Davao’s Vanishing Island

I remember Charlene Gonzales once asked, “high tide or low tide,” when the host in a beauty pageant asked how many islands are there in the Philippines. Her question does make sense in a way since out of more than 7000 islands we have, some disappear during high tide. A good example of it would be the Vanishing Island in Davao, just off Coast of Samal Island and Davao City.

Vanishing Island, or Arboles Island, is located at Babak District of the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos). It’s a white sand islet-cum-sandbar with two stilted houses that resemble outposts in Spratlys and a few mangrove trees.

Locals fish here during high tide, or anchor their bancas during rest times or choppy waters.

However during low tide, the white sand beach of Davao Gulf resurfaces in this island, and it has become one of Igacos’s destinations, especially during summer months.

The white sandbar stretches for a mile. Here, you can frolic all you want under the sun. Despite being so close to a major city, it hasn’t had its share of mass tourism development (which I believe I like it that way) except for the two stilted houses, one can be occupied for a picnic. The houses were said to have been built by some influential family in Davao.

Getting to the Vanishing Island may take some negotiations with some local banca operators (mostly fishermen as their full-time jobs). You may rent a banca from Babak coast. Honestly, I wasn’t able to take note of the negotiation since it was a company outing we’ve been to. However, locals said that you can hire a banca for about PhP300 to P500, depending on the negotiations.

Also, you have to take note that there is a fee for using the stilted house for your picnic.

You may visit City Government’s tourism information center at Babak Wharf, the main gateway of Samal Island from Davao City for more information on how to get to the island.

Map of Vanishing Island (Arboles Island), Island Garden City of Samal, Davao, Mindanao, Philippines

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