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Guide to Davao, Philippines
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Click to go to Flight Prices for Davao
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DavaoThough it cannot claim itself to be the southernmost city of the Philippines, Davao can certainly declare itself the hub of numerous industries the archipelago is known for. It may come as a concern to some how focused the city is on excelling in commerce, trade, and transportation, however the 21st century offers a new industrial playbook which many small and developing countries are eagerly matching their economic agendas to. Standing within Davao's center, or downtown complex, it's obvious that urbanity has found a home here. Little room is made for natural accoutrements; instead you'll find high-rises constructed in a myriad of fashions and street life easily likened to a small-scale Bangkok, Tokyo, or New York. Attractions are ordinarily found within walls here. A tourist can occupy his or her day browsing museum displays or shopping at clothier boutiques and the seemingly endless variety of electronics sources. Of course, interest in Davao cannot solely be the product of the marketing of a conventionally patterned city. For answers - rather than looking inside the amalgam of concrete and steel - one must look beyond the reaches of the grid. At Davao's edge you'll notice the landscape change drastically, from a relatively flat seaside network of congestion and noise to a beautiful concoction of hills and a wildflower-strewn mountainside, where all formations leading upward are destined for the summit of Mount Apo, a 9,692ft apex - documented as the tallest earthly creation residing on Philippine soil.
When to go:
Tropical locales are fortunate to hold ideally warm climates for the majority of their calendars' days. The Philippines is no exception. Though summers in this region have brought a great number of monsoons to the islands, winters - which are not at all equitable to those further north whatsoever - are hosts to some of the best weather to come out of the South China and Suluwesi Seas. Downpours are certainly possible any time of year, and only on short notice can any solid recommendations to avoid a visit to Davao be made. Our advice: Keep to the months between December and July and you'll have the best chance for success.
Getting there and around:
The island of Mindanao is home to some of the most active cities in the Philippines, however, despite Davao's push for a complete transit service circle and the recent establishment of an airport, the city does not offer the extensive international rosters of cities such as Cebu and Manila (capital), and unless your location is quite near, a stopover will have to be arranged. Positioned closely to Davao's downtown, it is a well-apportioned air-travel center with numerous ground transit services provided to both arrivals and departures.
Attractions:
From the city center, a cabbie will almost always be on hand to take you to Davao's most prized collection of antiquities, Davao Museum. The short 7-mile ride will have you immersed in tribal histories brought to life by displays of handcrafts of many different genres. On-site weaving in the traditional fashion is shown from start to finish, and the souvenir shop is never lacking in interesting trinkets. The oldest church in Davao, San Pedro Cathedral was appropriately titled after the city's patron saint. It was built in the Mindanao's colonial period, arriving at completion in the year 1847.
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