Weekend in Davao City

A well-maintained city park right in the downtown area. Features a large statue of the Philippine eagle, a children's playground, and plenty of benches under big trees. Locals come

Tip: Go late afternoon when the heat drops and the locals start gathering. The chess players near the south entrance are friendly and happy to chat. Free Wi-Fi near the main pavilion.

A small museum tucked away in a residential area. Three rooms of exhibits covering the region's indigenous groups, colonial history and the city's agricultural roots. The displays

Tip: Call ahead to check if they're open — hours can be erratic. Combine this with a walk around the nearby Japanese tunnel (a short tricycle ride away) for a history-focused morning.

Home to hundreds of crocodiles from tiny hatchlings to massive 18-foot saltwater specimens. The entrance fee (150 PHP) also covers the butterfly garden and a small zoo with monkeys, birds and snakes.

Tip: Buy the bundle ticket (200 PHP) that includes the nearby Davao Butterfly House — it's a quiet, pretty place and a good contrast. Weekday afternoons are dead quiet, so you'll have the crocs mostly to yourself.

A 80-hectare mountain resort about an hour's drive from town. The day-use entrance fee (around 200 PHP) gives you access to manicured gardens, forest trails and lookout points over the Davao gulf. The

Tip: Skip the overpriced buffet lunch. Bring your own picnic and eat near the amphitheatre — there are benches and a view. Go early on a weekday to avoid the crowds.

A conservation facility about 45 minutes north of the city. The main draw is the Philippine eagle — one of the world's rarest raptors — but there are also monkeys, deer and various birds in spacious e

Tip: The eagles are most active in the morning before it gets hot. Arrive at opening time (08:00) and head straight to the eagle flight demo area (usually around 09:00). Bring mosquito repellent.