The Monfort Bat Sanctuary is home to a large colony of 1.8 million Rouette fruit bats. They cover 75% of the ceilings and walls of their 245 foot cave, the rest 25% is available to view at the cave entrances. The sanctuary is located on Samal Island, about 1 kilometer east of the city of Davao in the Philippines. According to the Guinness Book of Records, it is the largest single colony of this kind of bat in the world. Bonus - you can buy great durian, bamboo and purple flower wines there as well as other souvenirs. Great place I recommend to everyone.

To the Bat Cave! Nice place, but unfortunately the place needs maintenance. Not much to see but bats, thousands of bats in one cave. You will not be able to enter the cave, but you can see the bats from the viewing distance. The cave have 5 viewing points, 1 at the entrance and 4 at the top openings of the cave.

Great experience, amazing to see all these bats even during the day. Not a long self guided tour. Took like 20 minutes. They have evening activities as well. Can't comment on that, but would expect it to be pretty neat.

I'm giving it 5 stars because I love everything about it. I love that they established refuge for the bats. You know, conservation at its best. They have a very accommodating environment. The staff or the volunteer, who did the orientation before touring around the place, was very friendly and dedicated to her work. The smell of the place near the caves where the bats are inhabiting was not nice but was bearable. Walking down the beach was really relaxing. The view was magnificent with all the tall coconut trees, nice shoreline, blue ocean, gushing cool wind, etc. I love it! There were few trashes but just don't mind them, and find the tranquility of the place and enjoy it. Also, take some instagramable photos. 😀😉

If you are interested knowing about fruit bats then this is the place, more than a million bats in several caves. You may know some interesting facts about bats. E.g. how they segregate on functions and age. But if you hate smelly bat poops, better have face mask on.

Monfort Bat Sanctuary was very nice. The staff was super friendly. The bats were plentiful and active in the caves. I believe we were the only guests around 4pm. Great place.

A must try, but for those have a very sensitive sense of smell, be cautious. Please bring mosquito repellants and lotion to scare away the insects!! The most exciting part was the pre-cap of what should be expected. Educational and the same time a meaningful tour!!

If you love bats or want to see colony of bats or bat kingdom then you should visit this place when in Samal Island in Mindanao. It is a guiness world record holder of highest number of fruit bat colony living here. Entrance fee is 150php as of March 2020. Orientation of dos and donts is given prior to tour. There are 5 caves where you can view all bats in different angles. You can smell them and its really stinky coz you also smell their pees. Silence is very importance. I never thought there would be so many bats living in this kind of pace. It is actually a short walk to see all the viewing site. Parking space is available outside. But due to the location pf this bat sanctuary, Private vehicle or car rental is necessary when going here.

Me and my family went here for our Davao Trip, this is my 2nd trip here. The place is very informative since there will be initial introduction perosonel that will do a few mins of talk, which is very good for teh kids and kids at heart, The place is in Samal which is just few mins away from Davao city, but if you plan to go here during peak sesson the ferry que line back and fourt will be long so I recommend to plan your trip here in advance. The experience and the total tour will be est. 1hr, be sure to bring mosqueto repelant there is a lot of bugs. my kids love it and hopefully they can share this to others as well.

They'll give you a brief orientation on what to expect from the place; trivia, history, rules to follow. My second time to visit after almost a decade and the place remains well maintained still.

This was by the far coolest thing we’ve done on Samal! Hard to imagine that 1.8 million bats live in here! You only see 15% of the population but that’s all you need. You’ll never forget this experience. Or the smell. 😂

Monfort Bat Sanctuary is a must see on the garden island of Samal. Entrance fee is 150php and well worth it. You can see zillions of bats without going inside a cave. They have an overland path that goes around cave openings that are filled with bats. Saw a monitor lizard at the bottom waiting for bats to fall and there's supposed to be pythons in the cave as well. Also there's a vendor there selling pearl jewelry quite affordable..

