Samal Island
Davao'S Weekend Island, And A Cave Holding What Is Recorded As The Largest Colony Of Its Bat Species In The World · Samal, Davao del Norte
SAMAL IS THE ISLAND ACROSS THE WATER FROM DAVAO, TEN MINUTES BY FERRY, AND IT IS THE CITY'S WEEKEND. RESORTS RUN THE WHOLE RANGE from excellent to frankly grim, the beaches are decent rather than spectacular, and most of what happens here is Davaoeños escaping for a day. THE REASON IT IS ON THIS LIST IS A CAVE. THE MONFORT BAT SANCTUARY HOLDS WHAT IS RECORDED AS THE LARGEST COLONY OF GEOFFROY'S ROUSETTE FRUIT BATS IN THE WORLD - millions of them, packed into a shallow cave with open chambers, so dense that the walls move. IT IS PRIVATELY OWNED AND RUN AS A CONSERVATION PROJECT, and the smell and the sound are overwhelming in a way no photograph conveys. HAGIMIT FALLS AND TALIKUD ISLAND are the other reasons to cross. A BRIDGE TO SAMAL HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED AND DELAYED FOR YEARS. Go midweek rather than at a weekend, read resort reviews carefully because quality varies enormously at similar prices, and hop across to Talikud, which has the better snorkelling.
Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte, Samal, Davao del Norte, Philippines
SAMAL IS REACHED BY FERRY FROM DAVAO CITY, about TEN TO FIFTEEN MINUTES from several wharves, with frequent daily sailings and vehicle barges - DAVAO HAS A MAJOR AIRPORT. THERE IS NO GATE ON THE ISLAND; it is covered by habal-habal, tricycle or hired van. THE MONFORT BAT SANCTUARY keeps daytime hours with an entrance fee and is PRIVATELY OWNED AND CONSERVATION-RUN; visits are short, guided and from viewing platforms - THE SMELL IS OVERWHELMING and nobody warns you. HAGIMIT FALLS charges a small fee. TALIKUD ISLAND is a further boat hop and has the better snorkelling. RESORTS VARY ENORMOUSLY IN QUALITY - read carefully before booking. IT IS BUSIEST AT WEEKENDS with Davao families. Crossings are cancelled in rough weather.