Davao Gateway to the Cultural Wonders

Davao City is a modern metropolis bursting

with life, verve and colour. It is located in a
land area of 244,000 hectares, which places it
among the world’s largest cities. Teeming with
a vibrant populace, the city is a bustling hub of
commerce, education, tourism, arts, culture
and wellness in Southern Philippines.
Davao of Mindanao
Getting There
Major Airport Gateway
Davao International Airport. (DVO)
Distance between Davao and Manila is 1,545 kilometres.
With a dominantly-migrant population, Davao Air Transport
is a melting pot of cultures where diversities Various domestic carriers fly to Davao from several
are appreciated and nurtured in a harmonious points in the country while a few international carriers
and peaceful environment. As much as fly from several neighbouring Asian cities including
Christians mix freely with Muslims and churches Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macau, Singapore and Seoul.
stand alongside mosques, Davao is especially Water Transport
famous as the home of colourful ethnic Major shipping lines service the Davao area from
minorities, some of which include the Bagobo, Manila and nearby southern points. The Davao
B’laan, Mandaya, Mansaka, Manobo, and T’boli. seaport also serves as the shipping point of exit for
Indeed, there is more cultural diversity in most of the agricultural exports of Southern and
Davao than any other part of the country. Southeastern Mindanao.

Davao is a place of ideal balance. It is fast-paced Hotels and Resorts

yet relaxed where the luxuries of cosmopolitan
Davao offers a variety of lodging accommodations
living complement the breathtaking beauty of
for travelers to the region. These facilities range from San Pedro Cathedral
the great outdoors. It serves as the gateway to The Cathedral serves as the seat of the Catholic
affordable quality accommodations to serene resorts
explore the pristine wonders of Mindanao. Archdiocese of Davao and the oldest church in the city.
lying on secluded coves. First class business hotels are
also available nearer the city centres of each region. The church was built in 1847 during the Spanish period
and even its original altar is preserved to this day.
Fast Facts Puentespina Orchids & Tropical Plants
Time Zone: GMT + 8
Sports Activities and Exploration
What started as a hobby in 1977 grew to become one
Mindanao is a host to an extensive collection of sport of the biggest producers of cut flowers in the country
Visa: Only required if staying more than 30 days
activities that range from recreational activities like today. Nowadays, it is a busy centre for the local cut
Climate: November to February – cool and golf, horseback riding, beach combing, trekking to flower industry, supplying major cities nationwide
mostly dry; March to June – warm and mostly dry;
intense adrenaline fuelled sports including mountain with its beautiful floral products, especially the Vanda
July to October – warm and mostly wet
climbing, white water rafting, and surfing. Sanderiana, or the Waling Waling.
Average Temperature Year-round: 24°C – 32°C
Shrine of the Infant Jesus
Attire: Light casual clothes all year round
Major Attractions Located at the top of Matina Hill, this open-air shrine
Money: Philippine Pesos. Check with the local with replicas of the Infant Jesus of Prague and Our Lady
banks for current exchange rates. All major credit Mount Apo National Park of Fatima serves as a nice and quiet place to reflect
cards accepted At 2,954 meters, Mt. Apo is the country’s tallest peak. and worship while also granting exceptional views of
Every March, the local government organizes the Davao City, Davao Gulf, and Samal Island.
Water: Bottled water available in resorts,
restaurants and convenience stores Mt. Apo Trek, and hundreds of mountain climbers
Crocodile Park
Philippines Department of Tourism participate. Its natural wonders attract outdoor
Communications: International and direct dial The park is one-of-a-kind in the region, and serves as a
10 -11 Suffolk Street London, SW1Y 4HG enthusiasts to trek to its towering peak while bearing
phone and fax. Internet cafes are widely available sanctuary for locally bred crocodiles. One of its native
Tel: 020 7321 0668 Fax: 020 7925 2920 witness to nature’s tranquility, including steaming inhabitants, measuring over 18 feet in length, is the
What to Bring: Sun block, tanning lotions, blue lakes, geysers, sulfur pillars, thundering rivers and
E-mail: [email protected] largest crocodile in the country aptly named “Pangil”
insect repellant, personal medication, swimwear www.itsmorefuninthephilippines.co.uk waterfalls. Tuday Falls at 100 metres, is the tallest (Fangs). Other attractions include horseback riding,
and accessories, etc.
waterfalls that can be found in the region. swimming pools and a picturesque picnic area.
