Isla Malipano

Isla Malipano

Malipano Island is an island that lies a few hundred meters off the coast of Pearl Farm Beach Resort, and is the site of the famous Malipano Island Villas. 

Aerial view of Isla Malipano

Malipano Wharf

The Malipano Villas are three-storey villas patterned after the Maranao and Samal ethnic design, and whose roofs were exquisitely designed after the traditional Philippine native hat, the “salakot”. The Villas are three-octagonal in shape, and are designed with wide verandas that open to a commanding view of Davao Gulf. The reception areas, guest suites, and the dining area, are all around the cantilevered deck. Four of the Villas are perched on stilts directly above the sea, while the other three Villas are outcropped from the rocks on the beach. 

Malipano Villas

There are a total of seven, fully air-conditioned Villas in the Island, equipped with mini-bars, coffee and tea makers, safety deposit boxes in the masters bedrooms, cable televisions, spacious living rooms, and even hair dryers. All the rooms have individual toilet and bath, with the master bathroom furnished with a bathtub. Butler service is available for food orders and other guests assistance. There is also a standby speedboat readily available to transport the guests to the restaurant and other facilities at Pearl Farm.

Davao Gulf viewed from the Veranda

Samal Houses and Sunset Suites are designed after the stilt houses of seafaring Samal tribe of Sulu archipelago in southern Mindanao. There are 19 superior rooms that are fully air-conditioned, with separate toilets and baths, safety deposit boxes, hairdryers, and cable televisions.

Samal Houses

The Samal Suites are two-storey Muslim inspired cottages that are named and decorated according to the different ethnic tribes of Mindanao, such as the Tausug, Yakan, T'boli, Bagobo, B'laan and Maguindanao. 

There are six Samal executive rooms, consisting of two floors: the upper room where the master's bedroom is situated, is furnished with a King-sized bed, a bathtub, and an air-conditioning unit; and the lower room where the living room is situated. The living room may easily be converted into a children's bedroom, and is ideal for families with 3 children. An extra sofa bed with a trundle bed can be arranged as well. A second toilet and bath facilities are located on the lower level with a private stair that leads to the sea.

Samal Sunset Suites

Samal Sunset Suites

Samal Suite Executive Room

The Mandaya Houses consist of 20 de luxe rooms, and are located near the aqua sports area of the resort. The Houses, which encircle the Mandaya swimming pool, are furnished with air-conditioned units, mini-bars, hairdryers, safety deposit boxes, and cable televisions. Two rooms may be conveniently joined together to form a single unit. A small packet garden is located at the back of each room.

Mandaya Houses

White sand beach surround the Mandaya Houses

Swimming Pool near the Mandaya Houses

The Balay Houses or Hilltop Rooms are located on the hillside of the island overlooking the Davao Gulf, and are surrounded with lush forest. The word "Balay", which means "home" in the local dialect, is a hotel-type building designed with native materials and décor.

The Balay Houses, which consist of 17 Standard Rooms, are set atop the ridges of the Island’s highest elevation, and offer the best view of the Davao Gulf, and on a clear day, the City of Davao. All the rooms are air-conditioned, fully furnished with mini-bar facilities, hot and cold showers, cable televisions, telephones, and afford a view of the Balay Garden, and a stunning view of the sea from the verandas. The Balay Garden which is situated within the area is a suitable place for picnics and social events.

Balay House

Wide and spacious Veranda

Malipano Gazebo is perfect venue for special events, parties, social and business functions, and affords a perfect view of the natural beauty of the sea and the mountain ranges of Samal.

Malipano Gazebo

Malipano Helipad

How to get to Isla Malipano

Isla Malipano is a few hundred meters off the coast of, and can be reached from Pearl Farm Beach Resort. The island is about 1½ hours away from Manila by plane, about 50 minutes by taxi from the Davao International Airport, and around 45 minutes from Davao City by ferryboat.

For more information, please contact:

Pearl Farm Beach Resort

Kaputian, Island Garden City of Samal, Davao City, Philippines      

Tel + 63 (082) 221 9970

Fax + 63 (082) 221 9979

Website: www.pearlfarmbeachresort-davao.com 

Images courtesy of, and many thanks to SCC-Davao.

Tiki Beach Resort

Tiki Beach Resort in Samal Island

This is Tiki Beach Resort in Barangay San Jose, Peñaplata, in the Island Garden City of Samal. The resort is a sprawling 5-hectare beach property naturally set with towering coconut palms and lush tropical greens, fronting the white sand beach of the island and the crystal-clear, blue waters of Davao Gulf.

Built in 2010 primarily to entertain family and close personal friends, the resort was eventually opened to the public and named it after the whimsical word "TIKI" - a large wood or stone carving of humanoid-like form that welcomes guests upon entering the resort.

Here, guests are specially treated with a TIKI welcome fruit punch and a cold towel, and are served with an early continental breakfast, and more. Stay in the resort is particularly tailored and personalized for each guest in which a fixed daily lunch and dinner menu is prepared based on the guest's tastes and preferences to ensure a refreshing experience family and friends will surely enjoy.

Accommodations

There are four types of accommodation to choose from, and these are furnished with duvet-covered beds, fully provisioned mini bars, and equipped with hot and cold showers with signature toiletries, and fresh thick towels: 

Superior Room - Garden and ocean view deluxe room with beamed ceilings, ceiling fan, air conditioner, queen size beds, mini bar, private bath, hair dryer, and stereo. Family package comes with a maximum of 4 persons (2 adults and 2 children).

