Breath-taking Davao-Samal- Talicud Island

Vacation is to escape from what you usually do. To have a vacation is to unwind, relax, and bond with friends or family. To see and explore places are not your purpose. Last July 29 to August 1, I had a vacation. 

Since I want this blog to be more traveler-friendly, I am suggesting the following itinerary. Part of it, I have actually done, and part of it, were things that I wish I could have done during the entire tour. I am not saying that this is the best itinerary for a Davao trip, but on my own taste and preference, this itinerary is good enough. 

Disclaimer: Some costs are directly proportional to how good you haggle. Budget is per person, traveling in group of 4, budget enclosed with parenthesis traveling in group of 7. (In Philippine Peso)

ITINERARY FOR A 4 DAYS 3 NIGHTS DAVAO TOUR

DAY 1 (JULY 29, 2012)

9:35 am - ETA- Davao International Airport. Terminal Fee is 200.00 (But starting August 1, 2012, Terminal fee is already included in airfare. HAVE A PICTURE WITH THE GIANT DURIAN. THIS IS A MUST.

9:35 am to 7:00 pm - Davao City tour. As much as possible, go to Eden right before lunch break.
                                Philippine Eagle Center - 50 entrance/pax (Buy souvenirs here. T-shirts for 115, candies 
                                                                   candies worth 100 for 7 packs)
                                Eden Nature Park  - 200 entrance/pax inclusive of merienda. 120 multicab ride inside park. But if you are into hiking, do not avail the multicab. 
                                Crocodile Park - 150 entrance/pax
                                Lon Wa Buddhist temple (More known as Philippine Academy of Sakya) - Free of charge
                                Holy Infant Jesus
                                Japanese Tunnel - 50 entrance/pax
                                Ponce Suites - 100 entrance/pax
                                Outland Adventure zipline - 500 per ride
                                Car/Van Rental - 2,500 total: 625/pax (358/pax)
                                Food - 100 per day.

7:00 pm to 8:00 pm Check in: Green Windows Dormitel, Dorm type for 4 costs 1,288 = 322/pax. (Dorm type for 6
                               plus extra bed total cost is 1,925 = 275/pax)
                               ( http://www.greenwindowsdormitel.com/rooms.html)

8:00 pm onwards     Matina Square                           

Day 1 Total expenses :  2,417 (2,103)

EDEN NATURE PARK

PHILIPPINE EAGLE CENTER

                  LON WA BUDDHIST TEMPLE

PONCE SUITES

                 JAPANESE TUNNEL

CROCODILE PARK

Day 2 (July 30, 2012)

7:00 am to 8:00 am Taxi to Km 11 wharf (Sassa Wharf) – 200 per taxi – 50/pax

8:00 am to 8:30 am Ferry to Samal Island – 10/pax

8:30 am to 3:00 pm Samal Island Tour (Just leave your bags in the multicab)

                                    Hagimit Falls – 40/pax entrance. 5/pax environmental fee

                                    Monfort Bat cave – 100/pax entrance. 5/pax environmental fee

                                  Multicab rental – 2500= 500/pax (358/pax) – 0910-3411539 kuya Toto

                 Ask the driver to drop you to Kaputian beach (Wharf leading to Talicud Island)

                                    Boat to Talicud Island 20/pax

3:00 pm onwards Check in at isla Reta. Enjoy the beach. 700/room good for 3, extra person is 150. 212.5/pax (221.50/pax) contact number: 0928-2141487

                                        Food – 100

Total Day 2 expenses : 1,042.50 (909.5)

                                                                  HAGIMIT FALLS

MONFORT BAT CAVE

                 (see those black thing? You don't have to go to Davao to see those. Just use your mascara)

Day 3 (July 31, 2012)

7:00 am onwards Talicud Island Tour

                                Babu Santa 100/boat = 25/pax (14.50/pax) 

                                Dayang beach 300/boat = 75/pax (43/pax)

                                Angel’s Cove

                                   Coral Garden

                                  Wishing Island

                                  Pearl Farm (Pass by only)

             Boat rental total of 2,400 = 600/pax (343/pax) 0918-7236996 look for kuya Utik

                                  Snorkel rental – 100/pax

                                  Accomodation – Isla Reta = 212.5/pax (221.5/pax)

                                  Food – 100

Total Day 3 expenses : 1,112.50 (822)

ISLA RETA

CORAL GARDEN

ANGEL'S COVE

DAYANG BEACH

ENJOYING ISLA RETA

MY NEWEST AND PERMANENT TRAVEL BUDDY, TRAVELING AL

YOUR BUDGET TRAVEL GUIDE

Day 4 (August 1, 2012)

7:00 am to 8:00 am Travel back to Kaputian Beach – 20/pax

8:00 am to 10:00 am Travel to Davao City (Bus ride) – 70/pax - drop off point is near Abreeza Mall

10:00 am to 10:30 am To Abreeza Mall – jeep ride – 8/pax

10:30 until check in time – Malling/ buy pasalubong at Golden Fruits.