This place is really the sanctuary for the fruit bats. These creatures should be take care of as they also help us to propagate fruit-bearing trees.

As per an estimate from bat conservation international in 2006, the population in the manfort cave was approximately 1.8million. The entry fees here is 120 per head, you should bring mask it's heavy smelly that place can't even breathable there, The entry fee is bit costly for that place there is nothing to see more than 10 mins there, only lots of bats, it's better to see in picture or videos

This has been the house of a large colony of over 2 million Rousette fruit bats. It is a holder of Guinness World Records, as the largest single colony of this kind. You get what you expect in this place. Bats. Prepare for a steamy smell of the bats. There's an additional attraction/event during dusk if you're in for that. They have an orientation and discussion before guests can proceed to the site.

Wonderful experience it's like you in heaven.Its unreal that a place like this exist in this earth.I saw it in a picture thought it was foto shopped.Its unreal guys the tranquil forest canopy opens up into this hidden gem.Its so unreal it's a must visit to Samal Island in Davoa.Its incredibly beautiful

Waterfalls was temporarily closed when we went there but some people made us pay Php350 for “a little tour”. A beautiful spot but its wasted. Garbage was everywhere. They should maintain cleanliness in the area all the time. They said it’s temporary closed since the typhoon but it looks like its been awhile since they cleaned up there.

me and my husband had a very memorable adventure here..the cave under one of the falls' several tiers came as a surprise...in addition to the amazing falls ... but, it is still under renovation. we were just accommodated by our kind guide who was also very generous with his photography skills.

The walk down to the falls is beautiful about 120 steps going down 😁 Once you’re there it is a beautiful quiet place to swim and enjoy. A must visit place in Samal Island. If the beach is too hot, the cool waters of Hagimit Falls are the perfect alternative. The entrance is affordable too... Place is not that far from the highway.

Currently, the place is still under renovation though it is still open to public. You need to ride a motorcycle to get to the place since the road is tight but if you have your own vehicle or 4wd then it's fine. The entrance is at 100php. It's a long step down towards the site so it's not good for those with knee or leg problems. The food is okay, but quite expensive since you have to pay the guys involve in preparing the food. The falls is majestic and is unlike I have never seen. It's like a natural pool. Not just 1 but there are many other area where you can free dive. Just be carefull when walking along the rocks coz you might slip on with those algae.

According to the photos it's very beautiful but the illogical local government here, has closed it to the public for over a year now, apparently because "some" tourists were littering. Perhaps if they placed some bins for waste disposal and used the entrance fees to pay somebody to keep the place clean, it may have been a better solution🙃?

I have visited Hagimit Falls twice. I enjoy it primarily because of the blueish water. It comes across as enchanting. It changed a bit between my visits. I think the owners have a habit of redirecting the water by using concrete and making it look like natural rock in attempt to make it look more spectacular, though I am going off of memory at this point. In one case they made a new pool of water but it wasn't pleasant to swim in because the bottom was mucky. One thing that is nice about the place is that the entrance fee and huts are affordable and you can find your own waterfalls to enjoy without too much crowding. The first time I visited we hired motorcycles to at Paradise resort to take us here and back. on my second visit I had my own personal transportation that I took across the ferry.

So many beautiful things about this place! The place is undeniably wonderful. The falls itself is like crawling up and down like there is an endless pool offering you a place to relax and unwind! We really had fun here. Also, the locals are very helpful in finding the best spot to take a photograph. They would even push you to pose for a great shot, while they offer to take it for you. Tables are for rent for only 150pesos (USD3.00), Kubos for only 300pesos (USD6. 00), and there are clean restrooms!

This is a great place for picnics and relaxation. Swim at your own risk on the natural pools of flowing turquoise waters. Entrance fee is P50 for adults. Cottages are available (separate payment). Local snacks are sold also.

Hagimit Falls is a 30-minute ride via tricycle from the Samal Ferry Terminal but once you get there, the serene environment is actually very soothing and is a big change from the hustle from the busy streets of Davao City. It is clean and there are lots of cottages and tables for you and your family to enjoy. The entrance rates are reasonable as well.

