Davao City, Philippines – A flavorful fusion of heritage, agriculture, and local tourism took center stage as media practitioners and content creators from various regions participated in the Davao Cacao and Coffee Tour, a joint initiative of the Department of Tourism XI, Cebu Pacific, and Park Inn by Radisson Davao.
Journalists from the Philippine Star, Bilyonaryo News Channel, SunStar Cebu, and Philippine Daily Inquirer, together with digital content creators from Clark, Cebu, and Iloilo, embarked on the immersive tour designed to spotlight Davao’s rising appeal as a premier destination for farm-to-cup experiences. The tour also aims to boost domestic tourism through Cebu Pacific’s direct flights connecting Davao to Manila, Clark, Cebu, and Iloilo.
The week-long journey, coordinated by Cybercribs Trips & Tours and Ces Travel & Tours, offered participants a deep dive into the stories and flavors behind Davao’s coffee and cacao heritage.
The Davao Coffee Tour kicked off with a meaningful cultural engagement with the Bagobo Tagabawa community, where participants explored a local coffee nursery and learned traditional planting techniques. From there, the group visited Dubria Coffee Farm for a hands-on coffee-picking experience, followed by a visit to Coffee for Peace in Bansalan, where peacebuilding through sustainable agriculture takes root.
Another highlight was the stop at the Davao del Sur State College Regional Coffee Innovation Center in Digos, where participants witnessed innovations in local coffee processing. The tour ended with a modern cupping and tasting session at Frog Kaffee Arena—showcasing the depth and complexity of Davao-grown brews.
Following the coffee experience, participants shifted their attention to cacao—the region’s other globally recognized agricultural gem—through the Davao Cacao Tour.
At Belviz Farm in Calinan, guests learned about sustainable cacao farming and were introduced to the traditional preparation of sikwate, a native hot chocolate drink made from tablea. The group then headed to Malagos Garden Resort, where they took part in a tree-to-bar chocolate-making session, gaining insight into how Davao’s award-winning chocolates are crafted.
Stops at Cacao City and Cacao Culture Café allowed participants to taste and shop for artisanal chocolate products, while the tour concluded at Balik Bukid Farm & Kitchen, where a farm-fresh dinner featuring locally sourced ingredients capped the day.
The two-part cacao and coffee journey highlighted not just Davao’s agricultural excellence, but also its potential to become a flagship destination for sustainable, experience-based tourism. With strong support from private partners like Cebu Pacific and Park Inn by Radisson Davao, the Department of Tourism XI hopes this initiative will encourage more Filipinos to explore the richness of Mindanao through its people, culture, and flavors—one cup at a time.