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8 Best Things to Experience Davao City

 Dubbed as “City in Bloom,” “Most Livable City in The Philippines,” “Safest City in the Philippines,”  “Asian City of the Future,” and so many others. These are unquestionable about Davao City but if you want to know more you should experience it to finally say - LIFE IS REALLY HERE!

Working in the Hospitality industry allowed me not only to sell the city as a place to visit but a home to be comfortable at. For first the time visitors, the number one question they are curious about is, “What’s in Davao?”

So let me give the top things you must try in Davao.

1.              King and Queen of the Philippine Fruits – Davao City is considered as the “Fruit Basket” of the Philippines. It does not only grow the best fruits in the country but the exotic  Durian, Pomelo and Mangoosten.

2.              Orchid Capital – The city is not only a great source of exotic fruit but of beautiful flowers. Being tagged as City in Bloom does not only relate to its growing industries but of its bountiful flora and fauna.

3.              The King of Philippine Jungle – Seeing the Philippine Eagle in Davao is another experience you should try. It will not only show the result of preservation or conservation but the richness of the Philippine jungle.

4.              The Crocodile Park – It is another place you should not miss. The park has select of rear wildlife aside from its crocodile.

5.              The White Sand Beaches - Your experience will never be complete without exploring the white sand beaches near the city proper. Dive, explore and enjoy at Samal now!

6.              Mountain Treks – Rejuvenate life, restore your vitality by going close to the nature. Listen to the music of your own soul at the Eden Nature Park or at Loleng's Mountain Resort.

7.              Historic Site – Forget not about the past by seeing the remains of the native Davaoeños in the City's Museum or places like Jack’s Ridge or the Japanese Tunnel.

8.              Fresh Seafoods – Satisfy you craving by discovering the different kinds of seafoods of your interest in places like Tuna Marina, Afats Restaurant and Let’s Eat Crab.

Davao - Life is Here Campaign

I first fall in love with Davao when I moved to this City to earn a college degree. From my very first day of moving to Davao until today I never had a day of regret or dissatisfaction being a resident here. This City is not only a melting pot of all the tribes in its neighboring places but a home of the many races.

Davao City's - Life is Here Campaign is a very good tag line in promoting the city's tourism. To live with complete security with the basic needs possible is something Davao can offer. It does not only promote peace but it also promise a good life through it's booming industries. 

The uniqueness of the city in terms of cultural background, good governance, inviting places, exotic food, exciting activities and everything  else are just few of the many factors why LIFE IS HERE.

Investment? Career? Good life? Vacation? Whatever you like - Davao is surely a destination you must try.

What's you idea about Davao - Life is Here tagline? I would surely reply on your comments.

Serious Wild Water Adventure in Davao City!

7am: We started a cold day going to the Crocodile Park for our assembly for the big event for the day - Wild Water Rafting. We were given the orientation about the activities and the unexpected adventure to expect.

WE left at 9:30 am going to our "Put in Area" at Tamugan. Our thrill started to arise as we arrived at the area seeing the running water calling us for the race.

Before we started rafting at 11:00, we were tested and guided on the do's and don't's whenever our boat will capsize or someone from our team will fell off the boat.

We are on our diets but on that day - we were not. All our energies were burnt out as early as the first hour of trip and all we knew was "WE were all hungry, craving for food." We had our lunch near the river bank, it was not only about food that time since we were given the chance to experience nature and be with the nature. Personally I was able to appreciate life while breathing with the green surrounding hearing the songs of the river as it flowed freely.

After lunch, we packed and left nothing on the site. No plastics or anything.(Going Green)


We were also able to see the Monkey Wall and the Vanishing Falls or Ms. Vanessa, our team named her so...lol..Rafting with the Wild Water was not about a race to play but of relationship to build. Seeing the other boat being capsized, we were there extending out paddle and a space on our boat to save them. (Sweet!)

The race was really crazy especially during those times when we had to paddle and row our boat but we can't since the boat is not floating but flying.(Strong) There was a spot there called the "Washing Machine" - It drove our group crazy. We were shouting not only because of the adrenaline rush but for our brain, thinking that we have left our brain at one spot.

I had a bonus that day for being the most noisy team member - I volunteered to row my own boat. I love kayaking for the first time.



We arrived at the final point at 3:00 pm, with a phrase - "WE WANT MORE!"

The P2, 000.00 plus sun burns and sore throat (that's for the shouting!) that I paid was worth spending.

