Field Trip: Canibad Cove, Island Garden of Samal
Davao never failed to surprise me every time I visited places here I have never been. Last friday, as I read feeds I got particularly interested in visiting an unexplored place in Island Garden of Samal (IGACOS), Canibad Cove. Having experienced several frustrating travel plans before, I learned and told myself I will never plan again as it is just frustrating. I have learned that I should have just he budget, and prepare same day or just few days ahead 
.
I searched the web for directions and prepare my usual to bring list.
What we have to bring
I read from other blogs that while the place is great, there are no restaurants or place to buy some food there. So the same night, we shop at NCCC department store to buy things to bring. If you don’t have any idea yet what should be on your day tour survival kit. Here’s my list:
- Banig / Hammock.
- Basket
- Digital Camera (Full charged), Extra Batteries.
I advise you to turn it on save battery settings mode as there is no electricity in canibad. Turn on only when needed. - Water, water, water.
While there’s water available for washing plates and rinsing body after swimming, there’s no water for drinking. - Shades
- Toothbrush, toothpaste
- Soap, shampoo
- Snorkling gear
- Books and reading materials (1Min Manager, First, break the rules…)
- Mobile phones, full charged
- Bath tower, extra shirts, swimming shorts
- Food canisters
How we get there
At 7:00 AM, we took taxi and drop off the Blue Carabao Eatery in Obrero to buy the foods. We just have our food canisters filled with rice and several variants. We had rice, chicken adobo, pork adobo, hotdog, and fried bangus.
Armed with printed email and directions, we took an Island City Express bus in Sta. Ana Wharf near Magsaysay Park. Bus fare is 30.00 PHP. The bus rode into a barge to transfer us from Davao City to Samal Island. We get off into their terminal at Central Warehouse Club in Babak.
Several motorcycles aka habal-habal are available here and they will ask you if you are going to Canibad. Travel from the terminal to Canibad took us 30-40 minutes and we’re charged 150.00 for the nature trip. Make sure sit confortably well before the travel as it was a long, winding, dusty road.
When you’re there, asked the same driver to fetch you. Make a note of your name, at least two contact numbers, the time he should fetch you. On your part, ask the driver his name, contact number and plate number. Advise him that whatever happen, he should commit to fetch you that in any case of emergency he should advise other drivers to fetch you on his behalf . This is because there are no available vehicles going back to the terminal. We’re fetch 4:PM, perfect time to travel, not yet dark and in case the motorcycle broke down we have enough time to find another one or walk the near house to wait for another. Were just that smart! LOL.
From top, it will take 10 mins to walkdown the beachfront. It would be safer to walk barefoot as it is very steep and risky steps.
The prestine beach
What you need to know
- Travel fare budget Davao City – Canibad
- 30.00 x 2 bus fare davao – bak-bak terminal
- 175.00 x 2 habal-habal/motorcycle fare terminal – canibad. Add 50.00 for fetching.
- Entrance fee is 20.00 each.
- Entrance fee for rockies part of the beach is 15.00
- Not enough rice, asked someone there to buy for you 20.00/kilo. Another 20.00 for cooking it.
- Very clean water, if you know how to swim don’t forget your snorkling gear as fishes is just few meters away you can actually see it near rockies.
More pictures
View more pictures from my shutterfly.
Davao is such a great place to live and explore. Expect more as I have list of beautiful places to visit this year. Thanks mindanao bloggers for sharing this.
I’ve been there last Holy Week, stayed in this private cottage at the very corner of the beach stretch. Beautiful Place. Definitely worth the trip, best to stay there more than a night. Be sure to bring your cameras!
coffeeflavor
April 7, 2008 at 1:00 pm
There’s already an entrance fee?! Whew! The last time I got to visit there was 2 years ago, and it was still undeveloped and no entrance fee was required. I really hope that this place would still be undeveloped to preserve its original beauty…
Paul
April 7, 2008 at 8:08 pm
[...] pics from suddenserenity check out his post about canibad for fares and going there by [...]
Davao Summer Fever: Let’s go to Canibad « Manilenyo In Davao
April 8, 2008 at 8:10 am
wow its a great place!
Marco
April 8, 2008 at 1:08 pm
It is really a great place! Wishful thinking that ma preserve pa ang natural beauty of the area. Someone had bought the place already and for sure its up for development. hahay
pedroiho
April 8, 2008 at 10:14 pm
cool… I’ll send over this blog post to my “boss.” She’ll be there next weekend. Unfortunately, I will not be able to accompany her.
rye
April 26, 2008 at 3:07 am
hi my friends and i want to visit canibad this end of may.we heard that the place is cool and beautiful.i want to ask if it is possible to bring our own service in canibad?is there a cottage that we can sleep if we stayed overnight?did you have a contact person in the resort?if you have,can i ask the name and cellnum for inquiry purposes.can you please email it me.i hope i will receive a reply from you.thank you very much and god bless
btm
May 7, 2008 at 3:22 pm
thanks for sharing your experience with us!..so nice place.
bo'x
November 27, 2008 at 11:42 am
Canibad was a perfect place for meditation and relaxation five years ago. I was mesmerized by the fine white shoreline stretching about 1-2 kilometers. It was a perfect example of an untouched nature-awesome and virgin.
But when I visited again the place last vacation I was shocked of the many changes( which they called ” improvements”) in the place . Well, I definitely disagree to it. Everything there has been destroyed. It’s now too crowded- vanishing the peaceful ambiance I felt before. Trash were everywhere. Cellophane’s, plastics, bottles etc. When I stepped on its shore, I felt the pebbles pressing against my bare feet.I didn’t know what happened to its powder-like white sand, it just turned into big pieces of rocks. It is so sad and frustrating to know that people who own the place and those who visit(tourists) there were not able to reserved the beauty of Canibad.
I just wish that someday Canibad would regain her beauty, her quiet ambiance, her uniqueness and her virginity.
paris
January 18, 2009 at 4:28 pm
[...] How to get there [...]
Canibad Beach Resort, Samal, Davao del Sur
March 28, 2009 at 11:59 am
I would like to ask if the Canibad that you described is the same Canibad today??? Because I’ve heared that it is already a private resort today!!!! Kailan ka huling pumunta doon???? Nakapunta na ako doon!!!!! Sabi kasi ng isang friend ko, ibinenta na daw ang place, kaya hindi na basta2x makapasok!!! Thanks
Marife
May 13, 2009 at 3:12 pm
hi marife! were u able to hear from rodel about your querry? i plan to go to canibad but after reading your comment, i just had to make sure. pwede pa rin bang pumunta at pumasok dun? hope to hear from you soon. thanks.
ian
June 29, 2009 at 10:12 am
Canibad is still accessible. if you want to be sure beore going there, I have a contact of one of the councilor of the barangay and who also owns a store/cottage at Canibad area. His name is Berong.09269798057
pedroiho
August 10, 2009 at 1:49 am