Cagayan de Oro is the capital city of Misamis Oriental and regional hub of Northern Mindanao. This travel guide will come handy if you are heading to the city soon. Provided in this Cagayan de Oro travel guide are latest information on travel requirements, getting there, accommodation, activities, sample itinerary, budget and more.
About Cagayan de Oro
Cagayan de Oro City is the capital of the Province of Misamis Oriental. Dubbed as the “City of Golden Friendship”, it is one of the safest and most progressive cities in this part of the Philippines. A place where adventure, nature and city living intersect in a rich blend of diverse culture and art.
Cagayan de Oro, popularly called Cagayan or CDO, is home to more than half a million inhabitants. It is the white water rafting capital of the country, and a shopping, educational and economic hub of the region.
Cagayan de Oro also serves as hub and gateway to Northern Mindanao, a region filled with unparalleled natural wonders! From the vivid seascape of Camiguin to the highlands of Bukidnon or the majestic waterfalls of Agusan del Norte, Cagayan sits at the center of it all.
, spend a day in Mapawa Nature Park, visit the eco-tourism village of the Garden of Malasag, appreciate nature, go on an adventure and feel the vibe of the vibrant city in blossom, bloom and boom! Ali na sa Cagayan de Oro!
How to Get to Cagayan de Oro City
By Air
Cagayan de Oro City is accessible via Laguindingan Airport. Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have regular flights daily from Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, Zamboanga and Davao to Laguindingan Airport.
From Laguindingan Airport, ride a shuttle (Magnum Shuttle or LAX Van at P199.00 per person as of November 2017) to various points in downtown Cagayan de Oro City.
By Land/Sea
By bus, Philtranco has daily trip from Pasay or Cubao to Cagayan de Oro for an approximately 42 hours travel time. By ferry, 2Go Travel has regular schedule to Cagayan de Oro City for around 30 hours travel time.
There are also regular bus trips from Iligan City, Butuan, Balingoan, Davao and various cities and towns in Mindanao.
Where to Stay in Cagayan de Oro
Cagayan de Oro being one of the frequently visited place by tourists in Mindanao has a lot of resorts and hotels that cater to all type of travelers.
Top-Rated Hotels in Cagayan de Oro
|
Seda Centrio |
Limketkai Luxe Hotel |
Top-Rated Mid-Range Accommodation in Cagayan de Oro
Red Planet Hotel |
New Dawn Pensionne |
Top-Rated Budget Accommodation in Cagayan de Oro
The Urban Pod |
St. Nicolas Inn |
What to Do in Cagayan de Oro
From adventure to nature, shopping to night life, you will surely love Cagayan de Oro. While in here, don’t miss the following activities, places to visit, food to eat and things to do:
- Feel the rapids of the mighty Cagayan de Oro River in White Water Rafting/Kayaking/River Tubing
- Visit Plaza del Heroes, Vicente de Lara Park, Gaston Park and Saint Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral
- Horseback riding, biking, zipline and nature trekking in Mapawa Nature Park
- Try the Canopy Walk and zipline in Macahambus Cave and Gorge
- Experience the eco-tourism village of the Garden of Malasag
- Swim, snorkel or dive in the nearby towns of Opol, Medina and Balingoan
- Food trip in Divisoria, Corrales or Limketkai Mall
- Taste the famous Pastel, a yummy yema filled bun
- Visit Catanico Falls, Mintugsok Falls, Manlumot Falls, Sinulom Falls in the boundary of Cagayan and Bukidnon, Sagpulon Falls of Jasaan or the other waterfalls of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental or Agusan del Norte
- Spend a day or two in the nearby province of Camiguin, Bukidnon or Iligan City
Sample Itinerary (Camiguin – Bukidnon – Cagayan de Oro)
Day 1: Camiguin En Route and Sand Bar Sunset
0300H – 0410H: Assembly in the Airport / Check-in
0410H – 0600H: Manila to Cagayan de Oro Flight
0650H – 0630H: Assembly / Baggage Check-in
0630H – 0800H: Laguindingan Airport to Agora Terminal / Proceed to Bus
0800H – 1100H: Agora Terminal to Balingoan Port
1100H – 1200H: Lunch
1200H – 1315H: Balingoan to Benoni Port, Camiguin
1315H – 1400H: Benoni to Hotel
1400H – 1500H: Check-in / Fix-up / Rest
1500H – 1800H: Camiguin to White Sandbar (by boat) / Sunset at White Sand Bar / Back to Mainland Camiguin
1800H – 1900H: Wash-up Fix-up
1900H – onwards: Dinner / Socials / Lights off
Day 2: Camiguin on a Day
0600H – 0800H: Call Time / Breakfast
