HomeAsiaPhilippinesMindanaoDavaoDavao del NorteBabu Santa Beach in Talikud Island, Samal by Habal-habal By Marcos Detourist on December 20, 2011A 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, PhilippinesThe habal-habal driver warned me that there were no developed roads going to Babu Santa Beach. We agreed on P150 rate for a round trip ride. I admitted later on that I had taken his warning lightly. The path was not the flat road I expected. The 15-minute ride had far too many bumps for comfort.When I caught first glance of Babu Santa Beach, I was, in that instant, just relieved that my ordeal was about to end. It would’ve been a better choice to walk/hire a boat than take a habal-habal ride on “dirt” roads overlaid by rough limestone.Babu Santa BeachBabu Santa Beach is one of the more popular beach destinations in Talikud Island. Mainland Samal together with Talikud and many other smaller islands comprise the “Island Garden City of Samal” or IGACOS for short. Yep, that is the formal name of the city … and yep, this place is politically classified as a city :|The beachfront faces Davao City. One could even see the skyline of the city and the towering Mt. Apo on a clear day. The raw side of Babu Santa Beach Davao City Skyline seen from Babu Santa Beach in Talikud IslandThere were a handful other people when I arrived at the beach. I really liked the peaceful and relaxing vibe of this place. Also loved the ruined pier structure at the beach. Very picturesque :)Shortly after, a huge tourist flock, on-board two large pumpboats, filled up the middle part of the beach and occupied most of the picnic tables and cottages. Got me thinking that Babu Santa Beach mostly serves as a popular stop-over on island hopping tours around Samal (IGACOS). Most tourists arrive in Babu Santa, eat lunch, and then move on to another beach. The armada of tourists arriving at Babu Santa Beach in Talikud IslandWanting to enjoy the same peaceful atmosphere, I walked to the southern end of the beach and discovered a few overnight cottages. Babu Santa is an excellent destination in itself … not just a mere stop-over. I would love to spend the night here and witness amazing sunset views. I can’t remember the exact rate but, I think, an overnight cottage costs around P500. Overnight cottage in Babu Santa BeachOn the way back, the habal-habal driver offered to take me through another route promising an overlooking view of Samal Island. I agreed knowing I haven’t seen any photos of this view of Talikud and Samal. We rode on what was basically an uphill foot path, which was sprinkled generously by irregular limestone rocks and guarded by wild foliage. If only he had warned me that the ride was 10x worse, I wouldn’t have gone through with it. We were on our way anyways … might as well enjoy the view. Tamer part of the path View overlooking mainland Samal View of Talicud’s smaller piers View of Perl Farm Davao Resort in mainland SamalDon’t leave yet. There’s more!Davao to Samal Ferry & Talicud Island DIY Trip - Sta Ana…Isla Reta Beach: Talicud to Kaputian, Mainland Samal3 Days Davao and Samal Itinerary - DIY Travel Tips & GuideZamboanga City Itinerary (3 days) with Cebu side trip (+1…Santa Cruz Island: Pink Sand Beach in Zamboanga"The Beach" Journey to Maya Bay in Phi Phi Islands, ThailandComments mervz | pinoyadventurista.com saysDecember 21, 2011 at 10:56 amnice post! really, beaches such as this is very relaxing!did the habal-habal driver asked for additional cost for the side trip? mervz | pinoyadventurista.com saysDecember 21, 2011 at 10:56 amby the way, Happy Holidays! :) Joseph Reyes saysDecember 22, 2011 at 1:20 amFortunately, we experienced the bumpy road once only. From Babak we had a long motorcycle ride to Kaputian and from there we (2 groups) chartered the banca because it was taking too long to fill the banca to its capacity. We were dropped off at Babusanta Beach, had our lunch cooked for a fee the fish we bought from him. He cooked rice, 1/2 of the big fish sinugba style and the other half nilaga style with malungay leaves. It was on our way back to the Sta. Cruz pier that my friend and I experienced the bumpy road. It was bearable because we had already similar experiences in Samal Is. First is on our way to from Babak to Tagabaobo Falls (What you see of the falls is not worth the long journey. Hagimit Falls is worth visiting). Second is our habal-habal ride from Babak to Kaputian. Marcos saysJanuary 7, 2012 at 11:42 amCool. Thanks for