Melo Villareal
What are the top tourist attractions in Davao del Sur, Philippines?
Davao Region, one of the Philippines’ centers for trade and investments, boasts some of the most beautiful vacation destinations in the country. Located next to Davao Occidental, Davao del Sur is home to several cultural and natural tourist destinations. The province prides itself on being the home of the highest mountain in the Philippines, Mount Apo, and several hidden waterfalls that bring life to its dense forests.
Museo Dabawenyo
Museo Dabawenyo, or Museum of the People of Davao, showcases Davao’s rich cultural heritage through the different exhibited galleries. Works of art and cultural artifacts related to Davao’s history and heritage are preserved and displayed, uniting Davaoeños with pride in its diverse cultures. Some artifacts are traditional Filipino clothing, replicas of stilt houses, and antiquities like chairs and crowns.
Location: PWC-MFAMSC University Avenue, Juna Subdivision, Matina, Davao City, Davao del Sur
Visiting Hours: 8:30AM to 5:30PM, Mondays to Saturdays
Socials: facebook.com/museodabawenyo
Website: museo.davaocity.gov.ph
Eden Nature Park
Eden Nature Park is one of the most popular and most visited mountain resorts that offers a plethora of exciting things to do and heart-pumping adventures. The park offers skyrider, skycycle, sky swing, sky wheel, horseback riding, and fishing. Visitors can enjoy themselves and explore the attractions around the park, like the Bird Walk, Deer Park, Flower Garden, Butterfly Garden, Lola’s Garden, Hydroponics, Bamboo Maze, Hiking Trail, and Children’s Playground. In the heart of the park lies the Tinubdan, a wellspring of Mindanaoan culture that showcases the customs, traditions, beliefs, and way of life of the indigenous peoples of Mindanao.
Eden Nature Park also operates as a resort. Resort amenities include a 24-hour front desk and an outdoor swimming pool, and their rooms are supplied with a flat-screen TV, kitchenette, and veranda.
Location: Barangay Eden, Toril, Davao City, Davao del Sur
Visiting Hours: 9AM to 5PM, Daily
Socials: facebook.com/edennatureparkdavao
Website: edennaturepark.com.ph
Malagos Chocolate Museum
The first chocolate museum in the Philippines, the Malagos Chocolate Museum has interactive cacao and chocolate installations where visitors can play with the Malagos Chocolate mascot, learn about the process of making chocolates or create their own from the Malagos Chocolate Laboratory.
The chocolates produced here are world-famous. The museum was awarded the Best Unflavored Drinking Chocolate at the 2016 Academy of Chocolate Awards in London and received the Heirloom Cacao Designation from the Heirloom Cacao Preservation Fund last 2019. The museum also sells chocolate-based goods, like the Malagos Cacao Juice and their Signature Dark Collection.
Location: Malagos Garden Resort, Baguio District, Calinan-Baguio-Cadalian Rd, Davao City, Davao del Sur
Visiting Hours: 8AM to 5PM, Daily
Entrance Rates: P200 per person
Website: malagoschocolate.com
Davao Crocodile Park and Zoo
Accredited and permitted to operate as the first Crocodile Park in Davao in November 1995, the Davao Crocodile Park displays the state-of-the-art crocodile farming system in the Philippines. The park promotes crocodile conservation and farming, and they also sell crocodile-based meals like Farmed SaltWater Crocodile Lechon, Crocodile Sisig, and Pandan Ice Cream with Crocodile Meat. Located close to the park is the Davao Butterfly House which exhibits the different species of butterflies found in the Philippines.
Location: Riverfront, Corporate City, Diversion Highway Ma-a, Davao City, Davao del Sur
Visiting Hours: 8AM to 5PM, Daily
Entrance Rates (Weekday): P125, Children, Senior Citizens; P250, Adults
Entrance Rates (Weekend): P175, Children, Senior Citizens; P300, Adults
Socials: facebook.com/davaocrocodileparkandzoo
Website: crocodilepark.ph
Tribu K’Mindanawan
The cultural village of Tribu K’Mindanawan is a cultural tourism destination that demonstrates the culture, tradition, and way of life of the Indigenous People in Davao City. The village is a great way to experience the cultural wonders of the Philippines. Cultural shows, fire shows, and acoustic performances showcase the traditional dances of Mindanao.
