MINDANAO DESTINATIONS
Mindanao is the second largest and southernmost island of the Philippines. Composed of 25 provinces, Mindanao’s southernmost point, Saluag Island, is a mere 34 miles east of Borneo.
Among the diverse attractions visitors can expect to see in Mindanao are:
Davao. Davao, the window to Mindanao, prides itself on being the home of Mount Apo, the country’s highest peak, the famous waling-waling orchid (Vanda sanderiana) and the Philippine Eagle, the world’s largest eagle.
The Philippine Eagle Research and Nature Center in the Malagos district rainforest in Calinan is a mere 45 minutes away from downtown Davao and is the home of Pag-asa (Hope), the first ever Philippine Eagle born in captivity.
Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park. Located in the heart of the Sulu Sea, the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park, covering 33,200 hectares, is a unique example of an atoll reef with a high density of marine species, yielding 120 metric tons of fish biomass per square kilometer. A UNESCO World Heritage Site (1993), it is the only national marine park in the Philippines and is home to 441 species of fish, 396 species of corals, 71 species of algae, 44 species of birds, 6 species of marine mammals, and two species of nesting turtles
Camiguin. An island “born of fire”, this pear-shaped island is home to seven volcanoes, unparalleled in Southeast Asia. Camiguin boasts of a diverse and unique ecosystem of forests, volcanoes, hot springs, waterfalls and black and white beaches – all within its 238 square kilometer land area.
Touted as one of the Philippines’ most beautiful islands, the province of Camiguin has been named the seventh best diving spot in the world and one of the top 25 tourist destinations of the country.
Pearl Farm. This exclusive resort on Samal Island off the coast of Davao City is a virtual paradise, with its trademark Samal Houses (beach houses on stilts) and indigenous décor lending it a unique and exotic flavor to complement the serene surroundings. Its name comes from the fact that the resort was once a pearl farm, where white-lipped oysters from the Sulu Sea were cultivated for pink, white and gold pearls.
Visitors can indulge in various water sports or while away the time in one of the bamboo recliners on the beach listening to the soothing sound of waves.
Siargao. The surfing capital of the Philippines, Siargao is home to the Cloud Nine Break, considered one of the best surfs in the world.
For nature enthusiasts, the island also hosts the largest forest mangrove reserves in Mindanao, a massive coral reef, and a 200-meter white sandbar that is home to some forty black-headed terns.