Summer
is never over when you live close to an island as awesome as Samal. Barely
fifteen minutes away from Davao City, it is billed as “the largest island
resort in the Philippines”. Samal’s nearness to one of the world’s largest
cities (not to mention, the home of the country’s newly elected president) has
made it the perfect island getaway of those who come to Davao for business
and/or pleasure.
Officially known as the Island Garden City of
Samal, locals and tourists affectionately call it IGaCoS, or simply Samal, for
easy recall. Right smack in the heart of Davao Gulf, the tadpole-shaped slice
of paradise, one of the three cities and eight municipalities that form part of
Davao del Norte, is considered as one of the region’s premier tourist magnets.
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A speedboat cutting its way through the blue waters of Davao Gulf
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Its promising future, however, was sabotaged
by an unfortunate incident in September 2015—the kidnapping of three foreigners
and a Filipina by members of the dreaded Abu Sayyaf Group—that took place in
one of the island’s private resorts, causing a sharp drop in occupancy rates of
several hotels and resorts a few weeks later.
Things, however, are starting to return to
normal; the island is working hard to recover lost ground. The prospects for
real estate development and tourism are bullish once again. Visitors, both
local and foreign, are coming back in droves.
Except for a day-long stay in Blue Jaz
Resort two summers ago, it’s been ages since I last explored the island. I’ve
been wanting to seek solace in the soothing comforts of its lush forests,
refreshing waterfalls and pristine beaches but some things got in the way of my
plans. Recently, I decided to break the spell and headed for Samal for a long
weekend wandering.
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Panoramic shot of Blue Jaz Resort
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Visitors going to the island from Davao City
may take off from several points to reach the island. One is at Sta. Ana Whart,
where ferry boats near Magsaysay Park directly take visitors to Kaputian Beach
Wharf. Another option would be Sasa Wharf, where motorboats headed for Babak
Wharf are docked.
Most of the resorts in Samal have their own
private marina where boats transport guests from either Lanang or Sasa in Davao
City to their respective camps.
But the most convenient means for those with
private vehicles is to take any of the barges plying the Davao-IGaCoS route.
Stationed at the ferry terminal in Sasa, the vessels leave for the port in
Kinawitnon every 30 minutes. Buses stationed at Magsaysay Park also take off
via this route. I wanted to drive my way around Samal so I chose this
option.
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A glimpse of Talikud Island
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Made up of the islands of Samal and
Talikud as well as a number of islets (like Big and Little Ligid), the city is
politically subdivided into 46 barangays that are distributed in its three
districts (formerly known as towns prior to its cityhood), namely, Babak,
Kaputian and Peñaplata, where the seat of governance is located.
Revisited after some time, I was surprised to
see the numerous changes all over the island. New resorts and hotels with rates
ranging from the low-end to the luxurious, posh residential subdivisions,
business and recreational establishments and the like have sprouted here, there
and everywhere in Samal.
With over 70 beach resorts (and still
counting!), not to mention its natural attractions such as waterfalls, rivers,
mountains, caves and marine sanctuaries, the island is arguably a weekend
warrior’s ultimate adventure destination, all year round.
Samal, to me, is heaven here on earth.
It’s definitely one of the few islands in the country that lives up to the
hype. Visitors will be delighted to know that it looks exactly the way it does
in those travel magazines, posters, blogs, websites and what have you. What you
see is what you get.
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A pristine beach in Kaputian
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There are so many things you can do when
you’re there. But what if you don’t have the luxury of time and you can only
see the best of the best while still getting the full experience of what life
is like in that island that’s also a garden and a city? Well, here are a few
things that would interest those seeking solace in this exciting
destination:
Beach hopping. The main island, Samal, is
endowed with pristine beaches that would surely draw ohs and ahs from
frequenters and first-timers. The most popular (read: crowded) are Paradise
Island, Blue Jaz, Blue Waters, Chemas by
the Sea, Costa Marina, Punta del Sol, Camp Holiday, Fernandez Beach, Kaputian Beach Park, among others.
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Parola Bar in Pearl Farm Beach Resort
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For those who
prefer being away from the madding crowd (read: luxurious), Pearl Farm,
Bali-Bali, Secdea, Hof Gorei and the Island Buenavista are your top choices.
Nearby Talikud Island also has its fair share of lovely white-sand beaches that
are worth your while—Isla Reta, Babu Santa, Dayang, Leticia by the Sea, to name
a few.
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Infinity pool at Secdea Beach Resort
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Bamboo bridge at Fernandez Beach Resort
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Diving.
The life aquatic takes on a different meaning the moment you plunge into the
depths of the waters surrounding this sought-after diving destination. Samal’s
indescribable under-the-sea sanctuary and biodiversity, said to be at par with
the more popular diving sites in the country, offers divers a one-of-a-kind
underwater experience they’ll treasure for the rest of their lives.
