A couple of nights in Davao will change your view of Mindanao Island, Philippines. Davao City itself is very progressive, but the real gem is in Samal Islands. It is roughly about 10-20 minutes by boat from the pier. Davao hosts the Philippine Eagle Center, home of the largest eagle in the world, the majestic Philippine Monkey-Eating Eagle. Davao is also host to the largest gathering of fruit bats, numbering to approximately two million, in Samal Island. The Bat Sanctuary is best visited before sunset, which is when most of the bats wake up from sleep to fly by the thousands.

We stayed in Chemaas by the Sea in Samal Island, one of the best in the area.