Backpacking Landscapes: Davao

There's 3 more days to spare before my flight back to Manila from Davao, and I have no pre-arranged plans.

From General Santos, my plan was to do a daytrip to Balut island, taking the overnight ferry, and then take the other overnight ferry in the following evening back to General Santos. Then again, I've done renovations, and feeding, and I am honestly, a little exhausted. My bag has gone too heavy with all the dirt, and some goodies I bought in the provinces I have been.

At the same time, I regret doing quick peeks into nice places. As I told myself before, there's no need to rush. I'd rather enjoy it at my first visit, than come back and not have the same awe and excitement I normally get if only I have enough time during a first visit.

Hence, I decided to check out the Passig islet instead.

The Passig Islet in Davao Del Sur is a man made island. It's actually a protrusion that is below sea level during high tide. I was told that sand from nearby were pulled by boats and dumped into this part to serve as a station for fisheries monitoring. The then governor thought of utilizing it as well into tourism for additional revenues.

From the highway, a short walk into the village and then the mangroves lead to the boat station. Boats are P20/head and leaves with 8 passengers. Since it was the afternoon of a monday, I bet there is nobody else coming, so paid the P160.

I must say the tires are an eyesore to the look of the island; Looking from within the island though, the coconuts, and the sand give it a cool feel. But then again, the water on it's coast is just not for swimming. Overall, the island is good enough for a picnic hangout (especially it don't cost a lot to get there). Entrance charge in the island is P15.

I was thinking of staying overnight, but looking closely at the cottages, they were not really maintained. I thought I'd rather stay in Digos city, and check out what life is like there.

There's 3 more days to spare before my flight back to Manila from Davao, and I have no pre-arranged plans.

Hence, I decided to check out the Passig islet instead.

I was thinking of staying overnight, but looking closely at the cottages, they were not really maintained. I thought I'd rather stay in Digos city, and check out what life is like there.

Isla Reta, Talicud Island, IGACOS, Davao

Even at the time when I was working overseas, i have planned to get my grandma experience riding an aircraft; And with my grandpa's passing recently, and all the other plans I had thought for them, I thought there was no time to risk on any plan for my aged lola. So, for that next destination i picked, I have included my 78 yr old grandma and my aunt to assist in my booking.

I have looked at the itineraries for Davao and I was stunned at how costly it could get to move from one stop to another. Secondly, Until now, i still have not gained interest in these crocodile, butterly, what have you parks. I feel they are better seen in their natural habitat. On another hand, i thought Eden Park was far offset from my places of interest, plus granma may not really handle the uphill walks around, so I have limited my trip to IGACOS or Island Garden of Samal. Again, after all, beaches, mountains, and falls are my forte.

Isla Reta, Talicud Island, IGACOS, Davao

I have had an interest for Quiboloy's Prayer Mountain too, but again, it's too faraway. I've also read about the advance booking requirement, so i just shoved it off.

Apart from that it's my grams first time to fly, it will also be her first time on the boat.

As my gram has had history of several stroke, my relatives has asked me to bring her to a physician for consulting prior to the trip. But then, i did not really think it was needed. Anyway, the inertia is just the same as when ur on an elevator.

Well, we managed to get to davao without any issues, except for the ultra slow pace.

From Davao airport, there were several transport people who were offering service thru van; asked us where we are going, and they were charging us 450 to sta ana wharf; I said we're taking the cab. They countered daying we'll be spending 350 in te cab anyway. To confirm, I approached a nearby policeman and asked. Then again, he said, only about 150, so i took the cab.

We've taken a yellow (which initially I thought was a higher fare airport taxi) MABUHAY taxi to sta ana wharf. Fare was only 148.

From the wharf, I asked it there's any more boat bound to Isla Reta and I was told yes, at 1:30pm; So, givem that we have some 45mins to go, and it's past lunch time, we walked a few steps outside the wharf and had lunch at the nearby carinderia.

After lunch, we head back to the station and took the SHIRLEY boat. Fare in the boat was P60 to Talicod Island or sta cruz wharf (with a stop in Kaputian, right next to the beach, before going to Talicud. It took the boat a while though to leave Kaputian as a several sacks of rice paid baggages have to be moved.

From sta cruz wharf, it will be a short 10min walk to Isla Reta passing by an eskinita in between the houses, and just next to the shore.

with Grandma in Sta Ana Wharf, Davao heading to Isla Reta, Talicud Island, IGACOS

Shirley ferry bound for Kaputian and Sta Cruz Wharf in Talicud Island, IGACOS

inside the Shirley Ferry to Isla Reta, Talicud Island, IGACOS, Davao

There are plenty of habal services in the wharf for passengers bound for the farther areas in talicod. Beware though that from the wharf is a steep 200m straight uphill, so baggages might need to be minimized, in case you'll ride habal.

We took the P700/night triple sharing nipa. There was no choice anyway as all 5 concrete rooms they have are all booked. The Nipas dont have a socket, nor a fan, and mosquitos can be a nightmare. I had to buy a mosquito coil from outside. The huts dont have comfort rooms to so we had to walk 20m to the resort comfort room. The water there is also saltwater. There is rainwater but you'll have to pick the pail and fetch from the containers next to the resort store.

The P700/night NIPA in Isla Reta, Talicud Island, IGACOS, Davao

Isla Reta, Talicud Island, IGACOS, Davao

The resort store will have basic commodities; prices of some being: Red Horse Mucho at 100. Softdrinks Litro at 50. For food, the have native chicken dishes for P300. The rest, pork bbq, lechon kawali, etc at P180. I was told it's good for three (said it was 400g but not sure really) but when our lechon kawali was served, I think it's rather good for 2. For breakfast the following day, we had corned beef, which was actually a 100g canned local brand taken fr the store and cooked in the kitchen. Rice was P15 each, and was irritated when what I got was tutong;

The comfort rooms were also untiddy. I see they have a number of staffs who'd rather sit andd gamble, booze and bitchat than be more productive in helping out maintain the resort.

boat schedules in Isla Reta, Talicud Island, IGACOS, Davao

Charges in Isla Reta, Talicud Island, IGACOS, Davao

Food Menua in Isla Reta, Talicud Island, IGACOS, Davao (i wish it's clearer)

that's what you can scout in Isla Reta, Talicud Island, IGACOS, Davao; This is where you order your food and pay on checkout too

Overall, the beach is really nice. Sand was very fine. If I were to go back to this beach, i'd rather just camp, and bring my own food, than spend unnecessarily on unsatisfactory service.

The market is also just next to the wharf, and much of the guests i've seen, bought fish from there and had it cooked. One guests brought 2 squids, each wheighing 500g.

They turn off the electricity on daytime by the way, so, have your electronics charged rightaway, and dont forget to plug them in their outlets at night; No.. They dont have wifi.