If you are looking to get relief from the stress of your routine activities, your best option will be to pay a visit to the Philippines. Of all the tourist spots in the Philippines, the most attractive is Samal Island, officially known as the Island Garden City of Samal or IGaCOS. It is a 4th class city in the province of Davao del Norte. According to 2005 census, it has a population of 104,123. It lies in the Davao Gulf, 200km away from Davao City. Once you land on this island, you will be surrounded by white sand sea beaches, numerous marine reefs, private islets, caves and tranquil water that will wash away all your stress and worries.
Best Time to Visit
June to November is rainy and March is the driest. Your itinerary must include the right time and places to visit in Philippines. To get the best out of your trip, go there during the sunny season. Leaving aside the season, you should never miss the opportunity of participating and enjoying a lot of fiesta celebration such as Hugyaw Madaysaw Samal; every 29th and 30th of August, the Caracoles Festival, every 28th and 29th of April and Kabasan Festival, a seven-day celebration, every 22nd to 29th of May. You can experience the cultural heritage of the Philippines through street dancing, parades, and beauty pageant and sports competition. The Bat Festival and Pangapog Festival are celebrated every 1st weekend of August. These events add color to the uniqueness of Samal Island among the best tourist spots in the Philippines.
Where to Stay?
There are a lot of resorts within the area for you to choose from. There are some resorts whose rooms are built on stilts, right above sea water that will provide you a fantastic view of the sea and the lulling sound of the waves.
Where and What to Eat?
The resorts have their own set of meals and choices of food to serve. But if you prefer to eat out, go along the National Highway to Gimmix Restobar in Babak and savor their pork barbecue, fried chicken or seafood delicacies.
To Do List
To enjoy your vacation, you should draw your itinerary in such a way that you maximize your time for all the activities the Island has to offer.
Scuba Diving: You can go to nearby islets Talikud and Liquid and experience diving at the Coral Garden and Marine Reservation Park, spread over 150 hectares.
Spelunking: You can spelunk into the great caves of Baga, Magongawong, and Balete and discover new things of your interest by following the trails.
Mountain Climbing: You can enjoy the picturesque view of the sea, sky, and land from the top of Mt Putting Bato. You can climb 10,300 feet, atop Mt Apo in Davao. Besides, you can enjoy fishing, biking and taking a dip at waterfalls. You can take a cruise and enjoy the panoramic view of the 20 beach resorts stretch over the 116 km sandy beach
Aside from these, you may also explore the caves and historical sites within the area. Read also Places to visit in Philippines: Samal Island is the best!
Getting There
On this wonderful tourist spot, you can get daily flights, to and from the cities Cebu and Manila. You can go to Davao from Singapore, Macau, and Seoul by International flight. You can also get there by Superferry and Sulpicio lines from Manila. Land journey via Bicol will be too long.
As you travel your way, you may see other beautiful tourist spots in the Philippines that you can visit too. The best hotels are just around the corners. You may book your hotel online and avail of special and cheaper rates that they have.