Day 5 (March 19,2016)
Our last day in Davao was spent in the beautiful Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS). Samal Island is a 2nd class city in the province of Davao del Norte and one of the seven thousand tropical islands in the Philippines with a larger number of glorious beaches complete with soft white coral sand, rustling coconut palms, caves, number of natural waterways and gently lapping turquoise water. This little paradise on earth is located in the heart of the Davao Gulf and is composed of 7 islets. It is physically unattached to the mainland of Mindanao and has a stretch of over 118 kilometers of continuous coastline.
Only 10 minutes away by ferry from the city center, very accessible. There are several ways to get there:
1.Sta. Ana Wharf: (near Magsaysay Park, downtown area) where motorboats are available to ferry passengers directly to Kaputian and Talikud Island
2.Sasa Wharf Ferryboat landing: where passengers will be riding the Island City Express Bus from R. Castillo and Cabaguio St. (satellite terminal) and be transported by a ferryboat to the Brgy. Caliclic, Babak District
3.Sasa, Km.11 Wharf: where ROROs are available to passengers direct to Babak wharf
We opted the latter because most of the places in our Samal Island itinerary were just around Babak area. There are cabs and jeeps going to Sasa Wharf from the city center and since we were in a hurry, we just took a cab. Fare is 130php-150php. From the wharf, we boarded a RORO to cross to the island, it was just 10-15 minutes away and fare is only 10php. From Babak wharf there are lots of tricycles and habal-habals that you can hire to go around or to take you to your chosen resort. Fares can be very steep though, so try to haggle the best way you can. Good thing, Mikel is so good at haggling so we got our whole day habal-habal tour for only 700php. That includes Monfort Bat Sanctuary, Hagimit Falls and Villa Amparo Beach Resort--and having Kuya Igo (who speaks pure tagalog) as our tour guide/photographer was a plus.
First stop, Monfort Bat Sanctuary. Located at Barangay Tambo, Babak District, just around 15-20 minutes from the Babak Wharf. According to wiki, Montfort Bat Sanctuary has been the home of a large colony of 2.3 million Rousette fruit bats since recorded history. They cover 75% of the ceilings and walls of their 245 ft (75 m)-long cave. Recognized by the Guinness World Records as the largest single colony of it's kind. Amazing! Entrance is 100php, by the way.
Norma Monfort is the current owner of the 57 acres of land including its 1.8 million fruit bats. She enclosed the property to discourage any possible bat hunters. Additionally, she hired 24-hour guards to protect the bats. Norma Monfort was named 2011 Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund Hero.
With such an abundant amount of fruit bats, visitors can get an up close look from outside any of the five entrances (the fifth one, the one they called 'the senior citizen ward is too smelly though). Visitors cannot enter because each entance is surrounded by bamboo rails where you could peek in to see the bats, any disturbance can cause panic to the bats so be very careful. Late afternoon is suggested to be the best time to visit because of the daily Circadian flight. The Circadian flight occurs right after sunset, when millions of bats fly out of the cave to find food. That would be too cool to see, too bad we went there 10am and had to leave early for we still had two more places to visit and a flight to catch in the evening. Oh, well better luck next time!
And oh, I saw Vanishing Island from here, Kuya Igo (our tour guide) said you can rent a boat to get there. It is so scenic from a far, I wish we had more time to visit the island but it was ok, will do next time. I had fun seeing millions of bats and yes, it was my first encounter with bats upclose so yey, hurrah to me! Okay, our beach adventure is coming up next, so yeah, see yah!
p.s.
Breakdow of expenses (Monfort Bat Sanctuary)
Fare was already included in our whole day Habal-habal tour that cost 700php. But if you will visit the cave alone, it will cost you around 50php each. Anyhoo, Habal-habal drivers have their tour packages, starts with 1500php-2000php for five common destinations-- other packages depend on how far the places are. Like what I've said, prices can be really steep but you can always negotiate. Haggle the way you do in Divisoria hehe, that always work! Will post Kuya Igo's contact number and the all in all breakdown of expenses on the last part of my Day 5 post so watch out!
