Zamboanga Peninsula / Zamboanga del Sur / Pagadian
Dao Dao Islands
Best for
- Island route
- Pagadian
Map address
Why it matters
Dao Dao Dako and Dao Dao Gamay are two small islands in Illana Bay. They are a ten minute boat ride from the city wharf. Dao Dao Dako has a resort with cottages and artificial coral reefs made from old tires. Dao Dao Gamay is a sandbar that is home to a colony of cats. You can rent a boat from the wharf for a round trip. It is best to go on calm days and agree on the fare with the operator beforehand.
Place guide
Getting to the Islands: BPA Port and the Boat Fare
Head to BPA Port, the city wharf, in the morning. It is the departure point for motorboats to the Dao Dao Islands, and different from the interisland passenger ferry terminal. The ride to Dao Dao Dako takes about 7 to 10 minutes. Boat rental for a round trip runs roughly ₱1,500 to ₱2,500 for the whole boat, which typically fits up to 10 people, so a family or group of friends makes the cost manageable. That total is for the boat, not per seat. Fares change seasonally and are not posted, so confirm before boarding. If you want to skip the negotiation at the port, the Pagadian City Tourism Office has a Facebook page (@PagadianCTO) and can refer you to accredited operators.
What's Actually on the Two Islands
Dao Dao Dako, the larger island, has a small resort with green cottages, walkways, and a day use area. There's shade and somewhere to sit. Artificial coral reefs made from old tires have been anchored around the island over the years; the coral has established itself on them, and there's enough marine life that snorkeling is worth the time. Bring your own mask and fins since there's no gear available on the island. The smaller island, Dao Dao Gamay, is a sandbar that partially submerges during high tide. At low tide, you can wade across from Dako. You will be waist deep at certain points, so put your phone in a waterproof bag first. Gamay is uninhabited by people but supports a colony of cats. They are well known to regular visitors and show up in almost every photo taken from the sandbar.
What to Bring and When to Go
Go in the morning when the bay is calm and the light is good. Bring cash only. Nothing at the port or on the islands accepts cards. Pack your own food, water, and snacks since there are no vendors on the islands. Sunscreen matters on the open water and on the exposed sandbar. A dry bag or waterproof case for your phone is worth having if you plan to wade to Gamay. Avoid the trip when whitecaps are visible from shore or when there is rain forecast. The best windows are April to May and November to December, just before and after the monsoon season. From the water, you get a view of Pagadian from the bay side. The city's hillside layout, which can be disorienting on land, makes complete visual sense from offshore.
Local context
Local details to know
Take a motorboat from BPA Port; the trip takes about 10 minutes, and fares can change based on the season. Artificial reefs have been built around the island, and you can see fish and coral if you bring your own snorkeling gear. The smaller island is a sandbar that is partly underwater at high tide and is known for its cat colony, while the names Dao Dao Dako and Dao Dao Gamay simply mean big and small in Bisaya.