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Monfort Bat Colony, Night RORO Back to Davao, Dinner at Lachi’s

The dimming light during our late afternoon arrival in Samal Island set the mood for one unique attraction. We were set to visit the Monfort Bat Colony, known for being home to the largest colony of the Geoffrey’s Rousette Fruit Bats.

Me and Ferdie dropped off at Babak (near the pier) and hailed a motorcycle to take us to the bat colony. The caves were located within a private compound, the owners of which charge an admission fee to see the nocturnal celebrities.

Not a single soul was around to greet us a welcome at the entrance. My head raced when I saw the sign “visiting hours: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm only.” Emphasis on the until 5:00 pm ONLY. It was already 5:15pm … bummer!

Eerie sight of millions of fruit bats at the Monfort Bat Colony in Babak, Samal Island, Davao del Norte

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Isla Reta Beach: Talicud to Kaputian, Mainland Samal

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Isla Reta is the most accessible beach in Talicud Island. It’s located right beside the Santa Cruz Pier, the main seaport at the northern tip of island. After visiting Babu Santa Beach, the habal-habal driver dropped me off at the entrance of Isla Reta Beach Resort (entrance fee: P75). I headed straight to the beachfront passing by the spacious overnight cottages.

Isla Reta had a lengthy white sand beach with a gorgeous view of mainland Samal. I was surprised when I finally saw the beach up close. The sand was remarkably white and fine. To me, it was comparable to Station 1, White Beach in Boracay in those aspects. I’ve always been in search of beaches in the Philippines that could trump Boracay’s White Beach. Isla Reta doesn’t have Boracay’s 4km end-to-end measurements but that can easily be overlooked since there aren’t any huge crowds hogging the beach at Isla Reta.

Far end of Isla Reta Beach Resort in Talicud Island, Island Garden City of Samal

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Babu Santa Beach in Talikud Island, Samal by Habal-habal

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A pleasant afternoon greeted my arrival at the laid-back Santa Cruz Wharf in Talicud Island, Samal. My reception was exactly as I had hoped. At the wharf was a small village surrounded by all the elements of a tropical paradise: inviting waters, palm fringed white-sand beaches, perfect sunny weather, and no sight of large-scale developments. … just your typical low-key island ready to welcome any weary traveler.

After stepping off the boat, I got on the back of a habal-habal (single motorcycle) and was on my way to Babu Santa Beach located at the western coast of Talikud Island

Talicud Island in the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS), Davao del Norte, Philippines

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Santa Ana Wharf Davao to Talikud Island Ferry: Samal DIY Day Trip

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An awesome thing about major cities in the Philippines is that excellent island getaways are just a short land/sea trip away. It was my last full day in Davao and I just couldn’t pass off the opportunity to visit Samal Island. The Pearl Farm Resort comes to mind with a mention of Samal but I wasn’t in any mood to splurge … so I fired up google maps and scoured for other potential (cheap) places to visit. I eventually saw an interesting islet located south of mainland Samal called “Talikud.” Saw photos of its beautiful white sand beaches and I inevitably got hooked!

Waiting for the “Talikud Island” ferry to depart from Santa Ana Wharf in Davao City.

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Tagum City Side Trip

Southern Mindanao Backpacking for 10 Days: Davao, South Cotabato, Saranggani, Zamboanga, and Basilan

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Since my first visit to Mindanao barely a year ago, I’ve found myself back in this southern island for the fourth time now. I love how different it feels wandering through its city streets and exploring its lush countrysides. The opening of new direct flights between the Iloilo, my hometown, and Davao City was definitely a major factor, which made Mindanao more accessible for me (and many travelers from Panay Island). On this particular trip, I really enjoyed my visit to a couple of places situated at the bottom half of Mindanao … most for the first time.

Southern Mindanao Backpacking for 10 Days: Davao, South Cotabato, Saranggani, Zamboanga, and Basilan
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