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
[…] took us six hours from Cagayan de Oro airport to reach Camiguin including all the transfer, break and waiting time. We followed the still […]
[…] eleven known dive spots, probably more still undiscovered. It is approximately two hours away from Cagayan de Oro or […]
m bound to CDO this last week of April.. any new information to share?
obman612,
for more adventure after white water rafting in cdo river, you can proceed to manolo fortich, bukidnon and have more adrenaline rush at dahilayan zipzone adventure!
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[…] late lunch on white water rafting day. Dahilayan Adventure Park is around 40 kilometers away from CDO, two hours travel by land, making river rafting and zipping a perfect adventure combination. […]
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[…] Cagayan de Oro City, the City of Golden Friendship and the regi0nal hub for N0rthern Mindanao is also the white water rafting adventure capital of the our 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 is the white water rafting adventure capital of the Philippines […]
[…] bun called pastel, is a pear-shaped volcanic island approximately 100 kilometers north of Cagayan de Oro City, my jump-off point to Mantangale and […]
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heard that macahambus park is closed for 5 months now…. you have idea when it will be opened again? thank you!
for chameronne,
if i may add, normally the jeepney for the rafters will have a stop at makahambus park before proceeding to the jump off site. either in morning or afternoon run.
Thank you so much for the reply! 😀 I love your site 😀
hi! My friends will be going to CDO this December. IS white-water rafting okay this month?
Can we de white water rafting in the morning and then zip line and canopy walk in the afternoon at Macahambus Park(?)
How about the caving? how man hours would it take? Do you have rates for these: Zipline, Canopy Walk and Caving?
Thanks! that settles it then 🙂
for http://www.thingsweloveothate.com
i recommend 1st rafting adventure – pioneer in cdo rafting, still P 700 for basic run.
Thanks CBA for that informative reply 🙂
If you don’t mind answering another one. Which White Water Rafting outfitter would you recommend?
Kagay seems to be the cheapest outfitter I see online for P700pax for the Beginner’s route.
However, some say that Dome’s more expensive services are really worth it!
for http://www.thingswelovetohate.com
suggest to reach first the rafting company you planned to join with, you can make the necessary arrangements. yes, you can go direct to mambuaya*, your bags can be handled by the organizer’s jeepney, rest room is available in the area. from the airport – by taxi; from hotel/inn – arrange to be picked-up or go to meeting place which is mcdonald’s rest-divisoria.
try sunshine guesthouse (8822)723053 or budgetel (88)8564200; 092286628555.
*assuming basic run
We’re bound to Cagayan de Oro on August – however, we have a really tight schedule.
**Is it possible/sane(?!) to go straight from the airport to a white-water rafting place?
– Can we leave our bags of clothes somewhere there?
– Can we change our clothes there?
– How will get there (where is “there” in the first place LOL) from the airport/from hotel/inn?
– Do you have a specific recommendation on where to stay while in CDO? (Like your recommendation of Paguia’s Cottages in Camiguin?)
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions 🙂
I would suggest to try out the advanced rafting course! It’s fun! Lalo na pag rainy seasons mas maraming white waters talaga na makikita, mas maeenjoy yung whole rafting adventure!
Enjoy!
Hinde na sila nag jump off sa bridge, sa isang malaking bato na lang! Haha!
Why are people jumping off the bridge? Umm is that supposed to be fun? LOL