"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!

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 :)

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)

Things You Can Do In An Island

I just came back from an island get away. And that island was none other than Island Garden City of Samal. I didn't want to spend much for that activity. Infact, I was only willing to spend P500 for that (lol). And so 500 pesos it is :) And what did P500 gave me? Well, it brought me so much fun!

To have fun on a budget is really very easy especially if you know what to do and where you want to go. As in my case, I did it for fun and a sort of ocular inspection for something we're planning to do ;) But anyway, this post is written for the fun part :D And there can be a lot of activities in an island like Samal. Adventure and leisure is king and queen :D So here we go...

First destination

On Saturday at around 5:30 pm here in Davao, we went to Babak, Samal to meet the circadian bats at Monfort Bat Cave. We want to meet them when they're awake ;) Cost: P13 boat ride, P15 tricycle from wharf to Monfort Bat Cave and a P40 entrance fee P20 if morning to afternoon. Total P68. And what did we get? Awesome experience! :) The bats were so amazing to look at at night with your headlamp of course. They look like stars in the cave with their sparkling eyes! Starry starry night... paint your palette...

Second destination

After meeting our million bat friends, we headed to Caliclic Beach Resort. I didn't know about this resort and the sound of its name is funny (lol) ssshhh... But I went with the group nevertheless. Cost: P25 entrance fee and P185 for food and cottage (cost shared by about 20 people) And what did we get? Fun-filled night and we're able to relax too. There are no closed cottages though so it's best to bring a tent with you and maybe build a bonfire and your night adventure is set :)

Third destination

Those things weren't enough yet though. We woke very early the next morning, made a little walk to the bus terminal and went off to Peñaplata to visit Hagimit Falls, this time with only me, my sis and Bong. Cost: P15 bus fare to Peñaplata, P15 fare for single motorcycle ride to Hagimit Falls. What did we get? A very relaxing water massage and a morning bath hehe for only P30 :D

Fourth destination

This one's the part I partly hate hehe Why? Because it made me realized I have less exercise hahaha We went up a very steep hill and did it for almost an hour. My legs were aching and I think my heart will burst from catching my breath and suddenly my backpack went so heavy. But it was good to have Bong with us, he carried our bags as we went up. Thanks Bong :) And thankfully, I was able to surpass the challenge. And so we went to Bito Depression. There's not much to see in there but we have something in mind to make use of that wonderful place. We we're going to make rappelling a common activity for that place :) The brgy. captain told us, it's about 500 meters high going down and about a hectare in width. That's very cool to try rappelling to isn't it? ;) It was believed that such hole was created due to crashing of a meteor here on earth particularly barangay Guilon where Bito Depression is. That's a cool legend :) Cost: Sweat, tired legs and a bottle of mineral water. What did we get? a good exercise and a business vision ;)

Fifth destination

We booked a single motorcycle to bring us to Canibad. An untouched part of the island where the beach is enchanting. There's my favorite part there - the wet and wild Canibad where you go up, jump, make a large splash and dive thru the clear water. The water is very clear you can see someone under. The setting is perfect for relaxation. It is soooo nature you can't get enough of it. Cost: P20 entrance fee, P10 if you want to swim and dive at the wet and wild Canibad. What did we get? Beautiful and untouched beach, super relaxation and watching the fish sanctuary. Cool ;)

Those things were not enough actually and we're planning to go to Maxima to at least take pictures but the rain poured and it would be hard to travel on a single motorcycle. So, we decided to make our day and go back to Davao. Cost: P50 single motor from Canibad to the bus terminal then P30 I think from Peñaplata to Davao. I didn't know coz I was sleeping the whole time I was in the bus hahaha Poor Bong he has to pay for us but we paid him though ;)

All in all I totaled P418 here. And we truly had a lot of fun and adventure. Now, who says leisure and adventure is expensive? ;)

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