Field guide · for the Flores family
Every number you'll dial and every call you'll make for the 6-day, no-fly GenSan ⇄ Davao thank-you trip. The plan stays in quake-spared, paved-road territory and never leaves a single Davao base. Confirm anything time-sensitive by phone — after a major quake, a posted rate is not a guarantee.
← Back to the trackerOne private van + driver for all 6 days. Book this first — it's the longest lead and the biggest single cost.
| Operator | Rate signal | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| RealBreeze Davao strong written table | Grandia GL out-of-town ₱5,000/day; fuel + driver lodging by renter; 10-hr day + overtime | +63 916 755 8473 +63 909 076 1575 |
| AJ88 / AJ Davao good vehicle fit | Super Grandia ₱5,000; city from ₱4,000/10h incl fuel + driver; out-of-town varies | 0926 733 5449 (082) 333-5157 |
| Real Wheels Davao compare only | GL Grandia Tourer / Nissan Premium ₱4,500/day (confirm by phone) | website quote form |
| Yellow Bus / Mindanao Star backup, not primary | GenSan→Davao aircon, ~₱330, ~3h15; hourly daytime | terminal / 12Go |
Realistic all-in: ₱45,000–60,000. ~₱30k van (6×₱5k) + ₱6–9k fuel + ₱1.8–2.4k driver meals + ₱4–7.5k driver lodging/allowance + ₱2–4k ferry/parking/overtime buffer.
Exact model + plate · seatbelts for all · working A/C · fuel included or reimbursed · driver meals & lodging · overtime rate after 10 hrs · ferry/parking responsibility · paved-route-only · no night mountain driving · free rebooking on aftershock or road closure · day-before road-advisory check.
| Leg | Distance / time | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| GenSan ⇄ Davao | ~141 km · 2h18 base | Plan 3.5 hr with elder rest stops |
| Davao ⇄ Samal | ~2 km · ferry 15–20 min | Km 9 Sasa terminal; day trip only |
| Davao ⇄ Malagos / Eagle Ctr | ~31 km · ~40 min | Allow ~1 hr in traffic |
| Davao ⇄ Eden | ~1–1.5 hr | Daylight only; no night descent |
Same bed every night; every drive ≤ 3.5 hrs.
One base, all 5 nights. The recommended plan keeps everyone in the same building.
☎ Ask for the post-June-8 structural-clearance date + inspecting office before paying.
Most comfortable sensible step-up for your room; not necessary if budget is tight.
Day trip from Davao — calm gulf water, short crossing, home before dark.
| Resort | Day-tour cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Costa Marina the modest default | Adult ₱350 · kids 4–10 ₱250 · boat ₱25/pp or ₱350 charter <14 | Direct Davao-side terminal, tables/chairs, 6:30a–4:00p. Ask about handrails for grandma. |
| Paradise Island fallback | Entrance ₱350 · boat ₱15 | (082) 234-2926 · 0920 954 6780. Call for cutoffs. |
| Chema's by the Sea off-tone here | Adult ₱1,650–1,750 · child ₱750–850 | Too pricey for the whole family on a modest trip — skip unless they ask and seas are calm. |
Ferry rates (May 25, 2026): ₱20/passenger · ₱15 senior/PWD/student · ₱320 car/van. 24/7 but weather-dependent.
⛴ If the crossing or boarding looks rough for grandma that morning, flip to a Davao pool / mall rest day.
The gentle, elder-and-kid-friendly attractions. Rates conflict across sources — call to confirm.
| Place | Cost (plan high) | Notes / contact |
|---|---|---|
| Philippine Eagle Center | Adult ₱150 · youth ₱100 | Gentle loop, benches; +63 917 708 9084 |
| Malagos Garden + Choc. Museum | Wkdy ₱450 plated lunch · wknd ₱650 buffet | Cacao pasalubong here; +63 917 624 5727 |
| Eden Nature Park | ₱800 adult buffet · ₱450 child | ~1–1.5 hr up; shuttle tour; +63 918 930 7590 |
| Davao Crocodile Park | ₱350 adult · ₱250 senior · ₱200 child | Day-4 calm-group option; +63 82 286 8883 |
The one activity that doesn't fully fit a gentle family trip.
This is true adventure, not a gentle float. Base Camp Davao runs a 13 km route (Lower Tamugan → Lacson Bridge), 15+ rapids, ~7 hrs. Grandma and the youngest child never go on the river — they do the calm-group plan. If the trip's whole tone is rest, the clean move is to skip rafting and save ~₱11k. The genuinely family-friendly Class I–II rafting is up in Cagayan de Oro (Kagay) — which this no-fly southern loop deliberately leaves out.
Generous but not flashy — the right register for people coming home to a rebuild.
Penong's, Cecil's Snack Inn, Davao Dencia's, Lachi's, mall food courts. Casual, well-loved, easy on a budget.
Malagos chocolate & tablea, durian candy (₱50–250/pack), tablea (₱150–400). Compact and shareable — buy at Malagos on Day 3.
Frozen tuna, tuna chicharon, bottled tuna — Citra Mina Seafood Market, Immanuel Tuna, SM OTOP Hub. Grab on Day 6 if there's energy.
Same trip, three spend levels. Set the live one on the tracker.
Your original ₱80–120k target now lands as the Lean floor — a real trip, not a stripped one — because dropping flights and the far north pulled the whole cost down.
Dated June 23, 2026 · re-verify ~10 days before you travel.
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