Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
If you want to explore on your own you have three main ferry choices. Most of the resorts lie close to the Babak/Caliclic
ferries;
Pearl Farm
is closer to Kaputian.
Santa Ana wharf to Kaputian
Closest to Davao are the
outrigger motorboats that ply between Santa Ana Wharf
near Magsaysay Park and Kaputian at the southern end of
Samal (45min; P60). Boats leave from the second pier, left
of the entrance, but some go straight to Talicud, so check
before jumping on board.
Sasa to Kinawitnon wharf
Around 8km north of
Davao along J.P. Laurel Ave in Sasa, a car ferry (24hr; 15min;
P13/person) runs to Kinawitnon wharf in the barangay of
Caliclic, Babak District; you must board the Island City
Express bus to cross here (or catch the bus at its terminal
at Magsaysay Park; P40 including ferry), as walk-on
passengers are not allowed.
Sasa to Babak
A short walk north of the car ferry are the
public bangkas (daily 6am-10pm; P13) that sail every 15min
or so from Sasa to Babak at the northern end of Samal;
you must walk through the market to reach the pier (the
entrance, on J.P. Laurel Ave, km 11, is next to a footbridge).
Jeepneys marked “Sasa” will take you from Davao city centre
to the market entrance; taxis should cost around P100.
GETTING AROUND
By habal-habal
No matter which port you arrive at, if
you want to get beyond the resorts you can choose from
the many habal-habal riders offering personalized tours
- it's a good idea to hire one for the whole day rather
than try and get separate lifts. Rates vary, but expect to
pay around P300 for a half-day; riders will suggest
visiting all sorts of wondrous attractions, but the most
popular are covered here.
Tricycles and minivans
Tricycles and minivans are also
available, but unless you have a group, these are much
more expensive.
ACCOMMODATION
Most reasonably priced
resorts
on Samal are on the northwest coast, south of the barangay of Caliclic. From the wharf at
Babak you can walk to many of these resorts, or hop on a tricycle. All the major resorts have private boats for guests - these
depart from piers off R. Castillo St north of the city (some allow day guests to use them for a fee; see below).
8
Bluewaters Beach Resort
Caliclic
T
084 301 4075,
W
ebluwaters.com.
Fairly simple garden houses and
bigger cottages, just a 4min boat ride from Davao; it's not
luxury, but it's good value, and day guests can use the
pool, watersports (rentals extra) and th
e resor
t beach for
P100/day (P10 for the boat; 7am-5pm).
P1200
Paradise Island Park & Beach Resort
Caliclic
T
082 233 0251,
W
paradiseislanddavao.com.
This huge
(eighty-room), popular resort can get busy at weekends
with day-trippers escaping the city, but has attractive
a/c cottages under shady trees in landscaped gardens, a
convivial nat
ive-sty
le restaurant and scuba diving. Day
guests P200.
P3500
★
Pearl Farm Resort
T
082 235 1234,
W
pearlfarm
resort.com.
South along the west coast is the island's
classiest and most expensive resort, which has more than
seventy native-style cottages either on a hillside over-
looking the bay or perched on stilts in the sea. There are
also seven luxurious and secluded villas on beautif
ul little
Malipano Island, a short hop from the main resort.
P6900
Talicud
Talicud Island
, off the southwest coast of Samal, is even more torpid than its big
brother, making it a perfect place to escape Davao's crowds. On the west coast there's
good, easy diving and snorkelling in an area known as Coral Gardens, and there are a
couple of more demanding drop-off dives off the north coast.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
TALICUD
By boat
Outrigger ferries regularly chug between Santa
Ana wharf near Magsaysay Park in Davao and Santa Cruz on
Talicud (6am-6pm, at least hourly; 1hr-1hr 30min; P60).
Boats leave from the second pier, left of the wharf entrance;
just jump on and pay. You can also hire a bangka from
Kaputian on Samal Island (P300).
ACCOMMODATION
Leticia by the Sea
T
082 286 6086,
W
leticiabythe
searesort.com.
Elegant but simple, this is a great escape
- and you can visit for the day (P300). As well as a decent
restaurant they also have kayaks for rent and an on-call
masseu
se. Rat
es include full board and boat transfers. Per
person
P5000
