One of my personal goals before the pandemic is to visit all the 81 provinces of the Philippines, but this goal temporarily stopped when the pandemic happened. Now that tourism is slowly returning back to its feet, I grabbed the chance to visit some of the provinces I still wasn’t able to visit before, and this includes Davao Oriental.

And wow! I was surprised to see how beautiful this province is! Nestled at the lower right part of the island of Mindanao, Davao Oriental is the easternmost province of the Davao Region (hence, the name). It is the largest in terms of size among the Davao provinces, but is the second least populated after Davao Occidental. It is reported to be the top producer of coconut and copra in the country, which didn’t really surprise me because I’ve seen lots, as in LOTS, of coconut trees while traveling from Cateel to Baganga to Mati!

We actually started our Davao Oriental escapade by visiting the gorgeous Aliwagwag Falls in Cateel. It was just a short visit, but I’m telling you, I was awed by its power and beauty. Too bad the eco-park is still closed as of the moment (March 2022), but thankfully, the waterfalls can be seen along the highway. Witnessing it with our very own eyes (and taking pictures with it, of course, haha) was all that we needed.

We then proceeded to the town of Baganga, which surprised me in a lot of wonderful ways! Let’s find out why I consider it as the best place to be while in the province in this blog!

Baganga

Baganga is a coastal municipality in the province of Davao Oriental. It is bordered by Cateel in the north, Caraga in the south, Davao de Oro in the west and the Pacific Ocean in the east. For you to have an idea on how far it is from some major cities in Mindanao, Baganga is 78.27 km away from Mati and 119.39 km away from Davao City. It is the largest in terms of land area among the municipalities of the province, and the third in terms of population. The primary livelihood of people in Baganga is farming.

Travel requirements in going to Baganga:

Prepare your vaccination card as there are possible checkpoints you’d pass through along the way. Aside, from that, wear your face masks possibly at all times.

How to get to Baganga?

From Manila or Cebu, travel via airplane to Davao City. Then from the airport, go to NCCC Mall (formerly Victoria Plaza) to ride the van going directly to Baganga via Davao de Oro. Ecoland is too far from the airport, which is why people we asked in the airport discouraged us from going there. If there are no vans going directly to Baganga, you can ride one going to Mati, then from Mati to Baganga. However, I will not be recommending this because you don’t want to waste a lot more hours. Should you choose to ride the van going to Mati, spend some time there before heading to Baganga.

You can also visit Baganga on land if you’re coming from mainland Mindanao, especially if you are near Davao Oriental. Some travelers choose to go here and Cateel after visiting Surigao del Sur.

What to visit in Baganga?

There are lots of places to visit in this humble town in Davao Oriental – waterfalls, beaches, even a lake! If you yearn to expose yourself to these different works of nature, then Baganga is the perfect place for you.

Lake Carolina

A truly beautiful place in the heart of Baganga, Lake Carolina has recently been renamed to Resort Cartagena, probably to attract more tourists to stay in their accommodation for a night or two. You can swim in their cool, turquoise waters or ride a boat to enjoy the place.  

Baganga Sunrise Boulevard

Baganga has this spot called “Sunrise Boulevard” where lots of mangroves used to thrive. However, when Typhoon Pablo hit Mindanao back in 2012, many of the trees died. Several mangroves survived, but some of those that died are still here, giving a different kind of feel to the place. It would have been perfect for sunrise, but it was cloudy when we went here!

Lambajon Beach

The province of Davao Oriental is teeming with beautiful white beaches, and one of them is Lambajon Beach. The locals we talked to there said the beach is supposedly used for surfing along with swimming because of its waves.

Curtain Falls

Witnessing this absolutely gorgeous waterfall in Bgy. Campawan is the highlight of our travel in Baganga! The aptly named Curtain Falls is definitely one of the most stunning waterfalls I’ve seen. It may not be the tallest waterfall there is, but it certainly is wide, like a theater curtain dyed in white. With its gushing, clear waters and simple yet alluring display of beauty, it’s hard not to fall in love with it, don’t you agree?

San Victor Island

Baganga has lots of beautiful beaches, including this island off the coast of the town. San Victor Island has this fine, white sand that is comparable to that of popular white sand beaches like Boracay!

Where to stay in Baganga:

While there are many accommodations you can avail in town, I would highly recommend the House of Jhekoy. Our stay in Baganga was great not only because of the amenities that they have provided, but also because of the hospitality and friendliness of its owners. They have helped us way beyond what we were expecting, and that speaks so much of how accommodating they were. Kindly contact them on their Facebook page (or Louie Pol Emuy – see details below) if you’re planning to stay in Baganga!

Who to contact in Baganga:

Louie Pol Emuy – He is our main contact in Baganga. He did not only help us arrange our accommodation, he also helped us secure our transportation. Give him a message if you’re planning to go!

Kuya Bebe Baltazar – 0997-150-9940

You can arrange for a half day/ whole day tour with Kuya Bebe using his tricycle. He would say his fee would depend on what you would give, but it’s fair if you would give him P500 for a half-day tour.

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I hope I get to convince you to visit Baganga when you visit Davao Oriental. This place is magical; with its uber-friendly people and truly stunning travel spots, you’d definitely want to go and experience it all here!