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One of the many virgin beaches dotting Samal's coastlines
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Samal boasts of
almost two dozens of exciting dive sites (e.g. Aundanao, Balet, Limao Reef,
Maxima, Mushroom Rock, etc.) but the most frequented ones are around Talikud
Island.
Talikud’s underwater life is laden with
colorful corals that provide shelter to a wide array of exotic sea creatures
such as seahorses, starfishes,
cuttlefishes, jelly fishes, clown fishes, and a host of other interesting aquatic
denizens. The most popular sites there include Angel’s Cove, Babusanta, Coral
Gardens, Dayang, and Mansud Wall.
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Island hopping, anyone?
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Babusanta Beach
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Island
hopping. Thrill-seekers cruising in Davao Gulf will
find this experience the coolest way to soothe their tired senses by basking in
the beauty of the awesome seascapes and the marine life of Samal.
A number
of cruise companies offer tourists half
or full-day tour packages, inclusive of boat rides, scuba gear and equipment,
underwater cameras, kayaks, and of course, food. Most of these sea trips cover
the lovely beaches and underwater sanctuaries in Samal. Some tour packages also
feature fish feeding activity, dive safaris, dolphin watching, swimming and
snorkeling in marine sanctuaries, among others.
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One of the many tiers of Hagimit Falls
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·
Nature-tripping. Dare to take a “green”
sojourn into the interiors of Samal, which offer some of the best experiences
of life in the great outdoors. Probably the best way to jump-start your trek is
a visit to Hagimit Falls, a shallow multi-tiered falls that gushes into a
natural swimming pool. The cascade, which is found in the village of
Peñaplata, also happens to be one of the
major sources of freshwater in the island.
A lesser known wonder compared to Hagimit,
the secluded Tagbaobo Falls is another natural attraction found in the village
of Tagbaobo. With a drop of approximately 12 m (40 ft), water from the falls
cascades into a small basin where visitors can take a dip.
Scaling Mt. Puting Bato, the highest point in
the island at 415 m (1,362 ft) above sea
level will take mountain climbers and nature trekkers to a different kind of high (pun-intended!), with a
picture-perfect view of the island and its neighboring places, the magnificence
of Mt. Apo and the vastness of Davao Gulf
as a fitting reward for the effort.
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Rafting in Hagimit Falls
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Not to be missed in your itinerary is
the Monfort Fruit Bat Sanctuary in the village of Tambo, a Guinness World
Record-holder for having close to two million inhabitants—the largest colony of
Rousette fruit bats in the planet!
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Grilled tuna belly...one of the many delightful offerings of Samal's restos
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Mind you, Samal is also known for its sweet
mangoes, whose sweetness can rival those of Guimaras, the Mango Capital of the
Philippines. Why not head for the public market, say, in Peñaplata and try
it?
At a time when the world seemed more
anarchic, more fragile, more cynical, more belligerent than ever, you’d feel
the urge to seek solace in the comforting arms of nature in places like Samal.
For there’s something about nature that relieves even the most jaded and broken
of souls. And when you do get that chance, bask in it. Savor it. Indulge to
your heart’s content.
Whenever you hear that tiny voice telling you
to run away from it all even for a day or two, take heed and
set sail—hot summer or not—towards Samal, one of the few places where you’ll get to experience
heaven here on earth, a paradise where the most soothing, the most ethereal,
the most bucolic pleasures will soothe you—no matter how ephemeral they may
be—from the savagery of life. :-D
Summer
is never over when you live close to an island as awesome as Samal. Barely
fifteen minutes away from Davao City, it is billed as “the largest island
resort in the Philippines”. Samal’s nearness to one of the world’s largest
cities (not to mention, the home of the country’s newly elected president) has
made it the perfect island getaway of those who come to Davao for business
and/or pleasure. 
Officially known as the Island Garden City of
Samal, locals and tourists affectionately call it IGaCoS, or simply Samal, for
easy recall. Right smack in the heart of Davao Gulf, the tadpole-shaped slice
of paradise, one of the three cities and eight municipalities that form part of
Davao del Norte, is considered as one of the region’s premier tourist magnets. 
Its promising future, however, was sabotaged
by an unfortunate incident in September 2015—the kidnapping of three foreigners
and a Filipina by members of the dreaded Abu Sayyaf Group—that took place in
one of the island’s private resorts, causing a sharp drop in occupancy rates of
several hotels and resorts a few weeks later.
Things, however, are starting to return to
normal; the island is working hard to recover lost ground. The prospects for
real estate development and tourism are bullish once again. Visitors, both
local and foreign, are coming back in droves.
Except for a day-long stay in Blue Jaz
Resort two summers ago, it’s been ages since I last explored the island. I’ve
been wanting to seek solace in the soothing comforts of its lush forests,
refreshing waterfalls and pristine beaches but some things got in the way of my
plans. Recently, I decided to break the spell and headed for Samal for a long
weekend wandering. 