Eden Nature Park Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental General Santos City, South Cotabato Useful Websites for the Region:
Situated at the foot of Mt. Talomo, Eden Nature Park Located in northern Mindanao, Cagayan de Oro is faithful Given its prime location along the migratory routes of Davao www.davaocity.gov.ph
provides magnificent views of Davao City and the Gulf. for luring adventurers to its bountiful natural resources. Southern Philippines, “Gensan” has become the Tuna Capital www.clickdavao.com
The park provides a relaxing venue in contrast to the It is famous for its selection of outdoor activities www.discoverdavao.com
of the Philippines, and provides a rich harvest of yellowfin http://clickdavao.com/kadayawan/
bustling city life. including spelunking through the numerous exotic caves,
tuna to a worldwide market. Other than this, Gensan is a index.php
traversing sky bridges along century old forests and white http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davao_City
Philippine Eagle Conservation Centre water rafting along the mighty Cagayan de Oro River. It is well-known outdoor destination, with top-quality products
Camiguín www.camiguin.gov.ph
The centre is primarily dedicated to the conservation also the home of the Malasag Eco-Tourism Village, which like Kalaja Karsts Land (featuring Kalaja Cave and Kalaja Face), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camiguin
of the extremely rare Philippine Eagle (Phitecophaga successfully captures the ethnic spirit of the indigenous Bunga Springs, Absekong Waterfalls and Nopol Hills. www.camiguin.redbearnet.com
Jefferyi), first discovered by British ornithologist John tribes of the area. Samal www.samalcity.gov.ph
Whitehead in 1896. It is the largest eagle standing Festivals Siargao www.siargaoislands.com/
about one metre tall with a wingspan of two metres. Zamboanga www.zamboanga.com
Araw ng Koronadal (second week of January; Koronadal);
In the wild, these eagles are found in the forests around www.zamboanga.gov.ph
Kahimunan (second week of January; Butuan);
Mount Apo, while in the centre, you will see various Cagayán de Oro www.cagayandeoro.gov.ph
Philippine Eagles bred in captivity. Attractions within the Region Kalilangan (second week of February; General Santos City); http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Sibug-Sibug (fourth week of February; Zamboanga); Cagayan_de_Oro_City
Camiguin Province
Davao River Lying in the Bohol Sea some 90 kilometres north of Mindanao Araw ng Zamboanga Sibugay Bukidnon www.bukidnon.gov.ph
Representing the third largest river catchment in the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bukidnon
is the pear-shaped volcanic island of Camiguin. It is an island (fourth week of February; Zamboanga);
entire country, it is currently the venue for the latest General Santos http://www.gensantos.gov.ph/
paradise known for its beautiful coastlines and rich marine Araw ng Dabaw (first week of March; Davao);
craze for adventure-seekers in Davao City. White water resources surrounded by natural wonders like hot springs, Panagtagbo (first week of March; Tagum City);
rafting along the river is a three-hour run starting from waterfalls, volcanoes (of which there are seven in the island) Kaamulan (first week of March; Bukidnon);
Useful Contacts:
the highlands of the Baguio District, going through and exotic flora and fauna. Camiguin has two other attractive Department of Tourism Offices:
Banwahon (second week of May; Surigao);
Calinan and then finishing in the lowlands. There are islets known as White Island, a 2 kilometre uninhabited white London +44 (0) 20 7321 0668
Pagsalabuk (last week of May; Dapitan City); [email protected]
about 30 rapids, varying in difficulty from class one sand bar and Mantigue Island, four hectares of forest fringed
San Juan Hibok-Hibokan (last week of June; Camiguin); www.itsmorefuninthephilippines.co.uk
up to the extreme class five. white sand beaches. Also located in the island is the Old
Catamaran Church Ruins, remnants of the oldest Spanish Sirong-Sirong (last week of June; Surigao); Davao +63 (0) 82 221 0070
Samal Island [email protected]
settlement in the area destroyed by the 1871 Vulcan Daan Sagayan (first week of July; Lanao del Norte);
Located just 10 minutes from Davao City, Samal Island is Cagayan de Oro (08822) 726 394
Eruption. The island’s most popular event is the Lanzones T’Nalak (second week of July; Cotabato); [email protected]
