Exploring Cagayan de Oro

About Cagayan de Oro:

Cagayan de Oro, fondly referred to as "City Of Golden Friendship" is the northern gateway to the rest of Mindanao. Because of its stable peace and order situation, commerce is bustling fueled by local and foreign investments.

Cagayan de Oro in a nutshell

1. Economy - business hub of Northern Mindanao region with its economy largely based on industry, commerce, trade, services and tourism
2. Climate - no typhoons all year round, tropical climate with an average temperature whole year round of 28⁰C (82⁰F)
3. Tourist attractions - white water rafting and river trekking, Monigue Cave, Malasag Eco-tourism Village, Macahambus Adventure Park, F.s. Catanico Falls, McArthur Park, Xavier Museum
4. Land area - 488 square kilometers
5. Geography - located in northern Mindanao, along a narrow coastal plain with its south flanked by the plateaus and mountains of Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte.
6. Religion - 87% of the population are Roman Catholic
7. Education - it is home to 3 private universities, Capitol University, Liceo de Cagayan University and Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan and considered the educational capital of the region
8. Language - the main language is Cebuano with English used primarily for business and in the academe. Tagalog is also spoken.
9. Shopping - Night Cafe And Market, Limketkai Mall Center, SM City, Robinsons, Gaisano City Mall, Market City, Centrio Ayala Mall and (soon to open) Paseo Mall
10. Population - 621,000 in 2010
11. Transportation - one can easily roam around the city by any means of land transportation
12. Medical Facilities - there are eight major well-equipped private and government-run hospitals

How to Get to Cagayan de Oro by Air

Cagayan de Oro is major destination in the Philippines and all major airline companies have flights to Cagayan de Oro. CDO arrival is at Lumbia Airport. To get to the city, you can ride a cab (~P300) or take a Carmen-bound jeep (30 mins, P17)

1. PAL Express - has flights to CDO coming from Manila and Davao
   • Manila flight schedule
   • book a flight
2. Cebu Pacific - has flights to CDO coming from Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Davao and Zamboanga
   • Manila flight schedule
   • book a flight
3. Philippine Airlines - has flights to CDO coming from Manila, Cebu, Bacolod, Davao
   • Manila flight schedule
   • Cebu flight schedule
   • Iloilo flight schedule
   • Davao flight schedule
   • book a flight
4. TIP: unlike GenSan or Busuanga where you are forced to take a cab or van from the airport, in CDO, you can just walk out of the airport and cross the street and flag down a jeep that will take you straight to downtown CDO, to Cogon Market or Carmen. 45 mins (because they stay long on nearly every major stop, waiting for more passengers), less than P20.

• Philtranco - Manila (Pasay) to Cagayan de Oro, 42 hours, non-aircon, departs Manila 10:30am daily
• Bus - from Malaybalay, P375, aircon 6.5 hours (some road repair)

• Super Ferry 2Go Travel - Manila to CDO, 33 hours
  
  
  Accommodation and Rates (as of Mar 2013)
  
  
  • Mega Value Class - Php 1500
  • Tourist Class - Php 1350
  • Stateroom for 2 - Php 2400
  • Manila to CDO schedule
  
  
• Negros Navigation - Manila to CDO, 33 hours, Manila (02)554.8777, CDO (088) 856.9114
  
  
  Accommodation (as of Mar 2013)
  
  
  • Suite Room Accommodation
  • Admiral Cabin Accommodation
  • Business Class Accommodation
  • Tourist Class Accommodation
  • Tatami Economy Class Accommodation
  • Budget Class Accommodation
    
    
  Schedule of St. Micheal the Archangel (as of Mar 2013)
  
  
  • depart Manila Mondays at 3:00 p.m. - arrive Cagayan de Oro City on Wednesday 4:30 a.m.
  • depart Manila Thursdays at 11:59 p.m. - arrive Cagayan de Oro City on Saturday 9:00 a.m.
  
