Eden Nature Park
Bayabas, Toril, Davao City
http://www.edennaturepark.com.ph

This is a sprawling property in the southern part of Davao City, and sits atop a hill. By car in moderate traffic, it's about an hour's drive from the city center. It was originally developed as a horticultural nursery and farm, but has since been transformed into a mountain resort. Eden Nature Park features nature tours, family entertainment (kids' playgrounds, swimming pool, etc.), seminar and accommodation facilities, and a full-service restaurant.

Crocodile Park
Riverfront, Corporate City Diversion Highway, Ma-a, Davao City
http://www.davaocrocodilepark.com

The Crocodile Park, despite the name, is akin to a petting zoo - but with not the kind of animals you might expect. Visitors can interact with boas, iguanas, baby crocodiles and other animals. This place is perfect for day trips with the family or with friends. Dining is either at the restaurant or the picnic areas.

White Water Rafting
Tel. (82)301-2020

Two kilometers of white water, right in the city, with professional river rafting facilities available. Tourists are treated to about 30 rapids as well as gentle rides all along this section of the Davao River. Tour packages include transfers and lunch, as well as a video of the whole adventure.

Mt. Apo

Mt. Apo straddles the boundaries of several provinces, including the western front of Davao City. The tallest peak in the Philippines, Mt. Apo is the ultimate climbing and trekking escapade in Philippine mountaineering. While there are established and tourist-friendly trails, there are more challenging trails for the more adventurous types. The mountain, however, is open only in October and March. Special permits are necessary to climb Mt. Apo during the rest of the year.

Malagos Garden Resort
Baguio District, Calinan, Davao City.
Tel. (82)222-5819

About an hour's drive from the city center, the Malagos Garden Resort is a sanctuary for nature lovers. It is also like a zoo, with various types of birds and other animals. Strolling around the huge property can be very invigorating. It is also a good place to conduct corporate meetings, seminars and the like. Accommodation facilites are geared towards such arrangements.

Pearl Farm Beach Resort

A true pearl-producing facility in the 1970s, it has since become a world-class resort, currently being run by the Fuego chain. This resort offers a unique experience to visitors: a classy seaside hotel with all creature comforts in the middle of nowhere.

Paradise Island Beach Resort

At the other end of the spectrum, this resort is frequented by locals. It’s just 15 minutes away by banca (an indigenous mode of sea transportation), and offers basic accommodation facilities. What’s good about the place is that, the kitchen opens at 6 AM, so that hopping over to the resort from Davao City for breakfast is very doable.

Bali Bali Beach Resort
http://www.balibaliresort.com

Midway between Pearl Farm and Paradise Island, this resort brands itself as a private getaway. It is a small property, but features well-appointed cottages, a restaurant and infinity pool.

There are about 5 major malls in Davao, all with the usual collection of boutiques, dining places, various services (couriers, Internet cafés, etc.), spas, movie theaters, department stores, etc.

• SM City, Davao
  Quimpo Boulevard, Ecoland
  
  
  
• Gaisano Mall of Davao
  J.P. Laurel Avenue, Bajada
  
  
• Gaisano South Citimall
  Ilustre corner Gen. Luna Streets, Downtown Area
  
  
• Victoria Plaza
  J.P. Laurel Avenue, Bajada
  
  
• NCCC Mall
  McArthur Highway corner Ma-a Road, Ma-a
  http://www.nccc.com.ph

All Philippine commercial banks, and a number of rural and thrift banks, operate in Davao City. Most - if not all - of these banks have ATMs for 24-hour banking convenience. A few of these, especially those located inside malls, carry Cirrus, Maestro and other similar international services.

International banks that have branches in Davao are: Citibank Savings and HSBC.

The areas with the highest concentration of banks and financial institutions in Davao are C.M. Recto Street (a.k.a. Claveria), and Monteverde Avenue (a.k.a. Uyanguren). The latter is located within Davao's Chinatown.

All banks are closed on Saturdays and Sundays, and usually operate from 9 AM to 3 PM during weekdays. However, banks with branches inside malls are open on Saturdays.

Here is a list of some of Davao City's government offices.

City Hall / City Council Hall / City Tourism Office
City Hall Drive corner San Pedro St., Downtown Area

San Pedro street is the city's oldest, and it is also the site of the San Pedro (St. Peter's) Cathedral. In front of this Catholic church is the Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council) building, and beside that is the old City Hall.

The City Tourism Office (www.davaotourism.com) can be found inside City Hall.

Davao City Investment Promotion Center (DCIPC)
Door 10, Magsaysay Park Complex, Magsaysay Ave., Davao City

The DCIPC handles the city's business promotions efforts. Investors would do well to interface with this government office, in order to receive assistance and timely information.

These are the night spots of Davao City. Each entertainment center has a collection of all or some of the following: clubs, bars, discos, karaoke joints, restaurants and cafes.

Rizal Promenade
Rizal St., Davao City

This entertainment center is extremely popular with the 25-30s crowd. Most of the establishments here are bars, although there is one that has a sizable dance floor. The most popular here is Club 183.

K1 Compound
F. Torres St., Davao City

This area started out with K1, an all-in-one kind of setup: karaoke, massage (apparently a very popular pasttime among locals) and coffee. Then other establishments opened shop around K1: a ballroom dancing place, a comedy bar, several barbecue joints, and other restaurants.

Matina Town Square or "MTS"
McArthur Highway, Matina, Davao City

This entertainment area is a 3-hectare property with many kinds of shops, mostly closed during the day. At night, however, the restaurants, bars, and billiard hall all open till 2 in the morning. MTS is actually a mini-shopping complex, with clothes shops, barber shop, beauty parlor, even a medical clinic. There is also a small park and a children's playground at the back of the property.

Wheels n' More Drive
J.P. Laurel Ave. corner J. Palma Gil St., Bajada, Davao City

This area operates as a high-end garage and automobile service center, but transforms into the city's most popular hangout at night. There are several bars, restaurants, and a poker room. There are even covered badminton courts there.

Damosa Gateway
Mamay Road, Lanang, Davao City

Damosa Gateway is Davao's newest entertainment center. What sets it apart is the presence of several restaurant offering international cuisines: Japanese, Vietnamese, Indian, Spanish. There are a couple of bars, a coffee shop, and fast food outlets. There is also a hotel, run by the international chain, Microtel.