Cagayan de Oro City, the Gateway to Northern Mindanao, is situated along the northern shores of the Mindanao region. As a tourist destination, this golden city has a lot to offer. It is filled with outstanding scenic places ranging from beaches, mountains, limestone caves, museums, historical landmarks, timeless churches, and rivers. Whether it is business or leisure, there is something for you to enjoy in Cagayan de Oro.As a highly urbanized metropolis, it is considered a first class city and is also the capital of Misamis Oriental. It is approximately a 5-hour drive away from thecountry’s biggest city, Davao, and is also just a couple of hours away from yet another tourist destination, the island of Camiguin.
Cagayan de Oro City: A view of the city of Cagayan de Oro bisected by the main highway of Northern Mindanao, traversing from the northwest mindanao to the northeast. The view also shows the Cagayan de Oro river almost bisecting the frame horizontally. To the bottom part of the frame is the area of Carmen, while across the river is to the east — Cagayan de Oro City Center. The highway(to the top of the frame) leads to the city of Butuan, to the bottom (and to the west) leads to Iligan.
Photo by storm-cryptWhy Not Go
If you are planning to go to a quiet place, Cagayan de Oro may not be your best choice. It is a bustling metropolis and tranquility is just not one of its strong features.Why Go
Into the Rapids: One of several boats that day that started off earlier downstream. It was not a pleasant river color. The rains during the season washed away topsoil from the river banks. This rafting is classified as a Class 1. There are several other jump off points of higher levels(Class 2 and above). I don’t know if there’s a class 6 though as the river seems to be smaller to have a class 6 rafting route.
Photo by storm-cryptThere are so many things for you to do in Cagayan de Oro. From fun time frolicking in the beaches, to sports adventures and street parties, you can definitely experience it in this city. Cagayan de Oro is very well known as the White Water Rafting capital of the Philippines, too.Best Time to Visit
Cagayan de Oro is said to be a typhoon-free area but it has not been able to escape rain showers and some depressions. The best time to go when weather is a consideration would be from March to June as it is sunny during this time.However, if you would like to see colorful festivals and street parades, you should go there around the 4th week of August as this is the time they celebrate the Kagay-an Festival, an annual fiesta of sorts where there will be parades, street dancing, trade fairs, and a beauty contest. It is the biggest affair of the city.Where to Stay
There are expensive hotels and there are also budget-friendly accommodations in the city. For the most part though, the room rates are relatively inexpensive.
• If you want to stay in a hotel within a golf estate, you should stay at Hotel Koresco. It has an 18-hole golf course located at Pueblo de Oro Golf Estate and is just 10 minutes away from the city. Rates start at $79. Phone number (+63) (88) 859 2298
• You can also stay at a pricier place, Pryce Plaza Hotel, which is probably the most luxurious hotel in this side of the country. You get a fantastic view of the city, plus it also has the amenities of a first class hotel. Rates start at $98. Phone number (+63) (8822) 722 791
• The Mallberry Suites would be the most strategic hotel to stay in. It is a business hotel located just beside Robinson’s Mall and Limketkai so it is very convenient. The rates are pretty fair too, starting at $43. Phone number (+63) (88) 854 9999
• A much cheaper place to stay is the De Luxe Hotel, which offers spacious and clean rooms. Rates are quite low, starting at $17. Phone number (+63) (088) 857 2145Where & What to Eat
• Peking House: for authentic Chinese dishes, this is the one place you should go. Located at Gaisano Mall, you can have a sumptuous array of food for only $4. Their specialties are: Pansit and Lumpia Shanghai.
• Sentro 1850: Great tasting tenderloin steaks you will surely find here. It’s cheap too- you can eat to your heart’s content for only about $10. You can find this restaurant along Don Apolinar Velez Street.
• P Joe’s Diner: American food at its finest, you can find P Joe’s along Limketkai Center. Good steaks, burgers and fries and pizza.
• Golden Arirang: The best Korean restaurant in town. You can try their Kimchi because it is better than most. Don’t order too much though as they tend to serve a lot of side dishes. They are located at Claro M. Recto Avenue.
