Talicud Island. Click here or the photo to view more photos

While a lot of sun worshipers who head to Davao would think of neighboring Samal Island, most people haven’t seen the virginal beauty of Talicud Island—a pearl and emerald floating on Davao Gulf. Virginal in the sense that despite its powdery-white sand beaches that stretched for miles and being so close to Mindanao’s urban hub, it is almost relatively untouched by the capitalist party and pa-sosyal business resorts.

White sand bar and turquoise Davao Gulf. You can still walk a few meters and you are now at Coral Garden, during low tide.

Talicud Island is part of the beautifully named “Island Garden City of Samal,” or we Pinoys shortened it as “Igacos.” Located near the southwestern tip of Samal Island, it is just an hour boat ride from urban Davao City. So close to the urban center, yet so rural is its ambiance.



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Fishing is still the primary income generator for most Talicudnons

The island itself is made up of four barangays: Linosutan, Cogon, Dadatan, and its central community Santa Cruz, where the main port of the island is located. With the population of over just 3,000, life is laidback in Talicud.

The rock outcrop at Linosutan Beach

Back then, the main mode of transportation is kabayo or kalabaw (horse or carabao cart). Now, habal-habal (motorcycle) is the king of its roads.

The habal-habal or public utility motorcycle, is the main mode of transportation in Talicud.

Life here is pretty much simple. Most of the people still depend on fishing and agriculture, particularly coconut. If you want some respite from all of the cyber-thingies or enslavement from the electronic and mechanical world that we are now living, you may opt to stay here for a while. Electricity only runs from 3 in the afternoon till 1 in the morning.

Port of Santa Cruz, Talicud Island. The main gateway of the island.

Night out activities here: Videoke, some San Mig and Tanduay Lapad or tuba. That’s it. No dance parties (except during fiestas of course), no patay-sindi kabarets, no noise. Just crickets and silence.

Talicud Circumferential Road. It connects all four barangays in the island. I don’t remember this 16 years ago.

While Talicud Island has some several resorts in its ring such as Babu Santa and Isla Reta, I opted to go where I have been before—the powdery white sands of Linosutan Beach at its western coast. No resorts, no entrance fees, just pure virginal experience–and memories of childhood.

Linosutan Beach. No resorts here.

Linosutan is the barangay in the western side of Talicud. I have fond memories here, in which I would write later. Much of it is still undeveloped (in my own opinion, I would like to keep it that way. If tourism should enter here, I hope a responsible form of tourism should take over.) for over a decade. Fishermen, children, and some tourists drop by this virginal beauty. No resorts, just the beach, some huts, some rocks, and some nearby coral gardens that are just a walking distance during low tide.

The hut, the boat, the beach and that’s it!

And what I like about Talicud’s Linosutan Beach was its silence. Only a few people, mostly residents and fishermen from the community. I have the entire white sand beach on my own. During clear mornings, this is the best time to view the three majestic peaks of Philippines’ King of the Mountains, Mount Apo (Sandawa).

Kids frolicking under the sun…cutting classes ba ito? Hehe! Although there’s a bit of algal bloom there, it’s natural and not pesky like those in Boracay

So, if you are tired of the so-called “modern life,” try camping in Talicud Island for a change.

Talicud’s Linosutan beach stretches for miles

As the powdery white sand, the turquoise blue Davao Gulf, and the green coconut palm trees hug each other that noon, the memories of isolation and appreciation started trickling. My trip to Talicud wasn’t just a side trip, it was a sentimental journey. My family and I lived here for a week, and still remember it.

The hermit crab and the white sand. This is how “powdery” the sand is here. Looks like Boracay has a rival for this quality.

And of all the things that happened, serendipity came in. I never knew that we left something in the island, and it is still there 16 years after.

A chance encounter. Sixteen years ago, my family and I went here and stayed for a week. The family that adopted us during those times were accommodating. 16 years later, the fisherman mentioned my name, I was stunned.

My sentimental journey starts.

How to Get in, Around, and Out of Talicud Island:

Talicud-Davao City Ferry. One of the ferries that shuttle people between Talicud Island, Davao City and sometimes Kaputian in Samal Island.

  • Go to Santa Ana Wharf at Davao City, near Magsaysay Park. The Talicud-Davao City Island Ferries leave on specific schedules, which lasted from 6AM to 3PM only.
  • Fare costs P60 as per October 2012.
  • It is a one hour ride. So you might take your mp3 players, cameras or just booze off.
  • It will either dock first at Kaputian Port (in mainland Samal) or some sitio in Talicud Island.
  • The main port of Talicud Island is in Santa Cruz. All ferries to Davao City and Kaputian Proper are found here. Last trip out for Davao City is at 3PM.
  • If you decided to go beyond 3PM, you have the option to go through Kaputian Proper. You may have to rent a boat if you are in a hurry (P150-P250). There is a bus serving the town to Davao City via Babak and Sasa. The journey is said to take at least an hour and a half to two.

Santa Ana Wharf. Davao City’s terminal for Talicud Island-bound bancas or ferries.



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