Visitors going to the island from Davao City
may take off from several points to reach the island. One is at Sta. Ana Whart,
where ferry boats near Magsaysay Park directly take visitors to Kaputian Beach
Wharf. Another option would be Sasa Wharf, where motorboats headed for Babak
Wharf are docked.
Most of the resorts in Samal have their own
private marina where boats transport guests from either Lanang or Sasa in Davao
City to their respective camps. 
But the most convenient means for those with
private vehicles is to take any of the barges plying the Davao-IGaCoS route.
Stationed at the ferry terminal in Sasa, the vessels leave for the port in
Kinawitnon every 30 minutes. Buses stationed at Magsaysay Park also take off
via this route. I wanted to drive my way around Samal so I chose this
option. 
Revisited after some time, I was surprised to
see the numerous changes all over the island. New resorts and hotels with rates
ranging from the low-end to the luxurious, posh residential subdivisions,
business and recreational establishments and the like have sprouted here, there
and everywhere in Samal.
With over 70 beach resorts (and still
counting!), not to mention its natural attractions such as waterfalls, rivers,
mountains, caves and marine sanctuaries, the island is arguably a weekend
warrior’s ultimate adventure destination, all year round.
There are so many things you can do when
you’re there. But what if you don’t have the luxury of time and you can only
see the best of the best while still getting the full experience of what life
is like in that island that’s also a garden and a city? Well, here are a few
things that would interest those seeking solace in this exciting
destination:
Beach hopping. The main island, Samal, is
endowed with pristine beaches that would surely draw ohs and ahs from
frequenters and first-timers. The most popular (read: crowded) are Paradise
Island, Blue Jaz, Blue Waters, Chemas by
the Sea, Costa Marina, Punta del Sol, Camp Holiday, Fernandez Beach, Kaputian Beach Park, among others. 
For those who
prefer being away from the madding crowd (read: luxurious), Pearl Farm,
Bali-Bali, Secdea, Hof Gorei and the Island Buenavista are your top choices.
Nearby Talikud Island also has its fair share of lovely white-sand beaches that
are worth your while—Isla Reta, Babu Santa, Dayang, Leticia by the Sea, to name
a few. 
Diving.
The life aquatic takes on a different meaning the moment you plunge into the
depths of the waters surrounding this sought-after diving destination. Samal’s
indescribable under-the-sea sanctuary and biodiversity, said to be at par with
the more popular diving sites in the country, offers divers a one-of-a-kind
underwater experience they’ll treasure for the rest of their lives. 
Island
hopping. Thrill-seekers cruising in Davao Gulf will
find this experience the coolest way to soothe their tired senses by basking in
the beauty of the awesome seascapes and the marine life of Samal. 
A number
of cruise companies offer tourists half
or full-day tour packages, inclusive of boat rides, scuba gear and equipment,
underwater cameras, kayaks, and of course, food. Most of these sea trips cover
the lovely beaches and underwater sanctuaries in Samal. Some tour packages also
feature fish feeding activity, dive safaris, dolphin watching, swimming and
snorkeling in marine sanctuaries, among others.
Nature-tripping. Dare to take a “green”
sojourn into the interiors of Samal, which offer some of the best experiences
of life in the great outdoors. Probably the best way to jump-start your trek is
a visit to Hagimit Falls, a shallow multi-tiered falls that gushes into a
natural swimming pool. The cascade, which is found in the village of
Peñaplata, also happens to be one of the
major sources of freshwater in the island. 
A lesser known wonder compared to Hagimit,
the secluded Tagbaobo Falls is another natural attraction found in the village
of Tagbaobo. With a drop of approximately 12 m (40 ft), water from the falls
cascades into a small basin where visitors can take a dip.
Scaling Mt. Puting Bato, the highest point in
the island at 415 m (1,362 ft) above sea
level will take mountain climbers and nature trekkers to a different kind of high (pun-intended!), with a
picture-perfect view of the island and its neighboring places, the magnificence
of Mt. Apo and the vastness of Davao Gulf
as a fitting reward for the effort. 
Food tripping. Expect the freshest seafood from the
waters of Davao Gulf to be served by most of Samal’s beach resorts and seafood
restaurants—steamed lobsters, crispy
shrimps, grilled mackerel, baked scallops, tuna ceviches, crispy crablets and
so much more! Name it and chances are, the restos there have it!
For intrepid foodies, the island has
several exotic offerings that would surely delight even the most discriminating
palates. In some of Samal’s villages, you’ll notice some itinerant vendors
urging visitors to sample their sea urchins. These delectable bounties from the
sea are usually eaten raw and/or dipped in vinegar. Many local peddlers may
also be seen selling fishes and other seafood.
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