  
• Sulpicio Lines - Manila to CDO, 33 hours

1. 1622 - the Spaniards set foot on Cagayan de Oro initiating the start of Spanish colonization in the area. This started a war with the Moros who didn't appreciate the locals siding with the Spanish priests
2. 1739 - moro raids menaced the population of "Little Cagayan" prompting the construction of a fort, Fuerza Real de San Jose
3. 1870 - Cagayan de Oro, now the capital of Misamis Province, experiences its golden age of arts and literature
4. 1898 - the 333 years of Spanish rule came to an end giving the Cagayanons a brief taste of independence
5. 1900 - the Americans arrived and occupied the city thru military might
6. 1942 - with WWII in full swing, the occupying Americans surrendered to the Japanese Imperial Army
7. 1945 - the Americans regain control of Cagayan and the region. WWII ended soon thereafter, with the surrender of the Japanese
8. 2011 - Typhoon Sendong sends torrential flood waters from the mountains into the city wreaking havoc and killing hundreds as the Cagayan de Oro river overflowed. The people demonstrated resilience and tenacity with their rebuilding efforts

Not to be Missed in CDO:

1. Divisoria - visit CDO on a Friday or Saturday and eat varied BBQ offerings at the famous Night Cafe in Divisoria. It's also great for shopping and getting an outdoor massage (full body massage P100)
2. River Rafting - see selection below
3. Dahilayan Adventure Park - 840m zipline, Dropzone (pendulum swing from 120 feet), pedal-ride on a forest canopy, team-building rope course and mountain lodge (read Blog)

• Uptown Condotel - Cagayan de Oro's first and only luxury condotel, fully furnished, near SM
• Hotel Conchita - central location in Cagayan de Oro, near Ayala Mall, Limketkai Mall and Divisoria
• De Luxe Hotel - centrally located and short walk from Centrio Ayala Mall, Limketkai Mall and Divisoria

• Dahilayan Adventure Park - experience Asia's longest dual zipline and warp-speed to 90kph
• Sumalsag Cave - technical caving requiring a submerged dive to exit the cave. Sumilao, Bukidnon
• Sprint Multisport Shop - Corrales corner Ramon Chavez St., 9000 Cagayan de Oro, Philippines
• Jatico Adventures - zipline, big swing, bungee tramp, zorb, boot camp, Sitio Mahayahay, Bayanga
• Macahambus Adventure Park - rafting, zipline, rappeling, skybridge, caves, Barangay Bayanga

• Iaso Spa - Uptown CDO's refuge for body scrubs, soothing massage, sauna and jacuzzi treat
• 3K Thai - Capistrano St., 714.918
• Body Touch - Rosario Strip 856.1519 and Robinsons Mall, Limketkai, 856.3127
• Fai Thai - Velez St., 714.528
• La Cabana - CM Recto Ave., 856.4168
• Nuat Thai - Papa Juanitos Square, Florentino St., 857.5877
• Palm Day - San Agustin St., 857.2862
• Red Fern - Velez-Chaves St., 852.1855
• Sentara - Limketkai Drive, 856.8870

• Great White Rafting Tours - discover pure adrenaline with our professional guides (read Blog)
• Bugsay Whitewater Rafting - San Agustin - Velez
• Eco Extreme Rafting Adventure
• Golden Friendship White Water Rafting
• Rafting Adventure Philippines - #86 Jongko Bldg. Arch. Hayes Street, CDO
• Kagay Whitewater Rafting - #21 Pres. Aguinaldo St., Cagayan de Oro City
• Pinoy Whitewater Tubing - by De Oro Mountain Explorers (DOME)

