Davao City Hotels

Davao can promise a thousand and one tour delights with its abundance of tourist destinations and spots not even most locals have visited in their entirety. Here is a summary of what these places are.

Davao’s forest reserves are among the famous and most beautiful in the country. And such havens are perfect sanctuaries for local eagles which are one of the government’s preservation targets today and for decades to come. The Davao Eagle Conservation Center is a perfect site for eagle lovers and eagle protection advocates, or even bird watchers who seek the pure sight of wild birds in their natural habitats, freely roaming or soaring around.

And who wouldn’t want to experience the exhilarating sight of Mt. Apo, much more tread its sides to its world famous peak—the highest, in fact, in the country, and one of the highest in the world? Mount Apo, a national park very near Davao, is a favorite lair of mountain climbing thrill seekers, from abroad and the country. Its peak is said to be a fairy-tale like wonder where some unique flora and fauna species proliferate, nurtured by natural dew and caressed by the warmth of sunlight. This Davao mountain attraction never fails to lure young and adult climbers and hikers who traverse the rugged terrain up the slope to claim a conqueror’s footing on the Davao mountain king.

Davao is also well known for quality orchids. And an important place to visit is the Puentespina Orchid Garden. Discover the different orchid varieties that proliferate locally and those from abroad, and appreciate the subtle colors and forms in which they come and the natural arrangement they blossom in.

Another Davao specialty is how tropical fruits grow and take their exceptional quality that is distinctly Davao. Davao fruits are branded with top caliber appraisals and are popular for being export quality. Particular here is the popular Davao banana varieties. Bananas are said to be so abundant in Davao that there are times when they are merely given away for free to any passerby. Try dropping by banana plantations which are regular features of Davao farm lands.

Then there are the island of Samal to explore, the island of Talikud to discover, and the remarkable Coral Islands to unearth and take good shots with the camera.

The above are but a few of what Davao can reveal. No wonder that both tourists and investors are often brought to Davao when locals want to show off.

Tags: Tour, Davao Beach Resort, Davao City, Tourism, Davao Philippines, Samal, Philippines

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These four tourist spots are a must see when in Davao Del Sur. Find time to explore the special worth of these places and let the experience rivet the memory to their enduring significance.

A favorite memorial spot in this province frequented by foreign tourists, especially Japanese and American war veterans, is the famous Japanese Peace Memorial Shrine located inside the Japanese Memorial Cemetery. This Davao Del Sur landmark reminds visitors, and the world at large, of the futility and cost of armed confrontation, especially of war, in resolving political or economic issues, particularly those of international extent.

The Department of Tourism in Davao Del Sur has invested in and banked on the potential of this tourist spot, this being the venue of an annual reunion of Japanese war veterans, their relatives and friends. This site is accessible from the Davao City through private or public transportation. The memorial shrine, among the historical sites in Davao Del Sur, is devoted to promoting the universal brotherhood of all men of any race, belief, or ideology.

Another tourist destination worthy of checking out is the Davao Museum, located inside the Insular Village. This museum, providing a peek into the culture and spirit of Davao Del Sur, is about 12 kilometers from Davao City. This museum highlights the origins and achievements of a people in the course of time, making Davao Del Sur what it is today.

At the onset, entering the main gallery, Davao Museum is at once a fascinating depository of indigenous art and craftsmanship reflecting Davao culture’s ingenuity and uniqueness, and its contribution to Philippine civilization.

On display in Davao Museum are native art and tapestry, people’s ancient costumes, accessories, utensils, jewelries, native handicrafts, among others, that make Davao Museum a delightful historical stop-over. It also keeps a special gallery for Davao paintings, elaborate sculptures, and painted ceramics and pottery, along with native souvenir items and mini furnishings.

Finally, don’t miss the Tiboli Weaving Center right on the grounds of classic Insular Hotel in Lanang, Davao City. The weaving is actually done by tribal weavers straight from South Cotabato. See first hand the creation of captivating and colorful tapestry with intricate designs unmistakably Davao. These weaved items are colored with herbal roots with a mix of mud reflective of Davao native myths or religion.

These three spots in Davao are must destinations that every visitor ought not only see but experience. They impart not only scenes but a message.

