From Island to Highland

DAVAO, Philippines -- Urban attractions. Shopping galore. Outdoor adventures. Nature tripping. Festivals. Beach bumming. These in a nutshell sum up what to expect in Davao City.

Other than the durian (the famous fruit of Davaoeños) and Philippine Eagle, Davao City has gradually added to its now large collection of tourist attractions.

Little do people know that Davao City is actually one of the most livable cities in the south. First is the fact that it is too far away from the perceived armed conflict with Muslim insurgents. Secondary to this is that it has the lowest crime rate.

“Davao City is recognized as a Hall of Famer for consistently maintaining peace and order so this is the safest tourist destination in the country,” said Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Director Art P. Boncato, Jr.

Boncato also said that due to the strong and independent local government, Davao City has positioned itself as a good place for eco-tourism. The local DOT is currently using the tourism slogan “Island to highland” to entice more travelers from around the world.

“Since tourism marketing in Davao City is gaining ground, more and more travelers are expected to come. From domestic travelers alone, we already have almost 1 million visits every year and we can surpass this in the coming years,” he said.

Some of the best places to visit are the Paradise Island Park and Beach Resort in the Island Garden City of Samal. What started out as a private picnic destination became an island resort located along the Davao Gulf.

Only a five-minute boat ride from the city (stationed at Sasa Bridge or Waterfront Insular Davao Hotel), this 8-hectare property was developed as a beach resort with 800-meter fine sand shoreline that is perfect for fish feeding, scuba diving, snorkeling, jet skiing, and swimming.

Beach lovers may also opt to stay overnight because it has 75 available rooms with veranda and fenced lawn. Kids will enjoy the mini-zoo, a playground, and wide area of lush gardens.

Samal Island is part of a tourism campaign of the DOT for its cluster of islands within an island.

In the highland part of Davao, Eden Nature Park and Resort in Barangay Eden, Toril District is a mountain resort located at almost 3,000 feet above sea level. It is 95-percent man-made park but a great model for nature lovers with 100,000 pine trees and myriads of rare flower species spread out beautifully in the 80-hectare property, providing a fresh backdrop to the various attractions.

Overlooking Davao’s cityscape, Eden Nature Park has a wide recreational area, and is famous for its zipline.

A trek to Mt. Apo is another memorable adventure. The highest mountain in the country is one of the most popular climbing destinations and is home to a vast diversity of flora and fauna.

The Deca Wakeboard Park in Tacunan, Mintal offers wakeboarding in its 4-hectare property which is at par with Camsur Watersports Complex in Naga City, Bicol. It has props for extreme wake-skating like the kicker, tabletop, and rooftop.

Adventure never stops as Davao has its own white water rafting adventure, like in Cagayan de Oro, particularly in Barangay Tamugan. Unwind and get high on adrenaline while cruising through 24 challenging rapids.

Visitors might want to visit the famous Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos, Baguio District as well. Situated at the foothills of Mt. Apo, the center leads in the care and propagation of the endangered Philippine Eagle. Guests will have a chance to learn and appreciate the wildlife that is rare in the country today. They provide free lectures, tours, and engaging activities especially with Vice-president Jejomar Binay’s adopted Philippine eagle named Scout Binay.

In the city, try the durian coffee and durian caramel crunch at Blugre coffee shop. Looking for accommodation? Try staying at the Marco Polo Hotel situated at the heart of Davao City and is very near the airport. The unique Mediterranean style interiors from its 245 elegant rooms and suites exude a relaxing ambience.

Marco Polo Davao General Manager Nigel Fisher said each room has a breathtaking view of the vast city, Mt. Apo, or Gulf of Davao.

Fisher also said that in 2009, Marco Polo Davao was awarded as “Hotel of the Year” over nine sister hotels in Cebu, Hong Kong, and Mainland China. The award recognizes the hotel’s outstanding service and high achievement across a range of company performance benchmarks.

“Marco Polo Davao happily reclaims the award, having garnered it also in 2007. These awards motivate us to bring our work to an even higher level as we serve local and international guests as a business investment and travel destination,” Fisher said.

Boncato also said that due to the strong and independent local government, Davao City has positioned itself as a good place for eco-tourism. The local DOT is currently using the tourism slogan “Island to highland” to entice more travelers from around the world.

“Since tourism marketing in Davao City is gaining ground, more and more travelers are expected to come. From domestic travelers alone, we already have almost one million visits every year and we can surpass this in the coming years,” he said.

Some of the best places to visit are the Paradise Island Park and Beach Resort in the Island Garden City of Samal. What started out as a private picnic destination became an island resort located along the Davao Gulf.

Only a five-minute boat ride from the city (stationed at Sasa Bridge or Waterfront Insular Davao Hotel), this 8-hectare property was developed as a beach resort with 800-meter fine sand shoreline that is perfect for fish feeding, scuba diving, snorkeling, jet skiing, and swimming.

Beach lovers may also opt to stay overnight because it has 75 available rooms with veranda and fenced lawn. Kids will enjoy the mini-zoo, a playground, and wide area of lush gardens.

Samal Island is part of a tourism campaign of the DOT for its cluster of islands within an island.

In the highland part of Davao Eden Nature Park and Resort in Barangay Eden, Toril District is a mountain resort located at almost 3,000 feet above sea level. It is 95-percent man-made park but a great model for nature lovers with 100,000 pine trees and myriads of rare flower species spread out beautifully in the 80-hectare property, providing a fresh backdrop to the various attractions.

Overlooking Davao’s cityscape, Eden Nature Park has a wide recreational area, and is famous for its zipline.

A trek to Mt. Apo is another memorable adventure. The highest mountain in the country is one of the most popular climbing destinations and is home to a vast diversity of flora and fauna.

The Deca Wakeboard Park in Tacunan, Mintal offers wakeboarding in its 4-hectare property which is at par with Camsur Watersports Complex in Naga City, Bicol. It has props for extreme wake-skating like the kicker, tabletop, and rooftop.

Adventure never stops as Davao has its own white water rafting adventure, like in Cagayan de Oro, particularly in Barangay Tamugan. Unwind and get high on adrenaline while cruising through 24 challenging rapids.

Visitors might want to visit the famous Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos, Baguio District as well. Situated at the foothills of Mt. Apo, the center leads in the care and propagation of the endangered Philippine Eagle. Guests will have a chance to learn and appreciate the wildlife that is rare in the country today. They provide free lectures, tours, and engaging activities especially with Vice-president Jejomar Binay’s adopted Philippine eagle named Scout Binay.

In the city, try the durian coffee and durian caramel crunch at Blugre coffee shop. Looking for accommodation? Try staying at the Marco Polo Hotel situated at the heart of Davao City and is very near the airport. The unique Mediterranean style interiors from its 245 elegant rooms and suites exude a relaxing ambience.