                                                     Terminal fee is 200/pax

                                                     Food - 100

Total Day 4 expenses : 398 (398)

AT ABREEZA MALL 

TOTAL DAVAO TOUR EXPENSES : 4,970.00 (4,232.5)

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Potipot Island, A Unique Place

LOCATION: POTIPOT ISLAND AND CANDELARIA ZAMBALES

Super tagal ng byahe! Almost 7 hours. Sulit naman ang saya, dahil sa mga kasama. The place? Uhmm, carry na. Black sand, pero child friendly ang dagat. Malayo na hanggang bewang pa din.

Almusal muna sa Pampanga. Pampagana sa mahaba habang byahe...

Ang dagat ng Candelaria Zambales. Hindi man ganun kaakit akit maligo, pero pag nakalusong ka na, worth it naman na ang binyahe.

Extra challenge lang kinahapunan at nomo session sa gabi. Confidential ang mga pics kaya fast forward na. Kinabukasan, direcho sa Potipot Island. 

Potipot Island is located 5-minute boat ride away from Candelaria coast.

White Sand. Hindi ko pa masasabi na mala Boracay since wit pa ako nakakakembular sa Boracis. I can say na hindi child friendly ang beach. Ilang tambling lang malalim na agad. Ingat lang kasi parang cliff type ang dagat.

VERDICT: WORTH VISITING

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Puerto Galera

April 2011

Puerto Galera is a well known island to chill. To add, its distance from Manila, as compared to Boracay, it is one of the most visited summer spots for Manilenos.  

What can you expect from Puerto Galera? Well, the off-white sand beach, the cool and smooth sea waves, the party-in-the-beach nights, but the most that I like, the beauty its sunset has shown to me. It was like the sky is burning red, not too bright, not too dull, just enough to cool down the day's hype. 

At night, I just spent couple of hours watching the full moon. I was mesmerized by how it turns an ordinary night to a romantic one. It was my first vantage point of my own limbo. 

Here I share some own experiences during my trip to PG:

1:00 pm – meet at Jam liner station in Buendia. To save time, we just had taken out chaofan (chowking) and eat while on the road. Be sure not to forget to ask for eating utensils unless you want to eat using card board cut from the chaofan box. Fare is 170.

2:30 pm - Arrived at Batangas Port. You have to pay for environmental fee. Be attentive and wise. Fixers are everywhere. So if you are on a hurry, ask for their service, with additional facilitation fee. Fare via Father and Sons costs 200 PhP. We paid 75PhP per person for the environmental fee.

4:30 pm - Arrived at Muelle (Pronounced as Mul-ye). For me it is a good choice to stay here than in White Beach, since White Beach is too crowded. Plus if you are in a tight budget, it is better here since you don’t need to rent another boat for sightseeing. The ferry route is from White Beach, then sail off to Sabang and finally to Muelle. It is enough to experience the view. You cannot stop over an island though.

5:00 pm – We went to White Beach by tricycle (25PhP each). When everyone felt of wanting to swim, we decided to go to the nearest boutique shop and asked her to look after our things, including camera and wallet. Surprisingly, the crew is honest enough to look after our things.

I love the siomai we bought on the beach. (25PhP for 4 pcs).

7:00 pm – We are too hungry to choose for the best place to eat. We had dinner in somewhere near the beach. The food is really not good plus it’s really expensive. After dinner, we had some walk, and we found out about Mindorin. It is like a food haven along the beach, mostly grilled food are being served. One big pork barbecue costs 25PhP. It really looked nice and delicious.

 8:00 pm – Chill on the beach. The fire dance is ok, but you have to look for a good place to watch, since, PG is really crowded.

The souvenirs are of the average prices. But I think, most of the items are common and can be bought in manila. T-shirts costs 100 to 200PhP

Serene night for couples. During our vacation, it was fullmoon, which added to the romantic aura of the place.

10:00 pm – We went back to the inn. The tricycle fare is way too expensive now, since you have to rent the unit. Fare now is 200PhP for renting the tricycle.

Food trip – The best, tinola. No potable water though. So you need to buy mineral water.

Where to stay - Badladz is very homey quiet place. They cater Mexican food and Filipino cuisine with touch of Mexico. The owner is a Filipina. She is kind and very accommodating.  Instead of checking out 2 pm, since we arrived late, she allowed us to stay until 4 pm. Room for two costs 990PhP

Unforgettable experience – We saw this Filipina, with two foreigners (I think both on their mid-50’s). She was so drunk that she peed in front of our face. Hell yeah.

FOR MORE PICTURES : 

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VISIT MY FACEBOOK PAGE: (chikay chikikay /raychelle.pacheco@yahoo.com)