HomeAsiaPhilippinesMindanao3 Days Davao and Samal Itinerary – DIY Travel Tips & Guide 126 shares By Marcos Detourist on August 29, 2011Three day travel itinerary during my first visit to Davao City in Mindanao Island (Southern Philippines). Since it was my first time, my focus was geared towards getting a personal view of the downtown area of Davao City, Samal Island, “meeting” the mighty Philippine Eagle, and eating an actual Durian fruit.Davao and Samal Island Itinerary Map Iloilo to Davao Flight; Davao International Aiport Philippine Eagle Center Jack’s Ridge Davao Davao City Center Bankerohan Public Market Davao Crocodile Park Santa Ana Wharf; Davao to Talikud Island Ferry Babu Santa Beach Isla Reta Beach Monfort Bat ColonyDay 1 – Philippine Eagle Center, Jack’s RidgeArrival at Davao International Airport; My First Touchdown in Southern Mindanao 9:10am – arrival in Davao International AirportArrival at Davao International Airport, third busiest airport in the Philippines.Giant durian sculpture at Davao International AirportCheck cheap flights to Davao. Enter your travel details: Walk to highway outside of airport compound gate (approx. 500m from the passenger terminal). Cross street and ride jeepney to Downtown Davao (has “Claveria” on the jeepney route) – P15 fare 10:00am – drop off at Bangoy St., Downtown, Davao City Walk to My Hotel Davao. Check-in. Single fan room (shared TB) – P250 per night + P200 deposit (refundable upon check-out) Check room rates on places to stay in Davao. Enter your travel details:Philippine Eagle Center and Davao City Water District Walk to Bankerohan (Public) Market Ride “hop-on hop-off” van to Calinan (45 minutes) – P40 Ride habal-habal to Malagos Water District – P20 1:15pm – Davao City Water District – P5 entrance fee 1:30pm – Philippine Eagle Center – P50 entrance fee Ride habal-habal back to Calinan – P20 Ride jeep back to highway (“Ulas” intersection) – P20Attempted to visit Eden Nature Park. I was discouraged when I went to Toril and asked about transportation getting there. There was no way to commute and it would have been too expensive to hire a tricycle/taxi by myself so I decided to go back to Davao instead. 4:45pm – Ride jeep back to NCCC Davao. Quick visit to NCCC and Matina Town SquareJack’s Ridge Davao Ride jeep to intersection going to Jack’s Ridge (cor MacArthur Highway – Santos Cuyogan Rd) – P7 Ride tricycle to Jack’s Ridge – P10 Dinner at Taklobo Restaurant, Jack’s Ridge Shrimp Tempure (Rebusado) – P243 Rice – P23 Garlic Rice – P27 Taxi to My Hotel – P80Day 2 – Davao City Commuting TourAround Davao City Center 11:00am – walk to Davao City Hall areaDavao City HallSan Pedro Cathedral Davao San Pedro Cathedral Rizal Park Osmena Park Museo Dabawenyo 11:00pm – lunch at Banok’s 1 grilled chicken inasal, unlimited rice, 1 coke – P75 Bankerohan Market DavaoA taste of durian at the side street stalls of Bankerohan Market 12:00nn – walk to Bankerohan (Public) Market Buy 1 fresh (Arancillo) Durian and ate at the sidestreet – P35 Ride jeep to Ateneo de Davao – P7 Aldevinco Market Marco Polo Davao Aldevinco Pasalubong Center and Local Market Ride jeep to Gmall Davao – P7 Ride jeep along Santa Ana Avenue to Chimes Mall – P7 Ride jeep back to Gmall – P7 Ride jeep to Victoria Plaza / Pryce Business ParkDavao Crocodile Park 4:00pm – Ride taxi to Crocodile Farm – P100+ 4:20pm – Crocodile Farm – P150 entrance fee. No crocodile show that day. Scheduled for the next day.Davao Crocodile Park Ride taxi to Damosa Gateway – P7 Ride jeep back to F. Torres St. – P7 Walk to Kasagingan Kapehan Pre-dinner at Kasagingan Kapehan Maruya supreme – P75 Chorizo Sandwhich – P55 Dinner at Blue Carabao (Dr. 4-7 Sobrecarey St., Obrero, Davao City near Gmall). They have now transferred