Davao City Hotels

There is nothing more that an adventurous traveler could ever hope for in Davao—known to be one of the biggest cities in the world. Accessible by land, sea or air, it is rich in history and blessed with so many natural wonders, not to mention the diversity of culture in the place. Barely two hours away from Manila by plane, there is always something new to see and enjoy in this urban community.

Home to mixed cultures of mixed religions, there is always someone around you could count on to make you feel at home in this beautiful southern city. Locals speak Bisaya, Tagalog, English and some Spanish. Although it is located in Mindanao—a region dominated by Islam—Davao is surprisingly a Christian-dominated city, with only about 1% of the groups belonging to non-Christian faiths.

Going there and mingling with the people would not be much of a predicament to travelers; with the number of seaports and airports, bridges and roads, the only problem is deciding where to go with its various attractions.

There is always something to see for each member of the family—mothers and daughters could stroll through the Davao’s busy streets and find ingenious handicrafts.

Adventurous dads and sons alike could go to Mintal and Toril District to catch a glimpse of old Japanese homes, abaca processing plants and warehouses built during the Second World War. They could also visit the Uyanguren Landing Site, named after a Spanish conqueror/governor in Davao. If exotic wildlife thrills you, visit the Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos where you could find the national bird of the Philippines.

World War II memoirs are abundant in Davao. Battle Memorial, a Japanese-American battle memorial in Davao and Camp Domingo Leonor used during the Spanish and American era are worthy sights. Tools utilized in abaca fields, old currencies and periodicals could all be found in the Japanese Museum which features items from the World War II period. Armando Generoso, a Filipino fighter during the Japanese invasion, was honored by a memorial site aptly called “A Memorial to a Brave Son”. The former municipal hall built in the 1920s could still be found in San Pedro Street in Davao.

If you are up for a multi-religious pilgrimage, one could also appreciate the religious diversity in the city: churches of different religions abound, such as the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Obrero, which is tagged as the “Chinese Parish” in Davao. Drive to Cabaguio Avenue to catch a glimpse of the Mindanao Taoist Temple and the Lon Wa Buddhist Temple. Along Quezon, Quimpo, Panacan and Bankerohan are mosques of Islam advocates. San Pedro Cathedral, the Shrine of the Holy Infant Jesus of Prague in Matina, as well as St. Mary of Perpetual Rosary in Buhangin District are Catholic churches.

To view artifacts of indigenous tribes and historical events, must-see locations are the Davao Museum located in Lanang and the Davao Historical Society Museum in Magsaysay Park.

You can never appreciate Davao without taking into consideration one of its most famous travel destinations, Mount Apo. Trekkers enjoy the thrill of this mountain which is considered the highest in the Philippines.

Samal Island and Chemas both boast of white sand beaches and resorts; Eden Nature Park and Malagos Garden Resort gives you both the pleasures of a resort and a wildlife farm of endangered plants and animals. Pearl farms are also just off the coast while remnants of warships could still be found today in Talomo Beach.

Truly, Davao is the solution to relish Southern Philippines’ beauty and culture in just a single city.

Tags: Pearl Farm, Tour, Resort, Philippines, Tourism, Davao Beach Resort, Davao Hotel