Mati Itinerary: 2 or 3 Days from Davao City

Mati is about four hours from Davao City by bus, which makes it an easy two or three-day escape. This plan bases you at Dahican Beach and covers the main sights without rushing.

Prices, fares and schedules in this post were checked in October 2026. They change often, especially with fuel surcharges and the seasons, so use them as a guide and confirm with the operator or venue before you travel.

For buses, vans and fares, see our guide to getting to Mati.

Cash

Bring cash from Davao or the Mati city centre. Small resorts, tricycles and boat operators mostly take cash, and ATMs near Dahican are few and far between.

Getting around

Tricycles connect the city and Dahican in 10 to 15 minutes. For a full day of sightseeing, hire a bao-bao (tricycle) with a driver: about ₱1,800 for the day with fuel included, entrance fees extra. A day like that can cover the view deck, the baywalk, Subangan, Guang-Guang and Dahican.

Catch a morning Bachelor Express bus from the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (Ecoland). Aircon buses cost ₱392, leave about every 40 minutes from around 2:30am to 6pm, and take about four hours. Fuel surcharges can push the fare up. From the Mati bus terminal, take a tricycle to your resort at Dahican.

Photo: The Gees Travel (thegeestravel.com)

Spend the afternoon on the beach. If the waves are right, book a skimboarding or surf lesson. Have dinner at Bawud, an open-air restaurant near the beach, then stay out for sunset. If you want to see a turtle release, there is no fixed public schedule, so contact Amihan sa Dahican directly.

Give Pujada Bay the whole day. Boats leave from Pier One in Sitio Batiano, Barangay Tamisan, not from the Dahican side, so take a tricycle there (about ₱150 to ₱200 from the city). Book your boat through one of Mati's private operators or your resort.

The usual route runs from about 9am to 4:30pm: Pujada Island first (₱50 to ₱75 per person, paid to the caretaker), then the sandbar at Oak Island, which only shows at low tide, then Waniban. Start early, because the waves build in the afternoon, especially on the run to Oak.

Back on land, head into the city for dinner. Kusina Merced, in the Villa Merced compound on the corner of Mabini and Bonifacio streets, does Filipino food a short walk from the baywalk. It is listed as open until 9pm, but it is a new listing, so check hours first.

Photo: The Gees Travel (thegeestravel.com)

Watch the sunrise at Dahican, then walk the Guang-Guang mangroves nearby. Head into the city for the Subangan Museum and its sperm whale skeleton, then the provincial capitol on the hill. On your way out of town, stop at the Sleeping Dinosaur view deck in Badas, which is free, before an afternoon bus back to Davao.

Want to walk the dinosaur's ridge instead of just photographing it? Swap the Dahican sunrise for the ridge trail. It costs ₱15 at the trailhead, you don't need a guide, and sunrise is the right time to start. Some ridge sections are narrow, so it is not for inexperienced hikers.

Short on time? Arrive in the morning and spend the afternoon at Dahican. Island hop on day two, then stop at the Sleeping Dinosaur view deck on your way back to Davao. Boats are usually out until mid-afternoon, so check the last bus time before you commit.

For island hopping, March to early May is the calmest window. For surf and skimboarding, come from around November to March. Mati gets rain all year, so keep your plans loose.

How long is the trip from Davao to Mati?

About four hours by bus, or around 2.5 to 3 hours by van or private car.

Is Mati worth visiting for a weekend?

Yes. Two or three days covers Dahican, Pujada Bay and the main city sights.

Where do Pujada Bay boats leave from?

Pier One in Sitio Batiano, Barangay Tamisan. Book through one of Mati's private boat operators or your resort.

Where should I stay in Mati?

At Dahican for the beach, or in the city for short stays. See our where to stay in Mati post.

See Mati tourist spots and where to stay in Mati.

Cover photo: The Gees Travel (thegeestravel.com)