Wow Davao - Samal Island

Here is our 3 day Itinerary in Davao:

Day 1:

Upon arrival at the airport at 6am, we had a few pictures and rode a cab to North Zen to leave our things.

North Zen is within walking distance to McDonalds so we decided to have breakfast there before going to Sta. Ana Wharf.

Just near McDonalds is a convenience store. It is advisable to buy drinks and bring your own food in Isla Reta to save on money. Tricycles are available in front of the convenience store which could bring you to Sta. Ana Wharf.

The boat was supposed to depart at 8am. We arrived at the wharf at 7:30 and the boat was almost full. Always come in early especially that seats are on a first come first serve basis. Travel time to Isla Reta takes an hour.

We arrived at Isla Reta around 9 am. There are tables where you can stay and put your things. You can also set-up a tent if you'd like although overnight is not allowed in the Island. We started eating our packed baon which we brought from Manila. We bought Coke from the store here and it is very expensive, food is also available there.

We swim and walked along the Island before we left at 430 which is the last and only trip back to the Wharf.

Upon arrival in the Wharf we ride a pedicab back to the Hotel and charge us for P30. (Much better if you would ride a trike faster and cost less)

We rested and slept for a while and woke up at 10pm due to fatigue. We went out to eat unfortunately the resto that we are suppose to dine is closed so we ended up in an open carinderia few blocks away.

Food is ok, we ate Kinilaw which is the specialty in Davao and Barbeque. Since we just woke up, we don't want to go back to the hotel yet. We looked for a bar and drank 2 bottles each and went back to the hotel.

Day 1 Itinerary	8-Jun-13	Cost per head	Total Cost
4:00 AM	Departure via Zest 10 kilos each	1,332	2,664
5:45 AM	Arrival Davao Airport
6:20 AM	Taxi to North Zen	67.5	135
7:00 AM	North Zen (Check-in)	490	980
7:00 - 7:30 AM	Mcdo Breakfast	75
7:30 AM	Trike to Sta Ana Wharf	10	20
7:40 AM - 8:40 AM	Boat to Isla Reta	80	160
	Entrance Fee Isla Reta	75	150
	Coke	25	50
4:30 PM	Boat back to Wharf	80	160
4:55 PM	Pedicab	15	30
5:00 PM	Check In North Zen
	Bath, Rest
10:00 PM	Trike to Jun & Cecille	30	60
	Barbeque, Kinilaw and Sprite	52	104
12:00 PM	Taxi to Marikesh Bar	60	120
1:00 AM	Sleep

 Day 2:

Went to the famous Penong's restaurant to eat (it is only open for lunch and dinner and closed during lunch time) but then we changed our minds and decided to take it out so we can save time and eat it in the falls.

Opens at 10am so we had to wait for a while.

This is walking distance from Penong's

We checked out at around 11am and were already in our beach/tour attire. Rode a taxi from Hotel to Pearl Farm Marina. Then wait for the Boat to Blue water where we will be staying.

Before checking out at North Zen

Blue water waiting station (No Food and drinks allowed)

P200 per trip divided amongst passengers

Blue Waters Entrance

We just left our things in the hotel then a habal-habal already available just outside the hotel contacted by the resort. It is P600 for the whole tour for 3 destinations Monfort Bat Cave, Hagimit Falls and Maxima Resort

We started with the Monfort Bat Cave, it has a Guinness world record of largest bat colony in Asia with more than 1.8 million fruit bats. It is really amazing, it has 5 openings where you can look and closely examine the bats. However the smell inside the cave is awful because of their poop. They also offer night bat watching where bats will get out of the cave and fly around the sanctuary. The entrance fee during night visit is higher than day time rate because of the lights and it is by appointment of 6 members or more.

Up Close

Largest opening

1 of the openings

Bats bats bats

Day 2 Itinerary	9-Jun-13	Cost per head	Total Cost
9:30 AM	Trike to Penangs	10	20
	Buy Food and Coke for Takeout	251	502
	Jeep back to North Zen and Checkout	8	16
	Taxi to Pearl Farm Marina	55	110
	Boat to Blue Waters	100	200
1:00 PM	Check in Blue Waters	750	1500
1:30 PM	Habal-Habal Tour	300	600
2:05 PM	Monfort Bat Cave Entrance	100
2:40 PM	Hagimit Falls Entrance	40
	Cottage (Packed Lunch from Penong's)	75	150
	Ice, Cups, Plate	10	20
6:00 PM	Back at Blue Waters for Dinner and Swimming	167.5	335
	Drinks	110	220

Day 3 :

Woke up early for a quick swim in the Infinity pool. Then ready for departure back to the City. We are the only passengers back to the Wharf so we had to should the P200 boat fee.

Infinity Pool by Day

We then went to Abreeza Mall for Lunch and left our belongings in the package counter and went to Philippine Eagle Center. See below table for expenses and transportation.

There were monkeys too

Going back we decided to pass by Japanese Tunnel since it is along the way. We went down on McArthur Highway and rode a Taxi to the Tunnel. We paid the entrance fee that comes with a free tour guide.

Entrance to the tunnel

The Statues here are man made portraying how the area was used in the Japanese Era

After the tour that took only around 15-20 minutes we rode a taxi back to the city and ask the driver to bring us where there is delicious food here in Davao. He dropped us off in Afhat which is a famous Chinese restaurant here in Davao. It is also near Abreeza Mall so we decided to eat there.

Food in Afhat is delicious and has big servings but the price is so expensive since it is mostly seafoods. We spent around P1500 for our dinner and we had to takeout the food that we were not able to finish.

After dinner we went to Robinsons to shop for some pasalubong (durian candy, magnet etc.) then we went to the Airport for our flight back to Manila.

Day 3 Itinerary	10-Jun-13	Cost per head	Total Cost
9:00 AM	Wake-up /Swimming
10:50 AM	Departure - Boat	100	200
11:05 AM	Taxi to Abreeza Mall	55	110
	Lunch	50
	Jeep to Bankerohan	8
	Van to Calinan	40
	Tricycle to Philippine Eagle Center	10
	Entrance Davao Water District	5
	Entrance Philippine Eagle Center	50
	Pomelo (40/kilo) Mangosteen (90/kilo)
	Trike back to Terminal	10
	Calinan to Bangkerohan	45
	Taxi McArthur Hway To Japanese Tunnel	23.5	47
	Japanese Tunnel Entrance	50
	Taxi to Afhat	190
	Dinner at Afhat
	Jeep to Abreeza	8
	Pasalubong at Robinsons (Durian Candy & Magnet)
	Taxi to Airport	65	130
	Terminal Fee	200
	Durian Ice Cream	25	50

Total Cost for 3 Days and 2 Nights is P5,303 each person :)