Visiting Hours: 8AM to 7PM, Daily
Fire Show: Starts at 5:45PM every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Socials: facebook.com/tribukmindanawan
Kadayawan Village
Kadayawan Village is another cultural tourism destination that celebrates the diverse culture and arts of the different tribes of Davao City. The village’s name, Kadayawan, stems from the greeting “madayaw,” which means good. The cultural village was established to preserve the eleven tribes’ culture and way of life. Some of these include the Iranun and their weaving machine iraun, the Maranao and their house designed after Sarimanok, the wedding garments of the Tausug, and the hand-loomed baskets of the Obu Manuvu.
Philippine Eagle Center
Established in 1987, the Philippine Eagle Center is an organization staffed by trained personnel to conserve, rehabilitate, and captive breeding of the Philippine Eagles. Visitors can book a tour of the center and walk underneath the foliage of the Rainforest Walk, learn more about the birds taken care of in the center at the Raptor Garden, visit the Incubation and Rearing Laboratory where the Philippine eagles hatch, watch the birds fly at the Flight Zone, and watch the Philippine Long-tailed Macaques play around at the Monkey Island.
Anyone can donate, adopt an animal, or purchase eagle-themed products like windbreakers, bucket hats, and stuffed toys to support the organization.
Location: Malagos-Baguio Road, Brgy, Davao City, Davao del Sur
Visiting Hours: 8AM to 5PM, Daily
Entrance Rates: P30, Children; P50, Adults
Tour Rates: P300 per person
Website: philippineeaglefoundation.org
Jack’s Ridge
From Jack’s Ridge, visitors can catch magnificent panoramic views of Davao City. The site used to be the headquarters of the Japanese Imperial Army during the Second World War. Traces of history can still be found here. Now, two restaurants serve the public; Karlo’s Gourmet with baked treats and hot coffee, and Taklobo with classic Filipino cuisine.
Location: Shrine Hills, Matina, Davao City, Davao del Sur
Visiting Hours: 10:30AM to 10:30PM, Daily
Roxas Night Market
The nightly spectacle of the Roxas Night Market has become a popular tourist attraction. Located along Roxas Avenue, the strip is filled with several food stalls that sell some of Davao’s tastiest delicacies, like the Durian Ice Cream.
Other foods to try there are grilled seafood, lumpiang shanghai, lumpia ubod, and the classic kwek-kwek. The night market also has several stalls in the shopping section. This section has a variety of thrift items for sale, like phone accessories, shoes, and bags.
Bamboo Sanctuary and Ecological Park
Within Baguio District is the tranquil Bamboo Sanctuary and Ecological Park, an oasis in the middle of the city perfect for those looking to unwind. Before the park opened to the public, it was first a rest house to the De Veyra family. After their daughter garnered positive results in her feasibility study, the rest house was converted into a park.
The Bamboo Sanctuary is home to different varieties of bamboo, such as Japanese bamboo, Dwarf bamboo, and Buddha Belly bamboo. There are several things to do in the park. Visitors can marvel at the Garden Dome’s interiors, take a dip in the swimming pool, enjoy kayaking, participate in archery and fishing, or simply immerse in the natural beauty of the different ornamental and wildflower species there.
Location: Bamboo Sanctuary and Ecological Park, Purok 5, Barangay Malagos, Baguio District, Davao City, Davao del Sur
Visiting Hours: 8AM to 6PM, Daily
Day Trip Rates (Booking Required): P150, Children; P250, Adults
Day Trip Inclusions: Tables and Chairs, Use of Swimming Pool, Archery, Fishing, Monkey Bridge, Kayaking, and Fish Spa
Socials: facebook.com/DavaoBambooSanctuaryandEcologicalPark
D’ Bone Collector Museum
With over 200 skeletons founded by Darrell D. Blatchley, the D’ Bone Collector Museum opened its doors to the public in 2012 to spread environmental care and protection awareness. The museum houses preserved remains of horses, monkeys, birds, and marine animals like the dugong and dolphins. The museum’s highlight is the skeletal display of a 41-foot sperm whale.
