Dahican: A Travel Guide for the Backpacker

If you're daring to ride the waves of Dahican, Mati, Davao Oriental, here's a guide to help you in your first steps to AWESOMENESS: 

1. Take the bus to Mati City at Ecoland Bus Terminal in Davao City. Get a really good seat for it's at least 4-5 hours of travel. Do make room for other passengers for there'll be a lot of them getting in and out during the trip. The bus ride costs PhP 228.00 per person.

Note: Bring your mp3 players (in my case, my Kindle was quite helpful in relieving the boredom) and stock up on food and water for the trip.

2. As soon as you arrive in Mati bus terminal, pool in with other people on the motorcycle. The fare is just PhP9.00 per person when I was there in May. To be sure, ask the locals for there may be updates on the fare.

Ar-ar, a 12-year old skimboarder and surfer sets out ride on the waves in front of Amihan surf resort

3. Choose either to settle in Mati City, camp out in Amihan Surf Resort or rent a room in nearby resorts for your accommodations.

Note: Tent rental at Amihan costs 200 pesos per night and there's no catering and decent bathrooms/comfort rooms. Cooked cheap food (veggies mostly) is just across the street. Work out your charm to find a family who could let you use their c.r./bathroom.

This works out for groups who can pack a load of food and cooking materials to the beach

For the solo backpacker like me, I stayed in one of the inns in Mati City called Villa Merced Hotel at Bonifacio Street. It has a queen size bed and a bathroom inside for only PhP 500.00 a night. Restaurants are just a walk away as well as the baywalk, one of Mati's hang outs where you can buy fruits and food if restaurants are too much for the lone diner.

There are other inns and restaurants in the city as well as in Dahican. The city government was kind enough to provide the details online so you can check them out prior to your trip. Just click on the link: http://mati.gov.ph/IT_MatiOffice/where-to-stay/

A young woman and man surfer hang out with their friends during their downtime at the Amihan surf resort.

4. Going to Dahican, the motorcycle fare is PhP30.00 per person as it is quite a distance away from the city. Some drivers may jack it up to PhP 50.00 if you look touristy so be sure to arrange and agree on the fare and destination before finally hiring one. 

5. Be sure to meet the Amihan boys and girls in the resort. They are very accommodating and quite chatty. It's best if you're fluent in Bisaya because they'll be talking to you like a long-lost friend. But if you're not, Tagalog and English will do just fine. Just be patient if you're not getting the right answers. 

Note: Look out for Bayogyog Aporbo, the best of the Amihan surfers and skimboarders.  He is a tourist attraction as well as the place itself. Catch him with the rest of the team in their "duwa" or play as they call their riding on the waves.

Bayogyog Aporbo does what he does best: riding the waves with finesse in Dahican.

6. For surfing lessons, arrange it with the Amihan boys or girls so that they can schedule your lessons and determine who your instructor will be. An hour's lesson costs PhP400.00 per person. I assure you, it's not as difficult as it seems. The instructors are very patient and helpful in your learning. Be sure to add a tip though.

7. Be sure to pack your camera and charger for there'll be a lot of photos to take. If you have a monopod, the better to take selfies with it. Once your on your way to surf, ask one of the Amihan boys or girls to take photos of you as mementos. If Ar-Ar is available, the better. He takes good photos. Just be sure to set it on f16 aperture or the best mode for beach settings. I was too excited to did that and ended up with overexposed photos. It'll take time to edit them afterwards.

8. Always remember that fear is a state of mind. Let it go and have some fun, fun, fun in Dahican!