DAVAO City has always been loaded with so many gems of exhilarating tourist spots waiting for visitors to explore. And as the city progresses, many new activities have mushroomed for tourists to enjoy, creating an exciting mix of the fresh and the familiar.
Along with media colleagues and bloggers, we revisited some of Davao’s getaway destinations.
Eden Nature Park and Resort
Our first stop was the 80-hectare nature resort in Brgy. Eden, Toril, which is about an hour ride from downtown Davao. It has been patronized by locals and foreigners alike for its cool climate, relaxing view of nature, amenities, and fun recreational activities and entertainment. One of the best parts of the visit here was the food prepared with fresh and organic ingredients.
Philippine Eagle Center
We continued indulging with nature at the Philippine Eagle Center (PEC), an active conservation breeding facility for the critically endangered species. Seated at the foothills of Mt. Apo and within the Malagos Watershed, it is also home to other birds of prey as well as mammals and reptiles which are either endemic or rare. People come to the Philippine Eagle Center to learn about the importance of the Philippine Eagle in keeping the balance of the ecosystem at the same time bask in the center’s lush canopies.
Gran Verde Farm
This is an integrated farm that also doubles as a farm tour destination. It was developed by Wit Holganza, the woman behind the cacao-based snacks Wit’s Sweets and Savouries. The farm has rice fields, a duck and geese pond, a fishing area, a bamboo grove, a mini forest, a vegetable garden, and a cacao farm. Holganza explained the farm is where they get all their food and some of the building materials they need for their structures like bamboo and timber. She showed us around the cacao farm, educated us with her sustainable farm practices, let us plant cacao seedlings, and indulge in real chocolate.
Malagos Garden Resort
The well-known Malagos Garden Resort welcomed us in their De Luxe Rooms for a rest after the tour. Apart from the accommodation, the resort also offers attractions like the Chocolate museum, butterfly garden, and orchid forests. Other attractions and activities you can also enjoy here are the chocolate laboratory, kid’s outdoor adventure and playground, bird shows and bird feeding, petting zoos, horseback riding, and calesa ride, among others.
Considering their distances from the downtown area, we were offered a ride by Ford Philippines with their Ford Ranger XLT, Ford Ranger Wildtrak, and Ford Ranger Raptor. Each of these has been reliable and perfect for varying terrains traversed during the long-drive around town.