• Kagay-anon Restaurant: Located at Limketkai Center, they cook authentic Filipino dishes plus you can also sample their ostrich meat cooked in a variety of ways, which is also one of the things this city is famous for.Nightlife
If you happen to be there during the weekend, don’t miss out on the famous Night Café which is open only on Fridays and Saturdays. You can have some beer and grilled food. You also get to interact with other tourists and locals, as well as experience Cagayan’s street party. The city also has lots of family KTV bars such as M2 and Loreto’s. And a popular hangout for yuppies would be The Site at Limketkai Center.My to do List
Whitewater Rafting at the Cagayan de Oro River: The stretch from Baraga Dansolihon to the city provides you with a panoramic view of the river’s rocky walls, untouched vegetation, and the sight of the resting haven of monkeys and snakes. It has breathtaking rapids that provide the more adventurous with thrills and challenges of rapids interval not less than 10-15 minutes of each other. Cagayan de Oro River has everything that makes for a memorable experience with awesome roar and power of water cascading over rocks and boulders.
Photo by storm-crypt• White water river rafting: Cagayan de Oro has the best white water rafting in the Philippines, with 14 rapids stretching from Baraga Dansolihon to the city.• Tubing and Kayaking: These are alternative activities for river rafting which you can also experience in Cagayan de Oro.
Macahambus Cave: Located just about 4 kilometers south of Cagayan de Oro city’s airport, this cave was a strategic location to several wars in the 20th century. It is a three chamber – two way cave, one end is beside the highway and the other exit is to a cliff overlooking the Cagayan de Oro River.
Photo by storm-crypt• Cave exploration: You can go to Monigue Cave, which is probably the most popular place for spelunking in Cagayan de Oro.
Macahambus Adventure Park: The Zipline or so — that’s what they call it. What is it? Well, to put it in a more simpler way, you go up, your body get tied to a rope, the rope is attached to a steel cable, and you slide down slowly(if it ain’t close to supersonic, it’d be slow). That’s it. Thrilling? No. Life’s more thrilling, the fact that you don’t know when you’re going to die, how many people are going to betray you in your lifetime, and some idiot named satan who seems to be always trying to be disrupting humanity(I learned it from people who say that our souls are always in peril), a fragile planet that is more difficult to maintain than ever, born in a country where people don’t learn lessons from the past — I’ve got enough thrills in my life. I opt not to try this as I may just fall asleep and end up embarassing the nature park(or thrill park) organizers. Well, its fun for some though. No denying — which is why I’m here at this time.
Photo by storm-crypt• Nature Tripping: You can check out Macahambus Adventure Park which is about 20 minutes away from the city. Here you will experience nature at its finest, with age old trees and a lot of greens. They also have zip lines and a sky bridge. Additionally, you can also go to Mapawa Nature Park where you can take a dip in a mini waterfall and do horse-back riding.• Shopping: There are a lot of ukay-ukay places in the city which is heaven for the budget shopper. You can also go to the Night Market where you can find cheap stuff, along Divisoria. However, they are only open on weekends- Friday and Saturday 7pm until 2am.
San Agustin Church: It is the city’s main Catholic Church and the seat of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro. The original church was built in 1845 by the Augustinian Friars but was destroyed during the American bombardment in 1945. Only the wooden cross in front of the church survive up to this day.
Photo by erick_photomurals• Sight-seeing: You can find historical sights in Cagayan de Oro, such as the St. Augustine Cathedral which was built in 1845; Gaston Park which is where the first Spanish settlement was located; and the Museo de Oro, which shows collections of things that Muskim tribes used in the past.
• Extras: You can also go to Bukidnon, the pineapple capital of the country where you can see the Del Monte Pineapple plantation. They also offer great tasting steaks in their restaurant. It takes 2 hours to get there by bus.Stay Away From
Generally, it is a safe place to be in. Just stay away from deserted locations at night, and keep your valuables where robbers and pickpockets cannot find them.Getting There
The fastest way to get to Cagayan de Oro is by plane. There are flights from Manila and Cebu daily through airlines: Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines, Philippine Airlines and other airlines such as Asian Spirit that have small planes. There are also ferry boat trips and fast crafts from Manila, Cebu, Dumaguete, and other cities. Buses for those who are just within Mindanao area are also available.
Cagayan de Oro City: A view of the city of Cagayan de Oro bisected by the main highway of Northern Mindanao, traversing from the northwest mindanao to the northeast. The view also shows the Cagayan de Oro river almost bisecting the frame horizontally. To the bottom part of the frame is the area of Carmen, while across the river is to the east — Cagayan de Oro City Center. The highway(to the top of the frame) leads to the city of Butuan, to the bottom (and to the west) leads to Iligan.
