13 Gorgeous Beaches in Samal

Situated right at the middle of the Davao Gulf, the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) is blessed with a number of picturesque and gorgeous white sand beaches as well as interesting marine wonders. It is less than 30 minutes from Davao City and is very accessible by both public and private transportation. It offers both luxurious and budget resorts that will surely fit the visitor’s budget and preference. (Read: Davao City Travel Guide)

IGACOS is part of the province of Davao del Norte and has been a favorite destination of both local and foreign tourists. Aside from gorgeous beaches, the island also boasts of several other natural and wildlife attractions like the Monfort bat cave, Hagimit Falls, Tagbaobo Falls and a lot more.

Here’s a list of some of the best beaches in Samal that you might want to visit soon.

1. Babu Santa Beach Resort

Babu Santa Beach Resort is located in Talicud Island, just about 45 minutes by boat from Sta. Ana Wharf in Davao City. The resort offers a pristine white sand beach which will surely give the visitors a relaxing and fun getaway while in the island.

Babu Santa Beach Resort

There is no entrance and corkage fee going to the resort. However, if you charter a boat going to the resort, there is a P200.00 docking fee. There are cottages for rent at P400 or pay P75 if you bring your own tent.

How to get there

From the airport or anywhere in Davao City, ride a taxi and go to Sta. Ana Wharf. Take a boat to Dadatan Wharf in Talicud Island. The boat leaves twice daily at 6AM and 1:30PM. Travel time is around 45 minutes. From Dadatan wharf, ride a habal-habal going to Babu Santa Beach Resort. Fare is around P100 but will sometime go higher or lower depending on your negotiation skills.

2. Isla Reta

Isla Reta is one of the most famous beaches in Talicud Island. It offers a stretch of pristine white sand beach with crystal blue water. It is a perfect place to unwind and relax on weekends. Internet signal is poor so you’ll have more time to enjoy the beach life and forget about technology while staying at Isla Reta.

Isla Reta Beach Resort

Entrance fee to the resort is P75.00 for day tours. Corkage fee only applies to beverages so you can bring your own food with no additional charges.

How to get there:

Isla Reta is about 45 minutes by boat from Sta. Ana Wharf near Magsaysay Park. The boat departs as early as 9AM and last trip is at 4:30PM from Davao City. The first boat trip from Isla Reta going back to Davao is at 6:15AM and the last trip at 3PM. Fare is P80.00 for a one-way trip. Alternatively, if you are already in mainland Samal, take a bus or habal-habal to Kaputian District and ride a boat from there to Isla Reta.

3. Pearl Farm Beach

One of the most expensive resorts in Samal, Pearl Farm Resort is a 14-hectare property situated in the coastal area of Samal Island. The resort boasts of its white sand beach, chic accommodations, a unique bar and an infinity pool.

The resort’s day tour rate is at P1,850.00 on weekdays and P2,500.00 on weekends. Accommodations for an overnight stay starts at around P7,000/room during off-peak season.

How to get there:

Visitors to the resort must proceed to the Pearl Farm Beach Resort’s Davao Marina where they will take a 45-minute boat ride to Samal Island. Boat transfer is already included in the rates.

4. Paradise Beach Resort

One of the most accessible beach resorts in Samal from Davao City, Paradise Beach Resort is located just 15 minutes away by boat from the city. It is a favorite family weekend getaway destination due to its proximity to the city. Day tour rate at Paradise Resort is P200.00 and overnight rate is P300.00.

Paradise Beach Resort | Photo by Roj Braga of The Adventures of Adventuroj

How to get there:

Take a taxi or a Sasa-bound jeepney and tell the driver to drop you at the boat terminal going to Paradise Beach Resort near One Network Bank’s main office. From there, take a boat to Paradise Beach Resort, fare is P15.00/head and travel time is about 15 minutes.

5. Costa Marina Resort

Costa Marina is one of the closest white sand beaches to Davao City. It is only about 15-minute boat trip from Davao City. It offers a not so long stretch of white sand beach with clear and clean water. It is located right beside Paradise Beach Resort.