Deluxe Room - Garden and ocean view deluxe room with beamed ceilings, ceiling fan, air conditioner, two queen size beds, mini bar, private bath, hair dryer, and stereo. Maximum of two persons.

Tiki Hideaway Room - Private hideaway tucked away for maximum privacy. No frills room with air conditioner, queen size bed, private bath, hair dryer, and stereo. Maximum of 2 persons.

Honeymoon Suite - Garden and ocean view deluxe room with beamed ceilings, ceiling fan, air conditioner, queen size beds, mini bar, private bath, hair dryer, and stereo. Maximum of 2 persons.

Tiki Beach Resort provides a wide selection of fun-filled activities such as snorkeling, sea kayaking, hiking, mountain biking, a visit to one of the local attractions like Hagamit Falls, bat caves, villages and a whole lot more. The resort is also a perfect venue for private parties such as weddings, anniversaries, family reunions, business  functions and corporate events.

Exclusive private use of the resort and price are available on request.

How to get to Tiki Beach Resort

The resort can be reached via the Sta. Ana wharf in Davao City where a ferry service departs at 8 AM and returns at 4 PM.

Contact Information

Tiki Beach Resort

Barangay San Jose, Peñaplata
Island Garden City of Samal Philippines

Tel (082) 284 3931
Mobile 0917 304 2002 (Isi Arredondo)

Email mike@tikibeachresort.com

Website www.tikibeachresort.com

Please visit the resort's Facebook Fanpage

Many thanks to Dir. Art Boncato of the DOT-Davao, SSC-Davao, and Tiki Beach Resort for the photos.

Isla Reta

Isla Reta

Isla Reta is definitely one of my favorite island getaways in Davao. While this small island does not have the usual resort facilities and amenities you will find in other resorts nearby, it however offers a quiet retreat from the hustle and the bustle of daily life in the city. It is a modest  beach resort with only a few small huts and cottages, but the island's white powder sandy beaches and clear waters are enough to lure any beach lover like me to stay a few hours or even spend overnight in this very secluded and private island.

The only time I got to experience Isla Reta was when a Chinese businessman-client brought me to the island in 1999. After lunching at the Waterfront Hotel in Lanang, we engaged a private motorboat at the hotel and toured around Samal the rest of the afternoon. My client brought me first to the now defunct Samal Casino Hotel, where we had a few rounds of beer. Thereafter, while en route to Davao City, we made a short stop at Isla Reta. 

I came to like the place the moment I set foot on the island. The waters were very pristine and the beach was white sand and powdery. There were a few huts and a small store. We took a few more beers while lounging quietly, enjoying the magnificent view of the lush Talisay trees which surround the island, before we headed back to the mainland Davao City.

That trip in 1999 may be a short one, but the fond memory of Isla Reta remained vividly in my mind to this day which I am very sure will last a lifetime.

Map of Talikud Island where Isla Reta is located

An old sign board that welcomed us in the island

Lush Talisay Trees surround the island

The island is surrounded by white and powdery sand
along its coastline

The white sandy beach and pristine waters of Isla Reta island present a potent lure for sun bathers. Pitching a tent, or lazily do away the day in a hammock hanging between the Talisay trees with a beer on hand, snack or what have you, is surely a perfect setting for a relaxing afternoon siesta.

It only takes a 10-minute boat ride from Samal Island to reach Isla Reta

The Talisay trees give the beach a relaxed setting, where you can lay on the sand without being burnt by the sun. There are actually two beaches: Isla Reta 1 and 2, owned by the Reta Family of Davao City, thus, from where the island derived its name. There are also rocky formations in some portions of the island with soft and hard corals which can easily be seen because of the island's crystal clear waters. Marine life abounds in the area which makes the island an ideal site for snorkeling or diving, for beginners and advanced divers alike.

Children making sand castles is a usual sight in the island

Pristine waters of the island

The white powdery sand of the beach brilliantly contrasts
the lush greenery of the surrounding Talisay Trees and the aquamarine
color of the sea against a backdrop of a clear blue sky

Talisay Trees provide a perfect cover against the blistering
heat of the Sun

Rocky portion of the island sits on the white powdery
sand of the beach

Isla Reta is one of the few remaining islands that is left
untouched by commercialism

Isla Reta is near a pier where ferries from Davao dock,
but a wall divides it and transforms the island into a beach paradise

View from the other portion of the island

The island is a perfect getaway that offers a quiet retreat
from the hustle and bustle of city life

How can one go wrong with this magnificent sight

This island is very popular among the locals and is frequented
by domestic and foreign tourists

It may look shallow at first glance but this is actually deep.
The crystal clear waters of the island makes it possible to see
a clear view of the corals and the seabed

The manicured grass of the island makes it ideal for camping

View of the beach from one of the cottages

Isla Reta, serene and quiet at nightfall

Motorized boat ride to the island

How to get to Isla Reta

The Isla Reta is behind a small village. There are regular motorized ferry trips for tourists and guests that leave Sta. Ana Wharf in Davao City every 9 AM and 3 PM daily going to Talikud Island. The trip is about 30 to 45 minutes to Talikud Island, and less than a 10-minute boat ride to Isla Reta.