Boston
Best things to do in Boston, including free and rainy-day options
Boston, Davao Oriental is a small coastal town, not a sight-packed city: come for the bay, the fish port and day trips to Cape San Agustin and the Caraga coast. Give it one or two nights as a stop between Mati and the southern peninsula, not a destination on its own.
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GuideBoston
Key facts
- Best for
- Coastal stopover, seafood, day trips along Davao Oriental's east coast
- Time needed
- 1–2 nights; half a day for the town itself
- Free things to docheck
- Town bay and waterfront walk, public market, church visit
- Rainy-day optionscheck
- Market, covered eateries, cafe time; no confirmed indoor museum
- Getting therecheck
- Road from Mati or Davao City; bus and van services run the coastal highway
- Getting aroundcheck
- Tricycle and habal-habal in town; hired van or boat for Cape San Agustin
- Cashcheck
- Bring pesos; ATMs are limited outside the bigger towns
- Best seasoncheck
- Dry season roughly Dec–May; typhoon season Jun–Nov can disrupt boats and roads
Your options at a glance
Boston is a working coastal town on Davao Oriental's east coast, roughly midway between Mati and the Cape San Agustin area. There is no ticketed attraction list here; the value is the bay, the market and the road south. Use the table to decide how long to stay and what to book ahead.
| Option | Cost (2026 estimate) | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Town bay and waterfront walk | Free | 1–2 h | Best at sunrise or late afternoon |
| Public market and fish port | Free to browse | 1 h | Go early morning for the catch |
| Town church and plaza | Free | 30–45 min | Quiet, short stop |
| Day trip to Cape San Agustin | Van or boat hire, price on the day | Half to full day | Arrange locally; road and sea conditions vary |
| Coastal drive toward Mati or Caraga | Bus or van fare | 2–4 h | Scenic road; count it as transport, not a tour |
| Island or beach hop by boat | Boat hire, price on the day | Half day | Weather-dependent; agree the price first |
The detail
Start with the town itself. The bay and waterfront are the reason most travellers stop: a walk along the shore at sunrise, when the fishing boats come in, is the single best free thing to do here. The public market nearby is where you see the town working, and it is also the cheapest place to eat. A short visit to the town church and plaza rounds out half a day.
The stronger draw is what surrounds Boston. Cape San Agustin, at the southern tip of the peninsula, is the landmark people come this far for, and the coast road between Boston, Caraga and Mati is the scenic route of Davao Oriental. Both need a vehicle: a hired van, a tricycle for short hops, or a boat if you want to reach beaches and small islands offshore. Agree the price and the return time before you set off, and do not count on phone signal the whole way.
This is not a place to fill three days with sights. Treat Boston as a one- or two-night stop on a Davao Oriental run: Mati first, then Boston, then south toward Cape San Agustin, or the reverse. If you want a fuller itinerary, build it around the province rather than the town.
What it costs
Almost everything in Boston is either free or paid in cash on the day. There are no confirmed fixed ticket prices for the sights around town, so treat the figures below as a planning band and confirm locally. Bring enough pesos: ATMs are scarce outside the larger towns in Davao Oriental, and card payment is rare at this scale.
| Item | 2026 estimate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Town walk, market, church | Free | No entry fees confirmed |
| Meals at the market or local eateries | Low, cash | Seafood is the local strength |
| Tricycle hop in town | Small fare, cash | Agree before boarding |
| Hired van, half day | Mid-range, per vehicle | Price on the day; split between passengers |
| Boat hire, half day | Mid-range, per boat | Weather-dependent; confirm inclusions |
| Bus or van to Mati or Davao City | Low to mid, per person | Check the last departure of the day |
Practical tips
Do the outdoor things early. The east coast sun is strong by mid-morning, and afternoon rain is common in the wet months. Keep one flexible day in your plan if you are heading to Cape San Agustin or hiring a boat, because sea and road conditions can cancel a trip with little notice.
Cash, water and a charged phone cover most problems here. Download an offline map before you leave the bigger towns, keep small notes for tricycle and market payments, and ask your accommodation to help arrange a van or boat rather than flagging one down.
- Go to the waterfront at sunrise for the fishing boats.
- Shop and eat at the public market; it is the cheapest and busiest option.
- Fix the price and return time before any van or boat trip.
- Carry cash; do not rely on ATMs or cards.
- Keep a spare day for weather cancellations.
- Ask locally before swimming; currents and conditions vary.
FAQ
Sources
Questions people ask
What are the best things to do in Boston?
Walk the bay and waterfront at sunrise, browse the public market and fish port, visit the town church and plaza, then use Boston as a base for a day trip to Cape San Agustin or the coast road toward Mati and Caraga. Half a day covers the town itself.
What are free things to do in Boston?
The waterfront walk, the public market and fish port, and the town church and plaza cost nothing. Sunrise at the bay, when the boats come in, is the best free hour here. Confirm any local fees on the day.
What can I do in Boston when it rains?
There is no confirmed indoor museum or attraction in town, so rain usually means the market, a covered eatery or cafe time, and rearranging outdoor plans. If you have a vehicle, the drive toward Mati is the usual fallback.
How long should I stay in Boston?
One or two nights. Half a day covers the town; the rest is for Cape San Agustin, the coast road or a boat trip. It works best as a stop between Mati and the southern tip of Davao Oriental.
How do I get to Boston, Davao Oriental?
By road along the coastal highway from Mati or Davao City, using bus or van services. Check the last departure of the day before you travel, and see the airport transfer page for the wider Davao region.
Is Boston worth visiting?
Yes if you are already travelling Davao Oriental's east coast and want a quiet, working coastal town with good seafood and access to Cape San Agustin. No if you expect a full sightseeing town; there is not enough here for a long stay.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialPhilippines Department of Tourism
- officialDavao Oriental provincial government
- secondaryWikivoyage – Davao Oriental
- secondaryWikivoyage – Philippines