A amazingly beautiful place for relaxing. Wow, I love it there! Peaceful quiet with clear refreshing, not cold water. If you are on Samal it's a must to visite it! We went there in the morning and it was not much people at this time. The highlight is a little hidden cave behind the waterfalls. I've noticed that even locals in Davao know nothing about the cave. But take care if you find the way, the narrow short way inside that leads down to the exit is only for slim people and at the end you have to dive for a short moment to come out again. I love this place so much....it's more fun in the Philippines..haha :))) ....Please visitors be careful and save this wonderful place!

This place is amazing. You can swim in turquoise water. Take a water jacuzzi from the waterfall or explore small caves under the waterfall. If you are looking for a place to swim and relax, this is probably the coolest place on Samal Island.

Nice place for relaxing

Great white sand beach for a Public Beach. This is a great place to enjoy white sand beach for less. Clear and clean beach water . Cottages and Tables are available for less. We had a great time swimming. Day Tour entrance for only 50pesos and overnight at 100pesos.

Watch my vlog on this beach, its 6 out of 10 rating for me why? Visit my youtube channel, Ivan the Traveler

👍👍👍👍👍👍

I like how they encourage people to keep the beach clean and ban the usage of single use plastic. Nice and clean public beach. Good for family picnic.

White sand beach :) clear and calm water, very good, but they don't have pool and the room is nice :)

The beach is really good, but the comfort rooms badly need improvement.

Pure white sand, you can still enjoy the water even if it's low tide.

I have visited this place several times. This is good public beach in Samal island. Very easy to get to this place from any port in Davao at a good price.

Need better shower facilities.

If I could give more than 5 stars, I would! Definitely the best hotel in Samal Island. The fact that the daily rate includes our meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner buffet) was a deal! Transportation to/from hotel/airport was also included. Wait, what? 🙌🏼😀 The only incidental expenses were drinks (beer, cocktails, etc). There were good vegetarian food from the buffet, and their dinner buffet offered sushi, so I asked and they made me a vegetarian sushi. 🙌🏼😀 Also, we were given a complimentary small cake for our anniversary celebration, which was super sweet. Excellent view of the ocean from our room. Shuttle service to/from your room. Truly wonderful staff. 🙏🏼😊 The entire aesthetic of the hotel really represents Philippines IMHO, which made me really happy and proud in some ways. The hotel is kid-friendly - they have 2 pools where they can swim. They also offer marine sports. We will definitely come back at the Pearl Farm and stay longer. Two nights weren't enough. 😊

I don't normally post reviews while we are still staying at the resort but I wanted to give this resort 5 stars for an excellent service of all their staffs. The place is very expensive but it is ALL worth it. All my extra requests from front desk, room service and ride service going to restaurant and back to our suite are all granted in no time.

Amazing place! Best resort what I have visited in the Philippines! Perfect place to relax and to get 5* service. Exclusive location, amazing ambient, exceptional comfort in any area. From the welcoming on the jetty to the restaurant and rooms. Top notch 👌 👏

To get five stars this place would have to be a little bit better. The location is beautiful. The staff is great. The rooms are nice. The food was very very good. The only negative has to do with a couple of maintenance issues in our room. The TV was defective. It had some internal problem that caused lines across the screen every 5 seconds.. The staff was really nice and replaced it with an older TV. The original TV was able to get the broadcast stations as well as Internet, the replacement was not able to connect to the cable signal for some reason but it was able to get internet after the technician spent an hour setting it up. Some other minor issues: the air conditioning remote had a damaged screen like a child had pushed their finger into it. the toilet seat was missing a screw. and they forgot to bring us towels. I was truly surprised that this place would have some of the same problems that I find that the cheapest locations I have stayed at in Southeast Asia.

