Davao Travel Guide — Mount Apo, Philippine Eagle, Night Market and Mindanao Gateway

Davao City is the largest city in the Philippines by land area and one of the most liveable — clean, orderly, safe, and surprisingly green for a metropolis of nearly 2 million people. Capital of Davao del Sur province and the unofficial hub of Mindanao, it punches well above its weight as a travel destination: the gateway to Mount Apo (the Philippines’ highest peak), home to the durian capital of the world, and blessed with excellent food, a thriving night market, and some of the country’s best fruit.

International travellers often overlook Davao in favour of the beach destinations further north, but this is a city that rewards those who spend time in it — and it’s the essential jumping-off point for some of Mindanao’s most dramatic outdoor adventures.

Getting to Davao

Francisco Bangoy International Airport (also called Davao International Airport) is one of the Philippines’ busiest airports, with direct flights from Manila, Cebu, and several other domestic hubs. Flight time from Manila is about 1 hour 45 minutes. Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and AirAsia Philippines all operate multiple daily flights. There are currently no international direct flights to Davao — international travellers connect through Manila or Cebu.

The airport is about 12km north of the city centre. Taxis and Grab are both available from the arrivals area. The journey to the downtown hotel district takes 20–40 minutes depending on traffic.

Getting Around Davao

Davao has good transport infrastructure by Philippine standards. Grab works well throughout the city and is the most reliable option for travellers. The city also has a well-functioning public jeepney network and tricycles for shorter distances. Taxis are plentiful but insist on the meter. For day trips to Mount Apo and surrounding areas, hire a car through your hotel or arrange a vehicle with a driver.

Top Things to Do in Davao

Philippine Eagle Center

The Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos, Calinan (about 36km from downtown Davao) is the country’s primary conservation and breeding facility for the Philippine Eagle — one of the world’s largest, most powerful, and most endangered eagles. Seeing a Philippine Eagle up close is an extraordinary experience: they’re massive birds with a wingspan approaching 2 metres, fierce amber eyes, and a distinctive shaggy brown-and-white plumage that makes them look almost leonine. The center houses eagles that cannot be released into the wild along with hornbills, civets, and other Mindanao wildlife. Entry is ₱200. Plan a half-day for the visit — the center is set in forest and warrants a slow walk. Combine with a visit to the Malagos Garden Resort nearby.

Mount Apo Day Hike

At 2,954 metres, Mount Apo is the Philippines’ highest peak and one of its most coveted hiking objectives. Davao City is the closest major hub to the mountain and most guided expeditions to Apo’s Kidapawan trail start here. The standard Apo summit trek is 3–4 days, though experienced groups can do it faster. If you’re short on time, day hikes and overnight trips to the lower slopes — through old-growth forest and across geothermal steam vents — are also available. See our dedicated Mount Apo Hiking Guide for full details.

Davao Night Market — Roxas Avenue

The Roxas Avenue Night Market is one of Davao’s best-loved institutions — a nightly street food bazaar that starts around 7pm and runs until the early hours. Rows of stalls sell grilled meats, seafood, barbecue, isaw (grilled intestines), inihaw na liempo (grilled pork belly), durian in every form, fresh fruits, and Mindanao regional specialties. It’s cheap, vibrant, and a great place to eat alongside locals. Budget ₱200–₱400 for a full spread of food and drinks. Bring cash and an appetite.

Durian — The King of Fruits

Davao is the durian capital of the Philippines and arguably the country’s best source of the fruit. If you’re a durian virgin, Davao is a good place to try it — the varieties here are excellent and vendors at the night market and fruit stalls along the highway will let you taste before buying. Popular local varieties include Puyat, Arancillo, and the prized Otob. The ‘durian taste’ is polarising (some people love the rich, custard-like sweetness; others can’t get past the smell), but trying it in Davao is as authentic as it gets. You can also buy vacuum-sealed durian candy, pastillas, and dried durian chips to take home without the odour issue.

Eden Nature Park

Set in the highlands above Davao at 1,000 metres, Eden Nature Park is a large eco-resort and adventure park offering cable car rides, zip-lining, trout fishing, wildlife encounters, and mountain biking through pine forests. It’s a popular day trip for locals and is well-maintained. The views over Davao and the surrounding mountains from the higher elevations are excellent. Entry and activities are priced separately — allow half a day minimum, and a full day if you want to try multiple activities.

Samal Island

The Island Garden City of Samal — a large island in Davao Gulf — is reachable by short ferry from the Santa Ana wharf (about 10 minutes). Samal has good beaches, diving, and snorkelling, and is a popular weekend escape for Davao residents. Hagimit Falls on the island is a series of tiered cascades perfect for swimming. Pearl Farm Beach Resort is Samal’s most famous resort and worth a day visit even if you’re not staying — their beach and facilities are excellent and day passes are available. Diving around Samal has good visibility and a decent range of marine life including occasional whale sharks off the northern tip.

Crocodile Park and D’Bone Collector Museum

Davao Crocodile Park houses a large collection of Philippine crocodiles and is one of the country’s most reputable crocodile conservation centres. Beyond the reptiles, the park has ostriches, snakes, birds of prey, and other wildlife. D’Bone Collector Museum in the Bangkal district is a genuinely unusual attraction — a private museum housing thousands of animal skeletons and mounted specimens collected over decades by local dentist Darrell Blatchley. It’s macabre, educational, and strangely compelling. Blatchley himself is often on-site and happy to talk about the collection.

Where to Stay in Davao

Davao has a wide range of accommodation from budget guesthouses to international business hotels. The downtown area around J.P. Laurel Avenue and the Lanang district are the main hotel zones. Marco Polo Davao and Seda Abreeza are the top end. For mid-range comfort, Astoria Plaza and Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao are popular with both business and leisure travellers. Budget travellers are well served by the guesthouses around the Gaisano Mall area. Samal Island has its own range of beach resorts for those prioritising beach access over urban convenience.

Where to Eat in Davao

Beyond the night market, Davao has an excellent restaurant scene. Claude’s Cafe is a local institution for breakfast. Matina Town Square is an outdoor dining and entertainment complex with multiple restaurants in a garden setting. Bankerohan Public Market is where locals shop for the freshest fruit, fish, and vegetables — worth a morning visit for the sensory experience and sheer abundance of tropical produce. Mindanao’s Muslim culinary traditions are also well-represented in Davao — seek out tiyula itum (blackened beef and bone marrow soup from the Tausug people of Sulu) and piyanggang manok (blackened chicken in coconut and burnt coconut cream) in the Muslim districts around Victoria Plaza.

Safety in Davao

Davao has a reputation as one of the safest cities in the Philippines, with low street crime and an orderly urban environment. Standard travel precautions apply: secure your valuables, be aware of your surroundings, and avoid displaying expensive equipment unnecessarily. Some foreign governments previously advised caution for travel to parts of Mindanao due to conflict in the far south (Maguindanao, Sulu, Basilan), but Davao City itself has not been affected by these issues for many years. Check your government’s current travel advisory before visiting, as the situation can change.

How Many Days in Davao

Two to three days covers the city highlights: Philippine Eagle Center, Roxas Night Market, Samal Island day trip, and Eden Nature Park. Add two to four more days if you’re trekking Mount Apo. Davao also works well as a base for exploring wider Mindanao — Lake Sebu and the T’boli people in South Cotabato, the surfing at Dahican Beach in Mati, and the agricultural heartlands of Davao del Norte are all within day-trip or short overnight range.