Dapitan is a significant town in the northwest of Zamboanga Peninsular of the southern Philippines and although not the most popular place to visit in the archipelago, it has several beaches and a bunch of interesting sights worth checking out.
Known as the Shrine City, the town of Dapitan itself is a medium-sized, 2nd class city in Zamboanga del Norte province that is best known as the place where Filipino patriot Jose Rizal was exiled by the Spaniards.
Dapitan Bay is the highlight of a visit for tourists to Dapitan, lying as it does in the Sulu Sea. There are many attractive beaches in the northern part of the bay that are easy to get to and have good facilities. There are also plenty of developed beach resorts here with some decent accommodation to boot.
Dipolog is nearby to Dapitan, another popular tourist destination in the region.
Getting There & Away
The best way to get to Dapitan is to take the high-speed ferry from Cebu City, or fly to Zamboanga International Airport (to the south) and take a bus via the Pan Philippine Highway. Flight time from Manila to Zamboanga is around 90 minutes. Flights also land at nearby Dipolog less frequently.
Things to Do
Dapitan Attractions
- Rizal Shrine
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Dapitan’s main landmark is dedicated to dr jose rizal, a national hero exiled here in 1892.
- Ilihan Hill
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This hill features a military fort built by the spanish and has great views of dapitan and the sea.