Malagos Gardens Resort

For this week, we spent time reconnecting with nature at Malagos Gardens Resort- it was a wonderful getaway.

When you are in Davao, among the top 5 visits of the city for travelers who love to see the beauty and wonder of nature is the Malagos Gardens, next to the Philippine Eagle Center, Eden Nature's Park and the Crocodile's Park.

You can easily get lost in this 12-hectare Nature Theme Resort but good thing is that, they have beautiful attractions located in the resort - the bird show, butterfly sanctuary, horseback riding, landscape gardens, children's playground, adventure activities and many more. It is also home to the Philippine orchid - waling-waling. Plus, there are sculptures scattered within the resort.

Acommodations are not the typical hotel rooms - you'll be housed in cottages that are too homey you just want to spend more time sleeping.

For day-time visitors, entrance fee is P 100 (125 for weekend). Meals are served either in the garden cafe or the Koi cafe where you can have Koi fishes for 10 pesos (well, that's what their ad says, LOL).

What struck us was that Ostrich eggs (empty shells at that) were for sale for 600 pesos - really, really expensive.

Anyway, how to get there?

The only thing that bothers me is the resort's location - it's an hour or so away from the city proper. Tho, it isn't surprising since it's a 12-hectare resort full of trees, creeks and nature's bounty. But, i guess, it's worth the visit.

From the city proper, you can either take the taxi for - yep, 600 pesos standard rate - that is, if you don't want hassles or anything.

But, if you are a budget traveler and you want to know how the people in Davao live (at least the outskirts in the city) you can always take the jeepney.

You ride the one with the sign 'Calinan' which will cost you 50 pesos. The ride would be an hour or less depending on the traffic. Then you ask the driver where you can ride a morobike going to the resort which will cost you 20 pesos (ride is 10 minutes only).

Now, if you are not confident with the directions I gave (I am poor with these things, hehe), you can always ask the local people. Malagos gardens is a popular place and any Dabawenyo can direct you to it.

Happy fun at the gardens!