For years, Northern Mindanao holds the title of being adventure and nature capital not only of down south but of the country, a haven for those who love to see nature at its best and those who want some ultimate adrenaline rush.
Feel the flux of Cagayan de Oro River, experience the thrill of the longest zipline in the country at Bukidnon and commune with nature’s great offerings in Camiguin. With all these adventures and wonders, you will surely fall in love with Northern Mindanao.
Hoping to help those planning to get there, here’s my tried and tested DIY itinerary, four days and three nights designed for those busy and adventurous goers who want to experience these three places in one shot. Warning though, this isn’t for lazy, faint-heart and those who prefer laid back and relaxing trip. But I promise, this is fun!
Camiguin, Bukidnon & Cagayan de Oro Itinerary
Day 1: Camiguin En Route and Sand Bar Sunset
0600H – 0825H: Assembly in the Airport / Check-in
0825H – 0950H: Manila to Cagayan de Oro Flight
0950H – 1030H: Assembly / Baggage Check-in
1030H – 1100H: Cagayan de Oro Airport to Agora Terminal
1100H – 1300H: Agora Terminal to Balingoan Port
1300H – 1400H: Lunch
1400H – 1530H: Balingoan to Benoni Port, Camiguin
1530H – 1600H: Benoni to Paguia’s Cottages
1600H – 1630H: Check-in/Fix-up
1630H – 1830H: Camiguin to White Sandbar (by boat) / Sunset at White Sand Bar / Back to Mainland Camiguin
1830H – 1930H: Wash-up Fix-up
1930H – 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 High in Bukidnon
0345H – 0430H: Call Time / Paguia’s to Benoni Port
0430H – 0600H: Benoni Port to Balingoan
0600H – 0800H: Balingoan to Cagayan de Oro
0800H – 0900H: Check-in New Dawn Pensionne CDO / Heavy Breakfast
0800H – 1000H: Travel CDO to Bukidnon
1000H – 1600H: Zip, Zorb and more in Dahilayan (Lunch and Snacks Included)
1600H – 1800H: Travel Bukidnon to CDO
1800H – 1900H: Wash-up / Fix-up
1900H – onwards: Dinner / Socials / Buy pasalubongs
Day 4: Wild Water Ride
(The rafting organizer suggested to move it to day 4 instead of original day 3 since CDO River is near airport.)
0500H – 0600H: Call Time / Breakfast / Hotel Check-out (Bring all your stuff)
0600H – 0700H: Travel Time to White Water Rafting Jumpoff
0700H – 1300H: White Water Rafting!!!! (Buffet Lunch included)
1300H – 1400H: Wash up / Fix up
1400H – 1500H: To Airport
1555H – 1720H: Travel CDO to Manila
Expenses
NAIA Terminal Fee: P200
Taxi (Airport to Agora Terminal): P50.00/share
Bus (Agora To Balingoan): P143.00
Ferry to Camiguin: P150.00
Multicab (Tour/Transfer): P250
2 Nights Camiguin Accommodation: P600/share
Boat to White Island: P50/person
Ferry Camiguin to Balingoan: P150.00
Bus (Balingoan to Agora): P143.00
Taxi to Hotel: P60.00
1 Night CDO Accomodation: P350/share
White Water Rafting + Zipzone: P1999
Terminal Fee CDO: P30
Miscellaneous/Foods/Entrance Fees/Etc: P1000
———————————————————————-
Approximate Budget: P5180 (*Based on 10 pax excluding airfare)
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 Budet Accommodation in Cagayan de Oro
The Urban Pod |
St. Nicolas Inn |
Other Attractions
Macahambus Cave and Garden of Malasag Eco-Tourism Village in Cagayan de Oro; Canopy Walk in Claveria, Misamis Oriental; Agutayan Island in Jasaan, Misamis Oriental; Waterfalls of Iligan City and Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte; Monastery of Transfiguration in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon; Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park also in Bukidnon.
Recommendations
Accommodation in Camiguin: Paguia’s Cottages
Accommodation in CDO: New Dawn Pensionn or Budgetel (dorm type ideal for solo backpackers)
Transpo from CDO Airport to Agora Terminal: Taxi if group / Jeep if solo (Airport to Carmen Market, Carmen Market to Agora)
Transpo from Agora to Balingoan and Vice Versa: Bus
Transpo from Balingoan to Benoni and Vice Versa: Ferry
Transpo from Benoni Port to Paguia’s Cottages: Multicab
Transpo on Camiguin Tour: Multicab
Transpo from Camiguin to White Sandbar and Vice Versa: Boat
Transpo from Agora Terminal to New Dawn Pensionne: Taxi or Jeep if Solo
White Water Rafting and Dahilayan Adventure Package: P1990.00 per person inclusive of Van transpo to and from Rafting Site, Dahilayan Bukidnon, Lunch and Snack on Rafting Day, Lunch and Snacks on Dahilayan, Advance White Water Rafting and three zip rides (150m, 320m, 840m)
Hi we have a flight for CDO on September… how much if we’re only two? hmmmm gusto sana naming makatipid mag bf… do you have suggestion or cheaper packages?
