Things to see and do Davao

At the top of a hill, this open-air chapel features relics of the Holy Infant Jesus of Prague and Our Lady of Fatima, as some Filipinos call her. From here, surrounded by fruit trees, you have a panoramic view of the city and Mount Apo. It's a major place of pilgrimage, especially during Holy Week. Go on Sundays to share a true moment of life, when there are more people, including Filipino families.

Located sixty kilometers from Davao, it's a fairly small lake, barely six hectares in size. It is in fact a crater lake, as Mount Leonard is an active but dormant volcano. On certain sides of the lake, small fumaroles can sometimes be seen, suggesting that a volcano lies well below the lake. The lake is home to many species of colorful butterflies and a few rare specimens of Philippine crocodiles, increasingly threatened by human pollution.

A sort of large ecotourism complex, the Malagos features several parks with a wide variety of orchids. Horticultural enthusiasts will be delighted by the variety of traditional and hybrid orchids. There's a pavilion garden and a swimming pool surrounded by restaurants. And as this is a resort, it is of course possible to stay on site in charming rooms. There's also a chocolate museum and spa, for a unique sensory experience.

Built in honor of the seventh President of the Republic of the Philippines, Ramon Magsaysay (1953-1957), it is one of the city's oldest parks. With a surface area of almost three hectares, it features an amphitheatre, a roller-skating and skateboarding area, several restaurants, bars and boutiques, a children's playground and a chapel. Ideal for cycling or picnicking. Finally, there's also a tribal village where you can learn more about the customs of the eleven tribes of the Davao region.

The rehabilitation center is home to tropical animals and plants, as well as a variety of rare bird species. The majestic Philippine eagle reigns supreme. This superb bird of prey, haribon (as it is known locally), with its 2 m wingspan and 1 m height at maturity, is one of the largest and most powerful eagles in the world. For this reason, it became the country's emblem when Fidel V. Ramos was re-elected in 1995.

It attracts many visitors due to its pool fuelled by hot springs and cold water sources. It is even said that its sulphur waters have curative virtues.

Davao's avant-garde cathedral blends Romanesque and Muslim styles. Named after the city's patron saint, San Pedro, this unusual cathedral traces its history back to the ^19th century. In 1847, a small neo-Gothic church was built by the Spanish conqueror Don Jose Oyanguren. In the 1960s, the desire arose to enlarge it, and it became an avant-garde concrete construction with a striking arched roof.

A little out of the way, this museum is a center for preserving and promoting the heritage of Davao and Mindanao. The museum exhibits the province's colorful heritage, its culture through its various ethnic groups: ethnological maps, photographs, traditional tools, costumes and musical instruments. On the second floor, in the modern gallery, contemporary artists are exhibited. A traditional Mandaya house is located just behind. An interesting cultural visit.

In the middle of the forest it is surrounded by small rocks, making it an ideal place for bathing.

Lon Wa Buddhist Temple, also known as Longhua Temple, is the largest Buddhist temple in Mindanao and one of the largest in the Philippines. The gardens are very well kept, the architecture is superb, as are the colors, the materials, the Italian-style marble, the magnificent gold and wood-carved Buddha. It's all very beautiful indeed. Given that temples are quite rare in the country, it's particularly worth a visit if you're in the area.

It makes 250 ha and produces not only lemons, but also mangoes and cashew nuts.

Among the many orchid gardens in Davao, the Puentespina Orchid Garden is a garden center, store and park in one. It is home to a wide variety of tropical plants, including orchids. Orchids are considered the "national flower", the sacred flower. Before visiting the greenhouse, you can meet artists at work painting in the studio at the entrance to the garden. Other indigenous handicrafts are also available for purchase.

Just a 45-minute drive from downtown Davao, the Sibulan River is an excellent playground for adventurers of all levels. Filipinos are particularly fond of this site, where they come to practice white-water tubbing. Accompanied by a local guide or on an organized tour from A to Z from Davao, you start by getting your equipment, then take your place on funny boats that are in fact large inflatable buoys, and off you go down the river at full speed. Thrills guaranteed!

We take this path from Calinan. Along the way, caves, waterfalls, rivers, lakes... each more beautiful than the last. Agencies offer guided tours, which take three to five days to complete. Birds can be spotted, and it's a good chance to meet the endangered tarababoy, a peculiar little animal with a boar's head. The summit of Mount Apo can be reached in a number of ways, depending on level. An encounter with the Bagobo tribes can also be included.

It's a huge, well-kept park where Filipinos love to take their families for the day or even to stay. It's like a little country in the city. Tropical plants and flowers galore, a swimming pool, horseback rides and restaurants. The park is also home to a resort, or rather a lodge, for guests wishing to spend a night or more: there's a campsite, standard and deluxe rooms, as well as comfortable cottages and villas. It's not the height of luxury, but it's nice for a day out!