10 Exciting Things to Do in Samal, Davao del Norte

(SPOT.ph) Situated at the center of the Davao Gulf and separate from the Mindanao mainland is Davao del Norte's Samal (a.k.a. Island Garden City of Samal). This city continues to receive attention from local and foreign travelers because of its diving spots, white-sand beaches, and a bat cave recognized by the Guinness World Record, among other things. 

If you're going to Davao, it's best to take a boat ride of less than two kilometers to get to the beautiful island of Samal. For first-timers, we've listed things you should not miss out on.

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Here are exciting things to do in Samal, Davao del Norte:

Spend a relaxing night at Discovery Samal

If you want to explore Samal, you can spend the night at the new luxury resort Discovery Samal. This new resort by Discovery Hospitality has villas with private pools, an Olympic-sized infinity pool, a private white-sand beach, a soon-to-open in-house spa for utmost relaxation, and a restaurant with the sweetest, freshest coconut drink and surprisingly, A+ tom yum and laksa made by the resort’s Thai chef.

Discovery Samal has a separate docking port near the Davao International Airport for guests' convenience. From there, the boat ride takes less than 15 minutes to get to the resort and vice-versa.

Discovery Samal is in Limao, Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte. For more information, visit Discovery Samal's website.

Take a night tour of the world's largest single-colony bat cave

Awarded by the Guinness World Record as the largest bat cave of Geoggrey's Rousette Fruit Bats (Rousetteus amplexicaudatus), the Monfort Bat Sanctuary has nearly two million of these bats in five of their wards. The bats are segregated into different wards, such as the maternity or mating area, males ward, baby ward,  and seniors ward (30 to 40-year-old bats).

Monfort Bat Sanctuary day tour costs P120 for an adult, P96 for PWDS, seniors, and students, and P50 for five to 15-year-old kids, while four-year-olds and younger have free entrance. They also have night tours, priced at P200 per person and a minimum of five, if you want to see the bats fly out of the cave and form a whirling tornado formation.

Monfort Bat Sanctuary is along Circumferential Road, Babak District, Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte. For more information, check out MONFORT BAT SANCTUARY's Facebook page.

Explore the underwater world at the many diving sites of Samal

With all the diving sites surrounding Samal, it's no wonder that scuba diving is the main activity that boosts the island's tourism. Two of the more famous sites are Aundanao and Liguid (or Ligid), which have a healthy reef life and where you can encounter turtles.

Other diving sites are the Panganak Dive Site, Limao Reef, Catagman Dive Site, Marissa, San Juan Reef, Dapia Reef, Mansud Wall, Angel's Cove, Mushroom Rock, Tagbaobo Dive Site, Tinangisan Dive Site, and Auntuod Dive Site.

Be enchanted by the gigantic clams of Taklobo

For a more beginner-friendly water activity, you should not miss spending at least an hour or two snorkeling at Taklobo, which is known as a clam sanctuary. Priced at P200 per head, take your time witnessing the six different clam species, such as the Tridacna gigas, which is the biggest clam species; Tridacna derasa or the Smooth Giant Clam; Tridacna squamosa, also called the Fluted Giant Clam; Tridacna maxima; Tridacna crocea or the Boring Clam; and Tridacna noae, which looks like a snake. 

Taklobo is in Adecor, Kaputian District, Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte. For more information, visit the Taklobo Tours: Giant Clam Conservation in Samal Island Facebook page.

Go cliff diving in Sabang

There are several islands neighboring Samal where you can spend the whole morning and afternoon island-hopping, snorkeling, sunbathing, and whatnot. But for thrill seekers, you can get a jolt of adrenaline when you go cliff diving at Sabang (also known as Grotto).

Sabang has three cliff diving spots for those who can conquer their fear of heights. The lowest, if you can call it that, is 14 feet above the sea; the second cliff diving spot is 21 feet above the sea; and the third is around 40 feet. We've also noticed a dragon-shaped banana boat (not to be confused with the actual dragon boat sport) in the area.

Sabang is in Kaputian District, Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte.

Manifest your life's desires on Wishing Island

If you have wishes in life that you need to manifest harder, add the Wishing Island to your island-hopping itinerary. This small island (just a rock formation, not much shore) has a grotto of the Virgin Mama Mary where you can pray for your desires and prayers. You can stay a little longer when you're done and use the island's slides during high tide. 

Visit the Sanipaan Marine Park for the mangroves and starfish

A short boat ride less than five minutes from the coast of Tambo, Babak, takes you to Sanipaan Marine Park (a.k.a. Vanishing Island). It's called as such because Sanipaan Marine Park has a sandbar visible during low tide but then vanishes during high tide. If you've been to Bais in Negros Oriental, the Vanishing Island looks similar to the Manjuyod Sandbar.

It's best to bring snorkeling gear and aqua shoes as there are tooooooons (no, we're not exaggerating) of starfish near the sandbar. When you're done snorkeling and taking 1,000+ photos by the beach house, you should also check out the three kinds of mangroves nearby. There's the pagatpat; bakawan (na lalake, which has spikes; and the bakawan (na babae), which has flowers.

Sanipaan Marine Park is in Tambo, Babak District, Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte.

Visit the Japanese Cave House for some World War II history

For the history buffs out there, we know a vacation doesn't feel complete without going to a museum of some sort. You should definitely make a stop at the Japanese Cave House. For a P50 entrance fee, you can check out the cave once used as the safe house of Japanese soldiers back in World War OO. Old artifacts left by soldiers are displayed around the Japanese Cave House, and handwritten markings are on the cave walls.

Tip: Since this is close to the Monfort Bat Cave, you can go to both locations back to back.

The Japanese Cave House is in Babak District, Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte.

Hike up Mt. Puting Bato

Mt. Puting Bato, the highest peak on the island, stands at 1,345 feet above sea altitude. There are two trails: the Tayapoc Trail, which is more beginner-friendly; and the other is Guilon Trail, which is more for expert climbers. At the peak of Mt. Puting Bato, you'll have the best view of Davao City, Davao Gulf, and Compostela Valley. You'll also see the peak of Mt. Apo, the highest mountain in the Philippines.

Mt. Puting Bato is in Guilon, Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte.

Buy pasalubong at the Tourist Rest Area

If you’re looking for a really good souvenir shop within Samal, it is best to drop by the Tourist Rest Area near Samal’s city hall. This tourist pitstop has a cafe and a small display of well-curated delicacies and knickknacks you can bring home.

We highly recommend buying packs of dried mangoes (a less sweet version of Cebu’s, if that’s your thing) and other unique mango by-products like mango shrimp paste and mango chili sauce.

The Tourist Rest Area is in Peñaplata, Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte.

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