Photo by storm-crypt
Photo by storm-crypt
If you are planning to go to a quiet place, Cagayan de Oro may not be your best choice. It is a bustling metropolis and tranquility is just not one of its strong features.
Into the Rapids: One of several boats that day that started off earlier downstream. It was not a pleasant river color. The rains during the season washed away topsoil from the river banks. This rafting is classified as a Class 1. There are several other jump off points of higher levels(Class 2 and above). I don’t know if there’s a class 6 though as the river seems to be smaller to have a class 6 rafting route.
Photo by storm-crypt
Photo by storm-crypt
Cagayan de Oro is said to be a typhoon-free area but it has not been able to escape rain showers and some depressions. The best time to go when weather is a consideration would be from March to June as it is sunny during this time.
• If you want to stay in a hotel within a golf estate, you should stay at Hotel Koresco. It has an 18-hole golf course located at Pueblo de Oro Golf Estate and is just 10 minutes away from the city. Rates start at $79. Phone number (+63) (88) 859 2298
• You can also stay at a pricier place, Pryce Plaza Hotel, which is probably the most luxurious hotel in this side of the country. You get a fantastic view of the city, plus it also has the amenities of a first class hotel. Rates start at $98. Phone number (+63) (8822) 722 791
• The Mallberry Suites would be the most strategic hotel to stay in. It is a business hotel located just beside Robinson’s Mall and Limketkai so it is very convenient. The rates are pretty fair too, starting at $43. Phone number (+63) (88) 854 9999
• A much cheaper place to stay is the De Luxe Hotel, which offers spacious and clean rooms. Rates are quite low, starting at $17. Phone number (+63) (088) 857 2145
• Peking House: for authentic Chinese dishes, this is the one place you should go. Located at Gaisano Mall, you can have a sumptuous array of food for only $4. Their specialties are: Pansit and Lumpia Shanghai.
• Sentro 1850: Great tasting tenderloin steaks you will surely find here. It’s cheap too- you can eat to your heart’s content for only about $10. You can find this restaurant along Don Apolinar Velez Street.
• P Joe’s Diner: American food at its finest, you can find P Joe’s along Limketkai Center. Good steaks, burgers and fries and pizza.
• Golden Arirang: The best Korean restaurant in town. You can try their Kimchi because it is better than most. Don’t order too much though as they tend to serve a lot of side dishes. They are located at Claro M. Recto Avenue.
• Kagay-anon Restaurant: Located at Limketkai Center, they cook authentic Filipino dishes plus you can also sample their ostrich meat cooked in a variety of ways, which is also one of the things this city is famous for.
If you happen to be there during the weekend, don’t miss out on the famous Night Café which is open only on Fridays and Saturdays. You can have some beer and grilled food. You also get to interact with other tourists and locals, as well as experience Cagayan’s street party. The city also has lots of family KTV bars such as M2 and Loreto’s. And a popular hangout for yuppies would be The Site at Limketkai Center.
Whitewater Rafting at the Cagayan de Oro River: The stretch from Baraga Dansolihon to the city provides you with a panoramic view of the river’s rocky walls, untouched vegetation, and the sight of the resting haven of monkeys and snakes. It has breathtaking rapids that provide the more adventurous with thrills and challenges of rapids interval not less than 10-15 minutes of each other. Cagayan de Oro River has everything that makes for a memorable experience with awesome roar and power of water cascading over rocks and boulders.
Photo by storm-crypt
Photo by storm-crypt
Macahambus Cave: Located just about 4 kilometers south of Cagayan de Oro city’s airport, this cave was a strategic location to several wars in the 20th century. It is a three chamber – two way cave, one end is beside the highway and the other exit is to a cliff overlooking the Cagayan de Oro River.
Photo by storm-crypt
Photo by storm-crypt
Macahambus Adventure Park: The Zipline or so — that’s what they call it. What is it? Well, to put it in a more simpler way, you go up, your body get tied to a rope, the rope is attached to a steel cable, and you slide down slowly(if it ain’t close to supersonic, it’d be slow). That’s it. Thrilling? No. Life’s more thrilling, the fact that you don’t know when you’re going to die, how many people are going to betray you in your lifetime, and some idiot named satan who seems to be always trying to be disrupting humanity(I learned it from people who say that our souls are always in peril), a fragile planet that is more difficult to maintain than ever, born in a country where people don’t learn lessons from the past — I’ve got enough thrills in my life. I opt not to try this as I may just fall asleep and end up embarassing the nature park(or thrill park) organizers. Well, its fun for some though. No denying — which is why I’m here at this time.