I'm not promoting them but our experience as a satisfied paddlers. Big Five! Hope to be back there for free.?!..lol

Inclusive's for what we paid: 

Transportation (From Crocodile Park to Rafting Area and back)
Packed Lunch & Bottled Water
Use of Gears & Equipment
Raft guide
Souvenir Shirt
Documentation (2 Disc per group of 6)
Ticket to ZIP CITY 

Whitewater Rafting Checklist:

Rash guard or light weight longsleeves shirt (wear the most comfortable for you)
Sun block
Sunglasses or prescription glasses with string or strap (optional)
Old Sneakers, neoprene booties, or river shoes(or any footwear that is not easy to come off)
Waterproof Camera (optional)
Energy Bar
Water or Energy drink
Towel or towels
Plastic Bag(s) (for wet things such as sneakers/clothes)
Change of Clothes
Snack and drink (for the travel back to civilization)

Click HERE for promo rates and discounts.

Click HERE to make a reservation.

Davao Nightlife

Your Davao vacation will never be complete without visiting any or most of the following Davao nightlife spots. The vibrant nightlife will sure satisfy your stay in the city.

Matina Town Square
If you are looking for open-air entertainment then the Matina Town Square is the best place to go. It is situated in the southern part of the city, just in front of Ateneo de Davao High School This is the place where local artists perform live, and there are also stand-up comedians and live band performances. There are several bars and cafés at the town square where you can get a drink and enjoy the entertainment.Taboan and Blugre are some of them.

Torres Street
Torres Street is the trendiest and most popular party place in Davao. It is located  at the center of the city. The Torres Street houses bars, restaurants, discos, and coffee shops.Torres Street also has live bands performing every night. You might want to check out this place and have a good night out.

Jack’s Ridge Resort and Restaurant
Jack’s Ridge is a wonderful entertainment spot that is located in the historical Matina Hills. It offers a majestic view of Davao Gulf and the city. The resort has three venues where you can go and party right through the night. Kai’s Bar and Grill, BMW KTV and Piano Bar, and Karlo’s Gourmet and Coffee are the three places that offer great night entertainment.

Cats and Dogs 
The Cats and Dogs bar, on the other hand, is the perfect place for those who loves to sing. This is a family-friendly bar that offers a wide selection of drinks. There are eight videoke rooms that you can rent for only $2.5 per hour. These rooms can also serve as a place for a nice get-together with your family or friends and you can bring your own food.

Chinos
Chinos is a place where you can enjoy the evening over some great Samba and jazz music. Two different styles of music, but the entertainment is just great. You might want to put on your dancing shoes when you come here. The food served is plain delicious. The place is perfect for a nice romantic night out.

Enjoy Davao now.

Japanese Tunnel in Davao

There are several historical landmarks in Davao, but few have captured the public imagination quite like the Japanese Tunnel.

Although there are several of these tunnels in Davao, the most famous is the one of the D' Japanese Tunnel Family Resort (Matina Balusong, Diversion Road, Davao City,) For a small amount ($1.25) you will get a guided tour of the famous Japanese Tunnel.


As you approach the tunnel, among the first things that you will see are beautiful statues, including that of a World War II Japanese soldier and a Japanese woman clad in a kimono. Throughout the tunnel you will also find several statues of Japanese soldiers as well.

The Japanese Tunnel itself is not that long per se (only about 300 meters, or a thousand feet), but there are several locations there that can take you farther. However, tourists are not allowed to go there because it is not owned by the proprietors.

Guided by the installed lighting, you will be led by your guide to several steps where you will see the various weaponry, water banker, and offices of the Japanese soldiers. Also, there are several chapels there, including one where a copy of the Golden Buddha can be seen. As you go deeper into the Japanese Tunnel, you will come upon vintage machine guns, bombs, explosives and plenty of ammo and bullets.
Interestingly, there were plenty of gold molders found in the Japanese Tunnel. Whether this meant the soldiers stocked up gold in the tunnel, or were digging for some, is not clear, but certainly adds to the fascination in the area.

There are actually several of these tunnels in the various diversion roads all over Davao City, including Maa and Mintal. The reason for this is that during World War II, the Japanese found the use of tunnels as an effective means of transporting their equipment and mobilizing their forces, as it made it more difficult for the Americans to locate them.


According to the reports, some of these tunnels were long, some going on for several kilometers. Even more, there were also areas where they would crisscross and intersect.
These Japanese tunnels were created using manual labor, and thousands of Filipinos were utilized as slaves to dig and excavate the tunnels. After the war, most of these tunnels were destroyed as the city was rehabilitated. However, a few were preserved and became the tourist spot and historical landmarks they are today.

Davao International Airport

A new terminal replaces the previous airport terminals, which lie just across it, in handling both domestic and international flights operating to and from Davao. The modern facility is designed to handle approximately 2 million passengers annually and 84,600 tons of cargo annually. The added capacity is also complemented by the latest navigational, security, and baggage handling equipment.

The modernization and upgrading of the airport facilities aims to cement Davao as a hub for tourism and foreign investment in the region. Development was funded by a forty million-dollar loan from the Asian Development Bank, co-financed by the European Investment Bank for twenty-five million ECUs, and through budgetary allocations from the government. The total cost of the project amounted to $128 million.