Before I start with my travel guide/review, allow me to give you a brief background of the provinces that we visited.
Cagayan De Oro:
-Also known as the “City of Golden Friendship” serves as the regional hub of Northern Mindanao because CDO is the most populous, highly-urbanized city in Region X.
-It is also the capital of the province of Misamis Oriental.
-CDO is also famous for its several tourist destinations which include Whitewater Rafting Adventure, Mapawa Nature Park, McArthur Marker, Macahambus Cave and many more.
Bukidnon:
– “Bukidnon” means “highlander” or “mountain dweller”.
– It’s capital city is Malaybalay.
– Bukidnon is also considered to be the food basket of the region, being the major producer of rice and corn.
– Products from plantations in the province also include pineapples, bananas and sugarcane.
– Bukidnon is also famous for its beautiful and High mountains. Situated within the province is Mt. Dulang-Dulang which is the 2nd highest mountain in the country located in Kitanglad Mountain Range, Mt. Kalatungan, Mt Maagnaw, the 4th and 5th highest mountains in the country respectively.
Camiguin:
- The second smallest province in the country in both population and land area after Batanes.
- Mambajao is the provincial Capital of the province of Camiguin.
- Famous for its sweet Lanzones and Lanzones Festival, The Sunken Cemetery, White Island Sandbar, Mantigue Island, Mt. Hibok Hibok Ardent Hot Spring, Sto. Nino Cold Spring, Gui-ob Old Church Ruins,Giant Clam Sanctuary and Katibawasan Falls
Now I’m gonna share our Itinerary during Northern Mindanao Tour.
Day 1: CDO Tour
There are actually a lot of tourist attraction located in Cagayan De Oro City, listed below are atleast for me, the best spots to visit:
- Whitewater Rafting Adventure
- Centrio mall
- Seven Seas Water Park and Resort
- Macahambus Hill Cave
- Mapawa Nature Park
- Plaza Divisoria / Golden Friendship Park
Our tour is just 3 days and two nights so we don’t have the luxury of time to visit all attractions but I highly suggest don’t miss the Whitewater Rafting Adventure if you want to have a memorable stay in Cagayan De Oro city.
The Eco extreme water adventure is divided into three levels of difficulty. The Beginners, Advance and Extreme.
For Beginners, the cost is P700/head with 2-3 rapids and a total of 3 hours actual river run and min of 6 pax. For Advance, the cost is P1000 – P1500/head with 4-5 rapids and a total of 4-5 hours actual river run and min of 6 pax. For the Extreme, cost is P2000/ head and requires brave heart, adrenaline test and ability to swim is highly recommended for this level. 4 rapids and 5 hours of actual river run.
You may buy the CDs provided by them with all your pictures in it! Super cool photographers huh!
For Day tour, I suggest to go on Whitewater Rafting adventure by morning, and go on a city tour or visit Plaza Divisoria by afternoon and eat dinner at some of the famous restaurants there. You may opt to eat dinner at Ayala Centrio Mall, SM CDO Downtown, Lifestyle District and Cagayan Town Center (near Centrio Mall) , Studio Art Café, Backyard Grill or K-Food for Korean Food Lovers. We ate dinner at Dear Manok, they say this is where you can taste the best Manok in CDO! J
Day 2: Camiguin Tour
The province of Camiguin is small yet the island’s size is actually an advantage. There’s no need for a long drive to get to one tourist spot to another.
Sample Itinerary for Day 2 from CDO:
7:30 am – Go to Agora Terminal, Then ride tricycle going to terminal of FX going to Balingonan
7:45 am – arrival at Terminal of FX going to Balingoan Port
10 am – arrival at Balingoan Terminal (P210 plus P15 terminal fee)
11:30 am – Departure of Roro Boat going to Camiguin
1 pm – Arrival at Benoni Port
1-2pm – Quick Lunch
2PM – 5:30pm – Camiguin Tour (we hire mini Jeepney but if you are a solo traveller you may opt to hire a habal habal )
Places to visit:
- Sto Nino Cold Spring pool (I suggest you eat your lunch here)
- Tuasan Falls
- Katibawasan Falls
- Soda Pool
- Old Church Ruins
- Sunken Cemetery
- Stations of the Cross
- View Deck
- Ardent Hot Spring
- Walkway to Old Volcano – requires time (I suggest to schedule this another day)
- White Island – requires time (I suggest to schedule this another day)
- Mantigue Island – requires time (I suggest to schedule this another day)
TIP: Don’t put so much time on Soda Swimming pool, Old Church Ruins, Sunken Cemetery and View Deck if you want to visit them all within the day. Max of 15 mins will do. I suggest you end your day with a dip in their hot spring J
7pm – Dinner / back to your Hotel. There are so many Hotels/Accomodations in the Island. Camiguin Highland Resort, Bahay Bakasyunan, Paguias Cottages, Paras Beach Resort are the popular ones. Usual room rates in Camiguin starts from P800 – P1000 and can be shared by 2-3 pax already. There are also cheap accommodations for budgetarian travellers out there for as low as P300 – P500 per night per head.
Day 3: Camiguin
Sample Itinerary:
6 am : Call time – Breakfast
8 am : ride a boat going to White Island Beach/Sand Bar (P450 boat ride good for 4 pax plus P50 entrance Fee)
8:15 am : Arrival White Island beach/Sandbar
10 am: go back to Camiguin mainland
12 Noon: Check out from hotel
12nn -1PM – lunch
1 pm : Visit Mantigue Island (don’t put so much time here)
2:30pm: leave Camiguin
Around 4pm: arrival at balingoan port
4:30: Ride a bus going to CDO (P130)
Around 6pm (Arrival at CDO)
7pm: Dinner / Back to Hotel
Day 4: Bukidnon
8 am: Wake up Call – Bfast
9 am: Check out. Van Pick up to Dahilayan Adventure Park
10:45 am – Arrival at Dahilayan Adventure Park (you may take picture at big Pineapple and Pineapple Plantations on the way (5-10 mins only)
12 noon : Lunch
1pm: Go to Sumilao
2pm: Impasugong
2:30pm; Sumilao Falls
3pm: back to CDO
4:30pm : Laguindingan Airport
5pm: Back to Manila
There you go! hope this Travel Guide to Northern Mndanao Tour helps! Like our FacebooPage, Buy our travel Shirts and join our DIY tours!
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The Life of Trevs 