Secrets of Surf Travel
Secrets of Surf Travel — The World. The Waves. The Adventure.

Davao Gateway

The Dahican/Mati zone starts at Francisco Bangoy International Airport (DVO) in Davao City. This is the logistics page for the connection: where to sleep, where to eat, who drives, and how the road reaches Mati.

Researched

This gateway page is a first, light version. Every listing is a real local business found on paper and not yet verified in person; prices, hours and details are strong starting points, not gospel.

Logistics

Getting There

Francisco Bangoy International Airport (DVO) in Davao City is the gateway for the Dahican/Mati zone. International travelers usually land in Manila (see the Manila Gateway) or Cebu first and connect. Mati City has its own airport, but it handles only charter and general aviation, with scheduled turboprop service not expected until 2027 (reported on the zone page).

Register free on eTravel within 72 hours before arrival, and use only etravel.gov.ph. US and EU passports get 30 days visa-free with a passport valid six months beyond your stay and a return or onward ticket. The full entry rules, fees and official links are in Getting Into the Philippines.

Logistics

Getting Out of the Airport

  • Davao to Mati: roughly 165 km overland. Buses run roughly every 30 minutes for about PHP 250 and take 4-5 hours; a shared van covers it in roughly 3 hours for about PHP 220 (reported on the zone page).
  • Mati town to Dahican: a 15-20 minute habal-habal or tricycle ride, roughly 10 km, from the poblacion (reported).
  • Mati airport: charter and general aviation only for now, so do not plan a trip around it (reported).
Logistics

Other Gateways for This Zone

  • Davao (DVO): the realistic gateway for Dahican/Mati (this page).
  • Mati: a terminal project broke ground in February 2025, but scheduled turboprop service is not expected until 2027 (reported).

For the full route notes, see the Dahican/Mati Getting There section.

The gateway

Stays

Davao City

  • Acacia Hotel DavaoDavao City Hotel with a high rating from over 1,100 reviews. About 3 km from central Davao City in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.3 from about 1,200 reviews. Google Maps listing
  • Waterfront Insular Hotel DavaoDavao City Hotel with a high rating from about 2,400 reviews. About 6 km from central Davao City in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.1 from about 2,400 reviews. Google Maps listing
  • Green Windows DormitelDavao City Budget dormitory hotel with a high rating from over 700 reviews. About 1 km from central Davao City in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4 from about 730 reviews. Google Maps listing
  • Hostel 153Davao City Hostel with a high rating. About 1 km from central Davao City in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.4 from 36 reviews. Google Maps listing

Near the Airport

  • Garden Vista HotelDavao City Hotel near the airport with a high rating. About 2 km from Davao International Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.5 from 33 reviews. Google Maps listing
  • Kampotel DavaoDavao City Hotel near the airport with a high rating. About 1 km from Davao International Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.1 from 68 reviews. Google Maps listing

Airport-area listings have fewer reviews than the city centre, so read the recent ones.

The gateway

Where to Eat

Davao Seafood

  • Yellow Fin Seafood RestaurantDavao City Seafood restaurant with a high rating from over 800 reviews. About 2 km from central Davao City in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.4 from about 850 reviews. Google Maps listing
  • Marinatuna Seafood RestaurantDavao City Seafood restaurant with a high rating from nearly 1,000 reviews. About 6 km from central Davao City in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.5 from about 980 reviews. Google Maps listing
  • Liza's Seafoods Grill and RestaurantDavao City Seafood restaurant with a high rating from over 450 reviews. About 4 km from central Davao City in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.3 from about 450 reviews. Google Maps listing

Local Favorites

  • Ta-Cow DavaoDavao City Filipino restaurant with a top rating from over 4,000 reviews. About 1 km from central Davao City in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from about 4,500 reviews. Google Maps listing
  • Kusina DabawDavao City Restaurant with a high rating from over 800 reviews. About 1 km from central Davao City in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4 from about 830 reviews. Google Maps listing

Bakeries and Cafes

  • Euro Baker ClassicDavao City Bakery with a top rating. About 1 km from central Davao City in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 120 reviews. Google Maps listing
  • Cafe GervaciosDavao City Cafe and pastry shop with a high rating. About 1 km from central Davao City in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.5 from about 240 reviews. Google Maps listing
The gateway

Transport Companies

Car and Van Hire

  • Car Rental DavaoDavao City Local car and van rental with a top rating from over 150 reviews. About 6 km from central Davao City in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.7 from about 160 reviews. Google Maps listing
  • Davao Motor & Car RentalDavao City Local car and motorbike rental with a top rating. About 5 km from central Davao City in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from 66 reviews. Google Maps listing
  • AJ3s Transport Services Car Rental & ToursDavao City Local car and van rental with a high rating. About 5 km from central Davao City in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.2 from 10 reviews. Google Maps listing

The zone page names buses roughly every 30 minutes for about PHP 250 (Bachelor Express and other operators) and a shared van in roughly 3 hours for about PHP 220 (reported). Hire is the alternative if you want to carry boards.

The gateway

Board & Luggage Storage

We did not find a surf shop or board-repair business in Davao City, so sort out any board repair before you travel. Ask your hotel about board storage.

Onward

Getting Out to the Zones

Dahican/Mati: see Getting There. Most lodging, food and surf infrastructure sits along Dahican-Bobon Road and the surrounding barangay, a short run from the bus and van terminals in Mati town (reported).

Logistics FAQ

Questions People Actually Ask.

Which airport do I fly into for Dahican and Mati?

Francisco Bangoy International Airport (DVO) in Davao City. Mati's own airport handles only charter and general aviation, with no scheduled service (reported on the zone page).

How far is Mati from Davao?

Roughly 165 km overland: buses take 4-5 hours for about PHP 250 and a shared van roughly 3 hours for about PHP 220 (reported on the zone page).

How do I get from Mati to Dahican?

A 15-20 minute habal-habal or tricycle ride, roughly 10 km from the town center (reported on the zone page).

Do I need a visa for the Philippines?

US and EU passports get 30 days visa-free, and every arriving traveler registers free on eTravel within 72 hours before arrival. See the Getting Into the Philippines section on the Philippines region page for the full rules.

The fine print

Disclosure & How This Page Works.

Straight talk: Some links on this site are affiliate links — if you book through them, Secrets of Surf Travel earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only link places and people we’d use ourselves, and coverage is never for sale. Nothing on this page is an affiliate link today; every listing link is a plain courtesy link.

Every listing was researched in 2026 and has not yet been verified in person. Prices, hours, and policies change; treat them as strong starting points and confirm directly with the business. And per the No-Reveal Code: you will find no surf spots on this page, ever.