Digos City

Digos City: Provincial Capital of Davao del Sur

Digos City is the provincial capital of Davao del Sur, in the Davao Region of Mindanao, about 55 kilometres and a one to one and a half hour drive south of Davao City, which is a short flight from Manila.

I’ve only been to Digos once, back in 1997, during my very first trip to the Philippines. And I reckon it’s fair to say it wasn’t one of my better days.

Not because Digos was necessarily a terrible place, but because I was suffering from one of the worst hangovers I’ve ever had in my life.

We’d been staying with some relatives in nearby Bansalan, and after a fairly big night on the beers, I woke up feeling like absolute shit.

Unfortunately, the family had organised a day out, and being the guest of honour, there wasn’t much chance of me getting out of it. So off we went to Digos, about 20 kilometres away.

What followed was a day I’ll never forget, although probably not for the reasons you’d expect.

My Experience in Digos

The Mother of All Hangovers

I remember arriving in Digos and thinking I’d never seen so many bloody tricycles in one place in my entire life. They were everywhere.

Now, you’ve got to remember this was 1997, and it was my first trip to the Philippines. I’d never experienced anything quite like it.

The streets were crowded, the traffic was noisy, and the exhaust fumes from all those tricycles were absolutely overwhelming.

It was hot, there didn’t seem to be a breath of wind, and I was already feeling pretty fragile.

Within minutes of getting out of the car, my head was spinning. I genuinely thought I was going to throw up, collapse or possibly both.

We stopped for lunch at a local Filipino restaurant, but I can’t remember what we ate. All I remember was feeling absolutely bloody horrible.

Fortunately, my wife’s uncle, Uncle Tony, could see I wasn’t doing too well. He suggested we head down to the beach along Davao Gulf, where I could hopefully get a bit of fresh air.

And thank f**k we did.

A Bit of Fresh Air at Davao Gulf

The beach itself was nothing particularly special.

From what I remember, it was a fairly typical provincial beach, with grey volcanic sand and a few ships sitting out in the gulf.

There was nothing glamorous about it, certainly nothing like the beautiful white sand beaches I’d experienced on Talikud Island or Samal Island. Still, at that particular moment, I couldn’t have cared less.

I just needed to get away from the traffic, noise and exhaust fumes. After about half an hour sitting by the water, I started feeling somewhat human again. And thankfully, the best part of the day was still to come.

Heading Up to Kapatagan

Once I’d recovered a bit, we headed up into the mountains towards Kapatagan, in the foothills of Mt. Apo.

Now, this was something else.

We were travelling in a pickup truck, and in typical Filipino fashion, some of us were sitting in the cabin while about half a dozen of us piled into the back. Coming from Australia, where you’d get yourself into all sorts of trouble doing that, I thought it was fantastic.

It was almost like riding a motorbike. The wind in your face, the fresh mountain air and the freedom of sitting out in the open.

I absolutely loved it.

As we climbed higher into the mountains, the scenery became more and more impressive. There were coconut plantations, thick tropical vegetation, little villages and some spectacular views across the surrounding countryside.

We could see Mt. Apo in the distance, and the family were telling me all about the mountain and the surrounding area. At 2,954 metres, Mt. Apo is the highest mountain in the Philippines, and seeing it for the first time was pretty special.

We followed the rocky mountain road for quite a distance, eventually reaching what I remember as a small village near the end of the road. I can’t remember exactly where we stopped or what we did there, but I do remember the scenery.

It was absolutely spectacular.

After the heat and chaos of Digos earlier that day, being up in the mountains with all that fresh air was just brilliant. And it’s probably the thing I remember the most about the whole experience.

Things to Do in Digos and Surrounding Areas

I didn’t spend enough time in Digos itself to give you a long list of things to do. It’s a busy provincial city and the capital of Davao del Sur, so you’ll find the usual shops, restaurants, markets and local businesses.

The surrounding countryside is what interests me more.

• Kapatagan: This mountain area is one of the main reasons I’d consider visiting Digos. The scenery is fantastic, and it’s an established access point for people planning to hike Mt. Apo.
• Mt. Apo: If you’re into hiking, this is obviously the big attraction. It’s the highest mountain in the Philippines, although climbing it requires proper preparation, permits and a local guide.
• Davao Gulf: Digos has access to the coastline, although the beach I visited certainly wasn’t anything to write home about. If you’re looking for beautiful tropical beaches, I’d be heading towards Samal Island or Talikud Island instead.

I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit Digos just for the city itself, but if you’re exploring Davao del Sur or planning a trip into the mountains, it’s a practical place to pass through. If you’re continuing on, Bansalan is a quiet rural town about 20 kilometres away.

How Many Days Do You Need?

If you’re just checking out Digos itself, a few hours would be plenty! You could easily stop for lunch, have a look around and continue towards Kapatagan or somewhere else in Davao del Sur.

If you’re planning to explore the Kapatagan highlands, I’d allow at least a full day, particularly if you want to stop along the way and enjoy the scenery.

Climbing Mt. Apo is a different story altogether and generally requires several days, depending on your route.

Where to Stay

I didn’t stay overnight in Digos, so I can’t personally recommend any accommodation. However, as the provincial capital, Digos has hotels and other places to stay, making it a reasonable base for exploring the surrounding area.

If you’re heading towards Kapatagan, you might also want to check out accommodation in the highlands, depending on your plans. Otherwise, Davao City has a much wider range of hotels and resorts.

How to Get to Digos

Digos is approximately 55 kilometres south of Davao City and is connected by the main highway running through southern Mindanao.

From Davao City: Allow around one to one and a half hours by private vehicle, depending on traffic. Buses also operate along this route, with travel times varying according to stops and road conditions.

From Manila or Cebu: Fly into Davao, then continue south by road to Digos. Allow additional time to get from the airport to the appropriate bus terminal if you’re using public transport.

From Bansalan: Digos is approximately 20 kilometres east of Bansalan, or around 30 minutes by car.

From Digos to Kapatagan: Head towards the mountain barangays north of the city. The drive is roughly 25 to 30 kilometres, although travel times depend on road conditions and exactly where you’re going.

If you’re planning to climb Mt. Apo, organise your permits, guides and transport before setting off.

Good to Know Before You Go

• Digos is a busy provincial city rather than a major tourist destination.
• February to April is generally a reasonable time to explore the surrounding highlands.
• Allow extra travel time when heading into the mountains, particularly after heavy rain.
• Check current Mt. Apo permits and hiking restrictions before planning a climb.
• If you’re after white sand beaches, Samal and Talikud Island are better options.

Dezza’s Tip

I wouldn’t necessarily recommend making a special trip to Digos unless you’re planning to explore Kapatagan or Mt. Apo.

The city itself didn’t leave a particularly good impression on me, although I’ll happily admit that having one of the worst hangovers of my life probably had something to do with that.

And remember, this was back in 1997. I’ve got no idea how much Digos has changed since then. What I do remember is that trip up into the mountains.

Sitting in the back of a pickup truck, enjoying the fresh air and looking out over the spectacular countryside was an experience I’ll never forget.

If you’re travelling through Davao del Sur, I’d definitely consider checking out Kapatagan. Just don’t do it with a wicked hangover.

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