Davao offers spectacular natural beauty, with forests, the highest mountain in the Philippines, Mount Apo, and beautiful coral islands. A diverse population of indigenous, migrant, and ex-pat communities calls Davao home.
Davao is also home to stunning wildlife, including the largest eagle in the world, the Philippine Eagle, and some of the rarest orchids.
Visit Palawan, Boracay, or Samal Island to enjoy some of the very best beaches in the Philippines.
Climb to the summit of the Shrine Hills to enjoy the best views of the city. You can cool down from your climb in the local pool.
See the world's largest eagle at the Philippine Eagle Center and learn more about this critically endangered species.
Visit Davao Crocodile Park to see the Philippine Crocodiles. There are also tigers and deer and shows to enjoy.
For a city of more than one million, Davao is surprisingly quiet and laid-back. The nightlife is subdued and centers on enjoying a quiet drink and music on Matina Town Square.
Davao has a tropical rainforest climate, with year-round temperatures of around 78 degrees Fahrenheit. It is driest from February to May.
The city is served by Davao International Airport (DVO), which has good domestic connections and scheduled flights to Singapore.
The city is currently improving its road network and is well connected to other cities on the island of Mindanao.
The bus network runs through Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT) and has frequent services to other cities on Mindanao.
C5 Dormitel has good basic accommodation, while Humberto's Hotel is an award-winning boutique hotel in the city center.
Samal Island - this is a quiet, beautiful island just a short trip across the water from Davao City. Expect deserted beaches and a relaxed atmosphere.
Talomo - Talomo is a beach resort area just 30 minutes from the city center with some lively bars and cafes.
Buhangin - this is a busy area just to the east of the city center. It has some good hotels and is close to the Davao Crocodile Park.
The bus network is fairly limited around the city and tends to be concentrated on the main north-south routes, where a single fare is from ₱10.
Taxis are the main way to get around the city and are regarded as being reliable and honest. Expect to pay ₱40 for a starting fare and then around ₱90 for a typical city center journey.
Roads in Davao are generally good and car rental will cost from ₱1,000 per day. Local companies include EcoTrans and AJ88 Car Rental.
Davao has lots of malls and most of these have cinemas and supermarkets. Some of the major malls to check out are Centerpoint Plaza, Gaisano Grand CitiMall, and Victoria Plaza, which sell everything from fashion to electronics.
Supermarkets can be found in the malls. A quart of milk in Davao City costs around ₱76 and a dozen eggs is ₱70.
Ahfat Seafoods Plaza next to Victoria Plaza serves excellent local cuisine, while Yahong on F. Torres Street is known for its hot chicken wings. A meal in a budget restaurant will cost from ₱80, while a three course dinner in one of the city's better restaurants will cost upwards of ₱250.