Tags: Davao City Hotel, Davao Beach Resort, Tour, Travel, Philippines, Davao City, Pearl Farm

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Before going any place else in the Philippines, do make sure to give a serious thought to the South. And don’t ever miss Davao and what wonders and delights it can show off.

Davao del Sur has a lot of surprises to show visitors. The much vaunted unique orchid specie vanda sanderiana is just among them. Davao fruits are also the best in the archipelago, and what of the flaunted rare Philippine Eagle which thrive in the province? But there are more to see in Davao than just orchids, fruits and eagles, and Davao has so much more wonders to divulge to thrill seekers than its riches in the sea, at its shorelines, and even its nightlife.

Davao del Sur can also afford a glimpse into the unique culture and lifestyles of some of its remarkable natives. These ethnic groups have preserved their indigenous distinctiveness through years of modernity around them, giving us a constant reminder of how things used to be in times past. Although admittedly, these aboriginal tribes have somehow unwittingly accommodated themselves a bit to the present times. Nevertheless, Davao has kept intact the ethnicity of the Mangguangans, Bagobos, Mansakas, Atas, Kalagans, Tagakaolos, and Mandayas. They are somewhat similar with their northern counterparts (Ifugaos, Ibanags, and all), but in many ways also distinct from them. Artifacts on them are on display in many Davao museums and native art shops.

But if we think that ethnic marvels are all Davao is capable of, we’re again missing a major point. And that point is not some side of an argument but the peak of Davao’s biggest pride of all.

Mt. Apo sits majestically on the plains of Davao, among other places, like a mighty guardian in the South. Experts say it is actually a dead volcano, but its sheer 2,954-meter immensity above sea level is enough to send us quivering with the mere thought of a freak eruption. But climbers foreign or local are unfazed by any such speculation. Apo continuous to be as strong an object of obsession to adventurous hikers as Davao is to determined tourists undaunted by the backwoods of the South.

Apo’s slopes on its north and northeast elevations gradually rolls down to the plains below, while its west slope abruptly descends going to Cotabato’s plains. The east slope, however, abruptly goes down the lowlands of Davao.

Davao’s marvels are its people and its land. Its natives and mightiest land form are preserved reminders of Davao’s potentials.

Tags: Pearl Farm, Philippines, Samal Resort, Samal Hotel, Davao Resort, Davao, Samal

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It has one of the most exciting developments in the country and region this decade, and we’ve been hearing many more positive appraisals on it. Davao City may well be the next vacation capital of Asia, if not the world.

And why not? Name it and Davao City has it. Well, probably not everything—for now. But give it enough time to bud and blossom and soon this promising city in the South may well be witnessing an exodus of vacationers from various parts of the world. For one, it is the biggest city in the world—and this says so much about potential for progress, growth, income, popularity, and promotion.

Just imagine what a land mass of some 244,000 hectares can do. Add to this Davao City’s natural soil richness that makes all 244,000 hectares of it ideal for planting virtually any plant or tree and get top quality and bountiful harvest out of it. Then think about its many natural scenic spots and wonders that need only have a bit infrastructure grooming here and there, and propel more the hotel and resort industry, and we will soon have a giant tourism industry roaring in Davao City.

And what about the historical places? What about the orchards and farms and plantations that already exist and display proof of Davao City’s and its surroundings’ prospects for incredible development? Then there’s Mt. Apo the true potential of which has been barely scratched. And everybody knows how great Davao City is a place for unwinding, shopping, mountain trekking, orchid growing, sightseeing, surfing, diving, dining, real estate, and farming, among others. What more can one ask for? If we just improve more on preserving, improving and marketing the whole of Davao, Davao City may well be the next global vacation center.

Just talking about the wonder resort everybody fondly refers to as the Pearl Farm is enough to tickle the imagination about seaside escapades. Located just off the coast of Davao City near the famous Samal Island, Pearl Farm’s stilted houses on the shoreline stir romantic scenes of posh relaxation in cozy wooden cabins right over the sea. Imagine just standing out the stylish veranda with various kinds of fish teeming beneath the floor with the sea horizon staring the guest in the face.

The above are just some of Davao City’s possible areas of potential. If further improvements are done Davao City’s true latent capacity and worth will have finally been unleashed.