Costa Marina Beach Resort

Day tour rate to Costa Marina Resort is P120.00 and overnight rate is P220.00. Accommodations are available for overnight guests for as low as P2,500.00.

How to get there:

Costa Marina shares the same boat terminal with Paradise Resort so the directions on how to go there is pretty much the same. Make sure you take the right boat Paradise Resort boat.

6. Kaputian Beach Park Resort

Kaputian Beach Park Resort is a government-owned facility located in the southernmost part of Samal Island. It is frequently visited by both locals and tourists due to its cheap entrance fee for only P10.00. It offers a white sand beach as well as cottages and accommodation for overnight guests.

Kaputian Beach Park

How to get there:

From the city proper, go to Magsaysay Park and take an Island City Express bus going to Penaplata. From Penaplata, take the same bus to Kaputian District. From the bus terminal, ride a habal-habal going to Kaputian Beach.

7. Samalan Camp & Sea

Samalan Camp and Sea is a beach resort located at Barangay San Remigio, Kaputian District, Island Garden City of Samal. It's a 300-meter stretch of white sand beach ideal for beach bumming and swimming.

Samalan Camp & Sea

How to get there:

From Kaputian bus terminal, hire a habal-habal and inform the driver you are going to Samalan Camp & Sea in San Remigio.

8. Canibad Beach Cove

Canibad is situated on the other side of Samal facing Davao Oriental. It is one of the least visited  resorts in Samal due to its location. It is a stretch of white sand beach owned by different individuals. There are no fancy restaurants or accommodations in the area so this is a good place for people who want to enjoy a simple island life. It is a perfect place to escape from busy city life.

Canibad Beach Cove | Photo by Chamee Pecson of Miss Litratista

How to get there:

Take a bus from Davao City to Penaplata Bus Terminal. From there, take a habal-habal going to Canibad Beach located in Sitio Audanao, Penaplata District, IGACOS.

9. Maxima Aquafun Resort

Contrary to the other resorts mentioned in this article, Maxima does not have a white sand beach nor a shoreline but it does have fun and interesting amenities such as their giant water slide and water blob. These what make guests visit Maxima Resort. Both adults and children enjoy the ride in their One in the World Tarpaulin slide that drops them into the sea. Day tour rate at Maxima is P300.00

Maxima Aquafun Resort

How to get there:

From downtown area, take a jeepney going to Sasa and alight at the entrance of Sta. Ana Wharf. Take a short walk and board the MV Maxima IV boat to Maxima Aquafun Resort. Fare is P150 and travel time is around 30 minutes. The schedule of the boat is only every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It departs Sta. Ana Wharf to Maxima at 9AM and leaves Maxima back to Davao at 4PM. Alternatively, if you happen to go there on weekdays, you may take a bus to Penaplata from Magsaysay Park. Fare is P40 and travel time is a little more than an hour. From Penaplata bus terminal, take a habal habal to Maxima Aquafun Resort. Fare is P30 each (P60 if you're alone) and travel time is around 15 minutes.

10. Secdea Beach Resort

One of the newest beach resorts in Davao, Secdea offers chic villas and amenities ideal for a beach getaway. The accommodation is quite pricey compared to other resorts in Samal but you’ll get what you pay for. It is located in Barangay San Isidro, Babak District, IGACOS. 

Secdea Beach Resort | Photo by Trina Olaguer

How to get there:

From Davao City, take an Island Express Bus from Magsaysay Park and alight at Babak Public Market. From there, take a habal-habal going to Secdea. Alternatively, you may go directly to Sasa Wharf, take the RORO and ride a habal-habal at Babak Wharf.

11. Dayang Beach Resort

Located right beside Babu Santa Beach Resort, Dayang Beach Resort is secluded white sand beach located in Talicud Island. Entrance fee to the resort is only P50.00. Cottages for overnight guests are also available for as low as P500.00 good for four people.

Dayang Beach Resort

How to get there:

From the airport or anywhere in Davao City, ride a taxi and go to Sta. Ana Wharf. Take a boat to Dadatan Wharf. The boat leaves twice daily at 6AM and 1:30PM so make sure you arrive early if you only want to take a day tour. Travel time is around 45 minutes. From Dadatan wharf, charter a habal-habal going to Dayang Beach Resort. Fare is around P100 but will sometime go higher or lower depending on your bargaining skills.

