"Island to Highland" Davao - Samal Itinerary

One Day Adventure

Itinerary 1

6:00 am - Catch the barge for vehicles at Sasa going to Penaplata
6:15 am - catch a motorcycle to Aquafun Maxima
6:30 am - lots of fun activities to do at the resort (Maxima Beach Resort at Samal Island; Aquafun at Maxima)
2:00 pm - leave Aquafun Maxima at 2pm by motorcycle then catch the bus at Penaplata to Davao at about 1 hour and 30 minutes travel
3:30 pm - Catch a taxi to Crocodile park and watch the animal show at 4:30 pm for Fri, Sat and Sun; 4:15 pm Mon and Wed) 1 hour show only
5:30 pm - catch a taxi to Hill Top at Zip City to try the zip line at night (Zip Line at Zip City)

Itinerary 2

6:00 am - Catch the barge for vehicles at Sasa going to Penaplata
6:15 am - catch a motorcycle to Aquafun Maxima
6:30 am - lots of fun activities to do at the resort (Maxima Beach Resort at Samal Island; Aquafun at Maxima)
2:00 pm - leave Aquafun Maxima at 2pm by motorcycle to Hagimit Falls just a few meters away from Maxima
4:00 pm - go back to Penaplata and catch the bus going back to Davao for about 1 hour and 30 minutes
5:30 pm - catch a taxi to Hill Top at Zip City to try the zip line at night (Zip Line at Zip City)

These will surely make your day!

From Island To Highland

From island to highland - this is what Davao tourism is trying to establish. Example of this is the tourism business set up by Dizon. There's the famous destination crocodile park and the white water rafting which are all in the city of Davao. He extended his tourism business to Samal Island where he opened the Maxima beach resort and the Aquafun featuring water and air adventure by constructing the tarpaulin slide, the canopy walk and the zip line packed in one resort. This would be one hell of a full of adventure day in an island including the speed boating and the snorkeling or diving if you like. And then there's the Zip City where you climb up a little higher from downtown Davao City to glide above seeing the spectacular view of the metro at night. This is truly one of a smart concept where there is truly "Island to Highland" experience :)

Aquafun Maxima

I had the chance to visit the Aquafun Maxima which opened just April of this year. I've been wanting to visit this place because of the feature made by Sports Unlimited. And I was never short of my expectation :) The tarpaulin slide which I heard is the first in the world? This is what Bong told us, a friend tour operator who was with us. He brought us there for us to enhance the Samal Adventure Tour website as this may be one of the destinations he will going to bring his clients. It was great to be there. The slide was about 40 meters long with a drop of about 5 ft. when it's high tide and about 12 ft. drop on low tide landing on a 120ft. deep water (oh no!!!) It's not scary though coz they have competitive staffs and it's not allowed to slide without a staff stationed at the top and on the dropping point. Wearing a life vest is also imperative as they make sure that everybody is safe. Gears are also available for rent if you would want other water activities. All water parts of the resort is very deep but non-swimmers should not worry as they have plenty of life vests ;) We went snorkeling nearby where the corals and colorful fish are located. We went a little farther and saw the seawall and the place where we've landed. It was so scary. It was dark and looked like an endless abyss that will devour you any moment. After seeing what's under I was suddenly afraid of the jump offs I did moments ago haha

The resort was not really finished yet. Their Canopy Walk is still under construction and a Zip Line going down you may end up splashing on the water. We will know when it opens on June. But I'm already in Manila when that happens hahay. Will just do it on my vacations here in Davao.


ready, get set, go! :D


whew!

I love my messy hair. Too much fun to fuss over it wahaha!

Snorkeling :)

Maxima Beach House at Samal Island

I had a super fun weekend at Maxima. It's one of my best aqua experiences. Everything is already there - fun, leisure and adventure. It's a family-owned private vacation house. Good thing it was opened for Php 10,500 a night already good for 10 persons. The place is amazing as you can just jump off the house, wear snorkeling gears and you will see the fish sanctuary. There's too many fish in there you will feel you are one of them ;) The house has 4 rooms fairly set for a great island get away. Everything is spectacular whether underwater (fish sanctuary), above water (gorgeous deep blue sea), horizon (majestic Mt. Apo). We we're just visiting the Aquafun Resort owned by the same owner of Maxima. Good thing we have with us Bong Suico, a tour guide operator, who brought us to Maxima house to see and to experience it for a while. The place was just a speed boat away from the tarpaulin slide :)

http://vacation.davaocrocodilepark.com/

From Aquafun to Maxima house


Maxima House

We jumped off the house to see the fish sanctuary. Amazing underwater.

Samal Blue Jaz Resort

We went to Samal Blue Jaz Resort last weekend and I didn't like my experience. Sure it has the longest slide in the Philippines but the service was poor. We never brought food with us thinking we could just order at their restaurant. Never thought they will starve us. It took us about 45 minutes before they took our order. For several times we called the staff on the counter but they kept on ignoring us. I didn't know what's wrong with them why are they ignoring people on the counter who tries to order. They just look at us and do their stuff as if they never heard or saw us. That was really annoying. Until I picked up the menu stand and bang it a bit on the counter so I would get their attention. I don't mind if I get it damaged. That was when they get our order. I dunno what's with them they're doing business but they don't want to earn income huh? They were really annoying. We were really hungry at that time. They could have made it up if their food is exceptional but it wasn't. The food was not good and they're charging as if it's a real restaurant. It wasn't worth our money.