Food and service was great. It would have been been perfect if not for some rowdy guests who robbed us and the other guests of an enjoyable night. I wish management intervened and was more sensitive to the experience of all. They should have booked a more orivate room so they could shout at the top of their voices and sang their hearts out. The live band was for the enjoyment of everyone, not just for groups who gave big tips. Please manage your guests well.

My mom and I came here in February and stayed in one of the samal houses. It was absolutely stunning. The houses are spacious and the scenery unmatched. I loved that you could swim in their pool, or the sea. Every inch of their property is incredible to walk around and enjoy. They have delicious food, with a nice buffet for every meal. And of course their hospitality is top notch. I would love to come back.

This is such a relaxing and lovely location. I just finished a lovely kayak paddle around the shore, included with each day's stay. The food is ample, varied and excellent. The staff is friendly, attentive, and intuitive. With 2 pools, and 2 beaches, this feels private and solitary. With airport transfers, and their own boat transfers from Davao, this is an easy place to enjoy the natural beauty and imposed luxury. We're staying in the over-water cabins, and I woke up enjoying the silky soft linens and the sound of the tide washing out... and a local dove calling in the eaves. We would have stayed in the villas, but the capacity is silly for 2. There is also a hilltop lodge, for people who don't want to be on the shore.

Best Resort in Davao/Samal! A bit pricey for sure but you're definitely getting what you pay for: best amenities, amazing service, great place and view, delicious and superb food, drinks and all in all, just the best. This is really a great 5-Star Resort in Davao, Pearl Farm!

Food and service was great. It would have been been perfect if not for some rowdy guests who robbed us and the other guests of an enjoyable night. I wish management intervened and was more sensitive to the experience of all. They should have booked a more orivate room so they could shout at the top of their voices and sang their hearts out. The live band was for the enjoyment of everyone, not just for groups who gave big tips. Please manage your guests well.

Only for one night this time, but was nice to have some tranquility away from the busy city center. Our go to getaway location without having to travel too far. Food is amazing always. Service during meals is also great. Rooms are comfortable with an amazing view. Will be coming back in the future.

This resort lives up to its reputation and has been in service for a very long time. Despite of its high-priced accomodations, quality is utmostly provided by this establishment such as buffet lunch, merienda, dinner and breakfast. Yes! all food schedules are buffet-based. Staff are courteous and attentive to the needs of the customer. Rooms are very clean and are tended by the housekeepers well. It is still one of many things that you must experience or some would consider it as once in a lifetime experience.

Loved this place. We were at the Mandaya rooms (or whatever it was called) for an overnight stay. It was clean, adequately furnished, A/C was working well. The staff were very accommodating and helpful with everything we needed. Check in/out process was easy, and the food was good. The only hitch was the wait for the rooms to be ready for check-in. Maybe next time, we will have our swim clothes on or in our carry-on luggage so we can go for a swim while waiting to get to our rooms. Not too inconvenient though. Everything else was great and the experience was memorable!

We had a wonderful two days at Pearl Farm. The staff was so helpful and welcoming, and would immediately get whatever you ask for. Everything was very clean, and the food had plenty of variety. I have allergies and have to eat gluten free. I was quite worried because the rest of the Philippines does not seem to understand gluten, but I emailed Pearl Farm ahead of time to let them know my allergies to gluten and they assured me they could accommodate. Sure enough, the chef walked me through the buffet each meal and told me what was in everything and offered to make additional items in the back without sauce or whatever. They had kayaks (included) and snorkeling was great - we brought our own snorkels and I was so glad we did as we just snorkeled right there on the resort beach. We also did a day trip “island hopping” which was really only 1.5 hours of snorkeling (giant clams - better than it sounds - and one other place). Didn’t really see any other islands but it was fun. We would definitely recommend this place!