to a new location at 146 Montreverde St at the corner of Alveraz St. (near Magsaysay Park / Santa Ana Wharf right across the street from the Davao City Fire Department). Pork Adobo, Pancit, Rice, Coke – P120 Ride Jeep to San Pedro St. 0 P7 Extended stay at MyHotel for two more nights – P500 (P250 per night)Day 3 – Talikud and Samal Island 10:20am – Breakfast at Kusina Davao (infront of My Hotel) Beef curry rice toppings – P55 Native coffee – P15 Santa Ana Wharf Davao to Talikud Island Ferry: Samal DIY Day Trip Taxi to Magsaysay Park – P60 Walk to Santa Ana WharfRamon Magsaysay Park 11:30am – Bought fery ticket for 12:30nn “Jessa 3” trip to Talikud Island – P50 fare 12:30nn – Ferry departure from Santa Ana WharfDavao City to Samal FerryBabu Santa Beach in Talikud Island, Samal by Habal-habal 2:00pm – Arrived in Sta. Cruz Whard, Talikud Island, Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS) Habal-habal ride to Babu Santa Beach (20 mins from pier) – P150 round trip fare + P20 tipTalicud Island in the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS), Davao del Norte, PhilippinesIsla Reta Beach: Talicud to Kaputian, Mainland Samal 3:00pm – Dropped off at Isla Reta Beach Resort. Walk back to Sta Cruz Wharf (10 minutes) 3:30pm – No passenger crossing left to Kaputian (Mainland Samal). Had to split a chartered boat with one other passenger – P300 for the whole boat or P150 each Ride “Island City Express” Bus to Babak (45 minutes) – P40 Ride tricycle to Monfort Bat Colony – P60 roundtrip charter (P30 per way).Monfort Bat Colony, Night RORO Back to Davao, Dinner at Lachi’s 5:30pm – Monfort Bat Colony – P30 entrance feeMonfort Bat Colony Ride “Island City Express” Bus to Santa Ana Wharf crossed Babak, Samal to Sasa Wharf, Davao City via RoRo (Roll-on Roll-off) Ferry Ride taxi to Lachi’s – P50 Dinner at Lachi’s Grilled Pork Ribs – P130, New York Cheese Cake – P45, Iced Tea (Sola) – P40, Rice – P20 Grilled Pork Ribs at Lachi’s Walk to tricycle stop Ride tricycle to Davao Medical Center Walk to People’s Park People’s Park sightseeingPeople’s Park at Night Walk to My Hotel DavaoDay 4 – Davao to Zamboanga Flight 6:45am – checkout at My Hotel Davao. Claimed P200 deposit Ride taxi to Davao International Airport – P120Davao to Zamboanga Flight 7:10am – arrived at the airport Breakfast at the airport Egg, Hotdog, Rice, Mineral Water – P110 Check-in for Davao to Zamboanga Flight – P200 terminal fee 8:30am – Departure from Davao Airport 9:40am – Arrival in Zamboanga AirportMoney spent for the whole Davao leg – P4,000+Next Zamboanga City Itinerary: 3 daysDon’t leave yet. There’s more!Davao to Samal Ferry & Talicud Island DIY Trip - Sta Ana…Isla Reta Beach: Talicud to Kaputian, Mainland Samal6 Days in Davao & Zamboanga - First time in Southern…Babu Santa Beach in Talikud Island, Samal by Habal-habalDavao to Zamboanga Flight: Arrival in Zamboanga AirportMonfort Bat Colony in Samal, Night Ferry to Davao & Dinner…Comments Mary Jane saysJanuary 10, 2012 at 2:33 pmNice itinerary Marc! When we went there last May we also did a lot of jeepney rides. LOL! Davao is huge and there’s just so many things to see noh? I’m scheduled to go back there 2x this year! Woot! I just <3 Davao! Marcos saysJanuary 11, 2012 at 12:06 pmYep. Took a lot of jeepney rides. I loved how easy it was to commute around Downtown Davao :) Want to go back to Davao too, there’s still a lot of places I want to visit in that area. Ian saysMarch 5, 2012 at 12:12 amGoing to Davao next week. I’m copying your itinerary. Thanks for this. :)Though madalas akong maligaw pag nagcocommute. I wish they had a train system. :D Marcos saysApril 14, 2012 at 12:40 amHehe. nice. Yael saysMay 4, 2012 at 2:59 pmThanks for this really detailed post. We are going