Dahican Beach
About
Dahican is Mindanao's surf-and-skim beach: about 7 km of fine pale sand and coconut trees facing the open Pacific in Mati, Davao Oriental. The waves roll in year-round, so this is the place to take a surf or skimboard lesson, or just watch the local skimboarders show off. Base yourself at one of the beach resorts like Dahican Surf Resort, then fill the day: catch a pawikan hatchling release in nesting season, fly over the coast on an ultralight plane, or island-hop Pujada Bay. Wake up early for sunrise over the Pacific; the beach faces east.
Go before 11 AM today. Rain likely after.
- 1–2 daysTime to spend
- Year-round for surf and skimboarding; March to May for calmer island hopping in Pujada Bay. Come at sunrise.Best time to go
- About ₱100 per personSulit · Great value
- From Davao City, take a Mati-bound bus at the Ecoland terminal (3–4 hours, from ₱309 aircon) or a van near Gaisano Mall (2.5–3 hours, from ₱400).Getting there
What to do here
- Take a surf or skimboard lesson
- Watch sunrise over the Pacific
- Join a pawikan hatchling release in season
- Fly an ultralight plane over the coast
- Island-hop Pujada Bay
Know before you go
The Pacific surf is strong; swim near the resorts and follow lifeguards and surf instructors.
Davao Oriental is earthquake country; learn your resort's tsunami evacuation route.
Resort parking along the Dahican beachfront.
Dahican Surf Resort charged ₱100 for non-swimming guests (consumable at the restaurant) and ₱190 for swimming guests (Oct 2026). Bus from Davao from ₱309; tricycle from Mati ₱150–₱200.
Where it is
Dahican, Mati City, Davao Oriental
By commuteFrom Davao City, take a Mati-bound bus at the Ecoland terminal (3–4 hours, from ₱309 aircon) or a van near Gaisano Mall (2.5–3 hours, from ₱400). From Mati City, a tricycle to Dahican takes 15–20 minutes (₱150–₱200).
Reviews
Wala pang ratings. Be the first to help others decide.
Sign in to rate and leave a tip.
Too many requests. Please try again later.
Tips from the barkada
Too many requests. Please try again later.
Be the first to share something about this place.
FAQ
Pwede ba mag-surf kahit beginner?
Yes. Dahican has swells year-round, and the beach resorts offer surf and skimboard lessons.
Gaano kalayo from Davao City?
About 3–4 hours by bus from the Ecoland terminal, or 2.5–3 hours by van.
Okay na ba pumunta after the 2025 quakes?
Yes. The October 2025 quakes scared tourists away for a while, but resorts are open and busy again, and WaveFest was held at Dahican in June 2026.
Kailan may pawikan release?
During nesting season, local groups release hatchlings on Dahican. Ask your resort for the schedule.
Facts from rjdexplorer.com · thequeensescape.com · philippinebeaches.org
Photo credits (5)
- 1. Joyfulwandering · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
- 2. Zedergy · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
- 3. Kirubiiphoto · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
- 4. Patrickroque01 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
- 5. Patrickroque01 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Is one of these your photo? Ask us to credit it differently or take it down.