lined with white sand beaches and provides a multitude Festival, held annually in the month of October. Kinabayo (last week of July; Zamboanga);
of activities both on and offshore. Inland tours to
Bukidnon Province Cotobato City [email protected]
Bukidnon is a highland haven in the heart of the island. Kalibongan (second week of August; Cotabato); Butuan City +63 (0) 85 341 8413
spectacular rivers and falls, heritage sites and a renowned Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte
It is known as the Food Basket of Mindanao and is home Kayag-An (last week of August; Cagayan); [email protected]
cave housing an incredible 1.8 million bats are popular Siargao is a teardrop shaped island located in the northeast
of Mindanao. The eastern coastline faces directly out into to the world’s biggest pineapple plantation. It is well Flomlok (second week of September; Cotabato); Zamboanga City +63 (0) 62 993 0030
with tourists. Aside from overland adventures, this [email protected]
the Pacific Ocean and the Philippine Trench, 10,057 metres endowed with natural attractions like the Kitanglad Padigo San (second week of September; Davao);
island is blessed with a multitude of dive sites to suit Airlines:
deep. The island is primarily known throughout the world Ranges that includes Dulang Dulang, the second highest Zamboanga Hermosa (second week of September; Zamboanga);
all tastes and experiences. Names like Ligid Caves and Philippine Airlines +63 (0) 2 855 8888
as a first class quality surfing location where international peak in the country. The province is also endowed with a
Pinnacle Point in the northeast, to Mushroom Rock in Sambuokan (second week of Sepetember; Davao); www.philippineairlines.com
competitions are held every October. Other activities very high concentration of endemic biodiversity.
the southeast, conjure images of giant gorgonian fans, Kidapawan (first week of October; Kidapawan City); Cebu Pacific +63 (0) 2 636 4938
include sailing, spelunking and exploring the spectacular Malaybalay City, the Provincial Capitol, plays host to the www.cebupacificair.com
octopus, moray eels, jacks, dolphins and other pelagic Lanzones (second week of October; Camiguin);
seascapes through snorkeling and diving. increasingly-popular Kaamulan Festival every March.
animals. There are also spectacular sights for snorkelers, Ting’Udo (second week of October; Cotabato); Air Asia +63 (0) 2 722 2742
www.airasia.com
like the Marissa reefs where the hawksbill turtles are Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur Lake Sebu, South Cotabato Banayan (last week of October; Davao);
Recognized as one of the most important watershed areas SkyJet Airlines www.flyskyjetair.com
regular visitors. “Zamboanga Hermosa”, or Beautiful Helobong (second week of November; Cotabato);
Zamboanga is also the name of the most in the country, Lake Sebu consists of many small streams,
Kadayawan Sa Dabaw Festival Kalimudan (third week of November; Sultan Kudarat); Ferries:
popular festival in the “Ancient City of creeks, rivers, and springs that provide irrigation water for
The festival was originally called “Apo Duwaling,” a name rice lands throughout the provinces of South Cotabato and Kadagyaan (first week of December; Cotabato); SuperFerry http://www.superferry.com.ph
Flowers”, where vestiges of Spanish rule still
created from the icons Davao was famous for – Mt. Apo, stand out in the architecture, the language Sultan Kudarat. Two leading tribal peoples, the T’boli and the Kanyong Kawayan (third week of December; Cotabato). Negros Navigation +63 (0) 2 243 5359
the country’s highest peak; durian, the king of fruits; and the day-to-day way of life. Zamboanga Ubo, make their home on and around Lake Sebu. The T’bolis Cebu Ferry Corporation +63 (0) 32 232 4229
and waling-waling, the queen of orchids. Today, City is home to numerous historical sites in particular are known for their skill in weaving and making SuperCat Fast Ferry Corp +63 (0) 32 234 9600
Kadayawan has metamorphosed as one of the country’s dating back to the Spanish era, when brassware. Wildlife is commonly observed in the region,
biggest, honoring Davao’s artistic, cultural and countless battles were fought and communities of birds such as cockatoos, swallows, Other useful Contacts:
historical heritage through tribal dances and floral by the Spaniards against the Moros. kingfishers, kites, herons, and egrets have made their British Embassy Manila +63 (0) 2 816 7116
parades in full regalia. permanent homes in the area. British Consulate Cebu +63 (0) 32 346 0525