Thanks so much,
Hi guys, we’re planning a 3d2n CDO tour on Sep 28-30, 2013 (5pax). can you please help us find the best package/tour? Thanks in advance. More powers! -Pearl
wer planning to go to cdo and camiguin in sept pa naman pls send me an itenerary for 4 days 3 nites adventure and the ttal expenses plus tour. asap pls em
hi san yung dinner with in the hotel or outside ??? if outside paki specify naman po..
hi.. do you have still have the link or website for the rafting and zipline package?
Hi dan, check this out: http://www.dahilayanadventurepark.com/
good day, ask lang possible ba ang itinerary ko, 1st day cdo; 2nd day bukidnon; 3rd day am to camiguin 4th day am back to cdo to mla…. i’m travelling with my kids ages 17, 13, 11 and 9…. and pwede ba sila sa wwr plan ko sana pag dating namin sa cdo ng 1st day kung pwede sila un ang gawin namin. thnx.
Hi Ali, yes your kids can do White Water Rafting 🙂 Organizers allow kids on this sport. With regards to your itinerary, first and second day sound good but I am quite in doubt on your 3rd and 4th day or the Camiguin leg. Well, the Camiguin leg is doable if you leave CDO at probably around 3AM to catch the earliest ferry from Balingoan to Camiguin at around 5AM or 6AM. If that so, you’ll be in Camiguin before 8AM and you can go straight to your island activities. 🙂
hi.. do you have a link/website of your water rafting and zipline package? thanks.
How do you get to Bukidnon via Agora Terminal from City proper?
hi, we’re going to camiguin/bukidnon/CDO on the 22nd of November until the 25th. I so love your planned itinerary so we’re planning to do the same. We have everything planned in Camiguin the problem is in Bukidnon and CDO. I see that you got a package at 1990 per person. May i know where to get the same package please? I would really appreciate your feedback. thanks 🙂
Hi did the blogger informed you where did they get this package? We’re planning to do the same trip and around the same time with you guys!
baka may gustong mag join??? we will go to cdo and camiguin (dec. 26 to 30, 2012)
we will be going also 26 alis nmin from cebu.
do you know any travel&tours contact there to take us around (camiguin and cdo)? thanks
Hi po! Alam nyo po ba ang last trip ng ferry from Benoni Port to Balingoan?
Salamat
Hi can u please send us a package tour for 9pax, cdo-camiguin-bukidnon. 4days and 3 nights october 2012.
thank you
Guys, my friends and I wil be having CDO Bukidnon Iligan Camiguin trip, August 17 to 20, 2012. Baka may gustong sumama,just let me know. 09228594632 email [email protected]. Thanks, Hannah
syang sn oct 2012 nlng pr mk join kmi or kyo s min kc 2 lng din kmi ng frnd ko pr mas mrmi mas mtipid hahaha.
so guysss bk meron dyan n nk buk ng oct 3-6 join force nlng tyo : – )
we did CDO-BUKIDONO-CAMIGUIN last march…and we had so much fun. if you still have days to spare, i HIGHLY recommend that you river trek at MAPAWA NATURE PARK in CDO. a lot a day for this. then if you have another day, DON’T MISS iligan city, and SEE ma. cristina and tinago falls and eat their famous lechon..on top of this, please do a little charity work for the victims of sendong.
@amber — kelan kayo punta cdo? we’re booked na rin jan 4-7 2011.
3 lang kami. same ba tayo travel dates? we can share the expenses. =)
Hi Solitairez,
Sorry for the super late reply. Our trip is on jan8-11 so hindi tayo magpapang-abot! ahehe sayang naman bet ko pa naman yang sharing of expenses. :p
Mukhang trip ko mag white water rafting at subukan ang longest zipline sa Pinas. Salamat sa pag share nito Angel!
Organize tayo ng ganito for Bagets Drew :))
Hi,
Would you know kung pano mag-commute from CDO to Dahilayan? We have a 3D4N trip to CDO this January and we plan to go to Dahilayan on Day1. 2 lang kameng pupunta so we cant really afford to rent a van. Thanks! 🙂
amber, we did this last march…go to GUSA (jeepney station) in CDO, ride a jeep going to manolo fortich (fare is P50/head). from there rent a multi cab going to dahilayan zipline. we were 5 that time, and we were charged 500 each round trip. inclusive is a short trip to dahilayan garden resort (you can google this and see what is in store for you-great place for picture taking and some adventures, too) it’s close to the zipline so you dont have to miss this.
or you can
go to agora bus terminal in CDO and ride the bus going to manolo fortich (fare is P135)
Hi Judy,
Sorry for the late reply. Sige I’ll keep this 2 options in mind. But i thought may mga commuter van na going sa Bukidnon. Parang may nabasa ako sa isa pang blogsite. I’ll try to research again. Thanks much! =)
wow salamat dito! kelangan ko to this january! 🙂
Wooot! Ayun naman, nakapila na mga trips for next year 🙂
wow.. kasay pala ang 5k++ na budget para dito.. gusto ko na din mag CDO.
Kaya pa nga ng lesser than 5K yan eh 😛