Here’s a HALF DAY SAMAL travel guide with sample itinerary, budget, spots to visit, places to stay & more.

Samal is an island paradise located in Davao Gulf, just a stone throw away from Davao City. The island is blessed with beautiful coast with white sand beaches, abundant marine life, magnificent rock formations, and flourishing flora and fauna.

WHEN TO GO

The people of Samal enjoy good weather all year round despite the occasional rain showers and windy season. Dry months start from December to May and the height of summer is during March. It rains from June to November.

HOW TO GO THERE

The fastest way to Samal Island is via Sasa Port or Sasa Wharf or Port of Babak. Ride a barge or Roro there for only Php 10 at approximately 15-20 minutes travel time. A barge or Roro goes back and forth from Sasa Port to Samal Island every 20 or 30 minutes. 

HOW TO GET AROUND

Habal-habal (single motorcycles) and tricycles are the only means of getting around, if you did not bring a private vehicle with you. Fares can be pretty steep for tourists, so try to haggle. Outside our resort, there's sort of a terminal of motorcycles so there's no problem getting one. The resort was also helpful and they preferred to get one for us so they can record the plate number of the vehicle who will take us. No cabs available.

WHERE TO STAY 

• Pearl Farm Beach Resort
  Online Booking: www.Agoda.com/PearlFarm
• Bluejaz Beach Resort and Waterpark
  Online Booking: www.Agoda.com/Bluejaz
• Bali Bali Beach Resort
  Online Booking: www.Agoda.com/BaliBali
  
• Hotel Precious Garden of Samal
  Online Booking: www.Agoda.com/HotelPrecious
• Island French Resort
  Online Booking: www.Agoda.com/IslandFrench Resort
  
• Paradise Island Park Beach Resort
  Online Booking: www.Agoda.com/ParadiseIslandPark

WHERE TO EAT

There are a few restaurants in the island and although there’s small supermarket where you can find fast food restaurants. If you’re not picky, you can eat at a carinderia which is almost anywhere especially in the market area. For us, we went with fried chicken and 2 rice for just Php 25 each.

THINGS TO DO

Bluebird overlooking

It Is found on the mountain and from the name itself its the place where u can see the overlooking of samal island.

Entrance fee is only 10php

Kaputian Beach 

It has white sand, clear waters, and cottages you can rent for a day or a few hours. Swim, wade in the waters, take plenty of pictures, and just let time pass. Make this beach your first or last stop on Samal Island before or after enjoying the other attractions.

Entrance fee

• Daytour(Adult) – Php 10.00
• Daytour(Kids) – Php 5.00/ 7 yrs old and below
• Overnight(Adult) – Php 75.00
• Overnight(Kids) – Php 25.00/ 7 yrs old and below

Cottages 

• Big Cottage – Php 800.00
• Small Cottage – PHP 400.00

 Preserved DUGONG  or SEA COWS

OTHER THINGS TO DO

Here is the list of the areas of interests in Samal Island

• Maxima Aquafun – For water sports adventures
• Monfort Bat Cave – Home of over 2 million Geoffrey’s Rousette Fruit Bats that travel all the way to Davao City to pollinate the durian flowers that only bloom at night, making Davao the Durian capital and these bats as the world’s largest pollinators. The entrance fee is ₱100.
• Vanishing Island – For diving and snorkeling
• Spelunking at Kimoko Cave, Mangongaong Cave, and Simbahan Dako Cave
• Island Hopping (Talikud Island, Malipano Island, Ligid Island)
• Pawikan and Dugong Santuaries
• Hagimit Falls – Plunge into the cools waters of Hagimit with low height cascades and natural pools. 

ITINERARY

• 8:00 am ride jeepney to Sasa port
• 8:30 am ride roro to Samal
• 9:30 am Bluebird Overlooking
• 10:00 am Kaputian Beach
• 11:00 am Lunch 
• 11:30 am Go back to Davao
• 12:30 pm Back to Hotel 

ESTIMATED EXPENSES

 Php 16.00  Jeep to Magsaysay Park                               (back&Forth) php 8.00 each

Php 26.00 Jeep to Sasa warf                                         (back&Forth)  php 13.00 each 

Php 20.00 Ferry (back&Forth)                                         php 10.00 each

Php 200.00 habal habal to kaputian                               (back&Forth)  php 100.00 each

Php 10.00 Entrance fee to blue bird                               overlooking 

Php 25.00 Entrance fee to Kaputian                               Beach 

Php 25.00 Food

__________

Php 322.00 Total expenses

Highly Recommended Tour Guide for  SAMAL TOURS

Contact person : Igo Ventura ( Habal driver/tourguide/photographer
Contact number: 09759385001

SHARING IS CARING!

ENJOY!

Thank you so much for reading, I hope this HALF DAY SAMAL TOUR itinerary and budget sample has been helpful! Let me know if you have any questions!