Davao City is definitely living up to its city slogan – “Life is here”. The city ranked as the 9^th safest in the entire world is also known to be an adventure and eco-tourism hub. Besides climbing the highest mountain in the Philippines (Mount Apo), Davao also offers some adrenaline pumping water activities like the wild white water rafting.

Today, this activity is one of the widely popular eco-tourism and outdoor adventures tourists and locals would try when in the City of Durian. The site for this extreme water sport is the 15 kilometer portion of Davao River. The rafting starts from Brgy. Tamugan in Calinan, and then ends at the lowlands.

The water course features around 30 rapids of varying degrees of difficulty and would require 3 to 4 hours of roughing it out. The spirals, and turns along the river will definitely the adventure junkie in you. To lighten up the rough escapade are the verdant sceneries and some local fauna along the river banks.

There are 2 groups offering this adventure in Davao. One is the Davao Wild Water Adventure and the other one is called Base Camp. Tour package ranges from Php1,500-2,000 per person. You may contact these operators if you are interested.

DAVAO WILDWATER ADVENTURE , INC Crocodile Park Compound Riverfront Corporate City Diversion Highway, Maa, Davao City Telephone Number : (+6382) 221 7823 / 286 1055

BASE CAMP Door 77 Madrazo Fruit Complex, C. Bangoy Street Davao City. Telephone Numbers: 09323500921, 0908 894 1468, (082) 305 7624

Here is a sample itinerary you might wanna do. Remember requires an entire day to do this water escapade.

• 8:00 am – assembly at Crocodile Park or Base Camp (there is an initial orientation done)
• 9:30 am – departure
• 10:30 am – arrival at Put-In area, Tamugan (another orientation is conducted)
• 11:00 am – start of rafting
• 12:00 nn – lunch (usually part of the package)
• 3:00 pm – arrival at Take-Out area, Purok 8, Lacson
• 3:30 pm – departure/back to city proper
• 4:30 pm – arrival at the city proper

Things To Consider:

• Bring a dry bag in the event that you want to bring some things with you (but if you’ll ask me, it is better NOT to bring any stuff except you, yourself).
• Put on some sunblock especially if the weather is sunny (the time I did this I Davao, it was raining so I really didn’t put on some sun block).
• Wear proper foot wear like shoes you can wet or slippers with strong straps but never wear flip-flops.
• Bring with you some dry clothes and leave it at your service van/jeepney. You’ll need these after the activity. On the other hand, do not wear jewelries or even sun glasses for obvious reasons.

My experience in Davao is my 2^nd take on water rafting after I did it first in Cagayan de Oro. I both love the experience. Hoping to do it again in the water of Chico River in Kalinga soon.