In a previous post I talked about some alternative destinations you can check out here in Davao City. But I only touched on places that were near the city center—or a few minutes’ drive away from it (if the traffic is in your favor). Now, we’re going to those that are a little bit farther this time. For these, you’ll probably need to either

a) rent/own a car,
b) catch a bus, or
c) get a taxi driver who’s willing to take you that far.

You’ll have to go out of your way to reach these spots, but trust me, they’re worth it. Shall we begin?

Bemwa Farm

Here in the Philippines, when you think strawberries, what usually comes to mind is Baguio and the rest of Benguet. But here in Davao, we have Bemwa Farm in the cool district of Marilog, in the Bukidnon-Davao area. It takes around one and a half to two hours of traversing the long and winding Buda road to get there, but the sights you see along the way are definitely worth the travel up north.

You can pick your own strawberries, but you have to pay for them. They also have a restaurant where you can eat or buy products like jam and taho—strawberry-flavored taho, to be exact. If you want to harvest a lot of strawberries or avoid a lot of people, make sure you’re not visiting during holidays (hello Holy Week), just like it usually is with other destinations.

Davao Bamboo Sanctuary

Called Bambu for short, The Davao Bamboo Sanctuary and Ecological Park—a mouthful, I know—is also found north of Davao. It won’t take you as long as Bemwa, though, as it’s in Malagos, Calinan, about an hour’s drive from downtown. It just opened last year, actually, and is already quite a popular location for prenup photoshoots because of its garden dome and lush surroundings. They also have a swimming pool, a fish pond, as well as kayak and ATV rentals.

Reaching the sanctuary is…quite the adventure, since the road to it is still under progress. However, they are very willing to arrange a shuttle service for you to make the trip an easier one. I would recommend contacting them first if you are planning to visit.

Davao Wild Water Rafting

Wild river rafting isn’t something that you immediately think of when you read the words Davao River, but it’s a well-known activity here. Popular, but like any extreme sport, not for the weak of heart.

If you’re up for the challenge, get in touch with Davao Wildwater Adventures Inc. for reservations. Their office is located at Crocodile Park, Ma-a. It starts at Barangay Tamugan, Calinan, and ends in Lacson, also a part of Calinan.

The water rafting itself lasts around 3-4 hours, but the entire trip will take you the entire day. It’s completely worth it; you’ll get to see a side of Davao that you’ve never seen before–did you know there are still crocodiles in Davao River?

Davao City is a large place and there’s plenty of places that you can visit and things that you can do, so go out there and explore. If you’re traveling solo, don’t worry. We’re a safe city, and us Davaoenos are always willing to help you out.

Have fun!

Here’s the first part of this article:
Alternative Davao Destinations, Part 1: Urban Spots