Location: San Pedro Street, Poblacion District, Davao City, Davao del Sur
Visiting Hours: 10AM to 5PM, Mondays to Saturdays
Entrance Rates: P250 per person
Socials: facebook.com/dbonecollectormuseuminc
People’s Park Davao
One of the cleanest parks in the country, People’s Park Davao, occupies four hectares of land filled with man-made falls, fish ponds, and a dancing fountain. The park features the Sunken Garden, the Children’s Library, a fitness center, a replica statue of the Philippine Eagle, and its highlight, the Durian Dome, a mini forest with durian-themed sculptures. Visitors can also see the park’s walls lit up by the “waling-waling” every night.
Bemwa Farm
Established in 2011, Bemwa Farm is known for its fresh produce and fun eco-tourism activities like strawberry picking. Bemwa Farm also has a restaurant where they serve classic Filipino dishes using locally-grown produce, like lugaw, goto, and their own version of strawberry taho. The best time to visit the farm is in the early morning when the fog is still thick, the atmosphere is calm, and the temperature is cold.
Location: Barangay Salumay, Marilog District, Buda, Davao City, Davao del Sur
Socials: facebook.com/BEMWAfarm.Philippines
IMIN Philippine-Japan Historical Museum
Built in 1994 and renovated in 2019, the Tokyo Musashino Lions Club established the Philippine-Japan Historical Museum to celebrate its founding anniversary. In the pre-war period, Japanese migrant workers, or the Nikkeijins, settled in Davao City to engage in the production of Abaca. This migration made Davao City the largest Japanese community in South East Asia at that time.
The museum was built to chronicle the century-long relationship between Filipinos and Japanese in Davao City. Visitors can see Japanese artifacts, like traditional Japanese bathtubs and bicycles, and Japanese inventions like the Hagutan used to strip Abaca fibers.
Location: Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai International School Calinan, Durian Village, Calinan, Davao City, Davao del Sur
Visiting Hours (for Walk-ins): 8AM to 12NN and 1PM to 5PM, Mondays to Saturdays
Visiting Hours (Booking Required): 8AM to 12NN and 1PM to 5PM, Sundays
Entrance Rates: P50, Children, Senior Citizens; P100, Adults
Socials: facebook.com/iminmuseumph
Gap Farming Resort
Gap Farming Resort is a 10-hectare resort filled with durian, rambutan, pomelo, and orchards. The resort is popular among tourists who want to spend their leisure time in a relaxing environment. Visitors can explore the resort and see the different historical and religious landmarks, like an old World War II Japanese carved tunnel and a Mother of Perpetual Help statue. Mythical and folklore characters can also be found, like Juan Tamad, the tikbalang, and the kapre. Besides stationary attractions, the resort also offers recreational activities such as swimming, horseback riding, and camping.
Location: Green Valley, Diversion Road, Ma-a, Davao City, Davao del Sur
Visiting Hours: 9AM to 5PM, Daily
Entrance Rates: P100 per person
Socials: facebook.com/TheGapOrchardResort
How to get there
To get to Davao del Sur, visitors can take a flight to Francisco Bangoy International Airport, also known as Davao International Airport, from any major city such as Manila, Clark, and Cebu. It is the main airport in Davao City and the whole Davao Region.
Visitors can take a taxi from the airport to any point in Davao City. There is no direct bus from the airport. The best way to get around Davao del Sur is by jeepney and, for ease and convenience, by rented vehicle.
Davao del Sur Travel and Tour Packages
Check out our list of affordable Davao del Sur hotels and resorts via Agoda and Booking, or you may also see available Airbnb properties in the city.
Also read: Malagos Farm Artisanal Cheeses & Chocolates — Davao’s World Class Pride
