2020 Tourist Spots in Davao de Oro [And How To Get There]

This is our list of the best tourist spots in Davao de Oro, formerly the province of Compostela Valley in Davao Region.

Davao de Oro, formerly Compostela Valley is one of the most attractive provinces in Mindanao, but it’s often not one on tourists’ radars. This is a shame since Compostela Valley (or ComVal, as it is locally known) offers a lot of unique and picturesque patches of nature, most of them relatively untouched by the ravages of modernity.

Davao de Oro has been hailed as the second richest province in the country, and the richest in Mindanao. Aside from the businesses and the plantations, Davao de Oro is dotted with extensive mining systems, endlessly searching for silver and gold.

Unlike many budding metropolitan areas, Davao de Oro’s transportation is more than sufficient to support its economic infrastructure. Thus, it is becoming more and more attractive not just for entrepreneurs but also for migrants. In fact, most of its locals are comprised of people originally from Samar, Bohol, Cebu, and other places of Visayas (this also explains the dominance of Cebuano as a language).

To showcase just how awesome Davao de Oro’s natural tourist spots are, here are a few places worth a spot on your bucket list:

Best Tourist Spots in Davao de Oro, Philippines

Awao Falls

Awao Falls is the best-kept secret of Monkayo, Davao de Oro. You can reach this easily via a habal–habal from Monkayo Terminal. When you arrive, you will be greeted by countless silken streams of water, endlessly gushing from a craggy cliff-side. It’s like seeing a gigantic banyan tree, except that its extensive roots are the drops of the waterfalls! What’s even better is that not many tourists know Awao exists, so it remains pristine and raw.

Mainit Sulfuric Hot Spring

This is located in the town of Maco, which is also known for being a hotspot of seismic and volcanic activity. It is also one of the more eccentric tourist spots in Compostela Valley. These jaw-dropping “hot springs” are in fact “hot falls”, cascades of steaming water in Barangay Mainit!

It’s easy to reach from the highway, so it’s a good tourist place. The water has a slight greenish-yellow tinge from certain angles thanks to the sulfur content, and you can bathe in the pools (if you dare the heat) to relish its medicinal properties. There are also cottages nearby, which can be rented for rock-bottom prices.

Tagbibinta Falls

Maragusan hides another of Mindanao’s grandest waterfalls, one of the more famous tourist spots in Davao de Oro For the locals, this 700-feet high curtain of water is a pilgrimage and vacation space during Lenten Season. Any time of the year, it’s also a perfect picnic place for those who want to be in awe of nature. There’s a slight trek here, and the landscape is sure to give you a challenge.

From Maragusan town proper, take a habal–habal to Barangay Coronobe. Unlike Awao, Tagbibinta is visited by thousands of tourists a year so it’s easy to find directions. Don’t worry though — Tagbibinta is just as unspoiled as any other waterfall here.

Bongloy Cave

This is known to be the most pristine cave in Davao, complete with a lush biodiversity and an underground river system. Located in Barangay Sisimon, Laak, Bongloy is a challenge for any spelunker, beginner or pro. Its many winding chambers are perfect for an appreciation of the beauty that lies beneath the earth, even more than the silver and gold that’s mined here at ComVal!

Andap ng Liwanag Tower

Also known as the Tower of Light, this beautiful tower stands beside the San Roque Chapel of Barangay Andap. It is famous for being the only structure that withstood the ravages of Typhoon Pablo. It is a 45-foot outdoor sculpture. While not a natural attraction in itself, climbing its spiral staircase shows one the vast expanse of ComVal’s nature reaching out to the distant horizon.

Marangig Falls

Mount Candalaga is one of the more famous peaks in the Compostela Valley, and Marangig falls serves as the first stop in climbing it. It is a system of waterfalls, and is home to the local legend of an invisible ship called “Donya Marangig”. It is said that when the ship moves, the water overflows — and locals would hear the ship blowing its horn to warn the locals!

There are many tourist spots in Davao de Oro just awaiting your wandering feet! So pack your bags and book a plane ticket — ComVal is waiting, and you won’t regret it.

How to get to Davao de Oro

There is no commercial airport in Davao de Oro Province. The nearest Airport is in Davao City. From there, take a bus to Nabunturan, Monkayo or Maragusan.

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