Visit Davao : Things to Do in Davao Oriental

A visit to Davao City will not be complete without exploring the rest of the region like Davao Oriental and Davao del Norte. Davao Oriental is one of the country’s emerging tourist destinations. It offers interesting attractions from islands to highlands. It is home to Mount Hamiguitan, the country’s 6th Philippine site inscribed in the World Heritage Site list of UNESCO. It also boasts of its enchanting waterfalls, pristine beaches and world-class museum.

This year’s Visit Davao Fun Sale offering includes a Davao Oriental World Heritage Eco Adventure so it will be easier for you to explore the province. The tour package ranges from PHP 6,496 per pax for a minimum of five persons and can go as low as PHP 4,396 per pax for minimum of 20 persons. You may book this tour package and see other tour packages at www.visitdavaofunsale.com.

So what to do in Davao Oriental?

There are a lot of things to do in Davao Oriental although it can be a little bit challenging if you do it by yourself. It’s a bit tricky to commute in some parts of the province but it can be done if you prefer DIY.

Mt. Hamiguitan World Heritage Park

As of now, Mt. Hamiguitan Range and Wildlife Sanctuary is still closed to traffic so the Mt. Hamiguitan World Heritage Park is an alternative to get a glimpse of the mountain range. The Eco-Park covers 12.84 hectares and houses the Mt. Hamiguitan Natural Science Museum, an interactive facility that showcases the wonders of Mt. Hamiguitan.

How to get there: The Mt. Hamiguitan World Heritage Park is located in San Isidro, Davao Oriental. From Davao City, take a bus at Davao City Overland Transport Terminal in Ecoland (See Bus Schedule) take the bus heading to the Municipality of Governor Generoso (Sigaboy), some 173 kilometers away, which will usually take around 3-3.5 hours. Passenger Vans are also available at Gaisano Van Terminal. Tell the driver that you are going to Mt, Hamiguitan so he can drop you at the jump-off point and you can take a motorcycle from there.

Cape San Agustin

Cape San Agustin is a hidden attraction situated in the laid back town of Governor Generoso in Davao Oriental. It is located about 5-6 hours by private vehicle from Davao City. Enjoy a view of the Celebes Sea and the Davao Gulf at the top of the lighthouse. You may also laze around the beach area and visit the the “Altar”, a rock formation, considered to be a major attraction within Cape San Agustin. If you want to go on camping, make sure you have proper gears. You may check out TheGearHunt.com for a variety of camping gears.

How to get there: The best option is to either rent a van or bring a car from Davao City. Travel along Davao-Mati Road and turn right when you reach Manikling going to Governor Generoso passing the town of San Isidro, Davao Oriental. Just continue driving straight until you reach the end of the road. There’s no crossroads so you’ll not get lost for sure.

If you decide to commute, take a bus going to either Pundaguitan or Lavigan in Governor Generoso and then take a habal-habal from the bus terminal to Cape San Agustin. Lavigan is closer but buses going to Pundaguitan are more frequent.

The Sleeping Dinosaur of Mati City
If you are heading to Mati City, do not forget to have a quick stop at the Sleeping Dinosaur in Badas Road. An observation deck and benches are available for you to enjoy the view. If viewing is not enough for you, you may trek to the sleeping dinosaur, too.

How to get there: From Davao City, take a bus or van to Mati City. Advise the driver or the conductor to drop you off at the Sleeping Dinosaur viewing deck in Badas.

Subangan Museum
Subangan Museum is an interactive, state-of-the-art museum that showcases treasured relics, photos, videos, interactive visuals, documents, and textiles from the province of Davao Oriental. Its main attraction is the fossilized remains of a 50-foot long sperm whale, believed to be the largest in the Philippines and the seventh largest in the world. named Davor (for Davao Oriental).

How to get there: From Davao City, take a bus or van to Mati City. Alight at the bus/van terminal and take a habal-habal (motorcycle) or tricycle to the museum.

Dahican Beach Cove
Dahican Beach is a stretch of long white sand beach in Mati, Davao Oriental facing the Pacific Ocean. It is one of the province’s prime destinations. It is known to many as the skimboarding capital of the Philippines as it produced the famous Skimboarding World Champion, Bayogyog. Aside from swimming and skimboarding, you can also do surfing and watch the sunrise in the morning. Recommended place to stay in Mati.

How to get there: From Davao City, take a bus or van to Mati City. Alight at the bus/van terminal and take a habal-habal (motorcycle) or tricycle to Dahican Beach Cove. It’s about 15-20 minutes ride from the terminal.

Pusan Point
Located in the quaint town of Caraga in Davao Oriental, Pusan point faces the Pacific Ocean and it’s where you can have a glimpse of the first sunrise in the Philippines.

Pusan Point has earned its prominence at the start of the millennium as this was the place where the “First Millennium Sunrise” took place. It attracted local and foreign journalists and tourists on January 1, 2000, as the country welcomed the new millennium.

How to get there: From Davao City, take a bus or van to Mati City. Alight at the bus/van terminal and take another bus/van to Baganga or Cateel. Inform the driver or the conductor to drop you off the the junction going to Pusan Point in Barangay Santiago. From the junction, take a motorcycle going to Pusan Point.

Aliwagwag Falls
The mighty Aliwagwag Falls is said to be the longest cascading waterfalls in the Philippines. It is located in the town of Cateel, Davao Oriental and was one of the sites badly hit by typhoon Pablo. Through the initiative of the local and provincial government, an eco-park was built which make it more tourist-friendly. With a minimal entrance fee, you can enjoy a picnic with your family and friends and do other activities such as swimming and crossing the monkey bridge.

How to get there: From Davao CIty, you can either go to Cateel via the Compostela Valley Road (quicker) or the Mati Road (longer time travel but more frequent trips). From Davao City, take a Mallen Express, Lyra Express, Floremel Express or Bachelor Express bus going to Cateel. These buses have daily trips to Cateel.

Barangay Aliwagwag is about 30 minutes away from the Cateel town proper just along the national highway. You can actually pass Aliwagwag Falls when you take the Compostela Valley Road going to Cateel.

There you go! What are you waiting for? Rock your summer and visit and explore Davao Oriental!

Where to stay in Davao?

Recommended Hotels in Davao City. Please click the name of the hotel below to know the rates and availability.

Recommended budget accommodation in Davao City. Please click the name of the hotel / hostel / Dormitel / Inn below to know the rates and availability.

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