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The name Davao was derived from the blending of the phonetic words of the subgroups of the Bagobo tribe. The words are Davoh, Duhwow, Davau, and Dabu. These words refer to the Davao River, which is the main waterway of the area and empties to the Davao Gulf and the settlements that live in the area.

The Bagobo tribe went to this place for commerce and trade. They will barter their goods from the forest in exchange for necessary commodities such as salt.

The influence of the Spaniards was able to penetrate in Davao only in the year 1847 through an expedition with the leadership of Don Jose Oyanguren. The expedition was able to establish a settlement of Christians in an area in Davao that is now called the Bolton Riverside. This area before is a swamp of mangroves.

During the expedition of Don Jose Oyanguren, Datu Bago, a chieftain of the Moros, who have their settlements at Davao River banks, ruled Davao. The Bagobo tribe called this river once as Tagloc River. When Datu Bago was defeated by Oyanguren, the place was renamed as Nueva Guipozcoa, which is the name of Oyanguren’s home back in Spain.

Oyanguren became the first governor of Davao. Oyanguren made some efforts to develop the area of Davao in whatever industry it has but it was a failure.

During the American regime in the 1900s, there is a growth of the ownership of private farms in Davao. The facilities for communication and transportation were largely improved. Through these improvements, the dreamed economic growth in Davao is paving its way already.

During this time also, coconut and abaca plantations begin to emerge in Davao through Kichisaburo Ohta, a Japanese entrepreneur, which was granted by the government to exploit the vastness of the land area of Davao. In 1903, the Japanese workers of the plantations came to Davao. Because of their large number, they create a community in Davao called Little Japan where the Japanese workers established their own newspaper, embassy, school, and a Shinto Shrine.

The Japanese community did not just establish coconut and abaca plantations in the coastline of Davao Gulf but they also developed the timber, fishing, copra, and import-export trading industry in Davao. Through the Japanese community, the Filipinos in Davao learned the various techniques of agriculture, thus making agriculture the main contributor for the economic growth of Davao.

On March 16, 1937, Davao was officially declared as a charter city. As the years went by, Davao became the third largest city in the entire Philippines and has been highly developed as an urban area that attracts local and foreign investors and tourists as well.

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Davao is known in the country as a rich source of fresh fruits and vegetables, probably second to the country’s salad bowl in La Trinidad, Benguet. But Davao may soon be a top fruits and veggies haven not only for the country but for the Southeast Asian region.

A research agency in Australia eyes Davao as a suitable venue for more intensive research and development on agricultural products. The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) aims to aid and subsidize joint agricultural research and development (R&D) plans between Australia and Third World countries like the Philippines. And Davao has been chosen to be the right spot for the R&D fruit and veggies program.

The program aims to have a two-fold target for Davao in the early part of 2008: vegetables and fruits. It seeks to strengthen more small and medium vegetable businesses in Davao, especially in terms of viability and competitiveness. Moreover, the program also aims to support the propagation of tropical fruit trees in Davao not only for local supply but for export, especially to Asia.

In view of the above, horticultural R&D is now the main thrust of said Australian agency in cooperation with the local government. It aims to employ the best of what its local counterpart can provide. This will be done in conjunction with the International Finance Corporation’s agribusiness efforts and plans in Davao.

Why Davao? Davao is popularly known for its extensive multicultural character as a city, as well as its growing expatriate constituency and direct global air accessibility. Help Davao and the help extends to various ethnic groups often neglected in rural development. And help is easily flown in through its accessible airport.

Moreover, it’s easier to coordinate with other related agribusiness help agencies in Davao; besides, Davao is well known for its refreshing nearby beaches and mountains to make migrating more attractive for R&D immigrants.

This program will put together Australian and Davao researchers and some top ACIAR planning experts. This ambitious project requires no less than local and foreign top skills in the development and supervision of agricultural studies, growth and other linked projects, to put Davao’s best veggies and fruit crops in the international market.

Davao is set for new progress breakthroughs in the near future. It is bound to be a new haven for top quality fruit and vegetable local supply, as well as exports. And this also means a new wave of immigration might be flooding Davao soon.

