Image credits: Jean Beltran-Figues via Cloudinary
It took me another week before I could start this Davao Trip blog series. I admit I had been very busy these past few days but it does not deter me away from writing a blog about our Malagos Garden Resort experience because it is one of the highlights of that trip.
On our first day in the city of Davao, my husband and I went straight to the Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos, at the foothill of Mt. Apo. But it was not just the only place which we visited, we also passed by Malagos Garden Resort which was just a few minutes drive from the Eagles. While I knew this resort has a pretty huge land area, I didn’t know that from the outside, it seemed like it was just an ordinary resort. I was blown away when I realized how large this resort is plus it is also interesting educational. I am sharing with you today the Malagos Garden Resort experience.
Image credits: Jean Beltran-Figues via Cloudinary
About Malagos Garden Resort
Home of the famous Malagos Chocolates, the local Philippine made brand which has beaten Chocolatiers from all around the world. But this is more than just their chocolates. This uniquely combines the raw beauty of nature, animals and meaningful experiences not to mention educational too into one unforgettable encounter upon this 12-hectare land area.
To be one with nature is what the Malagos Garden Resort Davao had been aiming for so they had basically made this a place not just for fun but for retreats, family reunions, and even soul searching! The theme park brings all sorts of individuals to find what they are into, may it be animals, nature, educational sections, playgrounds, chocolates, food or pool. Everything seemed to be available inside the resort.
Image credits: Jean Beltran-Figues via Cloudinary
As James and I arrived at the entrance of the Malagos Garden Resort, I was relieved to learn that we can keep our heavy backpack at their courtesy booth. Boy, that was a heavy bag with our clothes for that three-day trip and I was carrying that from the Philippine Eagle Center down there so I was really glad they have that service.
The entrance fee is at Php 250, this includes access to all the areas of the resort for an entire day. Upon paying at the main lobby, the staff provided us with a printed map and I was astonished even more! As I have mentioned earlier, the entrance area didn’t look like a gateway to something huge, but anyway, I was blown away by the many things that we could check out and explore just by looking at the map.
Image credits: Jean Beltran-Figues via Cloudinary
Also, it was overwhelming, my eyes ran through the entire map and I was not sure if I would like to go over to everything. I was in search for the Malagos Chocolate Museum and found it after a few reading and route tracing. So our plan was to just take the path that routes us to the museum and then we’ll see if we would have more time to explore other areas. Unfortunately, we arrived there around one in the afternoon so we only have around four hours as they close at five.
What To See in Malagos Garden Resort
Image credits: Jean Beltran-Figues via Cloudinary
Upon revisiting the map which now shows traces of paper folding, I realized, we missed to visit several spots because we only focused on the Chocolate Museum, anyway, it will be for another blog topic. For now, allow me to share the different areas in the resort that we tried to conquer.
The truth is, it is very impossible to explore the entire resort in just a day. I had to admit, if you really want to enjoy and explore it, take good photos and at the same time be knowledgeable about what’s inside, two days would be suitable.
Image credits: Jean Beltran-Figues via Cloudinary
See, from the front office or the main gates, there’s a skate park, a music lounge to the right and a swimming pool facing their Viewdeck Cafe. Opposite to that is the pretty Roberto’s restaurant and a Santol Pavilion which we passed by on our way to the bird feeding dome. Behind that section are a petting zoo and a bird park which we were unable to visit.
Image credits: Jean Beltran-Figues via Cloudinary
Next in line is a mini-park which they referred to as the garden symphony, a Zen garden is available too next to it. I was attracted to Noah’s Deck but we were so excited to go to the Chocolate Museum that we said we’ll just skip it and return this way later but we never did.
Image credits: Jean Beltran-Figues via Cloudinary
Way behind Noah’s Deck is the Koi Cafe, Moonlight Theatre, Malagos Bird show, FlyWire and the Malagos Villas which we did visit and had lots of photos taken because this area here has a lot of pine trees and the villas were really nice. By the way, the Koi Cafe looked like abandoned but its beauty still shines. No one was there, but there were Koi fishes, I noticed that the pond was a little dirty. I bet they are not cleaning it yet because it was not yet Saturday where they have buffet lunch packages for their guests.
Image credits: Jean Beltran-Figues via Cloudinary
Another part which we missed to check was the Coral Pavilion. There’s also Waling Forest that we only passed by because next to it was the Malagos Chocolate Museum, our aim. So we went straight to the museum, filled our cameras with hundreds of shots from what we have seen inside and outside the museum. There, they provided information on the history of chocolates, interactive voice information, photographs of different types and looks of these beans, how they were processed, the selection procedure, even the steps from sprouting to planting, to harvesting and so on. It was what they refer as the Tree to Bar Experience. I will talk about it more in the next blog.
Video credits: Jean Beltran-Figues via bitLanders
After getting our sugar levels pumped at the Malagos Chocolate Cafe, it was already four in the afternoon, we only have an hour left and so we had to be fast to look into other things. There was still a Mindanao Contemporary Art Gallery, an outdoor adventure for kids, Skywalker, Malagos Greens which I believe is a farm where they harvest their cafe salad needs, there’s a Durian Pavilion too and a Butterfly Dome. Another museum in line is the Museo de Mariposa, a museum for butterflies, Treeline birdwatching deck was there too and an educational park called Powerplay.
Was it Worth it?
Image credits: Jean Beltran-Figues via Cloudinary
I have read several reviews on their social media account that coming here was not worth it however, I beg to disagree. I highly suggest that when visiting a spot, one must do his or her own research on what this place has to offer you. Disappointment comes when one has set his or her expectations high.
The amount of Php 250 was definitely fine considering its land area and the access one has to all of those facilities. I find it even cheaper compared to the other places that we had visited before, one to mention is The Miracle Art Happy World Museum in Cebu. We paid around Php 700+ in that one but we moved on.
Video credits: Jean Beltran-Figues via bitLanders
I was even interested with the Malagos Garden Resort weekend package of Php 600 where it comes with a lunch buffet. Unfortunately, we came in on a Friday. Still, being able to see the effort that the resort had put up into this place is worth more than Php 250. Also, the Malagos Garden Resort is the very first property in the Philippines and the 39th in the world to be certified in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Business and Properties of Audubon International, a worldwide environmental organization based in the USA.
Stay tuned for more reviews and information about their Chocolate Museum and other Cafes.
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About the author:
Jean Beltran-Figues is a photography enthusiast.
A traveler who wants to promote her beloved country, the Philippines.