12. Punta del Sol Beach Resort

Located in Barangay Catagman, Samal City, Puta del Sol offers a breathtaking view of the Davao Gulf. It provides a wide array of water activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling and more.

Punta del Sol Beach Resort

Their Day tour rate is P70.00 per person and overnight rate at P140.00. Accommodations are also available ranging from around P700.00 to as high as P2,500.00 good for two persons.

How to get there:

Take a taxi going to Sta. Ana Wharf, from there charter a Punta del Sol boat to take you to the resort. The rate is P500.00 for a one-way trip.

13. The Island Buenavista

An exclusive island resort in Samal City, The Island Buenavista offers a relaxing and luxurious island vacation getaway. You can own the island for a day or two and enjoy an utmost privacy. The resort is only rented out as a whole to just one group at a time.

The Shore at The Island Buenavista | Photo by Red Algreda

You will not have to worry about anything as they provide an all-in package to ensure that you make the most of your stay at the island. Day tour rate starts at P37,000 good for 10 people and P1,500 each for an additional person. For overnight guests, the rate starts at P105,000 for 10pax which includes three buffet meals and two snacks. (Read: 18 Stunning Photos of The Island Buenavista)

The Strip at The Island Buenavista | Photo by Red Algreda

How to get there:

Boat transfer is already part of the package. A van will pick you up from the airport or a rendezvous point from Davao City proper.

Samalan Camp and Sea : A Piece of Paradise in Samal

Samalan Camp and Sea is a beach resort located at Barangay San Remigio, Kaputian District, Island Garden City of Samal. It's a 300-meter stretch of white sand beach ideal for beach bumming and swimming. It is a secluded piece of paradise so you'll surely have a good time spending your day or weekend with your friends and family. 

We arrived at Samalan late in the afternoon after our familiarization tour at Tagbaobo Ecoutourism Site. It was almost sunset when we reached the resort. The view of the cove where Samalan is situated is amazing. The long stretch of white sand beach is so enticing that you would want to swim in its clear blue waters. We experience a perfect dusk in the resort. The color of the sky was vivid that you don't need a filter to capture great photos. A scenery worth experiencing, definitely.

An Entertaining Night at Samalan

It was Samalan's soft opening so the management has prepared a program which includes showcasing of Barangay San Remigio's rondalla and folk dancers. We were entertained by the performers while we were having our dinner. It was a night of good food and and a worthwhile entertainment. After the program, we enjoyed gazing at the stars at the beach front. It was indeed an amazing night.

More of Samalan Camp & Sea

I was excited to wake up early and see the sun as it rises, unfortunately the weather wasn't favorable. The sky was covered with clouds so it was a bit of a bummer. I took a couple of shots of the cove and went back to our room and slept again.

We took our breakfast and decided to roam around the resort. Some of us went to the hill to get an overlooking view of the cove while others decided to go boating. 

Spending a weekend at Samalan Camp & Sea was an awesome getaway. I am a beach lover so I had so much fun beach bumming. Watching the blue sky, the clear water, the white sand and listening to the sound of the waves were some of the things I really want in a vacation. I hope to revisit Samalan again, soon.

Samalan Camp & Sea

Address: Brgy San Remigio, Kaputian District, Island Garden City of Samal

Contact No.: 0925 311 1011

Email Address: samalancampandsea@gmail.com

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/samalancampandsea

Island Garden City of Samal : More Than Just A Beach Destination

The Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) or simply Samal is a popular beach destination in the Philippines. Visitors to Davao City most likely spend some time in Samal to explore its white sand beaches. Aside from the white sand beaches, Samal is also known for Monfort Bat Cave - the largest bat colony in the world and Hagimit Falls. But wait, aside from these popular tourist destinations, Samal has actually a lot more to offer. The community-based ecotourism site of Tagbaobo is an interesting place to explore while in Samal.