the tip on Hagimit Falls. There are still a lot of places in Samal I haven’t visited. J.Piamonte | Tikoi Adventures saysDecember 23, 2011 at 5:28 pmWe were here just the other day.. the place was really awesome.. We also experienced that habal-habal ride. It was fun though lol. Marcos saysJanuary 7, 2012 at 11:44 amoh, nice. i guess it’s different for everyone :D Renz Bulseco saysDecember 26, 2011 at 2:03 amWhen I was still studying at UP Mindanao years ago, HH was our primary mode of transpo. Wala lang, enjoy talaga ang HH rides kahit minsan delikado.Also, Talikud Island is my fave snorkel/diving spot. Ang ganda lang ng coral garden diyan sa Talikud :D Marcos saysJanuary 7, 2012 at 11:46 amI love HH rides too. Nagkataon lang siguro. I love to go back! Di ako naka pag snorkel :( taz saysDecember 30, 2011 at 9:11 pmI agree with you the place is very realxing and peaceful. One of my favorite beaches in Samal that I stayed there about 6 times and the owner of Dayang, the resort beside Babu Santa, knows me already.LOL! If you come back next time, theres a boat that goes directly to Dayang from Sta. Ana wharf twice a day 1030H and 1330H. From Dayang to Davao there is 1 trip per day at around 0700H. I enjoyed the habal-habal ride too specially going up and down the hill in Sta. Cruz pier, daig pa rollercoaster! Marcos saysJanuary 7, 2012 at 11:48 amTrue! that hill is very steep, haha. Thanks for the info, glad to know there’s a direct trip to Babu Santa from Davao City. Kate saysDecember 30, 2011 at 11:27 pmIt’sway beautiful now. 2 years ago we also went there and stay for 3 days and 2 nights and it’s really AWESOME we even do star gazing that night. Your photo is making me miss the beach and the place ^^ 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
mervz | pinoyadventurista.com saysDecember 21, 2011 at 10:56 amnice post! really, beaches such as this is very relaxing!did the habal-habal driver asked for additional cost for the side trip?
Joseph Reyes saysDecember 22, 2011 at 1:20 amFortunately, we experienced the bumpy road once only. From Babak we had a long motorcycle ride to Kaputian and from there we (2 groups) chartered the banca because it was taking too long to fill the banca to its capacity. We were dropped off at Babusanta Beach, had our lunch cooked for a fee the fish we bought from him. He cooked rice, 1/2 of the big fish sinugba style and the other half nilaga style with malungay leaves. It was on our way back to the Sta. Cruz pier that my friend and I experienced the bumpy road. It was bearable because we had already similar experiences in Samal Is. First is on our way to from Babak to Tagabaobo Falls (What you see of the falls is not worth the long journey. Hagimit Falls is worth visiting). Second is our habal-habal ride from Babak to Kaputian.
Marcos saysJanuary 7, 2012 at 11:42 amCool. Thanks for the tip on Hagimit Falls. There are still a lot of places in Samal I haven’t visited.
J.Piamonte | Tikoi Adventures saysDecember 23, 2011 at 5:28 pmWe were here just the other day.. the place was really awesome.. We also experienced that habal-habal ride. It was fun though lol.
Renz Bulseco saysDecember 26, 2011 at 2:03 amWhen I was still studying at UP Mindanao years ago, HH was our primary mode of transpo. Wala lang, enjoy talaga ang HH rides kahit minsan delikado.Also, Talikud Island is my fave snorkel/diving spot. Ang ganda lang ng coral garden diyan sa Talikud :D
Marcos saysJanuary 7, 2012 at 11:46 amI love HH rides too. Nagkataon lang siguro. I love to go back! Di ako naka pag snorkel :(
taz saysDecember 30, 2011 at 9:11 pmI agree with you the place is very realxing and peaceful. One of my favorite beaches in Samal that I stayed there about 6 times and the owner of Dayang, the resort beside Babu Santa, knows me already.LOL! If you come back next time, theres a boat that goes directly to Dayang from Sta. Ana wharf twice a day 1030H and 1330H. From Dayang to Davao there is 1 trip per day at around 0700H. I enjoyed the habal-habal ride too specially going up and down the hill in Sta. Cruz pier, daig pa rollercoaster!
Marcos saysJanuary 7, 2012 at 11:48 amTrue! that hill is very steep, haha. Thanks for the info, glad to know there’s a direct trip to Babu Santa from Davao City.
Kate saysDecember 30, 2011 at 11:27 pmIt’sway beautiful now. 2 years ago we also went there and stay for 3 days and 2 nights and it’s really AWESOME we even do star gazing that night. Your photo is making me miss the beach and the place ^^