of the city’s reputation for the strict implementation of its laws. The police are vigilant and are quick to respond to incidents of crime, as such, this has been reduced tremendously through the years.

Davao City is the only city in the Philippines that has an existing 911 emergency number system which you can dial if you’re in need emergency assistance as long as you’re in the city. Although the police are clearly visible in the city and you feel relatively safe from muggers and thieves, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure so take precautions when going around the city. Don’t display your cash, keep your belongings safe in the hotel safety deposit box and be aware of your surroundings.

Davao is a great place to visit, so great in fact that many of the visitors opted to stay. Enjoy what the city has to offer and if you get restless, feel free to enjoy a trip to the surrounding provinces. Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur have their own attractions, while Davao Oriental has a number of secluded private beach resorts if you’re curious enough to look for them.

Lastly, when you go to Davao, try to taste the Durian, if you haven’t yet. Yes, it may smell funky but the taste more than makes up for its aroma!