Tagbaobo's ecotourism site was initiated by the Tagbaobo Tourism council, headed by its president Ms. Gene Rose Tecson. It is an initiative to make it easier for the visitors to explore Tagbaobo and at the same time help the local community earn a sustainable income.

During our recent familiarization tour in Tagbaobo, we were able to explore its community-based ecotourism site. There were different activities lined up for us to experience. It was indeed a worthwhile activity.

We started our adventure with breakfast at Island Kopi which is situated across Peñaplata Bus Terminal. We were served with Filipino breakfast and a local coffee made of corn. It was a perfect pair.

The Journey Begins

Instead of riding a van going to our first stop, we took the habal-habal instead to experience what it's like to be a local of the community. It was around 30 minutes ride from Penaplata to the Cawa Cawa Rice Farm Demo Site in Purok Azucena, Kaputian District.

The site demonstrates how the locals are cultivating their farms. Visitors have an option to experience how the locals of Tagbaobo farm. I tried along with other friends from the media and it wasn't really easy. The water buffalo is kinda difficult to control. Patience is required in this type of activity. 

Chasing Waterfalls at Mangongawong Falls

Mangongawong Falls also popularly known as Tagbaobo Falls is one of the natural attractions of the community. The falls is very accessible from the main road. It's just a few minutes of trekking from the registration area. Entrance fee to the falls is P40.00. 

Horseback Riding

A visitor to the waterfall has an option to either take a habal-habal, a private car or an interesting horseback riding to their next destination. As for our group, we only tried it for photo ops as we did not have much time to do it.

Visiting the Tribal Village

One of the activities of the Tagbaobo community-based initiative is a visit to the tribal village of the Sama Tribe. Not known to many, the word Samal was derived from the word Sama, the first inhabitants of the island. 

The village people showcased a traditional dance number, prepared their traditional food called amik, and served us their local coffee made from corn. They also showed us their traditional tools back then.

Lunch and Siesta

After a half-day of adventure, we were served with sumptuous lunch prepared by the local women of Tagbaobo. We all ate the food with gusto. The native chicken was really delectable and the fresh buko dessert was so yummy. 

After the heavy lunch, most of us have found our own spot for a much needed siesta :). 

Guided Snorkeling Tour

Our last activity for the familiarization tour was snorkeling at Tagbaobo beach. We were able to see the beaty underneath the clear water of Tagbaobo. It was an amazing experience. One of the most interesting part was to wear a makeshift floating vest made from empty soft drink bottles.

How to get there?

A visitor has two options to get to Tagbaobo. One is DIY tour and another one is by a guided tour. If you want the former, you may take a bus from Davao City, alight in Penaplata Bus Terminal, take another bus to Kaputian and take a habal-habal from the terminal to your chosen destination. If you prefer the latter below are the rates of guided tours from Luce del Sole Inland Tours and Travel.

Package 1- Tagbaoan Beach Farm (COMMUNITY BASE TOURISM)

Min.4 person (s)
Rate: Php 1, 855/person

Inclusions:
- 1 night homestay accommodation (B/L/D)
- Tagbaobo tours via habal-habal (Cawa-Cawa rice field, Mangongawong Falls, Snorkeling at Tagbaobo Beach & Sama Tribal Village Tour)
- Tour Guide

Package 2 - TAGBAOBO COMMUNITY BASE TOURISM DAY TOUR
Min.4 person (s)
Rare: Php 2, 000/person

Inclusions:
-Round trip Aircon transportation
- Tours (Visit to Cawa-Cawa Rice field, Mangongawong Falls, Snorkeling at Tagbaobo Beach & Sama Tribe)
- Tour Guide


Package 3 - OVERNIGHT TAGBAOB0 (COMMUNITY BASE TOURISM)
Min. 4 person (s)
Rate: Php 3, 771/person

Inclusions:
- Round trip Aircon transportation
- 1 night homestay accommodation (B/L/D)
- Tagbaobo Tours
- Tour Guide

OPTIONAL TOUR:

* HORSEBACK RIDING Php 200/person/way
(Falls - Tagbaobo Beach or vice vera)

You may contact Ms. Ella at 0947-319-6412/0927-476-9220 or email her at lucedelsole.inlandtours@gmail.com

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