• Chali Beach Resort - Cugman CDO, GPS Waypoint: N 08 28.334 E 124 42.097, from Xavier University, take RD jeep and ask to be dropped-off at Chali Beach, P13, 30 mins. P100 consumable. Not for beach-swimming, pool (P100 extra), relaxing sea breeze, good food in resto, www.chalibeachresort.com (the old domain, www.chalibeach.com does not work anymore)
• Roan Beach Resort - Taboc, Opol, Misamis Oriental, P100 open cottage, P300 big cottage, no entrance fee
• Apple Tree Resort & Hotel - Brgy. Taboc, Cagayan de Oro (formerly : Lauremar Beach Resort)
• Yasay Beach Resort - Opol, Misamis Oriental, consumable entrance fee, 45 mins from CDO proper, P40, beach hut P200
• Marvilla Beach Resort - Opol, Misamis Oriental, consumable entrance fee, 45 mins from CDO proper, P40, beach hut P200
• San Pedro Beach Resort - Opol, Misamis Oriental, consumable entrance fee, 45 mins from CDO proper, P40, beach hut P200
• Duka Bay Resort - Medina, Misamis Oriental, shaded by ancestral trees, 7 villas
• Lyka's Blue Lagoon Beach Resort - Misamis Oriental
• Acuna Beach - Baloy, Cagayan de Oro
• Bonbon Beach - Bonbon, Cagayan de Oro
• White Beach - white sand
• Baagas Beach - Bonbon, Cagayan de Oro

• St. Agustine Cathedral and Garden - destroyed several times by fire and bombing, fully rebuilt
• Cagayan de Oro City Museum - located at the converted Water Tower
• Gaston Park - gathering place by locals for social interaction
• Divisoria - popular during Friday and Saturday nights for its Night Cafe alfresco bbq
• Golden Friendship Park - located along the Divisoria stretch
• Macahambus Cave, Hill and Gorge - great outdoor trekking and caving, free
• River Taxi Cruise - starts at Liceo Cagayan University going downstream to the Cagayan de Oro river mouth

• Ayala Centrio - newest mall to open in CDO; 4 cinemas, C.M Recto Avenue and Corrales Street
• Gaisano Mall - 6 branches, main mall located in CM Recto Ave., affordable shopping
• Limketkai Center - 4 cinemas (1 is under renovation), 66,000 square meters of store space
• SM Cagayan de Oro - 4 cinemas, shopping, restaurants, grocery, etc., located Uptown

• City Government of Cagayan de Oro

CDO has 2 bus stations - West Terminal Bulua and East Terminal Agora. For Davao, you have to take a jeep going to Agora.

1. CDO West Terminal (Bulua) - if you came from Iligan, you would be getting off at trhe Bulua West Terminal. Take a jeep to East Terminal (Agora Terminal), 20 mins, PHP 20
2. CDO East Terminal (Agora) - take bus going to Davao City, 8 hours, PHP 875. This terminal is open 24 hours and there is always a bus going to Davao - no need to pre-purchase tickets
3. Davao Bus Terminal - you'll arrive at the Davao Bus Terminal, close to SM City. From there you can take a cab ride to your hotel. There are many jeeps that will also take you to the Poblacion town center, 15 mins, PHP 12

CDO has 2 bus stations - West Terminal Bulua and East Terminal Agora. For Iligan, you have to take a jeep going to Bulua West Terminal.

1. CDO East Bus Terminal (Agora) - 24 hours, if you came from Davao, you'll be disembarking at the Agora East Terminal. Take a jeep going to West Bus Terminal (Bulua), 30 mins, PHP 20.
2. CDO West Terminal (Bulua) - 24 hours, take a bus going to Iligan. Many buses going west (Pagadian, Zamboanga, Plaridel, etc.) will pass by Iligan - just ask the bus conductor. 2 hours (1.5 hours night trip), PHP 200 (SC P160). You will get off at the Tambo Integrated Bus Terminal in Iligan
3. Tambo Integrated Bus Terminal - from the terminal, take a jeep to City Proper and it will pass by the Iligan Port, 30 mins, 15 PHP (if you intend to take a boat out of Iligan)

Cagayan de Oro to Lazi, Siquijor route by Kho Shipping was just opened up in early September 2023. Before, going to Lazi from Davao meant going to Iligan after CDO, adding 3 hours on the trip. Now, Iligan can be completely bypassed.

1. CDO Port - take Kho Shipping to Lazi, W-F-Sun, 6 hours, CDO departure 5 pm, arrival in Lazi Port 11 pm, economy Pxxxx, tourist Pxxxxxx.