Samal City: A Travel Guide to the Island Garden City

The Island Garden City of Samal is a component City of Davao del Norte Province. Samal was derived from the word Sama, a tribal group found in the island. It was created through the dissolution and merger of the three former-municipalities of Samal, Babak, and Kaputian.

In this section you will find our Samal City Travel Guide with information on what to see, do, eat, and where to stay.

Island Garden City of Samal (Courtesy of samalcity.gov.ph)

Barangays

The three former municipalities became Samal’s three political districts. Babak as District l, Samal as District II where the center of the city government is located, and Kaputian as District III. Samal is politically subdivided into 46 barangays.

Get in

1. Take a 30 to 45- minute motorized banca ride going to Kaputian or Talicud Island, from Sta. Ana Wharf, which is adjacent to the Magsaysay Park in the downtown area or take Sasa Wharf Km. 11 going to Babak by 10-minute motorboat cruise.
2. Or go to the Island City Express Bus satellite terminal in front of Magsaysay Park to take the bus and the almost 15-minute barge ride from the ferry boat landing in Sasa, Km.11.
3. Or  thru the private motorboats which you can charter from Pearl Farm Wharf, Waterfront Wharf, Petron Wharf, Sta. Ana Wharf or the Lanang Beach Club Wharf.

Get around

Rent a motorcycle, take a jeepney, take public or hired tricycles

See

Each of the three districts celebrate their own festival. Kabasan for Babak, Hugyaw Madyaw for Samal, and White Nights for Kaputian. As a whole, the city celebrates its Founding Anniversary on the 7th of March and the ala mardi gras Caracoles Festival on the last Saturday of April.

118-kilometer stretch white sand beaches

Sanipaan Shoal – aptly called Vanishing Island because half of the 80-hectare shoal emerges as a sand bar during low tide but vanishes during high tide creating the illusion of vacationing in the open seas.

Botanical garden and nature’s park – Located in barangay Bandera, this 11.5 hectare government-owned park with over a hundred species of trees and flower gardens is envisioned to be the sanctuary of nature lovers.

IGaCoS Magrovetum – serves as a laboratory for dendrological, educational, eco-tourism and phonological and other studies on the mangrove ecosystem.

Monfort Bat Sanctuary (cave) – hosts gazillions of Geoffrey’s Rousette fruit bats.

Aundanao Fish Sanctury.

Hagimit Falls or Tagbaobo Falls.

Rivers and lakes – Binoling River, Tagbaobo River, and Bagsak Lake.

Do

Scuba diving and snorkeling- Talikud and Ligid Islands are excellent dive spots where a dive into the depths will reveal colorful underwater vistas with jaw-dropping tropical marine life. A 150-hectare Coral Garden & Marine Reservation Park located in Talikud and the Aundanao Fish Sanctuary offer another treat to diving and snorkeling enthusiasts.

Mountain climbing at Mount Puting Bato.

Rapel at Bito Depression.

Spelunking – explore Balete, Magongawong, Tamburong, and Baga caves out of about 70 caves in the island.

Island hopping.

Camping.

Sleep

Costa Marina Beach Resort
Brgy. Limao, Samal District, IGaCoS
(082) 233-1209/ 233-0229/ 301-7504

Blue Jaz Beach Resort and Spa
Brgy. Caliclic, Babak District, IGaCoS
(082) 302-8411 / 09296452788

Buenavista Island Resort
Brgy. Balet, Babak District, IGaCoS
(082) 299 2992 / 297 1432

Ilihan Beach Resort
Brgy. Camudmud, Babak District, IGaCoS
(082) 224-5345 / 09202-544-920

Hof Gorei Beach Resort
Brgy. Adecor, Kaputian District, IGaCoS
(082) 2860238 / 09186096966

Pearl Farm Beach Resort
Brgy. Adecor, Kaputian District, IGaCoS
(082) 2219970 / (082) 2350876