Pearl Farm Samal Island is a fantastic destination for those seeking serenity, tranquility, and a delightful dining experience. The resort offers exceptional service and a variety of accommodation options to cater to different preferences. For couples, the Samal House is highly recommended. Waking up to a view of the sea and an aquarium filled with a school of fish sounds like a magical experience. Enjoying your morning coffee while taking in the beautiful surroundings adds to the tranquility of the stay. Families might prefer the Mandaya House, which offers a swimming pool. Although it may require a bit of a hike, the resort provides a shuttle service to make it more convenient for guests. If you are up for a bit of adventure, the Hilltop accommodation offers a breathtaking view of the neighborhood island. While it may also involve a hike, you can request a shuttle to transport you to the buffet area and the infinity pool. The Samal Suite at Pearl Farm Samal Island is another excellent option for those seeking sea-facing accommodation. With the master bedroom located on the second floor, guests can enjoy a magnificent view of the island. However, it's important to note that this suite may not be suitable for individuals with mobility issues due to the steep stairs leading to the second floor. In addition to the accommodation options, Pearl Farm Samal Island offers a delicious buffet breakfast, lunch, dinner, and refreshments. This ensures that guests can enjoy a wide range of delectable dishes throughout their stay. Overall, Pearl Farm Samal Island is an ideal destination for those seeking a peaceful retreat, excellent service, and a memorable dining experience. All in service starts at PHP 20,000 per night but prices vary depending on your room preference.

Expensive but absolutely worth it. We stayed in the Samal House (built over the water) and absolutely loved it. Breathtaking views. Clean / comfortable / modern interior. Comfortable bed & pillows. ALL meals were excellent. ALL staff was exceptional. We will return and we highly recommend.

I cannot comment on the rooms at this resort or the staff service because our entire group was forced to cancel our trip due to extremely terrible management or ownership policies! Our group of 8 people, plus 15 additional people from our partner group, (23 total), were unable to book here for the future upcoming 2024 Christmas holiday season. We had hoped to book in advance due to the popularity of this resort but the management was COMPLETELY uncooperative to our needs...which is not the right way to conduct a resort business that advertises as an "ALL INCLUSIVE" 5-star resort... A true 5-star resort finds solutions and does NOT turn their back on 23 guests due to a once a day Panglao to Davao airline schedule we have no control over! Our included round trip transfer from the Davao airport to the Pearl Farm resort was mauled by a rediculous 24,000 peso add on fee, (per boat, and the resort said we needed 3 boats...total fee-72,000 pesos!) because our flight arrived in Davao at 1:40pm and their last transfer is at 2pm...they said they cannot transfer us unless we pay extra! Who does that? It not our fault about the PAL arrival schedule and why would an all inclusive resort stop doing transfers in the middle of the day at 2pm??? REALLY! And we already PAID for our transfer as it was "included" in our room rate! This facility needs to take lessons from Henann Group of Resorts in Boracay where they offer all day transfer services to their guest! Henann bends over backwards to please their guests and make sure you get where you need to go and when you need to be there. Instead of finding solutions, Pearl Farm just refuses to assist you or in our case, adds a rediculous fee ontop of everything! For 72,000 peso's I can rent a luxury yacht for 2 days! CONCLUSION...my 1,500,000 peso resort budget for the 23 people is best spent elsewhere!!!!!

This is a first class resort from top to bottom. Absolutely gorgeous property with authentic guys and buildings. Pays a wonderful tribute to the history of the island. The staff is amazing and attentive to your needs. The amenities are fabulous, including all the available water sports. The food was consistently delicious. My only caution is to be aware that it is difficult to leave the resort. You may not want to but it can be challenging to spend the day in Davao. All in all, I would come back here in a heartbeat and plan to come back with my family. Highly recommend!

The resort in question is an exceptional destination that offers a serene and tranquil environment for all visitors. It boasts of immaculate cleanliness standards that are upheld throughout the premises, ensuring a comfortable and hygienic stay for guests. The ambiance is nothing short of breathtaking, with picturesque views that are sure to leave you in awe. The resort's unparalleled tranquility makes it the perfect getaway for anyone seeking a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Overall, it is without a doubt one of the most remarkable resorts you'll ever come across.

