Davao Oriental | Dazzling Dahican Beach and Mati City

Beautiful Dahican Beach in Mati I like places that surprise me. At times I would go to a destination not knowing what to expect. Yes I would...

Beautiful Dahican Beach in Mati

I like places that surprise me. At times I would go to a destination not knowing what to expect. Yes I would have an idea or two but finding out there’s more when I get there is always exciting. Mati City in Davao Oriental is one of those places that has a surprising development. Typhoon Pablo battered, it has recovered quite well. Aside from the purple bannered buildings that rose from the rubble, its Dahican Beach has been the top draw in the province.

Pristine and tropical

Dahican Beach

I heard it was good, but in actuality Dahican Beach in Mati is just gorgeous! Extensive creamy white sand so fine that its a pleasure to walk bare feet. Its 17-km stretch is so picturesque, very tropical with coconut trees on the fringe still a plenty. Yes there are resorts but they are widely spaced apart that they are not, at the moment an eyesore. And oh that wonderful ocean hues, a gentle contrast that’s soothing to the eyes.

“Mga five years ago, kami kami lang ang andito (About five years ago, we were the only ones here)” Says Pedro, an avid skim boarder already a little over quarter of his life. He admits that he has taken in the sport a little late but has not regretted getting into skim boarding. Dahican Beach is the home for the Amihan Boys (and girls), a group of spirited young individuals who have the common passion for skim boarding and the free and easy way of life by the beach. Their Amihan sa Dahican is an ideal place to learn how to skim board (and in good season, to surf) as they have able instructors and who knows you might get inspired by the international skim board sensation Sonny Boy “Bayogyog” Aporbo who skim boards here every morning as his daily ritual.

The Amihan sa Dahican have also shown concern for the environment. Just beside their hut is a turtle nest sanctuary. Securely fenced for poachers. Dahican Beach is favorite nesting ground for turtles.

Thriving skim boarding scene

I Love Mati signage

Turtle nest sanctuary

Photo op with the Amihan sa Dahican boys and girls

Sprinting for the drop

More skim board action

Afternoon at Mati Baywalk

Mati City

I didn’t stay at Dahican Beach when I went there as I was also in the city partly for work. I did stay in town at Baywalk Hotel just beside the plaza where I need to. It has basic accommodations of good value. Php 600 for a twin bed, with aircon and cable TV isn’t bad considering they are on a good location. There are other places to stay in the area as well but I preferred this one near the baywalk.

I did like hanging out by the baywalk area to observe and talk to some of the locals. Cheap eats there as well from the BBQ Chicken and other street foods. My visit here just gave me an overall cursory look of the area. My visit to the Subangan Museum showed that there’s a lot of places to explore here particularly in Davao Oriental. Perhaps given time on my next visit, it would be more of exploration. But if I were to visit only one place here, Dahican Beach would be highly recommended. Even folks from Davao City I’ve met on the beach came here just for a day trip.

Davor the whale at the Subangan Museum

Essential Info

Baywalk Hotel
Burgos St
Contact: (087) 811–4060

Going to Mati City from Davao City

At Ecoland Terminal, ride a bus going to Mati. Fare is Php 285 at Bachelor Bus. Travel time is 4–5 hours depending on the stops. From the bus terminal in Mati tricycles can take you to town for Php 10 pesos/person for shared tryke.

Van is the faster way to Mati City about 3–4 hours. Their terminal is Gaisano Mall and Victoria Plaza. Fare is Php 220.

To Dahican Beach

Dahican Beach is about 5.7km fromt he town center. It is best o hire a habal-habal or tricycle going there. Fare is Php 50 one way travel time is about 20 minutes. One can also negotiate with drivers for a price including the wait.

My room at Baywalk Hotel