Some people have this misconception that no tourist is
safe in Mindanao because of the negative news that they’ve watched or heard. Yes,
there are parts of the island that is not safe and must be avoided but not the
City of Davao. In fact, it has been considered to be the safest city in the
Philippines!
When in Davao City, you'll see strictly implemented
rules, an active 911 hotline for emergency situations, and high police
visibility which made locals and foreigners comfortable to roam around at night
because of. But what truly makes this place special is how everyone respect,
love, and be well-disciplined for their city.
Davao City is considered to be the center of trade,
commerce, and industry in the island of Mindanao. Locals are called Davaoeños
with some who belong to other ethnic groups known as Lumads and from various
Moro groups. Often mistaken as a Muslim province but Roman Catholic religion is
still dominant in the area while the rest is comprised of other Christian
groups and non-christian faiths, primarily Islam.
Getting to Davao
Nestled in the southeastern Mindanao, you can easily
reach Davao City by getting a ferry ride or direct flight to Francisco Bangoy
International Airport (DVO). Since the majority of tourists prefer a quick
travel time, there are several local airlines that run flights from major
airport hubs in the country.
As for the only airline in the Philippines with a
4-star rating from Skytrax, Philippine
Airlines (PAL) offer daily flights coming from Cebu, Tagbilaran, Manila,
and Clark. Travel time to Davao City from Manila (MNL) will take 1 hour and 40
minutes, 1 hour and 10 minutes from Clark (CRK), 1 hour from Cebu (CEB), and 1
hour and 15 minutes from Bohol (TAG).
Check
out below flight schedules:
|
Airport Code
|
Origin
|
Flight No.
|
Frequency
|
Schedule
|
Notes
|
|
|
Depart Time
|
Arrival Time
|
|||||
|
MNL
|
Ninoy Aquino International Airport
|
PR 1809
|
Daily
|
04:00
|
05:40
|
|
|
PR 1811
|
05:50
|
07:40
|
Until Mar 30
|
|||
|
PR 1811
|
06:00
|
07:50
|
Eff Mar 31
|
|||
|
PR 1815
|
Fr-Su
|
08:05
|
09:50
|
Until Mar 30
|
||
|
PR 2813
|
Daily
|
09:25
|
11:15
|
|||
|
PR 2813
|
10:15
|
12:05
|
Eff Mar 31
|
|||
|
PR 1815
|
Mo-We-Fr-Su
|
11:35
|
13:25
|
|||
|
PR 1815
|
Tu-Th-Sa
|
11:55
|
13:45
|
|||
|
PR 1821
|
Mo-Tu-Th-Sa
|
14:30
|
16:15
|
Until Mar 30
|
||
|
PR 2817
|
Daily
|
14:45
|
16:35
|
|||
|
PR 2817
|
15:15
|
17:00
|
Eff Mar 31
|
|||
|
PR 2819
|
17:10
|
19:00
|
||||
|
PR 2819
|
18:40
|
20:30
|
Until Mar 30
|
|||
|
PR 2823
|
We-Fr-Sa
|
18:55
|
20:45
|
Eff Mar 31
|
||
|
PR2823
|
Mo-Tu-Th-Su
|
19:45
|
21:35
|
|||
|
PR 2823
|
Mo-Tu-Th-Sa
|
20:00
|
21:45
|
Until Mar 30
|
||
|
PR 2823
|
We-Fr-Su
|
20:25
|
22:06
|
|||
|
PR 2825
|
Daily
|
22:15
|
00:05
|
|||
|
PR 2825
|
22:55
|
00:45
|
Eff Mar 31
|
|||
|
CRK
|
Clark International Airport
|
PR 831
|
Daily
|
10:50
|
12:45
|
|
|
PR 2839
|
Mo-We-Fr-Su
|
17:10
|
19:00
|
|
||
|
CEB
|
Mactan-Cebu International Airport
|
PR 2363
|
Daily
|
06:40
|
07:40
|
|
|
PR 2365
|
13:40
|
14:40
|
|
|||
|
PR 2345
|
18:20
|
19:20
|
|
|||
|
TAG
|
Bohol –Panglao International Airport
|
PR 2373
|
Daily
|
12:25
|
13:40
|
|
Still unsure about Davao City for your next vacation? Then let this guide give you info and convince you to visit the King City of the South:
Durian Capital
of the Philippines
Though Durian is infamous
for its unlikely smell and spikey appearance, it has been the signature fruit
and icon of Davao City. It's abundant in the area due to various factors such
as the weather, fertile volcanic soil, and fruit bats, hence the nickname
"Durian Capital of the Philippines".
And because of this, the
locals had made several ways to incorporate Durian in most of their products.
You'll see shops selling Durian flavored ice cream, candies, chocolates, jam,
and even coffee!
Home of the
Philippine President
Why not pay a visit to
the hometown of the 16th and current President of the Philippines right?
Rodrigo Roa Duterte is
from Davao City, in fact, he was their mayor for 22 years! His ancestral home
has been welcoming lots of his supporters and tourists over the past years because
it's just a small and simple house, painted in green, unlike the common
misconceptions that politicians live in a grand mansion. They also have a
standee of the President outside where you can take selfies with!
Witness the
Majestic National Bird
Home of the rarest raptors in the world
and an endemic animal, a visit to Davao City wouldn't be complete without
seeing the majestic Philippine Eagle. Also known as Monkey-eating eagle or
“Haribon” for the locals, is one of the top predators in the Philippine
rainforest but is now critically endangered and it is believed that only a few hundred pairs of them are thriving in the wild.
It’s not hard to see why it is
Philippine’s National bird; it symbolizes hope, beauty, and the Filipino
spirit.
Immerse with
Nature at Mt. Apo
Ask any hiker for their must-hike
mountains in the Philippines, and we're pretty sure you'll find Mt. Apo on top of
their list!
It is the highest point in the
Philippine Archipelago with an elevation of 2,954 meters above sea level and nicknamed
as the “Grandfather of all Philippine Mountains”. From an array of landscapes,
waterfalls, rock formations, and a lake to interacting with indigenous groups
that settle in the mountain, its trail offers full immersion with nature and
culture.
Make sure not let your guard down as
you might see the rare Philippine eagle in its natural habitat!
Taste an Award
Winning Chocolate
Prepare your sweet tooth and try the award-winning chocolate from Davao!
For the past years, Malagos Chocolate has been receiving various awards locally
and internationally at the same time helping to improve the lives of the cacao
farmers. It is run by the Puentespina Family from Davao, which also offers the
famous Malagos Cheese.
Don't miss to try their tree-to-bar experience at Malagos Chocolate
Museum, bring home a box of their dark chocolates, and be certified
chocoholics.
These are only a few of what makes
Davao City a melting pot of culture, history, and nature but overall, it has
more than enough to make its visitor's experience worthwhile.
It's time to leave your comfort zone,
take the offbeat track, and create a different kind of adventure!
***
Did we miss something? Share us your thoughts by commenting
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us at +63 (2) 651-9000.
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