to Davao in July and we will probably end up with a DIY tour since the packages are expensive. Your post is a great help! alanna saysJuly 3, 2012 at 4:32 pmpls help! im going to davao by the end of the month. dont want to take taxi all the time since very costly, we’re travelling on tight budget….. what jeepney do we take from davao airport if we are going to FTC tower? thats where our hotel is located, and how much is the fare? il be waiting for reply, thank u ^_^ Marcos saysJuly 6, 2012 at 6:36 pmThere’s a jeepney just outside the airport gate that goes to Davao City Proper. Fare was P15 last time I was there. FTC Tower is two blocks away from Davao Doctors’ Hospital. markcay saysFebruary 17, 2013 at 8:16 pmhi marcos, ive been in davao city last oct, the people are very nice tlga, sayang dpat pinuntahan mo din ang Japanesse tunnel at GAP farm. i wish to comeback again this june.. just additional info hotel homitory in bangoy is the cheapest for solo backpackers. 200 pesos only aircon with free bfast. san ka pa. hehe Marcos saysFebruary 18, 2013 at 10:54 pmWow. That’s a real steal indeed! Gonna check it out next time I visit Davao. Katya saysMarch 18, 2013 at 5:31 pmvery very OC. i love it. Angelique Divine Buranday saysApril 17, 2017 at 4:26 pmThank you so much :) Will visit this weekend from Davao to Samal and I find this very informative. Thumbs up (y) Posting of new comments is disabled temporarily.Connect with Marcos on:Detourista.comMarcosDetourist.comFacebookInstagramTwitterDetourista.comDiscover more travel guides and blogs about the Philippines and beyond by Marcos DetouristChoose your next destination: Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
Mary Jane saysJanuary 10, 2012 at 2:33 pmNice itinerary Marc! When we went there last May we also did a lot of jeepney rides. LOL! Davao is huge and there’s just so many things to see noh? I’m scheduled to go back there 2x this year! Woot! I just <3 Davao!
Marcos saysJanuary 11, 2012 at 12:06 pmYep. Took a lot of jeepney rides. I loved how easy it was to commute around Downtown Davao :) Want to go back to Davao too, there’s still a lot of places I want to visit in that area.
Ian saysMarch 5, 2012 at 12:12 amGoing to Davao next week. I’m copying your itinerary. Thanks for this. :)Though madalas akong maligaw pag nagcocommute. I wish they had a train system. :D
Yael saysMay 4, 2012 at 2:59 pmThanks for this really detailed post. We are going to Davao in July and we will probably end up with a DIY tour since the packages are expensive. Your post is a great help!
alanna saysJuly 3, 2012 at 4:32 pmpls help! im going to davao by the end of the month. dont want to take taxi all the time since very costly, we’re travelling on tight budget….. what jeepney do we take from davao airport if we are going to FTC tower? thats where our hotel is located, and how much is the fare? il be waiting for reply, thank u ^_^
Marcos saysJuly 6, 2012 at 6:36 pmThere’s a jeepney just outside the airport gate that goes to Davao City Proper. Fare was P15 last time I was there. FTC Tower is two blocks away from Davao Doctors’ Hospital.
markcay saysFebruary 17, 2013 at 8:16 pmhi marcos, ive been in davao city last oct, the people are very nice tlga, sayang dpat pinuntahan mo din ang Japanesse tunnel at GAP farm. i wish to comeback again this june.. just additional info hotel homitory in bangoy is the cheapest for solo backpackers. 200 pesos only aircon with free bfast. san ka pa. hehe
Marcos saysFebruary 18, 2013 at 10:54 pmWow. That’s a real steal indeed! Gonna check it out next time I visit Davao.
Angelique Divine Buranday saysApril 17, 2017 at 4:26 pmThank you so much :) Will visit this weekend from Davao to Samal and I find this very informative. Thumbs up (y)