DiscoverSamal
Discover the natural beauty, culture and heritage of Samal.
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Top 10 Reasons to Visit Samal
Reason 01
A Sneak Peak into Samal
- When planning to visit tropical utopia holidays to Samal (Davao del Norte) you can assume that you are going into the waters of a turquoise colour, covered with powder-white soft sand and that you will experience the sweet aroma of spreading frangipani.
- Imagine entering the City of Davao, the entry point of an easy 45 minutes trip in the ferry that sails over the sparkling sea, with the sweet breeze bringing the laughter of people welcoming you to their city with bright smiles.
- As soon as you get off the boat, you enter the realm of gorgeous sea life: bright fish run among the coral reefs, and the splashing of the waves is the theme of your journey.
- You will start with the Pearl Farm Beach Resort, the best beach resort in the whole country; the villas that the resort is made of are white-washed, and the lagoon that fronts its houses is pristine; furthermore, it is only a few steps to the welcoming beach.
- As you savour the sun there, you will find the exciting beach life activities, such as kayak tours, parasailing and sunset walks and they are all planned to help you explore the natural wonders of the island in a very relaxed atmosphere and family friendly environment.
- Lastly, the local food of the island is in full swing in the evening; the olfactory senses are filled with the scent of grilled lemongrass chicken and seafood and the mood is set to a memorable night under the starlight.
- Capital: Island Garden City of Samal, component city in Davao del Norte province
- International airport: Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City, then ferry crossing
- Currency: Philippine Peso (PHP)
- Time zone: UTC+8 (Philippine Standard Time)
- Driving side: Right-hand side
- Main electricity: 220 volts, 60 Hz
- Official languages: Filipino and English; Cebuano what locals speak
- Major religion: Predominantly Roman Catholic
Reason 02
Highlights
- The most notable characteristic of the holidays to Samal (Davao del Norte) is the combination of pure nature and colourful culture making it an ideal destination to adventure lovers and those who need some rest.
- flying with world pinoy flights, you will have a relaxed trip that links the capital with the Davao City so that you will have a problem-free beginning of your adventure into the islands.
- The Pearl Farm Beach Resort is a remarkable company in terms of sustainability; the organic farm-to-table restaurants of the company take their ingredients directly out of the nearby mangroves, which gives each dish a fresh, natural taste.
- Monfort Bat Cave has a very memorable night show where thousands of beautiful bats fly out at night as the sun sets, and this cave becomes a theatre of the nature dances.
- Hagimit Falls, which is located behind the green plants, is a kind of spa retreat with its crystal-clear pools and the relaxing water cascades that are natural spa sound.
- As one walks around the Kaputian Beach of the Island Garden City, he can easily notice a busy promenade where people make various handcrafted jewellery and cafes that serve rooms with locally brewed coffee that creates a vibrant interaction among strangers.
Reason 03
Seasons to Travel
- November to February are the best months to visit Samal (Davao del Norte) as the skies are always clear, the temperatures are about 27 o C, and the water is warm and inviting to swim and snorkel.
- The flora on the island is in full bloom during this time making the island a mosaic of colourful tropical flowers that make the scenery of the island more appealing.
- You like less rainy weather, March to May will also be pleasant, but frequent rain sometimes may make you consider less outdoor activities like cultural museums on the island.
- June-October is the season of rainfall and therefore ideal hiking period due to the abundant vegetation and waterfalls which provide dramatic effect especially on hikers who enjoy the misty hiking paths and the sound of rain on the leaves.
- The marine life in the island is very lively throughout the year and therefore, scuba divers and snorkelers will never fail to see colourful coral reefs with colourful fish.
- Winds along the coast in the dry season provide the best atmosphere of windsurfing and kite-boarding activities where sport lovers are ready to enjoy the windy waves of the island.
Reason 04
Worth A Visit
Pearl Farm Beach Resort
- Located on a palm-fringed shoreline of 20 hectares, the resort will provide a relaxing escape where people will feel freer in their own cabanas along the blue sea.
- Its green initiatives like the use of solar energy, composting of organic waste are good indicators of its desire to maintain the natural beauty in the island.
