Waking Up the Sleeping Dinosaur of Mati, Davao Oriental
Everyone who travels to Mati never misses an opportunity to have their picture taken at the Sleeping Dinosaur.
I kept banging my head forward and backward as we were still sleepless coming from our Manila to Davao flight. We took the early morning commuter vans from Ecoland Terminal in Davao City, throughout the trip we were just asleep.
We already saw the Sleeping Dinosaur en route to Mati, but instead of getting out of the van, we continued down to Mati City Terminal to meet our guide. Also we went there to have our breakfast since we were really hungry.
On board our tuktuk named “Palaboy”, our whole two (2) day tour was already arranged and our first stop is the Sleeping Dinosaur.
Full Travel Guide HERE: 24 Hours in Mati: A Budget Travel Guide to Davao Oriental’s Surf Capital
As iconic and ironic as it is, you never went to Mati, if you didn’t have a picture with the Plesiosaur shaped land mass. I usually don’t buy this horse crap, but here we are just like everyone else, and it was more than fine.
So yes, this land mass tucked in the eastern side of the sunrise capital of the Philippines sits (or should we say sleeps) in Mati, Davao Oriental facing the Pujada Bay.
This island is a coastal community with many hiking trails leading to the highest point of the island. Too bad we were pressed on time that we didn’t scaled it during our visit. Just ask the locals to take you to the jump off point which is only accessible by single motorcycles due to the still rough conditions of the road.
We spent only around 15 minutes before we went back to the city and visit the museum.
Next Stop, Subangan Museum! Discovering Davao Oriental – Subangan Museum
How To Get There:
- There are no direct flights going to Mati City. The nearest airport hub is in Davao City.
- Francisco Bangoy International Airport is serviced by Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines and Air Asia. They have several flights daily from Manila, Clark, Iloilo, Cagayan De Oro and Cebu.
- From the airport, charter a taxi to take you to Ecoland Terminal. Fare is around 250-300php, travel time is around 20-30mins.
- Ride a bus with the signage Mati or Cateel, fare starts at 220php and travel time is around 4-5hrs. Another option, is to take the commuter vans outside the terminal, fare is around 250php, travel time is 3-4hrs depending on traffic conditions.
- Mati City is around 147 kilometers from Davao City’s Ecoland Terminal. Usually it takes 5-6 hours by bus, or around 4-5 hours by van. Leave early in the morning in Davao to maximize your time in Mati.
- From the city proper charter a habal-habal or tuktuk to take you to the Sleeping Dinosaur view deck or up to the jump-off point in Brgy. Badas if planning to hike the landmass.
- Or just ask the driver to drop you off at the viewdeck if coming from Davao City or Tagum City.
Already visited Mati City? How was it? Share your awesome stories in the comments section below!
Into the Sunrise Capital – Davao Oriental
24 Hours in Mati: A Budget Travel Guide to Davao Oriental’s Surf Capital
Waking Up the Sleeping Dinosaur of Mati, Davao Oriental
Mati’s Ice Cold Cascades – Pangyan Falls
Discovering Davao Oriental – Subangan Museum
Waking Up the Sleeping Dinosaur of Mati, Davao Oriental
Updated October 25, 2019
