Bansalan

Bansalan: A Quiet Provincial Town in Davao del Sur

Bansalan is a small provincial town in the Davao Region of Mindanao, about 75 kilometres and a two hour drive from Davao City, which is a short flight from Manila.

I first visited Bansalan in 1997, during my very first trip to the Philippines. My wife’s relatives were living there at the time, and to be perfectly honest, if it wasn’t for them, I probably would never have gone.

Bansalan is about 20 kilometres from Digos City, with Mt. Apo, the highest mountain in the Philippines, not too far away.

It’s not somewhere you’d normally put on your bucket list, and there’s nothing particularly remarkable about the town itself. Having said that, I really enjoyed my time there.

It was my first proper taste of rural life in the Philippines, and coming from Australia, it was quite an eye-opener.

My Experience in Bansalan

What I remember most about Bansalan was just how rural everything felt. There were coconut trees everywhere, long tropical grass, little nipa huts and mountains in the distance.

It felt like we were miles away from everything, even though there were houses and people around.

We were staying with my wife’s relatives in a fairly quiet part of town, away from the main centre. Nothing fancy, just a typical Filipino family home, with electric fans rather than air conditioning, and chickens running around everywhere.

I remember sitting around in a little nipa hut beside the road, drinking beers with the family and just taking everything in. Coming from Australia, where I’d grown up with all the usual modern conveniences, this was a completely different world. And I loved it.

We didn’t do anything particularly exciting in Bansalan. There were no big tourist attractions or organised activities. We just spent time with the family, enjoyed a few drinks and experienced everyday life in a small provincial town.

Mt. Carmel Rural Life Centre

During my time in Bansalan, the family were eager to show me around so our first stop was Mt. Carmel in nearby Kinuskusan, about 10 kilometres from town. It’s basically an agricultural training centre where local farmers learn more sustainable ways of growing crops and raising livestock.

The main attraction was the demonstration farm, which included a piggery, fish ponds, dairy goats and vegetable gardens. They also demonstrated vermiculture and vermicomposting, which involve using worms to turn organic waste into fertiliser.

I found it quite interesting, particularly seeing the different farming techniques being used. It’s the sort of thing you don’t normally come across when visiting the more popular tourist destinations in the Philippines.

Things to Do Around Bansalan

There’s not a huge amount I’d specifically recommend doing in Bansalan itself. The main attraction, as far as I’m concerned, is the surrounding countryside. Coconut plantations, farming communities, little villages and some pretty impressive mountain scenery.

Mt. Apo, the highest mountain in the Philippines, dominates this part of Mindanao. If you’re interested in hiking or exploring the highlands, there are established access routes from the surrounding areas, including Kapatagan near Digos.

I also visited Digos and travelled up into the Kapatagan highlands during that same trip. The mountain scenery was absolutely spectacular, and it’s one of the things I remember most about my time in Davao del Sur.

You can read more about that experience on my Digos City page.

How Many Days Do You Need?

Unless you’re visiting family or have a particular reason to stay, I wouldn’t recommend staying in Bansalan for an extended period of time.

A few hours would be more than enough to have a look around town, and you could easily include it as part of a wider trip through Davao del Sur.

If you’re planning to explore Mt. Apo or the surrounding highlands, allow additional time and work out your route beforehand.

Where to Stay

I stayed with my wife’s relatives, so I can’t personally recommend any hotels or resorts in Bansalan.

If you’re travelling through the area, I’d probably look at staying in Digos, about 20 kilometres away, where you’ll generally have more choices.

Davao City is another option if you’re only planning a day trip.

How to Get to Bansalan

Bansalan is about 20 kilometres west of Digos City and roughly 75 kilometres by road from Davao City.

From Davao City: Head south towards Digos, then continue west to Bansalan. Allow around two hours by car, depending on traffic.

From Digos: It’s about a 30 minute drive to Bansalan. Buses and other local transport operate along the main highway, although it’s worth checking the current schedules.

From Manila or Cebu: The easiest option is to fly into Davao City, then continue by road through Digos to Bansalan.

Good to Know Before You Go

• Bansalan is a typical provincial town, not somewhere geared towards international tourists.
• Expect hot, humid weather, with rain possible throughout the year.
• Digos is probably your best bet if you’re looking for accommodation nearby.
• Check Mt. Apo access rules if you’re planning to explore the surrounding mountains.
• Bring some cash if you’re heading into the smaller villages around Bansalan.

Dezza’s Tip

I wouldn’t suggest making a special trip to Bansalan unless you’ve got family there or you’re already exploring this part of Davao del Sur.

There’s nothing particularly spectacular about the town itself, and I don’t want to pretend otherwise.

For me, it was all about spending time with my wife’s family and experiencing a completely different way of life from what I was used to back in Australia.

And nearly 30 years later, I still look back on that visit with some pretty fond memories.

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