0800H – 1300H: Multicab Tour: Ol Vocano Station of the Cross / Sunken Cemetery / Gui-ob Church Ruins/ Sto. Niño Cold Springs
1300H – 1400H: Lunch
1400H – 1800H: Katibawasan Falls / Ardent Hot Springs
1800H – 1900H: Wash-up / Fix-up
1900H – onwards: Dinner / Socials / Lights off
Day 3: Zip Cagayan de Oro
0600H – 0645H: Call Time / Breakfast / Proceed to Benoni Port
0700H – 0800H: Benoni Port to Balingoan
0800H – 1200H: Balingoan to Cagayan de Oro
1200H – 1400H: Proceed to Hotel / Check-in New Lunch
1400H – 1700H: Free Time: Option to go to Garden of Malasag, Mapawa Nature Park or Macahambus
1700H – 1800H: Return to hotel
1800H – 1900H: Wash-up / fix-up
1900H – onwards: Dinner / Socials / Buy pasalubongs
Day 4: Wild Water Ride
0500H – 0600H: Call Time / Breakfast
0600H – 0700H: Travel Time to White Water Rafting Jumpoff
0700H – 1400H: White Water Rafting!!!! (Buffet Lunch included)
1400H – 1500H: Return to hotel
1500H – 1800H: Wash-up / fix-up / rest
1800H – onwards: Dinner / socials
[…] Cagayan de Oro City, the City of Golden Friendship and the regional hub for Northern Mindanao is also the white water rafting adventure capital of the Philippines. Cliche as it is, but it is definitely true that you’ve never been to CDO if you haven’t tried riding on its wild rapids. […]
[…] Cagayan de Oro City, the City of Golden Friendship and the regional hub for Northern Mindanao is also the white water rafting adventure capital of the Philippines. Cliche as it is, but it is definitely true that you’ve never been to CDO if you haven’t tried riding on its wild rapids. […]
[…] Related Link: Cagayan de Oro Travel Guide […]
Hi there.
Im fixing our itenirary for trip to camiguin and im not sure if all port going there have schedules. Hope to get response fr anyone who has idea… Im assuming ferry trip have trip anytime. Thanks
May number po ba kayo ng Malasag Ecotourism? Malasag Garden? wala po ako makita sa internet. kung meron man, hindi naman po macontact. salamat po.
Hey Angel,
I am a volunteer in Cagayan de Oro since 3,5 month. I expirienced Cagayan de Oro from a very different side – the dumping side. It`s nice for me to read that you expirienced so many good sides of CDO, for me it was until now just a hot, crowded, dirty city full of streetkids. Some of my expiriences you can find on my blog.
Have a wunderful livetrip, Julia
Is it okay to visit CDO this November?
We had visited Cagayan de Oro City last week with my family and we tried water rafting. So nervous at first but it’s an extraordinary experience to remember. I so love CDO.
My family decided to try the white water rafting nextweek. ahh cant wait!
Summer’s near and I can’t wait to spend my vacation in Cagayan de Oro. I’ve got to experience that white water rafting so that I can test whether it’s really challenging. I think it’d be a better idea to bring my family. See you soon CDO!
Tamang-tama ang panahon na magpunta dito sa Cagayan de Oro at subukan ang White Water Rafting, bisitahin ang Mapawa Nature Park at Malasag Gradens. Para sa mga nagtapos na ng kanilang pag-aaral sa kolehiyo, oras niyo namang magpakasaya’t makisama sa kalikasan. Sa mga magbabakasyon lalo na’t panahon na naman ng tag-init, dito na sa Cagayan de Oro!
last trip of ferry from cagayan going to camiguin pls?
Hi there kaibigan. These are the schedule from CDO-Camiguin daily trip. You’ll surely have a comfortable ride with this ferry. I hope it’ll help you.
Monday to Sunday
8:30 AM – 10:30 AM : CDO Macabalan Port to Benoni Port (Camiguin)
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM : Benoni Port (Camiguin) to CDO Macabalan Port
Hi! I’ll be visiting Cagayan de Oro City by next week. Can you suggest some rafting guide with excellent knowledge and equipped skills for this kind of adventure?
Can you give me some must-go-places in Camiguin?
Wala bang Camiguin to CDO early morning and then CDO to CAmiguin sa hapon na ferry? Do you know of any van or multicab for hire na mura? Good for six people lang.
[…] September 17, 2011, the town woke up early and came to life. Scuba divers from as far as Pagadian, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Gingoog and Manila trooped to Medina Port while local officials and residents gathered to […]
[…] September 17, 2011, the town woke up early and came to life. Scuba divers from as far as Pagadian, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Gingoog and Manila trooped to Medina Port while local officials and residents gathered to […]