Photo by storm-crypt
Photo by storm-crypt
San Agustin Church: It is the city’s main Catholic Church and the seat of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro. The original church was built in 1845 by the Augustinian Friars but was destroyed during the American bombardment in 1945. Only the wooden cross in front of the church survive up to this day.
Photo by erick_photomurals
Photo by erick_photomurals
• Extras: You can also go to Bukidnon, the pineapple capital of the country where you can see the Del Monte Pineapple plantation. They also offer great tasting steaks in their restaurant. It takes 2 hours to get there by bus.
Generally, it is a safe place to be in. Just stay away from deserted locations at night, and keep your valuables where robbers and pickpockets cannot find them.
The fastest way to get to Cagayan de Oro is by plane. There are flights from Manila and Cebu daily through airlines: Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines, Philippine Airlines and other airlines such as Asian Spirit that have small planes. There are also ferry boat trips and fast crafts from Manila, Cebu, Dumaguete, and other cities. Buses for those who are just within Mindanao area are also available.
(Article Source: Articles by Roz Visarra on http://tourism-philippines.com/cagayan-de-oro/
Filed Under: Cagayan De Oro, Featured)Tourist Spots in Cagayan de Oro - Philippines
Cagayan de Oro is one of the "conregimentos" of Misamis Oriental before. Several years ago during the Spanish era, the city was known as Cagayan de Misamis. Taking a trip to the Mindanao Island could easily direct you to seeing the mesmerizing natural and manmade Top 5 Tourist Spots in Cagayan de Oro - Philippines
Explore the beauty of the place and experience the warm welcome of the people in Cagayan de Oro. If youre on tourist vacation, take note of the top 5 tourist spots in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines and surely you will have utmost fun and entertainment.
Malasag Nature Trail and Eco-tourism Village
The fascinating sights of Malasa Nature Trails goes down to several tourist attractions. One of them is the Palalan Waterfall. Tourist could take a 7 kilometers travel from Sitio Palalan from the Brgy. of Tablon. The waterfall is said to be unique since the surrounding stones and boulders have features similar to the prestigious Mangima Stone. The city named the stone as Oro Stones being the pride of Cagayan de Oro. Palalan Waterfalls has 3 divided steps of falls at 50 meters away from the source, which is the upper portion. The Glema Stoneware and Magtusok Falls can also be found at the Nature trail where you could stay and buy souvenirs for family and friends.
Muse de Oro
The museum showcases different cultural artifacts of Bukidnons and the people of Maranao several decades ago. The different exhibits in Museo de Oro wanted to show local visitors and tourist the rich heritage of Cagayan de Oro. They are proud to show off several antique collections that have outstandingly survived the difficult ravages of time.
Monique Cave
The distinct cave is situated at Barangay Mambuaya. Monique Cave has flowing water from the entry way coming from the astonishing underground stream. The entrance to this cave is very challenging because of its very narrow opening. Each person need to wear protective equipments like waterproof cap lamp and a fitted helmet before they submerge themselves to enter the six inches airspace stuck between the cave ceiling and water. After surpassing the challenging entrance, the exceptional sparkling calcite formations await tourists and local visitor. These calcite are the beautiful stalagmites and stalactites that were oxidized for over 50-60 years for an inch-size formation to be produced. The formations on the cave vary from flowstones, cathedral drapes, and transparent crystals. Everything is naturally made, beautiful, and truly awesome.
Pueblo De Or Golf and Country Club
The golf club is one of the attractions in the place of Cagayan de Oro. It has 18- pole par and 72 worlds classes that is outstandingly designed by Robe Trent Jones II, a popular designer worldwide. Pueblo De Or Golf and Country Club is the perfect spot to experience up-to-date clubhouse, pro-shop, driving range, and different functions rooms.
Gaston Park
The park was named after Segundo Gaston, the foremost Mayou of Cagayan de Oro. This was the center of commerce during the introduction of Cagayan de Oro. Centuries ago, the park serves as the training base for local revolutionaries of the Phil- American War.