5 ⭐️ on service. The company knows how to look after their employees. I recognised the same faces in the restaurant, porter, front desk back when we first came in 2017. Shout out to Eleanor who arranged our transfer from the resort to the airport. Very smooth and efficient! There was always someone waiting the other end for us and hubby made it to his flight with only 1hr window airport transfer. Victoriano whose service was excellent and always looked after us in the restaurant. Albert always smiling going about his day porting and greeting guests. 3⭐️ Room We stayed 2 nights at 10 Samal. We’ve reported termite infestation which the front desk seemed to already have known. This was a downer having payed as much £££/night. The floor constantly had termite sawdust and we constantly ask housekeeping to sweep up. The wood infrastructure needs looking after! Apart from this, the room was comfortable and equipped. Tip: Samal houses are tiny for the price you pay, but Mandaya house is a larger and cheaper! 5 ⭐️ Facilities Kayak, jetski, snorkel, pools (1 near Mandaya houses -shaded, more private; 2 by the restaurant), full boarding was a treat. We were looked after food and drinks-wise. Botique lovely palce to browse, have a coffee and read a magazine. 4 ⭐️ on location We came via land as we stayed in the island the night before. So we hired a tuktok And paid p500 to be dropped off at their front gate. Tip: let the front desk know you are coming via land as the security will not let you in if names aren’t in the books of expected guest for that particular day. Across the resort, there’s coming and going of big boats. It seemed that the island across (not Malipano) have day guests that stays in the island karaoke-ing the day away. Brilliant view of the sunset. After the 16:30 to 17:30 sunset cocktail drink we continued happy hours at the Parola bar. Cosy and perfect spot to watch the sunset.

The pearl farm is breathtakingly beautiful. It looks like someplace out of a movie. The view from the samal rooms is just epic. Sitting on your porch watching multiple schools of fish swimming by is just amazing. The food is good and plentiful, but mostly just good, only a few dishes crossed into great. We were there on a weekday and found the resort a bit boring though. Not much was going on once you took in all the views and went for a swim. Maybe a weekend is better? In any case, we're one and done. We got the pictures for social... The staff is amazing, everyone is friendly, the views are breathtaking and its a small world. My wife met the best friend of one of her friends back in America. I'm rambling now, but if you can afford the splurge, go for it. You'll get pictures that will make all your friends die of jealously! And you might get a bit bored. Your milage will very!

Our experience at The Pearl Farm Resort in Samal began with a challenging check-in process. We found it difficult to locate parking due to insufficient guidance, resulting in about 30 minutes of confusion. Although the staff were apologetic and assisted us to our room by cart, the room’s condition was disappointing. The Mandaya suites appeared outdated, with a nearly detached light switch, a broken toilet seat, and malfunctioning lights in the changing area. Additionally, the back door had a noticeable gap, allowing mosquitoes in, and bathroom amenities like the toilet paper were of low quality. The complimentary fruit bowl was underwhelming, containing only two apples, and the room lacked decaffeinated coffee and adequate sugar. During our stay, we noticed a lack of service for ordering food and drinks near the Mandaya pool and beach areas. The surrounding beach also had a significant amount of plastic waste. At the bar, the absence of proper gin glasses meant our gin and tonics were served in beverage tumblers, which was unexpected for a resort of this caliber. The resort’s dining options were limited to buffet meals that were satisfactory but not outstanding. Given the cost of PHP 20,400 per night, the overall value felt lacking, especially when compared to other high-end options in Davao, such as Dusit Lubi Plantation. An additional disappointment was being charged for a lunch we assumed was complimentary due to the initial check-in issues. This, coupled with the overall experience and cost, leads me to rate the resort at 1 star. While the resort’s location is picturesque, especially for evening photography, the value for money and quality of facilities and service do not meet the expected standards for a 5-star resort. This review is no reflection on the many employed locals who were friendly, courteous and professional. This review is to provide an accurate account of what we experienced so that other potential guests can make an informed decision prior to booking but also the owners and the management of the resort.