13 Tourist Spots in Davao Occidental [And How To Get There]

Our list of the best tourist spots in Davao Occidental, the youngest province in the Philippines.

The province of Davao Occidental is a fast-growing region in the Philippines. It is located in Mindanao; east of Davao Gulf, west of Sarangani, and north of Davao del Sur. From Francisco Bangoy International Airport, you can quickly reach the city province via public buses.

If you’re planning a trip to Mindanao this year, the following are the top three tourist spots in Davao Occidental you can include in your bucket list:

3 Best Tourist Spots in Davao Occidental, Philippines

Balut Island

If you’re looking for hot springs and relaxing beaches in Davao Occidental, Balut Island is the place to be. It’s a serene place that offers the best picnic and camping sites for backpackers, solo travelers, and group excursionists.

The crystal clear blue waters of the sea is more than spectacular for sightseeing. There are beautiful and colorful coral reefs and fishes you will see underwater if you go diving or snorkeling. More than that, there are plenty of beach activities you can enjoy while exploring the natural beauty of Balut Island.

How to get to Balut Island

The jump-off point to Balut Island is General Santos City. You can take an overnight boat from GenSan to Balut Island, Sarangani, Davao Occidental. The boat departs at 9:00 PM but you must go to the port early like 7:00 PM to get on board. The boat schedule from General Santos to Balut Island and vice-versa is listed here.

Olanivan Island

Another one among the tourist spots in Davao Occidental you need to see is the Olanivan Island. Truly, it’s a tropical island that you need to see and experience. With circular formation, this white sand beach will give you unlimited views of the astonishing islands of Balut and Sarangani.

The highlight of this trip is the white lighthouse tour in the island. With an extra time, you can have some beach lounging while sipping cold pina colada or any drink for that matter, hahaha. You will enjoy the vast oceanic view surrounding the island and, of course, the lush greenery on the nearby mountains.

Little Boracay

One of the newest tourist spots in Davao Occidental today is the Little Boracay. It’s located in Santa Maria, a 4-hour bus ride from Davao Ecoland Terminal. The name was inspired by the original Boracay since the island somehow looks like the famous beach in the Philippines when it’s not yet commercialized.

The pristine grayish sand and clear azure waters give a nice combo, especially when you look at it from afar. In addition, the coconut trees add more tropical beauty to the whole island. If you visit it on a weekday, you will enjoy more of the peace and quiet as you will only see a few tourists in the area. And if you’re lucky, you’ll only meet the local fishermen in Little Boracay.

10 Notable Davao Occidental Tourist Spots

Sleeping Dragon
Sta. Maria, Davao Occidental

Mt. Kiyawa
Sta. Maria, Davao Occidental

Sabang Hot Srping
Sarangani, Davao Occidental

Kepiya Falls
Brgy. Lawa, Don Marcelino, Davao Occidental

Titus Paradise
Malita, Davao Occidental

Sampaw Falls
Sta. Maria, Davao Occidental

Kablolan Falls
Malita, Davao Occidental

Caburan Hotspring
Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental

Banag Falls
Don Marcelino, Davao Occidental

Bulata White Beach
Don Marcelino, Davao Occidental

How to get to Davao Occidental

There is no commercial airport in Davao Occidental. the closest airport is in Davao City. From Manila, Clark, Cebu, Bohol, Singapore or Hong Kong, you can fly to Davao City. When you are at the airport, take a taxi to Ecoland Bus Terminal. From there take a bus going to Malita, Davao Occidental. For those who are going to Olanivan and Balut Island, please see above.

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