Davao Day Tour

Photo taken at Jack's Ridge

Ideally, you should start your day tour in Davao as early as you can in order to visit most of the sites. Unlike us, we started at 10 am and we missed a few sites like Davao Crocodile Park, Aldevinco Shopping Center, San Pedro Cathedral, and Madrazo. Plan your itinerary wisely so you could be aware of the time you will spend on each site. If you can bring snacks and drinks much better. Trekking at Eden Nature Park will be rather tiring. You can also save some money if you bring your own lunch at the said park. Applying sunscreen lotion is a must. Most of the attractions are outdoor.

Here’s our customized travel plan in Davao for one whole day. 

Itinerary

June 29, 2014 (Sun)

ETD 10:00am at Green Windows Dormitel

    1. Eden Nature Park

    2. Philippine Eagle

    3. Japanese Tunnel

    4. Lola Abon’s Pasalubong Store

    5. Infant Jesus Shrine

    6. Dinner at Jack’s Ridge

    7. People’s Park

    Rest

Expenses

Van Rental- P583 (total P3500 for 6)

Entrance fees

   1. Eden Nature Park- P200 with light snack

   2. Philippine Eagle- P110

   3. Japanese Tunnel- P50

Food: P300 at Jack's Ridge

Pasalubong: P300 at Lola Abon's

Total: P1543

Attractions

Eden Nature Park & Resort

It is an eco-adventure park laid on a vast hectare on nature-inspired landscape that everyone will surely enjoy. The resort is ideally built for people who love nature-trip or do fun-filled activities. One whole day is not enough to enjoy all of its facilities and do the trekking on its mountain trails. But don’t worry, people who don’t enjoy or incapable of a long walk on a hilly terrain can still have the chance to witness the beauty of the whole place by a shuttle tour. It usually lasts roughly for 2 hours.

Attractions:

1. Butterfly Garden

2. Deer Park- find them in their habitat

3. Lola’s Garden- giving you a scenic view of the city

4. Tinubdan- it is an outdoor museum that showcases the indigenous cultural heritage of Mindanao on 5000 sqm land.

5. Amphiteater & Flower Garden- be amazed with various kinds of flowers with their very own stunning color and scent.

6. Vegetable Garden & Greenhouses- have a closer look of veggies growing on a hydroponic technology.

7. Birdwalk

8. Organic Vegetables & Herbs

9. Matinlo Pond- “matinlo” means beautiful in Palawan language. It is believed that boulders on the pond came from the Mt. Talomo eruption.

10. Prayer Garden- bringing you to a more peaceful part of the park. Perfect for meditation.

11. Tree & Ornamental Nurseries- the resort houses plenty of seedlings of different trees such as mahogany, molave, narra, teak, pine, eucalyptus, and many others.

12. Eden Sports Field- have fun at the obstacles course, horse park, a 200-m long skyrider, a field for soccer

13. The Chapel & the Art Center

  

Facilities:

1. A 4-km mountain trail

2. Vista restaurant & playground

3. Souvenir shop

4. Swimming pool

5. Fishing village

Do’s:

- Maintain the whole area clean. Trash your garbage on disposal bins.

- Park your vehicles on designated areas.

- Bonfires can be lit on designated areas with the assistance of accompanying adults.

Dont’s

- Smoking inside the mountain trail is prohibited. You can only smoke only at smoking areas.

- No picking of flowers.

- Bringing of food is not allowed except for groups who will be using the campsite areas and family cottages.

- No teasing or feeding the animals.

- Firearms are not permitted inside the resort.

Tips:

- Be at the park as early as 8am. Shuttle tour service is first come first serve basis. It is only available only until 10:45 in the morning and will resume at 1pm until 4pm. Walking tour or trekking is available at anytime of the day except evening.

- You can bring food but must be eaten inside your car at the parking areas.

- Bring an umbrella or raincoat due to an unpredictable weather. It might be too sunny or rainy at times.

- The place is full of many attractions so it is advisable to bring your camera especially for selfie.

- The place is too remote from the city proper. You can save money if you’ll rent a car or van in a group.

- Birthday celebrant can have 10% discount on all recreational activities and get the free buffet lunch. You can avail the promo within 3 days before or after your actual birthdate or even on the day of your birthday. The celebrant must be with one paying adult and present any proof of the actual birthdate. Reservation has to be done ahead of time.

