We visited Pearl Farm after finishing a 21K race at the Milo Marathon Elimination Leg in Davao. It was a great recovery trip that is perfect for families. Pearl Farm is located in Samal Island which is just south of Davao City. Only about 20 minutes ride from the city to the Davao Marina Wharf and 45 minutes from the wharf to the resort.
How to book online for Pearl Farm Davao
We booked our stay for Pearl Farm Davao thru agoda.com. It was cheaper compared to booking your stay via the official Pearl Farm website since agoda would have some promos for early booking. Our booking includes a breakfast buffet for two and airport transfers which made our trip very convenient.
Children below 6 years old are free of charge. While Children 6-12 years old is 50% off of the package rate as long as sharing with two (2) adults.
Pearl Farm Davao Accomodations
There are several accomodation options at Pearl Farm. I recommend the Samal Houses for a family of 3. The Samal Houses are built on stilts on the water. They are patterned after the houses of the Samal tribe of Mindanao. It has a great view of the sea. I love to wake up in the morning with the spectacular view of the blue waters and blue skies. Fishes can be seen just below the balcony. Feed them and more will be coming to you.
DADDY’S TIP: If possible, get the Samal houses 1-3 since they are nearest to the Parola and the Maranao Restaurant. An easy access to all the main happenings at Pearl Farm.
Samal Houses
Mandaya Houses
Malipano Villas
The Balai Houses or Hilltop Houses comes cheaper if you are on a budget. The Samal Suites and Mandaya Houses are best for big families or big groups. For an exclusive and premium stay at Pearl Farm, the Malipano Villas will be the best options. These villas are located in a nearby island, just about 5 minutes or less via a boat transfer which Pearl Farm provides every 30 minutes.
How to get to Pearl Farm
Davao Marina Wharf
You can avail of airport transfers to Pearl Farm. Check your booking if this will be FREE. It was free in our case as part of our online booking with agoda.com.
You can also get to Pearl Farm via a taxi. Just tell the driver that you will be going to the Davao Marina Wharf. Specify that you are going to Pearl Farm since there are other resorts nearby.
Boat schedules from Davao Marina Wharf going to the resort are at 8am / 130pm / 4pm / 6pm and boat schedules from Pearl Farm Resort back to Davao Marina Wharf are 645am / 10am / 1pm / 4pm.
The boat trip would take about 45 minutes.
DADDY’S TIP: Be at the Davao Marina Wharf 30 minutes before the scheduled boat trip. Special trips can be arranged but a bit expensive. Boat trip outside regular boat schedules will be charge special trip at a day rate of Php 6,500.00 per way and a night rate of Php 7,000.00 per way.
Gab is waiting for the boat transfer to Pearl Farm.
This is how one of the boats going to Pearl Farm looks like.
Parola Bar
The Parola Bar will be the drop-off point at Pearl Farm. There will be some welcome drinks and a short briefing. From the Parola Bar, you can go to the Maranao Restaurant or the Infinity pool which are just adjacent.
The Parala Bar also serves as a theater at night. A large LCD screen will be set up and you can watch a good movie by the beach. Sounds romantic. 😀
DADDY’S TIP: Watching the movie at night can be inviting for mosquitoes too. Bring citronella patches for your kids.
The Parola is the drop off point at Pearl Farm.
The Parola Bar illuminates at night.
Samal Houses
We stayed at the Samal House and it was a unique place to stay. The view is definitely a big plus. The sea is just outside. The sunset is right on the horizon. There will be a cool breeze when you wake up in the morning and the soothing sound of the waves and birds that signals a relaxing start of the day.
The Samal House was clean and well maintained. It does look old but still sturdy and doesn’t make creeky sounds like old wooded houses do when you walk. The other Samal Houses are undergoing renovations, so you know that they really keep the place pristine for its guests.
I just had a problem with the shower. The faucets are busted and not properly labelled as hot or cold. Thus, I get to shower on cold water.
DADDY’S TIP: Simply call the front desk for vehicle services that will take you in and out of your house and around the resort. This is especially useful if you are located at the far houses of Samal Houses and Mandaya Houses.
Interior of the Samal House
The bed is good enough for a family of 3
Samal Houses have a lovely view of the sea.
Maranao Restaurant
Food is served at the Marano Restaurant which is located at the center of Pearl Farm Resort. You can get the buffet at 1,100 Php or order from their menu. The food ranges from 250-450 on the average.
I don’t find the food spectacular. Nothing fancy or special. Their buffet is quite generous with about 7 dishes to savor. Plus several cakes and delicacies for dessert.
Maranao Restaurant at Night
What I love and was craving for are the fruits. They serve the best tasting pineapple and mangoes which I kept coming back for more at the buffet table. They also have apples, watermelon, bananas, and oranges.
I don’t eat lots of seafood but it’s a must try as well.
DADDY’S TIP: There is free wifi available at Maranao Restaurant. Take photos and share online right away.
Buffet table of the main dish at Maranao Restaurant
Get unlimited servings of fruits and desserts for the buffet
Overnight guests get a serenade of live soothing music
Resort Activities
For kids, the infinity pool may be enough. Gab stayed most of his time dipping on the pool. I would also recommend visiting the Malipano Island. Kids will like the view and the starfishes which stays at the Malipano Island rather than at the main resort.
Adults will enjoy snorkeling, speed boats & outrigger boats for cruising, jet-skis, banana boat rides, kayaks, and scuba diving. Just visit the Aqua Sports Center located near the Samal Suites.
Starfishes at Malipano Island
Map and Directions for Pearl Farm Davao
Pearl Farm Davao Day Tour
Pearl Farm Resort allows guests to go on a day tour. It’s a lot cheaper than staying overnight but you get to enjoy what the island has to offer.
For a day tour, be sure to get the earliest boat trip schedule to Pearl Farm which is at 8am. Then leave on the last boat trip schedule from Pearl Farm back to Davao City at 4pm. That’s about 8 hour stay at Pearl Farm and you can do a lot within eight hours.
You can also visit the Ylang-ylang spa for a pampering and some relaxing massage.
DADDY’S TRIP: Upon arriving at Pearl Farm, grab one of those sheds near the infinity pool before someone else does. 😀
SUMMARY AND REVIEW
Pearl Farm Davao is a very relaxing place. It’s away from the busy life in the city. It’s a great destination for families who wants to be close together and to take the time out from work and stress.
I would highly recommend an overnight stay at the Samal Houses or Samal Suites. It’s a unique accommodation experience where you get to wake up with the sound of birds and the fresh breeze of the sea. You will be rejuvenated first thing in the morning.
The staff are very polite and courteous. They seem to know what you would be needing and offer them right away even without asking.
Daddy Rating: 5 of 5
