8 Best Things To Do In Tagum City, Philippines

1. Take a dip in the water at Banana Beach

A mix of a 760-hectare (1,878 acre) banana plantation and a 60-hectare (148 acre) coconut plantation, Banana Beach has served as a recreational center and top-rated resort in the recent years. Aside from the lush forests Banana Beach boasts of, tourists can spend a whole day here with their wide range of water activities and tours. You can ride a jet ski or a banana boat, go kayaking, skim boarding and paddle boarding. And if you get tired from all the water sports, you can go on any of their five unique tours: forest, river, twilight safari, orchard and plantation. And then if you get tired from that, you can lounge around Banana Beach or take a dip in its crystal waters. If you wish to stay over, you can rent an air conditioned room at either 60 USD a night (for the Classic Casitas) or at 80 USD a night (for the Premium Casitas).

Banana Beach

Address: Hijo Resorts Davao, Hijo Plantation, Brgy. Madaum Tagum, Davao

Website: Banana Beach at Hijo Resorts

2. Marvel at the World’s Largest Rosary

The Philippines is known to be one of the most religious countries in the world, and it’s pretty evident when you see how many churches and shrines we have. But nothing quite comes close to seeing a gigantic rosary. Located along Dr. Juan Gonzales Avenue, the World’s Largest Rosary finds its home in Tagum City. It is located inside the largest basilica in all of Mindanao, whose architectural design is just as worthy of attention: it blends a touch of modern and traditional design and is shaped like a castle too. After taking pictures, you can attend holy mass here as well.

World’s Largest Rosary

Address: Dr. Juan Gonzales Ave., New Christ the King Cathedral, Tagum City, Mindanao

3. Escape the city at San Agustin Botanical Park

While San Agustin Botanical Park is expected to be fully developed in 2020, right now it serves as an escape for both local city dwellers and tourists alike. You can bring your picnic mat and basket and simply enjoy the nature around you, you can meditate, read a book, or even explore the vast collection of plant and tree species the Botanical Park contains. You can find plant species from various countries here, like Australia, Thailand, Pakistan, India and South Africa to name a few.

San Agustin Botanical Park

Address: San Agustin, Tagum City, Mindanao

4. Travel like a local at Freedom Park

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Located along Arellano Street, Freedom Park is not really the quiet park people flock to when they want to meditate – it is quite lively, and you’re sure to get an authentically local experience while you’re here. In the morning, you’ll find a huge gathering of people just dancing and Zumba exercising, and in the afternoon you can get your street food fix from the food stalls lined up here. At night, Freedom Park turns into a night market where you can shop ‘til you drop at prices that – well – will make your jaw drop (because it’s that cheap!).

Freedom Park

Address: Arellano Street, Tagum City, Mindanao

5. Revitalize with an Energy Park bike ride

Nicknamed E-Park, Energy Park is perfect for those who want to spend a slow morning waking up to the sunrise or simply enjoying the cool breeze it brings. Open from 5 am to 10 pm, E-Park is definitely more subdued than Freedom Park, and is the perfect place for those who want to rest, lay down on the grass, or just hang out and talk with friends. It’s also a great place for an early morning stroll or bike ride, as the entire park is quiet and truly relaxing.

Energy Park

Address: Apokon Center, Tagum City, Mindanao

6. Get the best deals at Tagum Night Market

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Open from 6 pm to 2 am, the Tagum Night Market honestly looks like more of a fiesta than a night market. You can definitely get the best deals from the flea market selling a huge variety of products, but you can also grab a bite here from the stalls selling affordable local food and the grilling station that serves your favorite meat dishes. Even locals and tourists say there’s a very festival-type vibe to it – and in fact, it has the honor of being one of the Ten Outstanding Local Government Programs in the Philippines in 2014.

Tagum Night Market

Address: Along Bonifacio Street and Quezon Street, Tagum City, Mindanao

7. Explore the Alina and Okbot Cave

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

If you’re the physically active type and you’re looking for a challenge, you might just meet your match in Alina and Okbot Cave. Here, you can go spelunking and caving to discover one of Tagum’s most prized natural wonders. But do take note – it’s not for the faint of heart nor the physically unhealthy. Previous visitors warn that it was a lot of intense walks and crawls, which demand a lot of physical strength. Look forward to getting wet a lot as well, as there’s water almost everywhere!

Alina and Okbot Cave

Address: Brgy. Suaon Kapalong, Tagum City, Mindanao

8. Tagum City River Cruise

It’s difficult to leave Tagum City without going on its famed river cruise. Cruise on serene, clear waters, relax under the sun and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. When you go on the Tagum City River Cruise, you get to see the marine sanctuary protected by Tagum City, and you can pass by Kagan Village to buy locally made, Muslim handicrafts. You can also experience what the locals call “floating tiange” or “floating flea market,” where you can get the best deals on many kinds of products – while floating on a river!

Tagum City River Cruise

Address: Tagum City, Davao Del Norte, Mindanao

Tagum City; an ideal vacation destination

Tagum City is truly an ideal vacation destination. It blends both the fun of exploring hot spots frequented by locals and the touristy activities like lounging on the beach, going on a river cruise, or caving at Alina and Okbot Cave. If you find that you have more time to explore Tagum City, don’t hesitate and jump on the opportunity; there’s surely more to this charming city than these eight top to-do’s. Enjoy your stay at Tagum City!