Another thing is that, they have a very small swimming place. And not enough comfort rooms and bath rooms! What a resort! That time, too many people came to the resort to have fun but there's not much of a place to swim. Like me, they were also deceived of the good advertisement they get from Sports Unlimited which featured the big slide of which I could say, is the only thing you would want to see in there. The swimming area at the beach is small, the swimming pool is small too. The pool surrounding the slides is very small its just enough for you to make a splash when you reach the bottom of the slides. No enough swimming area for everybody and they still keep on admitting visitors. The place looked like a crowded park. Their surroundings looked like a backyard to me and it's dirty. It didn't looked nice on pictures. I think it's over publicized. It's really deceiving. I don't trust their zip line too. If you see it, you'll be afraid for your life. The rope is very thin, it looks like a laundry line where you hang your clothes. And the rolling blades looked unsafe they just hang it on the cable and when it deviates, you know what will happen to you.

This is an honest review in the eyes of a customer. If someone from Blue Jaz will be able to read this, it's your chance to improve your place. I will never go back to that place except for the slide.

Boat ride to Blue Jaz Resort

This is the only nice view in there. The entrance haha


After we have our lunch. We're able to smile now hehe
This one is nice though.

Blue Jaz Resort Entrance

Get Discovered Davao

I love watching Sports Unlimited (SU). Last Saturday they featured Samal Island again and I was thrilled that there are still places I haven't explored yet and one of them is the Blue Jazz Resort where you can find the longest water slide in the Philippines. It's definitely one of my destinations this summer before I leave Davao (I'm gonna miss Davao waaah). It would surely be perfect for a fun and full of adventure summer get away. I could do my Samal trip again but this time with Blue Jazz in mind. Can't wait to get exhilirated :D

SU took notice of the Hagimit Falls too. I was there last February and I was reunited with nature. Free bath and massage - nature's gift to visitors :D cool and clean water and natural boulder created pools you can have for yourself. Wonderful indeed! :D (take a look at my other Samal articles http://nathadale.blogspot.com/2009/02/things-you-can-do-in-island.html; http://nathadale.blogspot.com/2009/02/island-garden-city-of-samal.html)

Island Garden City of Samal

Trekking

The wet and wild Canibad :)

Canibad

Hagimit Falls

Starry starry night... errr... circadian bats with their sparkling eyes at Monfort Bat Cave, Samal

My Favorite Destinations In My Country Philippines

Of all the things I love doing, traveling is my number one favorite. And I have quite visited a lot of places in my country. Each of them gave me a distinct experience and learning. I loved my every travels and I’ve collected wonderful memories and a bunch of photos. I want to share with you the places in my country which I think is the best :) Here are my top 10 but excluding my own place Davao, it will always be my number 1 ;)

Baguio

I love Baguio! I love its cold weather. It’s the only cold city in the Philippines where the climate is tropical. I love Baguio because of its picturesque and manicured setting making it different from any other places I’ve visited in the Philippines. In fact, I’ve visited it twice last year, one during the summer and one on December :) where the weather in the Philippines is hottest and coldest respectively.

Bohol

Bohol is an island with lots of activities to do and really beautiful beaches. You’ll fall in love with the beauty of Panglao and its wonderful diving sites. Not only resorts but places to visit like Chocolate Hills and cruising and dining along Loboc River. Meet the small creatures Tarsier that can only be found in Bohol.

Laoag, Ilocos Norte

Laoag feels different also. I always have a different feeling when I visit places and it’s the most homey and tranquil place I have ever visited. It was like a soul connection no kidding! Hehe I fell in love with Fort Ilocandia and San Agustin Church. I love the winds in Bagui where you can find the only windmills in Southeast Asia. There’s also the somewhat old and eery lighthouse in North Ilocos.

Vigan, Ilocos Sur

This place gives you the feel of being in Spanish time. The whole Crisologo Street was preserved up to this day you will truly drift to the old days :)

Cebu

The Queen City of the South shines more than ever with its chic metropolis. Love the lively beat of its everyday rhythm.

Island Garden City of Samal

Of course our neighbor city Samal won’t be left out. There’s so much to explore and do in this place that I can’t get enough that’s why I go back for more.

Bukidnon

I love the manificent landscape of this province. The weather is very cool too. Lots of mountain springs.

Tagaytay

Meet the beautiful Taal Volcano which can be viewed above in the main attractions in Tagaytay. Perfect for a nice vacation.

Leyte

This is a silent place where it hasn’t really bud into its fullest. But it has a unique beauty too and great history. You’ll meet Daddy Douglas Mc Arthur in Palo, Leyte. Went there very early in the morning and dipped my feet in the water around the American Army statues which is 150% the real size of daddy Doug and his army. I was also able to cross the longest bridge in the Philippines which connected Samar and Leyte, the San Juanico Bridge.

Albay

Albay is a silent and quite sad place but what I like about it is the majestic and perfectly shaped Mayon Volcano standing magnificently in vast fields.