Davao & Camiguin

Hiking, diving, surfing and white-water rafting are just some of the exciting activities that await the adventurous in Davao Province and Camiguin, although wildlife encounters and visits to natural sites are high on the agenda too. Beaches promise relaxation, as do the likes of yoga and meditation with their associations with the Hindu-Buddhist traditions that influenced local life during the classic epoch of Philippine history. 

You might also consider a day-trip or overnighter to Lake Sebu a 4hr bus-ride (145km) southwest of Davao City – a growing ecotourism and adventure-sports destination as well as home to the T’boli and Ubo tribes.

Whitewater rafting Cagayan de Oro River

Culture & Food

Davao province and the region of Mindanao as a whole have a rich cultural mix, being home to the Philippines’ largest Muslim community along with Roman Catholics and 18 tribal Filipino groups. In Davao City, you’ll find Christian churches and chapels alongside temples, mosques and other places of worship, a Chinatown and a Japanese presence, plus heritage sites including Davao Museum, the Mindanao Folk Arts Museum and the Japanese Tunnel (used by Japanese forces during World War II). Meanwhile, Camiguin’s reputation as a beach destination belies the cultural wealth evidenced by its many heritage buildings. 

Davao is famed for its durian fruit, and Camiguin for its lanzones. You’ll also see lots of fresh tuna from General Santos City on menus. Davao City’s most popular dish is kinilaw, a kind of vinegar-marinated ceviche with tuna, mackerel or swordfish, cucumber (and sometimes radishes) and chilli. Camiguin is a good place for both local and international dishes, with a wide choice for vegans.

Lazones Festival

Climate

With an average daily high of 33°C, tropical Mindanao is one of the warmest regions in the Philippines, with high humidity and rainfall. The wet season is July to October; the least rain falls from December to April.

Nouveau

360° images Fung Yu

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