Discovering Davao del Sur: A 'Biyahe ni Drew' Itinerary

If Mt. Apo is the only thing you can associate with Davao del Sur, chances are you haven't seen enough of it.

Dubbed as the "Baguio City of the South," Davao del Sur is a perfect travel destination for Biyaheros all year round because of its ideal climate. Drew Arellano and the rest of the crew welcomed 2015 with a trip to the province to have a firsthand experience of the delicious food, fun adventures, and picturesque sights it offers.

Check out “Biyahe ni Drew’s” discoveries below!

How to get there

You can reach Davao Del Sur by plane and by land. Flights from Manila to Davao International Airport last for approximately two hours. From the airport, you can go straight to the terminal and ride a bus to Digos, the capital of Davao del Sur. Van rentals and airport transfers are also available. Just contact your chosen hotel or resort to inquire about airport transfers in advance.

What to see

Lake Mirror
Digos, Davao del Sur

Lake Mirror is an ideal place for Biyaheros who want to spend the day fishing, boating or even swimming. However, the best thing about the lake is actually the breathtaking view of Mt. Apo and its reflection mirrored by the lakewater. The perfect time to catch the scenery is during a cloudless morning (around 7 AM) so be sure to wake up early for it.

Kublai Art Garden
Kapatagan, Digos, Davao del Sur

A durian monument is one of the first things you will see when you reach Davao International Airport. This was made by Kublai Millan, or Kublai for short, a famous artist and sculptor from Mindanao.



Many of Kublai's giant sculptures, which show the traditions of Mindanao's indigenous Bagobo people, are showcased at Kublai Art Garden. One of the most eye-catching attractions in the place is the Agong House, where Kublai himself stays whenever he is in Digos. The architecture of the house is patterned after the agong, a traditional musical instrument in Mindanao.

Where to go and what to do

Passig Islet
Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur

Want to bum at a manmade island? Head straight to Brgy. Bato, Sta. Cruz and ride a boat to Passig Islet, a mini sandbar that stretches for about a hectare. To prevent it from sinking, the island was surrounded by old tires packed with cement. Both locals and tourists go here to swim and fish. Cottages that cost P150 to P500 are available for people who want to stay overnight. There are no stores in the islet so don't forget to bring your own food!

Sibulan River
Brgy. Darong, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur

River tubing at Sibulan can go as far as three kilometers and last for an hour depending on the river current. Drew and the team covered one kilometer in 10 minutes. A ride costs P300 per head.



"Mukhang nakakatakot dahil sa rumaragasang agos ng tubig at dahil doon sa mga malalaking bato," Drew says, "Pero may parte rin namang kalmado at pwedeng mag-sightseeing. All in all, it was a wet and fun ride!"

Virgin Falls
Kapatagan, Davao del Sur

The Virgin Falls at Kapatagan is a sight to behold but not everyone can visit the place. To get to the falls, you have to walk through a dense and rough terrain and rappel down the mountain. Reaching the falls is quite a challenge but its cold and clean waters and scenic view are more than enough to make up for the hard work.

Camp Sabros
Digos, Davao del Sur



Riding on horseback to get to Camp Sabros is a memorable experience in itself because it is not like the horseback riding we experienced in Baguio. The roads are steeper and rougher so you may want to ride slower.



Situated at 3,980 feet above sea level, Camp Sabros is known for having three zip lines. The first zip line is 380 meters long, the second one is 400 meters, and the third one is 800 meters. You can ride all three for P550.

Not ready to brave the zip lines? Try the cable cars! It is originally meant to transport tourists but can also be used by people who want to enjoy the view and take photos.

Marawer Hot Spring
Kapatagan, Davao del Sur

Anyone can take a dip at Marawer Hot Spring for free so it is no surprise that people flock to the place especially when the weather is cold. While in the area, the BND crew caught the locals holding a cock fighting event. There are also stalls where you can buy banana cues, siopao, and all sorts of drinks.

Where to eat

Crocodile Park
Ma-a, Davao City



Drew and the "Biyahe ni Drew" team had been to Crocodile Park numerous times but this time, we came back to try some of the resto's new dishes. There is the sungka set meal, where a set of dishes are served on an actual sungka. The first set has tapa and veggies while the second set has different kinds of seafood.



There is also the so-called "palo sebo," which is actually a tower of veggie meat. This set has burger patties, meatballs, and lumpia all made from vegetables. Since we are already here, we also did not miss the chance to eat crocodile sisig. Yum!

Meals with the locals

A "Biyahe ni Drew" trip is not complete without meeting the locals so we did not miss the opportunity to have a meal with the Bagobos. Lunch consisted of corn, sayote, gabi, tuyo, and rice. We also had “nilutlot” or native chicken that is cooked inside a bamboo.

Where to stay

Mt. Apo Resort
Digos, Davao del Sur
P1,500 to P2,000 per night

Mt. Apo Resort has a total of six cottages for solo or group travelers. The rooms have no air conditioners since the temperature in the area is already low. Rooms also have mosquito nets to ward insects off.

Drew says he did not have problems with mosquitoes in his own room but it is still advisable to close the windows just to make sure no insects pester you.

Instead of personal bathrooms, the resort has common ones situated in between the cottages. The showers come with water heaters so you don't have to worry about freezing in the bath.

If you do want to spend time in the cold, however, you can simply go to the hotel's rest and relaxation area, where hammocks and tables are readily available. The balcony is also a good place for anyone who simply wants to enjoy the weather and the view.

Camp Sabros
Digos, Davao del Sur
P2,000 to P5,000 per night

Other than a cozy bedroom, each of the fully furnished cottages at Camp Sabros has its own living room, dining area, kitchen, and balcony. Private bathrooms come with a bathtub and a hot and cold shower. Cottages can accommodate up to 12 persons. Traveling in pairs? The governor's suite only costs P2,000 a night.

What to get for pasalubong

Civet coffee

What goes well with cool climate? Coffee! In fact, the famous civet coffee, which is considered as one of the most expensive and rare brews in the world, is produced right in Davao del Sur.



Fun fact: Civet coffee beans are actually coffee berry droppings collected from civet cats. These felines were originally considered by coffee farmers as pests because they can eat a kilo of coffee berries a day!

Civet cats are now protected at the Mt. Apo Civet Coffee Farm, where they are fed with the best coffee berries. Their droppings are later collected, washed, and roasted. Because of the arduous process, civet coffee is sold at P10,000 per kilo, P1,000 per gram, and P180 per cup. The coffee is available at hotels, souvenir shops, and the airport.

Cavendish bananas



Digos, Davao del Sur is one of the exporters of cavendish bananas in Mindanao. Cavendish bananas are bigger than the latundan and the lakatan, and its peel is smooth and flawless. The best of the harvest are exported to other countries while the imperfect ones with black marks are sold for only P1.50 per kilo. These can be found at the local markets.

Our main Davao del Sur discovery? The place has all types of stuff for all types of Biyaheros. As Drew said, it is perfect to anyone who wants to maximize their Davao experience. Biyahe na! – Lara Gonzales/BMS/ARP