Tags: Travel, Davao Resort, Samal Resort, Pearl Farm, Samal, Tourism, Philippines

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A quick peek at some of Davao’s best dive sites would evoke three underwater scenes. The first one on the list will naturally highlight Ligid Island the surrounding waters of which are perfect as snorkeling and dive sites in Davao.

The enchantments of these dive sites in Davao are incredible, just like Davao’s small Ligid Island. Especially it’s reef sanctuaries, Ligid’s underwater sea life is what divers’ dreams are made of. This place is at times referred to as “Buenavista” or good vision or view, perhaps reflecting the good sceneries in and around the island, not to mention the panoramic scope of the Ligid horizon. But there’s a beach resort out there named thus, “Buenavista,” and the beauty of the resort has taken to mean the beauty of the island itself.

It’s easy to spot interesting dive sites in Davao. Like, at the sanctuaries of small Ligid island for instance, buoys have been afloat to guide divers to the exact spots of underwater treasures, particularly on the east coast. The site is perfect especially for first-timers who want visibility and amazing sights in shallow waters. Small Ligid affords two discrete surroundings. The northeast area has dense, hard coral coverings with multi-color reef fish. This site reveals trout and parrot fish varieties while the southeast has huge boulders interspersed with sand dunes scattered with shells of diverse sizes and shapes.

Near the southern part of the quaint Samal Island in the waters of Davao is the Mushroom Rock. One of the more stunning dive sites in Davao, this place is said to be a dolphin hang out in favorable times, and other curious sea creatures would periodically join in the fun. The place is so named because of huge limestone formations jutting out or “mushrooming “at the southeast of Samal. However, there are scores of other astounding rock formations underwater similarly “mushrooming” and are among the attractions in this part of Davao.

Finally, there’s the Coral Gardens, a favorite among the dive sites in Davao. It is also called “Linosutan,” perhaps owing much to the network of reefs found there where divers go “in and out” of. But the name is most likely derived from the nearby barrio itself right in front the Talikud Island. Another one of the more convenient dive sites in Davao, it is relatively shallow and shows so much at a depth of 20 meters.

See these three marvelous dive sites in Davao and know what sea life can offer.

Tags: Samal Resort, Samal Hotel, Davao Philippines, Davao, Davao City, Tourism, Davao Samal

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With new and posh hotels rising up in almost every corner of Davao, it is expected of new and posh restaurants to also mushroom in the process. Davao restaurants today are among the best in the country. Here’s why.

Being a major destination of tourists and overseas ventures that eye the country for offshore investments, Davao City now crowds with local and foreign visitors. Davao restaurants are among the establishments with the fastest rate of popularity circulated around the country. When it’s a Davao restaurant, it must be great!

With the abundance of food source in the place (the freshest seafoods, fruits, veggies, and meat) Davao restaurants are naturally emerging among the best in the country. Being the biggest city in the region and the world, it has more resource alternatives than any other, and more potential for expansion, especially in the restaurant industry. Davao restaurants can answer the demands of the food service market. Any food item for a restaurant menu is abundantly available, and often of the best quality—even foreign recipes are possible and served in the most exquisite style with Davao restaurants’ wide choice of resources.

Family restaurants thrive in the city. These Davao restaurants have grown with the city and many have become institutions in the restaurant business. Family restaurants are easier to manage with Davao’s propensity for running family-owned businesses. Farms and fish ponds are often owned by families in Davao, and it would be more convenient and cheaper for them to set up restaurants to dump products on. This eliminates the middlemen and enables such Davao restaurants to tag more competitive prices.

A Davao feature worth capitalizing on for a restaurant business is the city’s panoramic view from the hilltop of Shrine Hills found in Matina. Imagine fine dining with candle lights beside a wide window glass panel of a Shrine Hill Davao restaurant in full view of the city’s romantic night lights. In fact, the good news is that there’s actually a Davao restaurant perched atop the hill and is now a favorite dining rendezvous of both Davaoenos and visitors. For a reasonably low price, which even students can afford, one gets a scrumptious meal. Some Davao restaurants even offer shuttle services from their restaurant to a point along the highway, and back.

Davao restaurants offer unique features that make them one of the most innovative and competitive in the country. The city’s providential abundance known in the country makes Davao restaurants one of the most prolific and quality in the country.

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