Last month, a friend gave us a heads-up that she would be visiting Davao City. And as Filipinos, we are known for our hospitality, we were determined to make her stay as enjoyable as possible. To give her an unforgettable warm welcome, we decided to treat her to a trip to Samal Island.
We picked her up from the airport, settled her into her hotel, and had dinner with her that evening. The next day we started on our adventure bright and early. We took a 25-minute barge ride from Davao City to Samal Island, followed by a 30-minute drive to the boat launch. We had pre-arranged a boat and catering services for a delightful experience.
Our island hopping began at Wishing Island, a small but incredibly beautiful islet. Lush vegetation thrived amidst the rocks, creating a breathtaking scene. While I missed a photo of the wishing well itself, the overall view was unforgettable. (I had a video of the place you can
check the link below). We enjoyed a delicious lunch only the boat. We had sweet potato, seaweed, bananas, and more, before continuing our journey.
Next, we explored Diaz Island, also known as Isla Reta, which is an islet, that captivates visitors with its stunning unspoiled natural beauty. You can enjoy vibrant marine life in the surrounding sea and explore interesting rock formations on the island, either by admiring them or climbing for a unique view. From certain points, we could even see Mount Apo in the distance. The area held historical significance, with rock formations believed to be ancient caves, though they didn't resemble typical caves. I managed to take some pictures of these unique features.
We then visited the beautiful Pearl Farm Beach Resort before heading to Caputian Island to capture a photo with the famous "I Love Samal" sign, its cement letters set against a picturesque backdrop.
We had such a great time island hopping, but it was exhausting! We decided to skip the Noynoy Starfish Island which was also included in the itinerary, since we were running low on time and everyone in the group was not interested in seeing the starfish anymore. We headed home after a quick stop at the Pearl Farm but changed our minds as we reached the center of Samal Island. We felt that we needed some caffeine and to have some rest too. We visited the Maañag Cafe because it is known for its breathtaking spot overlooking Samal's beaches. The refreshing air, stunning view, and relaxing ambiance made the coffee and cake taste even better.
Having fully enjoyed the Maañag Cafe's ambiance, we started our journey back to the wharf. But we remember another spot, the iconic landmark "I LOVE SAMAL".
After we were done taking pictures we headed home. However, a wall of cars greeted us. A long line stretching as far as the eye could see about two kilometers. Rather than endure the wait, we opted to look for a nearby restaurant to pass the time, eat dinner, and grab some wine. As we entered the vicinity of the resort we could feel the energy of people swimming, laughing, and enjoying the beautiful day. We watched the vibrant sunset while patiently waiting for the traffic to clear before continuing our journey home.
Although rain had begun to fall as we boarded the 8:00 barge, the memory of our fantastic day kept our spirits high.