When In Davao City: The Philippine Eagle Center
We’ve been to Davao City three times already (for the last three years) but we have never, ever seen the mighty Philippine Eagle.
It is such a shame, really, considering that it is the country’s national bird. Shouldn’t it be at the very top of our agenda?
Well, it turns out that the trip to the Philippine Eagle Center is not the easiest as it requires about 45 minutes to an hour of travel. It kind of gave us a clearer picture of just how huge the city is. Imagine traveling 45 minutes (₱40 per person, non-stop ride) from the city center. If you were in Cebu, you’d probably already be halfway to the north or south of the island.
We couldn’t “hack” our transportation this time around like we did with our GAP Farming Resort trip but we asked around for directions and base fares to make sure we didn’t pay “tourist” prices.
To get to the Philippine Eagle Center, you first have to take an air-conditioned L300 van to Calinan. Our friends told us to go to Bangkerohan first but it was too out of the way so we decided to just head over to the NCCC Mall in Maa instead. Fare from there costs ₱40 per person. I was amazed when I rode this; Davao City has vans, Manila has the FX and Cebu City has…none.
It’s a long ride and it will take you along the same road going to the Bukidnon-Davao (BuDa) Highway so you can probably ride a bus going there, too. However, that would mean having to walk or transfer vehicles to get to the terminal in Calinan.
The ride had fantastic views of Mt. Apo but I was too lazy to take a picture of it. Views are best enjoyed without distractions and the best memories should be stored in one’s mind. 😉
When we got to the terminal, the van driver was kind enough to call a habal-habal for us to ride on. A one-way ride costs ₱50 for two persons but we later found out that it can still go lower.
I really love the ride there because you can feel the altitude not because you feel sick but because it starts to feel colder.
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The Philippine Eagle Center is located within the Davao Water District compound and they ask for an entrance fee of ₱3 per person. That is still separate from the center’s actual entrance fee of ₱150 per person. I think this one is among the most expensive attractions in the city, next to the Davao Crocodile Park, which we never got to visit.
You can go on guided tours but you can also just tour the place by yourself since there is a clear “trail” that you can follow. You might have to be careful as there are a lot of flying insects around and they easily get inside the eyes. I think we were teary-eyed for the entire sightseeing tour.
The place had the Philippine eagle(s) as their main feature. I was amazed at how huge they are and how still they stayed put, even though they weren’t chained nor caged. It was as if their job was just to pose and wait there the whole day for people to take pictures of them.
There were also eagles and other birds and animals that are in captivity. I believe that this is part of their conservation efforts.
I am now having a lot of second thoughts about visiting attractions that have animals in captivity but visiting conservation centers is a different thing because the entrance fees help pay for their cause.
There is also the nearby Malagos Garden Resort that you can visit after here; they have birds and flowers for everyone to check out.
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We rode a tricycle going down and it costed us just ₱15 per person to get back to the terminal. You can ride another L300 van from there, too.
We have not been to the Cebu City zoo and I don’t think there are a lot of other places where animals can be found within the city. As a parent, it is always a wonderful thing to be able to bring your wide-eyed kiddo in these kinds of places. When we checked their website after going home, the daughter kept talking about seeing the “Philippine Eagle” and how she would want to go back there again.
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So, when you’re in Davao City, don’t forget to visit this place; you help add to their funds, too.
PS. The only sad part is that we lost our trusty 3-year-old Nalgene bottle here. Sigh. I guess we really need to upgrade our gears now, huh?
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About the Author
Pam is an outdoors-loving millennial momma who loves to hike, trek and camp in the beaches and mountains with her partner and their 3-year-old daughter. When not exploring the great outdoors, she moonlights as a freelance writer specializing in the travel, parenting, personal finance and digital marketing niches. You can also follow her via social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest!
I wanna see the eagle in the wild and not in zoos. Too bad, a lot of people are like me and they do not only want to see the eagles but thy wanna eat it too. I hope that the conversation efforts will be effective. I am sure the monkeys would not be happy to see more Philippine Eagles flying around.
Critically endangered animals should have more centers like this. Maybe the Whole Mindanao should be off limits to humans so the fauna and flora can regenerate again. I hate to say this but I wish humans would go extinct. We don’t deserve the wonders of nature because we look at it as something that we can easily dispose of when we’re actually easier to dispose.
Alright, won’t forget this place as well when I visit my father’s hometown!! I personally would want to see the mighty Philippine eagle to! And hopefully to take a selfie with it? Hahaha impossible D:
Can’t go very near though but maybe if there’s a guide or handler? Haha. I was actually scared they would fly away, those birds are HUGEEEEE!!!
Hahahahaha! Naka-chill lang ang eagle! How cute Pamskie! Parang si Asha lang. 🙂
Been to Davao city a lot of times since we have relatives over there. Too bad that I’ve never been there. Wished my family took me there when I was a kid. I’d love it more than coming there by my own consent. I’m sure your kiddo loved that ate Pam. She sure is one lucky kid. =)
The eagle here reminds me of those free-ranging animals at Singapore Zoo and Jurong Bird Park. They are free to go anywhere, but they just hang around and pose for you to take photos of them. And I hear you on visiting conservation centres. I do find that the zoos these days are very active in wildlife conservation efforts! #CityTripping
I can’t remember the last time I’ve been to a zoo, and I kinda miss being around animals. I think I might go to the zoo here in Cebu before it’s too late specially since the mayor has expressed his plans of closing it down.
Never been to Davao though but I am listing the places that I can go. 🙂
We should really recognize our national animal often. I believe all Filipinos should visit this place.
I’ve been to Davao but just for a very short time. I would love to check this place you’ve mention here when I visit again Davao.
I’ve never been to Davao and I’ve never seen a Phil eagle as well. Haiis. I would definitely include this on my list. 🙂
Wow, what beautiful birds – I totally agree about seeing animals in captivity, there’s nothing worse than a zoo where animals are ill-treated or unhappy, but knowing somewhere is helping with conservation can be so valuable. I think my daughter would be chatting away about eagles for a while after this too. #citytripping
Never been to Davao pa but yes, I love to go to zoos and some shelters aiming to earn funds for the preservation of endangered species and wildlife that we have in the country. 🙂
I know what you mean about visiting animals in captivity – it always raises questions for me, too. Still, it’s good for children to see animals first-hand.
Wow what a fun experience! #CityTripping
Sounds like it was quite and expedition to get there but worth it. An experience for the whole family which cleat left a laying impression. Thanks for linking to #citytripping
I’ve been an animal lover since I can remember, and to see this truly majestic eagle would be an awesome experience. Davao, here I come (hopefully soon) 🙂
A shame for me as well for I have visited Davao several times already. This got me motivated to visit this place when I visit Davao again. Yes, I concur with you Pam, bringing your kiddo to this kind of Park is really beneficial.
I’ve never been to Davao but I always want to visit one of these days. I’ll make sure to visit the Philippine Eagle center too.:)
I’ve been to Phil Eagle during our field trip in high school but that was really yeeearrsss ago so for sure, there are already many changes. I can still remember the eagles and the monkeys though, lol!
Back in college, we used to ride the L3 van going to Mintal where UP was located. Calinan is really nice. We would always visit the resorts and seafood restaurants there. Naaah, I miss college life! HAHA