Mindanao - The Rough Guide to the Philippines - page 422

DIVING AND SNORKELLING AROUND DAVAO
Most of Davao's dive shops are clustered at the end of Monteverde Street next to Magsaysay
Park and the Santa Ana wharf; favoured destinations are the sparkling waters around Samal
and especially Talicud (just 45min by boat), where there are some decent coral reefs and
plenty of fish.
DIVE SHOPS
Davao Scuba Dive Center T 082 226 2588,
W

by some accounts); you can snorkel near these gentle
creatures, but not dive.
Wind & Wave T 082 300 7914, W windandwavedavao
.com. Day dives and PADI courses at similar rates to the
Davao Scuba Dive Center, plus kayaking and parasailing.

davaoscubadive.net. Danish expat Frank Rasmus-
sen offers two-tank dives from P1800 and PADI courses
(3-4 days) from P18,000. He can also help locate the
area's dwindling dugong population (less than twenty

INFORMATION AND TOURS
Tourist information of ce South side of Magsaysay
Park (Mon-Fri 8am-noon & 1-5pm; T 082 222 1956,
W davaotourism.com). Offers basic maps and leaflets
and advice.
Regional Department of Tourism Fifth floor of the
Landco Pacific Building, J.P. Laurel Ave, near Victoria Plaza
(Mon-Fri 8am-5pm; T 082 221 6955, W discoverdavao

.com). Come here for help with trips outside the city,
including hikes up Mt Apo.
Tours Many hotels have tour desks and a host of tour
operators vie for day-trip business. Durian Travel and Tours
( T 082 221 6430, W duriantravelandtours.com) is in the
Apo View Hotel , while Surelite Travel and Tours ( T 082 221
7601, E [e-mail]) is on Pichon St.

8

GETTING AROUND
By taxi It's cheap and easy to get around Davao by taxi;
you can hail them in the street, meters start at P40 and
after that it's P2.50/300m. They can also be hired out for
day-trips from around P2000, but make sure you take a
ride in the cab first, and clearly establish the price and
what it entails.
By jeepney Jeepneys (P8 initial fare for up to 4km;
P1/1km thereafter) run back and forth along all major
thoroughfares with destinations pasted on the side - it's
just a question of flagging one down and hopping on.

By tricycle Tricycles charge P7/person for trips within the
city - this includes Santa Ana wharf, Ecoland bus terminal
and north as far as Victoria Plaza.
Car rental Avis (daily 6am-7pm; T 082 225 3337) is
inside the Apo View Hotel ; Europcar ( W europcar.com.ph)
will deliver to your hotel and has desks at the airport
( T 082 304 2438) and in the lobbies of the Marco Polo
( T 082 221 0888) and Pearl Farm (Mindanao side; T 082
304 4958). Rates start at around P3000/day including
insurance.

ACCOMMODATION
Apo View Hotel 150 J. Camus St T 082 221 6430,
W apoview.com; map p.424. The oldest upmarket hotel
in Davao, with big, comfortable a/c rooms - it can't
compete with the Marco Polo for luxury but it has a certain
old-fashioned charm. You don't always get a view of
Mt Apo, although o n a clea r day you can see it from the
top-floor restaurant. P2500
Casa Leticia Boutique Hotel J. Camus St T 082 224
0501, W casaleticia.com; map p.424. Attractive mid-
range option with a/c, en-suite rooms ranging from studios
and doubles to a smart presidential suite. All have free
wi-fi and LCD TV. The hotel al so has a reasonable restaurant
and a lively music bar, Toto's . P2800
★

The a/c doubles are clean an d comfy, though starting to show
their age. Free wi-fi. P1200
★

Legaspi Suites 115 P. Pelayo St T 082 227 8613,
W legaspisuites.com; map p.424. In a great location near
nightlife and restaurants, this hotel offers high standards
for a very reasonable price - rooms, elegantly furnished
in dark wood and decorated in pastel shades, have a/c,
LCD TVs and decent bathrooms, and the larger premier
superior rooms (P1900) also have fridges. Breakfast
included. P1700
Marco Polo C.M. Recto St at Roxas Ave T 082 221 0888,
W marcopolhotels.com; map p.424. The city's most
luxurious hotel, with spacious rooms, large bathrooms,
flatscreen cable TV and fine views of either the sea or, on
a clear day, Mt Apo. The pool is a great place to hang out,
with a bar and terrace restaurant facing Apo, and the
breakfast buffets (usually included) are excellent. On the

C5 Dormitel Roxas Ave T 082 228 6186, W c5dormitel
.com; map p.424. In a decent location in the new part of
town, this budget boutique hotel sports artsy decor. Rates are
reasonable, and there are two-bed dorms for P4500/month.