- The culinary team of the resort designs menus with freshly caught seafood, local produce and traditional Filipino cuisine such that every meal is a celebration of local flavours.
- The aquatic activities such as paddle boarding, kayaking, and guided diving trips allow guests to discover the secret treasures of the coral reef ecosystem.
- A kids club, playgrounds, and a shallow lagoon are family friendly amenities where children can find the environment safe as parents enjoy themselves in a calming environment.
- Cultural activities are also a part and parcel of the resort where traditional music, dancing, and weaving performances are performed giving the visitors a feel of what holidays to Samal is all about.
Monfort Bat Cave
- The cave is on the eastern slope of the island, and it is home to an estimated 60,000 bats that provides a panoramic view of the night sky as the colony is flying.
- There are guided tours offered, which are interesting in learning about the behaviour of bats, their role in the ecology, and their special geological structures of the cave.
- The lighting system is mild so that it does not impact the safety of the cave but at the same time maintains the natural habitat of the bats.
- Visitors are able to make beautiful shots of the dramatic silhouette of thousands of wings on the dark background, a lifetime memory.
- The nearby woods offer a calm hiking path which can be used to reach other scenic perspectives and explore it longer than the cave.
- Local NGOs carry out conservation efforts and as a result, the bat population is healthy, a visit here would be both an educational and responsible experience.
Hagimit Falls
- The falls are embedded in an abundance of a green canyon of limestone, which flows down 15 metres to a crystal clear pool, forming a natural cooling source of the swimmers.
- The path to the falls is made with stepping stones that ensure accessibility by the family and also the individuals who like they can walk their own pace.
- There are also panoramic views of the emerald forest surrounding, intermittently along the route, and these would be great to have as a photographer.
- The pool has a low pool effect that can enable one to wade safely and the rocks surrounding the pool can be used as natural benchmarks to rest or have picnics.
- Tales of the folklore of the fall are told by local guides and help to enhance cultural narratives that bring out the rich oral history of Samal.
- The rains that occur in the season increase the flow to a dramatic show in the monsoon and still, the falls are safe because of proper maintenance.
Island garden city of Samal Beaches (general e.g. Kaputian Beach)
- The beach of Kaputian Beach is 2 kilometres long, and it is sufficient to sunbat, play beach volleyball, or just walk hand in hand with the beloved ones.
- The fine gravelly surface is perfect in making sand castles, which is also popular among children and adults.
- There are also a row of little walkways close by that lead to the concealed coves wherein the waves are softly licking on pebbles forming a cool environment.
- The twin sunsets of the beach, one being in the sea and the other on the horizon give viewers breathtaking scenery, which is frequently shared on social media feeds.
- Local sellers sell fresh coconut water, grilled seafood, and tropical fruit smoothies so that one is never too far away to get something to drink.
- The residents are also committed towards cleaning the area; regular beach clean-up exercises ensure that the coastline is clean and encourages environmental responsibility.
Reason 05
Culture Traditions
- The heritage of Samal is deep-rooted in the Kalagan people whose traditional weaving and pottery are the results that captured storeys which had been transmitted across generations.
- The island also hosts an annual K-anchak Festival in August where people come in in their colourful embroidered costumes to dance to the rhythmic sounds produced by bamboo drums.
- The elaborate silver jewellery that is found in the hands of local artisans is believed to have protective properties to travellers visiting the island.
- Still practised are traditional fishing techniques including the use of woven nets and bamboo rafts, which provide the visitor with knowledge on sustainable lives.
- The communal meetings of the island usually include sing-along of folk songs retelling storeys about sea ghosts and heroic fishermen.
- There is a traditional blessing of a baba ceremony, during which the seniors pray the safety, health and prosperous crop of the next year.
Reason 06
Food Fun Fashion
Food
- The cuisine of Samal is marked by fresh seafood prepared in coconut milk which makes it creamy and savoury in taste and helps to balance the natural sweetness of tropical fruits.
- Grilled fish Tinapa is marinated with lemongrass, ginger and garlic and cooked on open coals and gives the smoky taste which is very desirable among food lovers.
