F
or visitors to Mati, the most
popular leisure-time activities
include surfing, skim-boarding,
light-aircraft flights and, well, snoozing.
The conditions in this southeastern
gulf town on the fringes of the Pacific
Ocean are perfect for doing all four in
a single weekend, and vacationers from
the nearby big city wouldn’t have it any
other way. Before heading to Mati — be
sure to stop at the Sleeping Dinosaur
viewing point as you get close to town
— pre-book your resort stay or pack
tents and other camping gear.
SURF OR SKIM-BOARD IN
DAHICAN BEACH
Dahican Beach, about 10 minutes
from the city center by car, is Mati’s
centerpiece. This 17km stretch of
soft, beige-colored sand is ideal for
sunbathing and has plenty of shade-
providing palm trees. Kids who like
to build things in the sand are sure to
stay busy for hours, but be careful not
to let them wander off unsupervised
to the rocky sections of the beach,
where sea urchins dwell amid the sharp
coral. Compared to other well-known
surf-and-sand destinations, Dahican is a
rather quiet beach with just a few resorts
Cebu Pacific flies
to Davao City from
across the network.
EscapetoMati
When Davao City urbanites are looking to decompress, they
hop in the car for the three-hour drive to the neighboring
province of Davao Oriental and hole up in this laid-back town
— a quick online search yields fewer than
10 results — that are well separated from
one another. Stroll along the beach and
eventually you’ll come across a lifeguard
station that doubles as a surf shack,
manned by lifeguards who rent out boards
and give surf and skim-boarding lessons
(it’s about PHP300 for the board rental and
coaching). Dahican makes for the perfect
classroom if you’re new to either sport —
the waves here are manageable and break
on the sandy beach.
FLYWITH THE MINDANAO SAGA
FLYING CLUB
For a bird’s-eye view of the beach and
most of Mati, for that matter, head to
the city’s airport where the Mindanao
Saga Flying Club (facebook.com/
mindanaosagaflyingclub) offers 15-minute
ultralight plane rides for just PHP1,600.
Licensed pilots are available to take you
on exhilarating flights that offer breath-
taking views — of the city, the green fields
beyond and the beach itself, where the
plane swoops down until you can almost
make out the faces of sunbathers (how’s
that for a thrill ride?). Prime flying hours are
from 5.30-9am, when wind conditions are
at their best, so be sure to turn up at the
airport early.
RECHARGE BEACHSIDE AT
TROPICAL KANAKBAI
If you’re traveling with a big group
(it’s always good to bring the party
with you), rent a fully furnished beach
house at Tropical Kanakbai (tel: +63
927 287 1790; dahicanbeachclub.com).
You’ll enjoy all the comforts of home
and then some: alfresco dining areas, a
garden dotted with coconut trees and a
scenic beachfront that’s ideal for after-
dark viewings of the moon and stars.
There are two luxury beach houses on
the property, each with two bedrooms
that can accommodate at least four
people per room. You can book a room
or an entire house and make full use
of the kitchen facilities. Hit the market
early in the morning to get first dibs
on the catch of the day and let your
designated chef whip up lunch while
you lounge on beachside hammocks.
If you think Davao City is laid-back, be
prepared for an even more blissfully
unhurried pace in Mati City.
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