Feeling the Sun in Kopiat

White Sand Beach in Kopiat Island.

The past week has really been very busy and exhausting, so when we had some little opportunity to saunter into the island, we grabbed it. As I’m writing this post, I can feel the muscle pains I got from the very strenuous things I did during our very short trip. To give justice to the pains, here I am chronicling what went well and wrong during this trip.

I have a penchant for little-known or better yet, unexplored territories. And so out of nowhere on a very hot Sunday, me and my officemates ventured into a three-hour island hopping in one of Compostela Valley’s tourism gems: Kopiat Island.


This island is one of the many attractions that solidify Davao Region’s claims of adventures from islands to highlands. From the Pindasan Boat Landing Port—built with the help of the United States Agency for International Development—the sight of white sand excites every tourist waiting for an adventure. As one approaches the island, blue-greenish water awaits. The 87-hectare island, I later knew, was part of the Maco-Mabini Protected seascape and landscape. Based on an article by the Philippine Information Agency, Kopiat Island is  known breeding ground of the hawksbill and leatherback turtles. Sea travel around Kopiat Island takes about 20 minutes by motorized boat, while in-land tour in the 87-hectare island takes about 45 minutes. A portion of the island encircles a seven-hectare lagoon. Unknown to many, the island hosts unspoiled reef areas with rare coral beds that house exotic marine life.

Snorkeling is fun to do there. When I did, two little fishes seem to join me in my plunge into its cold water. You can also tour the island via a pumpboat for only 300 pesos.

When you’re living in Davao del Norte or in Compostela Valley like me, Kopiat Island in Pindasan is indeed a nice place to go to take respite from the hustle-bustle of the metropolis without spending a big amount of money.

As what I coined when I toured the island, it’s really more fun to feel the sun in Pindasan.

Feeling fisherman upon arriving in Kopiat Island. Photo by Leo Timogan of Tagum Exposure.

A kid proudly showed me a star fish.

The 87-hectare Kopiat Island in Compostela Valley

at the Back of the Island