Plizio Visual Lab

Samal Island

Plizio editorial teamData Sources
City
—°5
Samal Island (Philippines)
ℹ️

Practical info — Samal Island

🌤 Weather — 5 days

📍 Nearby

Sights nearby

The Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) is the most popular getaway for residents and visitors of Davao City. The island has an impressive range of attractions, from luxury private resorts like Pearl Farm to accessible public beaches. is the Monfort Bat Sanctuary, which holds a Guinness World Record for housing the world's largest colony of Rousette fruit bats. These creatures can be observed up close within massive cave openings. For nature enthusiasts, Hagimit Falls features cascading waterfalls set in a tropical garden, excellent for a refreshing swim. More active travelers can hike Mount Puting Bato for a panoramic view over the Davao Gulf. Another highlight is 'Vanishing Island', a sandbar that nearly disappears during high tide and is handy for snorkeling. The island provides a solid tourist infrastructure with numerous restaurants serving local Davaoene cuisine. Access is incredibly easy: regular car ferries and passenger boats run from the Davao City mainland, with the trip taking only 10 to 20 minutes. Due to its sheltered location in the Davao Gulf, Samal is a year-round destination and is rarely affected by typhoons. Samal is the well-suited choice for travelers wanting to combine beach relaxation with fascinating natural wonders without long travel times.

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Feb–Apr.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °C272727282828282828282827
Rain mm204133122117179218204193188241155172

Geography

Population
43,526 (2017)
Coordinates
7.04778, 125.74417

Facts

  • World's largest fruit bat colony
  • Short ferry ride from Davao City
  • Cascading Hagimit Falls
  • Home to the famous Pearl Farm
  • Mount Puting Bato panoramic view
  • Vanishing Island sandbar
  • Rarely hit by typhoons
  • Numerous luxury and budget resorts

Explore nearby

Notable places around

Route planner — Car & Motorhome

Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.

Vehicle
Only stops with (optional):

© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService

Sights in the town Samal Island (5)

Maxima Water Park🎡 recreation

This Samal Island beach resort is famous for its giant tarpaulin slide that plunges directly into the deep ocean waters.

Tiki Beach🎡 recreation

Featuring tropical, tiki-themed shoreline huts, this relaxed beach resort provides white sand areas along the Samal Island coast.

Catholic Church📍 landmark

This prominent Samal Island parish church features traditional Catholic architecture and serves the coastal faithful of the island.

Sr. San Jose Chapel📍 landmark

Dedicated to St. Joseph, this Christian chapel provides a simple, quiet sanctuary for prayer amidst the island's tropical greenery.

One Way Church📍 landmark

This contemporary Christian church hosts bustling, music-filled services for the local evangelical community on Samal Island.

Frequently asked questions

Samal Island: where is it located?
Samal Island is located in Philippines.
Samal Island: what is there to see?
Highlights include Maxima Water Park, Tiki Beach, Catholic Church.
Samal Island: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Feb, Apr.
Samal Island: why is it worth visiting?
The Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) is the most popular getaway for residents and visitors of Davao City.
View on map → The Top 50 Attractions → OpenStreetMap →
Asia
Explore with Plizio Discover more places in Asia
More places in Philippines →

Nearby cities

More places