Entrance Fee: 100php x 2 =200php
Environmental Fee: 5php x 2=10php
Total: 210php
Our last day in Davao was spent in the beautiful Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS). Samal Island is a 2nd class city in the province of Davao del Norte and one of the seven thousand tropical islands in the Philippines with a larger number of glorious beaches complete with soft white coral sand, rustling coconut palms, caves, number of natural waterways and gently lapping turquoise water. This little paradise on earth is located in the heart of the Davao Gulf and is composed of 7 islets. It is physically unattached to the mainland of Mindanao and has a stretch of over 118 kilometers of continuous coastline.
Only 10 minutes away by ferry from the city center, very accessible. There are several ways to get there:
1.Sta. Ana Wharf: (near Magsaysay Park, downtown area) where motorboats are available to ferry passengers directly to Kaputian and Talikud Island
2.Sasa Wharf Ferryboat landing: where passengers will be riding the Island City Express Bus from R. Castillo and Cabaguio St. (satellite terminal) and be transported by a ferryboat to the Brgy. Caliclic, Babak District
3.Sasa, Km.11 Wharf: where ROROs are available to passengers direct to Babak wharf
We opted the latter because most of the places in our Samal Island itinerary were just around Babak area. There are cabs and jeeps going to Sasa Wharf from the city center and since we were in a hurry, we just took a cab. Fare is 130php-150php. From the wharf, we boarded a RORO to cross to the island, it was just 10-15 minutes away and fare is only 10php. From Babak wharf there are lots of tricycles and habal-habals that you can hire to go around or to take you to your chosen resort. Fares can be very steep though, so try to haggle the best way you can. Good thing, Mikel is so good at haggling so we got our whole day habal-habal tour for only 700php. That includes Monfort Bat Sanctuary, Hagimit Falls and Villa Amparo Beach Resort--and having Kuya Igo (who speaks pure tagalog) as our tour guide/photographer was a plus.
First stop, Monfort Bat Sanctuary. Located at Barangay Tambo, Babak District, just around 15-20 minutes from the Babak Wharf. According to wiki, Montfort Bat Sanctuary has been the home of a large colony of 2.3 million Rousette fruit bats since recorded history. They cover 75% of the ceilings and walls of their 245 ft (75 m)-long cave. Recognized by the Guinness World Records as the largest single colony of it's kind. Amazing! Entrance is 100php, by the way.
Norma Monfort is the current owner of the 57 acres of land including its 1.8 million fruit bats. She enclosed the property to discourage any possible bat hunters. Additionally, she hired 24-hour guards to protect the bats. Norma Monfort was named 2011 Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund Hero.
With such an abundant amount of fruit bats, visitors can get an up close look from outside any of the five entrances (the fifth one, the one they called 'the senior citizen ward is too smelly though). Visitors cannot enter because each entance is surrounded by bamboo rails where you could peek in to see the bats, any disturbance can cause panic to the bats so be very careful. Late afternoon is suggested to be the best time to visit because of the daily Circadian flight. The Circadian flight occurs right after sunset, when millions of bats fly out of the cave to find food. That would be too cool to see, too bad we went there 10am and had to leave early for we still had two more places to visit and a flight to catch in the evening. Oh, well better luck next time!
And oh, I saw Vanishing Island from here, Kuya Igo (our tour guide) said you can rent a boat to get there. It is so scenic from a far, I wish we had more time to visit the island but it was ok, will do next time. I had fun seeing millions of bats and yes, it was my first encounter with bats upclose so yey, hurrah to me! Okay, our beach adventure is coming up next, so yeah, see yah!
p.s.
Breakdow of expenses (Monfort Bat Sanctuary)
Fare was already included in our whole day Habal-habal tour that cost 700php. But if you will visit the cave alone, it will cost you around 50php each. Anyhoo, Habal-habal drivers have their tour packages, starts with 1500php-2000php for five common destinations-- other packages depend on how far the places are. Like what I've said, prices can be really steep but you can always negotiate. Haggle the way you do in Divisoria hehe, that always work! Will post Kuya Igo's contact number and the all in all breakdown of expenses on the last part of my Day 5 post so watch out!
Entrance Fee: 100php x 2 =200php
Environmental Fee: 5php x 2=10php
Total: 210php
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