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Mindanao · Davao Region

Mati (Dahican)

A Pacific-coast Davao Oriental town with a long surf beach, island bays, and a turtle hatchery.

Illustration of a long cream-colored beach with clean Pacific waves and a headland across blue water at Mati
AI-generated illustration · not documentary photography

Overview

Mati sits on the Pacific coast of Davao Oriental, where Dahican Beach runs for kilometers of pale sand and steady shorebreak, the country's best-known spot for skimboarding and a growing beginner surf town. Beyond the beach, Pujada Bay opens onto island-hopping and mangroves, and the nearby Sleeping Dinosaur headland and Mount Hamiguitan hinterland add viewpoints and forest. Seasonal pawikan turtle releases make another draw.

Standout experiences

  • Dahican Beach

    A long shorebreak beach for skimboarding and beginner surf, with a laid-back local scene.

  • Pujada Bay island hopping

    Boat trips to nearby islands and mangroves, with snorkeling in calm water.

  • Sleeping Dinosaur viewpoint

    A headland whose silhouette overlooks the bay, a classic photo stop.

  • Pawikan turtle hatchery

    A community conservation site where hatchlings are released in season.

  • Subangan Museum

    A town museum covering the province's natural and cultural history.

Getting there

Mati Airport (MXI) serves only chartered flights and light aircraft, so most travelers fly to Davao's Francisco Bangoy International Airport. Bachelor Express buses run from Davao's Ecoland terminal and from the highway outside the Davao airport to Mati in about four to five hours. From the Mati terminal, a tricycle or habal-habal reaches Dahican in about 15 to 20 minutes.

When to go

Dahican's surf season runs from October to March, when Pacific swells build the beach break. Mati has no pronounced dry season, and the heaviest rain falls from May to July, with June the wettest month (about 235 mm) and February the driest. The Sambuokan Festival runs in late October.

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