Rates

Day Packages:

   Buffet Lunch

       Adult- P520

       Child- P330

   Plated Snack

       Adult- P200

       Child- P170

Serving Venue & Schedule

Lunch- 11:30am to 2:00pm

Snack (snack bar area)- 9:00am to 10:30am

             2:00 to 5:00pm

Eden Fields / Skyrider Area

M-Thu 11:00 to 2:00pm

Fri-Sun 9:00am to 4:00pm

Our light snack after a long trek at the park

Recreational Activities

    Guided Shuttle Tour- P120

    Skirider- P150

    Skycycle- P200

    Horseback Riding- P85

    Fishing- P85

    Swimming

          Adult- P80

          Child- P55

Note: First come first served basis. Waiver is compulsory for all parents or guardians of minors

Philippine Eagle

Philippine Eagle or Pithecophaga Jefferyi in scientific name is the second largest eagle in the world next to the Harpey Eagle of South America. It grows up to 3 feet high with a wingspan of 7 feet, the broadest in the world. Its distinct features are the huge arched beak and its long crown feathers. It is also the blue-eyed bird of prey in the world, with the ability to seeing objects 8 times the distance than that of humans. No doubt, it is the strongest predator in the country’s rainforests. These eagles are mostly found on the islands of Luzon, Mindanao, Samar, & Leyte. It is interesting to know that this type of bird is solitary, totally territorial, and monogamous keeping its mate for life. They hunt for other animals such as squirrels, snakes, hornbills, bats, flying lemurs, and monkeys as their food. In fact, the Philippine Eagle used to be known as the monkey-eating eagle because it was believed to prey only on monkeys. They sexually mature from 5 to 7 years and live in the wild up to a couple of decades. These birds usually breed from July to February.

Philippine eagle as the national bird of the country is now critically endangered species with only 500 pairs in the wild. There have been a number of threats to the survival of the eagle. Number one there is hunting. These eagles are still hunted down in spite of the presence of the laws protecting them. Another cause is by deforestation where the nesting places are destroyed. For these birds, the wilderness is their immediate habitat where they search for food, reproduce, and feed their offspring. The more forests are being denuded, the more they become unhealthy and incapable of meeting the necessary food and protection.

Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF)

It is a non-profit organization that aims to save the endangered species of the Philippine Eagle and the rainforests as their habitat. It was established in 1987 as the center for research, captive breeding, & the rehabilitation of these birds with highly-trained personnel. The center is located at the foothills of Mt. Apo protecting the Philippine Eagle, other endemic animals, & plants. Guests can enjoy the tour around the rainforests and learn many things through interactive activities and lectures.

Schedule

Opens at 8am to 5pm

Daily including holidays

Entrance Fees:

* Water District of Davao City

Adult- P5

Children- P3

* PEF

Adult- P100

Youth (below 18y/o)- P50

How to get there:

You can take a bus going to Calinan at Annil Terminal located at the corner of Quirino and San Pedro Extension. The bus leaves every 15 minutes. Then take a pedicab at Calinan to PEF that only takes 10 minutes.

Contact Information

Philippine Eagle Center

Location: Malagos, Baguio District, Davao City 8018, Philippines

Telephone #: (082) 271-2337

                          (082) 324-1860

Website: info@philippineeaglefoundation.org

FB: Philippine Eagle Foundation (official)

Japanese Tunnel

The excavation on the site was made by Filipino prisoners of war under the Japanese Imperial Army in 1942. It was completed after a couple of years and served as their quarters during World War II. According to one of the prisoners, those who went against the Japanese ruling and incapable of doing the job were being killed. It was in 1960s when the site was discovered during the development of the Diversion Road (also known as Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway). There were several important artefact found in the tunnel including bayonet guns, ammunitions, communication equipments, and money bills. On display today, guests can see Japanese pistol, and sword, empty bullet shells, debris and picture of bombs, Dokoy or Mickey Mouse money, and a replica of Golden Buddha.

The Japanese characters mean welcome to the Japanese Tunnel

Admission Fee: P50

Contact Information

Address: Family Resort & Restaurant Hillcrest Subd., Balusong Extension, Matina Davao City 8000

Telephone #: (082) 298-3705

                          (082) 299-0975

Telefax: (082) 298-3705

Lola Abon’s

Contact Information

Lola Abon’s Durian Candy, Inc.

Dolores “Dolly” R. Saniel (Corporate Secretary)

Address: 23 San Miguel Village Matina, Davao City

Telephone #: (082) 297-2391

 Mobile #: (+63) 927-918-4620 (Globe)

                    (+63) 942-275-4885

E-mail: naidolly@yahoo.com

Infant Jesus Shrine

Jack’s Ridge

People’s Park

Tour Operator

Abentevar Rental Davao, Inc.

Rate:

- P 3500 for 10 hours

- Inclusive of a driver and fuel using Toyota Hi Ace Grandia 

Itinerary:

1. Eden Nature Park

2. Philippine Eagle Center

3. Japanese Tunnel

4. Davao Crocodile Park

5. Madrazo

6. Lola Abon’s

7. People’s Park

8. Holy Infant Jesus Shrine

9. San Pedro Cathedral

10. Jack’s Ridge

11. Lon Wa Buddhist Temple at Cabaguio

12. Magsaysay Park

Note: You can follow their itinerary or customize your own.

Contact Information

Telephone #: (082) 234-1836

                        (082) 284-0439

Mobile #: (+63) 922-873-2759 (Sun)

Mr. Reynaldo Arquiza (Driver)

(+63) 932-851-3124

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Blogger's Note

Please be informed that details are subject to change at any time, particularly the price, location, and contact numbers. I, therefore advise that you visit their website or email ahead for confirmation when making your itinerary. The blogger cannot be held responsible for the experiences of the readers while travelling.