Click here for more stories on Davao tourism and tourist attractions.

To Market,
To Market

DAVAO CITY — If you are a first-timer here — if, let’s say, you don’t have any idea about this city except its tough-talking mayor, the beaches, the white sand — try visiting
the public markets, where you will discover this metropolis’s naked allure. Try it — and you will find the ingenuity of a people trying to eke out a living, the prices that are lower compared to those in air-conditioned malls, the luscious fruits on the stands, the fresh flowers lining up the sidewalks, greeting you with their warmth.

The ‘Ukay-Ukay’ Hunt
DAVAO CITY — Shopping malls are aplenty in Davao City. But for those who are on a tight budget or do not want to be caught wearing the same outfit as the next person in the jeepney, there are alternative places to shop. One of these are the ukay-ukay (used clothes) stores. �Ukay-ukay� is a Visayan term that means to rummage.

Tudaya’s Allure
TUDAYA, Davao del Sur — The height and power of Tudaya Falls can leave you awed and breathless. It has a way of making you forget the difficulties of going there, when you trudged the hills, crossed the rivers, slipped on the muddy road and sprained a hand and tortured your butt. Tudaya Falls makes you realize it was all worth the trouble.

Photo Courtesy of Davao del Sur websiteWhite Water
Adventure at Sibulan

SIBULAN, Davao del Sur — For the adventurous soul who dares brave the strong, harsh waters of a running river, there’s always the whitewater tubing facility in this village, in Darong town, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, to check out. The tubing facility is located inside the Ayala compound, a 700-hectare coconut plantation owned by the Ayala-Zobels.

Photo Courtesy of Rodion Palma GilTake a Hike
DAVAO CITY — If living the city life in Davao may lose some of its appeal and excitement after sometime, retreating to the boondocks might be a good alternative. The surrounding areas of metro Davao have much to offer. To the northwest and southwest of the city are the mountains and hills of Calinan and Toril, which are set with long trails, rough terrains and both short and long climbs that are sure to delight the hiking enthusiast.

Photo courtesy of Samal City's websiteDavao’s
Dive Spots

DAVAO CITY — If you are looking for fun and exciting aqua-sport here, scuba diving is one of the options. There are several dive sites in the Davao Gulf, which are only 45 minutes to 120 minutes away from the city proper. You can choose from the following dive spots: Ligid Islad, Aundanao, Tagbobo, Pangubatan, Mushroom Rock, Paet Point, Coral Garden, Isla Reta, Talisay Wall, Angel’s Cave, Mansud Wall, Malipano Island, Pearl Farm, Punta del Sol, and Paradise Island.

How Davao
Became �Little Tokyo’

DAVAO CITY � On a wall in one of the galleries of the Davao Museum has an interesting exhibit on how Davao became a city.
Accordingly, Davao became a city out of fear of Japanese control. The account says that �during the constitutional convention in 1934, one delegate in the person of Pantaleon Pelayo Sr. denounced the control of Japanese in Davao and their unlimited acquisition of land.
PHOTO BY BARRY OHAYLAN
One Day in the
Life of a Davao Traveler

The city has become so many different things to so many different people. From merely the Nueva Guipuzcoa province, Nueva Vergara city, for the first Spaniards who arrived here, to the Japanese’ �Little Tokyo� before the war, it has become an eco-tourism destination, offering a host of packages featuring such adventure sports like scuba diving, mountain climbing, spelunking, kayaking, caving.Click here for a photo essay on Davao City by Barry Ohaylan
Davao City (A Brief Introduction)

Far from the Moro settlement that the Spaniards found when they first arrived here in 1848, the city of Davao has grown into a trading and financial hub of Mindanao and that of the East Asean Growth Area (Eaga).

Its international airport is Mindanao’s busiest, with direct flights to Singapore, Hong Kong, Osaka, Kuala Lumpur and Manado, Indonesia. As the center and staging point for the four Eaga countries (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines), Davao has opened new direct air links and shipping routes connecting key cities of the four countries to each other, fueling trade and investments over the past years.

The Davao Region (an introduction)

DAVAO CITY � The Davao region � also known as Region 11 or Southern Mindanao Region — is divided into four provinces, the largest of which is Davao Oriental, then Compostela Valley, Davao del Sur and Davao del Norte.

There are five cities in the region: Panabo, Island Garden City of Samal, and Tagum cities, which are in Davao del Norte while Digos City is in Davao del Sur.

Windows to Davao’s Soul

DAVAO CITY � This city has a number of places where every traveler can get the chance to better understand and appreciate it. And we’re not just talking about museums.

Somewhere in the city’s unmarked streets, inside the homes of many old families and the abodes of indigenous tribes of the vast lands here, lie the repositories of Davao’s soul that are waiting to be discovered.

Of Cats and Dogs and
Squares and Promenades

DAVAO CITY — Entertainment centers are mushrooming in Davao City. Aside from bars located inside hotels, there are bars clustered in entertainment arcades in certain districts in downtown Davao. These have become regular venues for both local and Manila-based performances.

Among these are the Matina Town Square in Matina District, the Rizal Promenade on Rizal Street, the Damosa Gateway along J.P. Laurel and The Venue along Quirino Avenue. These have various bars to choose, all under one roof. These holes either offer live and acoustic band performances, discos, videokes, billiards halls, or simply a cozy place to hang out with friends.

Easy Travel
DAVAO CITY — Traveling is not a problem in the city of Davao as there are various means of public transportation.
For visitors from outside Davao, there are available regular flights from Manila, Cebu, Zamboanga, Bacolod, Iloilo and Puerto Princesa. There are also flights from Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.
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