All About Davao

It is located in the Southern part of the Philippines, or more specifically in Southern Mindanao. It is a multi-cultural city and one that effortlessly combines the beauty of nature and the trappings of modern life.

What Davao is Famous For

Davao is know for a lot of things. It is the "Orchid Capital of the Philippines" and the "City in Bloom". It is the home of a lot of gardens, plantations and a wide variety of flowers. The most famous flower found in abundance in the city is Waling-waling or Vanda Sanderana, a type of orchid.

Davao is also known as the city of Durian (a fruit known for its pungent smell and very delicious taste). This fruit is found everywhere in Davao. There are even places where you get to eat all the durian that you want (really something for durian-lovers to try). Other than durian, the city has a lot of fruits to offer such as mangosteen, lanzones, banana, pomelo, strawberry, rambutan and avocado.

Davao is also home to the 2nd largest eagle in the world - the Philippine eagle (formerly, the monkey-eating eagle). This eagle used to be threatened with extinction but thanks to the efforts of various organizations and the government, the eagle is again flying high in Davao.

Mt. Apo, the highest mountain in the Philippines, can also be found near this city. As a matter of fact, part of this mountain is within the city's jurisdiction.

Flights to Davao

Going to Davao is not a problem. There are a lot of flights going to and from the city. This includes international flights (Davao has its own international airport). For a schedule of the flights, you can access this website and download the schedules - Flight Schedules.

Getting Around Davao

There are a lot of ways for you to go around the city. Davao has lots of taxis at your disposal (be warned though, it can get difficult to get hold of one when it is raining very hard). You can also ride the jeepneys. Just make sure you are in the right jeepney route.

Places to Go in Davao

You will never run out of things to do and places to go to when you go to Davao. If you're the type who loves nature, go to any of the following:

1. Eden Nature Park - this is a man-made attraction nestled 3,000 feet above sea level. It is an 80-hectare paradise with lots of pine trees, facilities, accommodations and attractions. You can visit the place during the day (hire a taxi or a jeep to take you there and to pick you up at the end of the day) or you can stay longer. Eden also has its own campsites and log cabins where you can sleep over and really experience living with nature.
2. The Crocodile Farm - this is like a mini-zoo where you get to see (you guessed it right!) crocodiles. There are around 60 crocodiles in the farm plus other animals such as monkeys, birds, ostrich, parrots and even a fully-grown tiger. Don't forget to bring your camera. Kids are very much welcome in the farm (don't worry, the crocodiles are all inside cages). Just tell them not to put a finger (or two) inside those cages.

3. Pearl Farm Beach Resort - although this resort is not exactly within the city, it is, nevertheless, one of its attractions. The resort is located in an island and can be reached via a 45-minute boat ride. It was given this name because the site where it is located used to be a pearl farm. The resort boasts of beautiful rooms (located on a hillside or right in front of the beach) restaurants serving delicious food and various water sports.

4. Mt. Apo - if you are the type who loves mountain climbing, then Mt. Apo is your destination. The mountain is about 9,600 ft. and has been climbed by a lot of climbers, both local and foreign.

If you want to know more about Davao's resorts and parks, visit this site - Davao Resorts and Parks.

If you're the type to go to clubs or malls or coffee shops, etc., Davao also has these to offer you. There are also a lot of malls in Davao - SM Davao, Gaisano Davao, NCCC Mall, Robinsons, to name a few. Coffee shops are in abundance in this city, both inside and outside malls.

Where to Eat in Davao

There are a lot of places to eat in Davao. Chinese food, Japanese food, local food, Korean food, Thai food or even European food - all these are available in Davao. For places offering foreign food, you can check out this website - http://www.liveinthephilippines.com/content/2008/03/bobs-top-ten-restaurants-in-davao/. Or you can go at the back of Victoria Mall and visit any of the restaurants surrounding this mall. There are restaurants offering buffet lunch and dinner (Buffet Palace behind Victoria Mall and in Matina) and Nanay Bebeng's in Marfori Heights. Or you can try the famous Colasa's with its very tasty chicken barbeque. Or you can go up a hill and go to Jack's Ridge - it also gives a nice view. Or you can try any of the restaurants located inside the malls found in Davao. Or go to Torres Street (near Victoria Mall and Gaisano Mall), where there's a long row of restaurants (Banok's, Rai Rai Ken, etc., etc.). Wherever you are in Davao, you can always find a place to eat (and they can fit your budget, too!).

Where to Stay in Davao

Davao is also known as a convention center in Southern Philippines. This position is the reason why Davao is a premier city in the whole Philippines. There are more than 2,500 hotels and resorts in the city (that was in 1999!) and is projected to grow more due to the increasing demand for conventions and tourist attractions. If you want to go to Davao, make sure you find out first if there is a convention in the city. If there is one, chances are the hotels are filled during this time.

If you are the type who likes first-class hotels (never mind the cost), stay in the Marco Polo Hotel or The Apo View Hotel or the Waterfront Insular Hotel. Alternatively, you can stay in any one of the numerous hotels, inns, pension houses and apartelles in Davao. For some of these, check out this website - Davao Hotels or search the internet.

Last But Not the Least

Lastly, do not worry about getting lost in the city (despite its vastness). The people here are very friendly and accommodating. Plus there are signs all over the city pointing you to the right direction. Better yet, befriend a taxi driver who can take you around the city and its attractions.

The above is just a tip of the iceberg (or the city). There are a lot more things I can write about Davao. If you want to learn more, you can visit Davao City’s Official Website. Hope you'll enjoy yourselves when you stay in this beautiful city.