- Local Lime: Lime locally known as Kalamansi is a tangy element to dishes to complement the heavy-handed coconut and the freshness of seaweed.
- The desserts typical of the island such as Arroz Caldo and Suman demonstrate the tendency of the island to use soothing rice-based desserts with sweet coconut sugar.
- Sellers in the street have been selling Balut and Tuyo fish, a fast food that is an expression of the rustic and mundane eating habits of the island.
- Farm to table restaurants boast of daily menus based on what is in season and so that no bite is any older than the morning wave.
Fun
- A morning paddleboarding session in the serene lagoon can kick off family outings and it can be topped off with beach picnic with the locally sourced local snacks.
- Adventurous tourists can also conquer the difficult I so-called Ile Verde trail, the path, which moves between the limestone cliffs and provides the magnificent view of the ocean.
- Nights out on the island involve some beachfront karaoke nights where the locals and the tourists combine forces in singing their Filipino classics.
- The Waterfall Splash is an event that brings together both adults and children to be involved in water games and competitive water racing in the crystal clean pool of the Hagimit falls.
- Evening boat tours enable the visitors to observe the extreme spectacle of bioluminescent plankton which is a natural process that gives the dark waters a silver glow.
- Island Parade This is a glorious display of floats, traditional costumes and live music each year, attracting people to the key promenade to celebrate.
Fashion
- Fashion in Holidays to Samal leans towards using eco-friendly materials, and the designers are producing beach wear with recycled fabrics and natural fabrics such as bamboo and jute.
- The Kalagan tribe has local artisans that produce hand-stitched accessories, including woven straw hats and embroidered sarongs, which bear cultural motifs that are important to the tribe.
- In the case of festivals the inhabitants dress themselves in coloured, hand-painted clothes reminiscent of the colourful nature of the flora in the island combined with the brilliant nature of the coral reefs.
- The Tide-Wear line would include light weight breathable garments that would suit the warm weather of the island, but they are also going to provide stylish, trendy shapes.
- Sustainable fashion projects collaborate with the NGOs in order to recycle waste materials found in the beach to make fashionable accessories to make consumers more aware of the environment.
- Seasonal “Island Couture” events emphasise the combination of the old craftsmanship with the new design and the promotion of Samal creative talent on the international level.
Reason 07
Nature Safari
- The mangrove forests are important nurseries to fish species on the island and guided kayak tours ensure that visitors see these important ecosystems in the island.
- Birdwatchers will be able to visit the so-called Tala area where the most varieties of migratory birds like the white-cheeked bulbul and the spotted dove can be found in the mangrove canopy.
- The cliffs are limestone of Bahu, which offer natural playground to rock-climbers and have routes of a beginner to an advanced level.
- The dry season takes the “SumaSuma trail up a path of golden grasslands, whose wind provides hikers with a calming and rustling soundtrack.
- The Hidden Lagoon can be reached through a small walk, and the crystal-clear waters are the home of starfishes and brightly coloured nudibranchs, so it is popular among the marine biologists.
- Sometimes indigenous communities conduct their Nature Walks, during which people are educated about the medicinal plants that grow in the area and their cultural application in the healing process.
Reason 08
Events Fiestas
- Known as the “Island of Festivals,” holidays to Samal come alive from March to August with vibrant celebrations that showcase its culture and coastal way of life.
- In case you are going to visit during this period, you will have an opportunity to witness the most joyful side of the island:
- Igacos Festival (March) -The local pride is celebrated by parades and cultural performances.
- Caracoles Festival (April) -A waterfront celebration, which offers to conserve the sea by doing sea-related activities in colours.
- Kabasan Festival (May) -A weeklong festival consisting of street dancing, boat races and local foods.
- Hugyaw Madayaw Festival (August) - A massive local festival that is carried out with street processions and entertainments.
- Panapog Festival (August) -A thanksgiving festival of the natural blessings and harvests of the island.
- Participation in these festivals is an entertaining experience as one gets to see how Samal Island people conduct their colourful community, music, dance, and traditions in full action.