Sunday, January 2, 2011

Travel: Cagayan De Oro City, Philippines

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY IN BRIEF
     Cagayan de Oro City is located at the northern coast of Mindanao, Philippines. It is the capital of Misamis Oriental province and the regional center for Northern Mindanao (Region 10). The city is popularly known for its initials CDO or CDOC.
At Lumbia Airport, Cagayan De Oro City
     Cagayan de Oro is a coastal city facing the Macajalar Bay. Several creeks and rivers run through the city. The southern portion of the city is dominated by hills, gorges, plateau and mountain ranges of Bukidnon Province. Cebuano or Bisaya is the city's main dialect. English on the other hand is widely used in schools, media, government and commercial transactions. People from Cagayan de Oro are called Kagayanons. Most are brown-skinned of Malay descent and some with mixed ancestry popularly known to locals as mestizo.
     Cagayan de Oro is known as "The Gateway to Northern Mindanao" because of its location and good transportation facilities. However, it is through her warm and hospitable people that the city became more known as "The City of Golden Friendship".

HOW TO GET THERE
By Air:    
     Cagayan De Oro City is accessible by plane because it is served by a domestic airport in Lumbia which has daily flights from/to Manila and Cebu City.
  • PHILIPPINE AIRLINES - Has six flights daily from Manila [MNL] Ninoy Aquino International Airport Centennial Terminal 2 to Cagayan De Oro City [CGY] Lumbia Airport.
    04:45 to 06:20 PR181
    06:00 to 07:35 PR281
    06:00 to 07:35 PR281
    09:35 to 11:10 PR183
    12:35 to 14:10 PR185
    15:10 to 16:45 PR283
  • AIRPHIL EXPRESS - Two flights daily from Cebu [CEB] Mactan-Cebu International Airport to Cagayan De Oro City [CGY] Lumbia Airport. These flights were operated and codeshared with AirPhil Express, Philippine Airlines' sister company.
    09:20 to 10:10 PR285
    15:50 to 16:40 PR287
  • CEBU PACIFIC AIR - Also has six flights daily from Manila to Cagayan De Oro City.
    04:20 to 05:45 5J-381
    06:10 to 07:35 5J-379
    08:15 to 09:45 5J-383
    12:20 to 13:50 5J-385
    14:50 to 16:20 5J-389
    16:00 to 17:25 5J-391 == will only start February 15, 2011
    Three flights daily from Cebu to Cagayan De Oro City.
    05:30 to 06:20 5J-205
    13:10 to 14:00 5J-207
    16:15 to 17:05 5J-209
By Sea:
     The port of Cagayan de Oro City is the busiest in the region. It is situated in Barangay Macabalan facing the Macajalar Bay. It serves as a major transfer junction for domestic and foreign shipping. It occupies an area of 22.01 hectares, 19.75ha is used for the operations and 2.26 ha are for commercial use. The following shipping lines has frequent trips from/to Manila:
SUPER FERRY
Trip Schedules: Manila to Cagayan De Oro City
Super ferry 2,5 or 9 Departs:Wednesday 23:59 Arrives: Friday 11:59
Super ferry 14         Departs:Monday 10:00 Arrives: Tuesday 18:00
Superferry 14          Departs:Friday  09:00   Arrives:Saturday 05:00
Rates: Php1650 to 2200 with meals / Php1530 to 2060 without meals
SULPICIO LINES
Trip Schedules: Manila to Cagayan De Oro City
P/Paradise Departs:Wedenesday 10:00 Arrives:Friday 02:00
P/Paradise Departs:Saturday 20:00 Arrives:Sunday 23:00
Rates: Php1530 to Php4350

Local Transportation:
     Multicabs, jeepneys, pedicab and motorela are the main modes of transportation within the city for the general public. Airconditioned taxi and car rentals are also available. Airconditioned buses and ordinary buses are the mains of transport to neighboring towns and cities.

PLACES TO VISIT
Gardens of Malasag Eco-tourism Village
       This six hectare village is located in a reforested area in Malasag Hill. It has replicas of the regions tribal houses as well as a nice view of Macajalar Bay. It is a fascinating living museum that showcase the colorful flora and fauna of Northern Mindanao.The village and gardens are very picturesque. One can walk in its winding paths and admire the breathtaking view of the city's coastline and the panoramic sight of Macajalar Bay. The village is staffed by Lumads dressed in their native costume. They also showcase their weaving, basket making and intricate dance steps. Contact Nos: +63 (088) 855-6181 Or +63918-9187893


Mapawa Nature Park
     The breathtaking Mapawa Nature Park is just a few minutes ride from Malasag Eco-Village. This nature park  has small waterfalls for swimming with nearby picnic tables set under gigantic trees. Wonderful activities here include a guided trip to the larger waterfalls, camping, horseback riding and many more. The nature park is an ideal place to feel more closer to nature and for meditation. Contact Nos: +63928-2261747

Museo De Oro
     This museum located within the Xavier University campus exhibits artifacts dug from Huluga Cave and repertoire of Bukidnon and Maranao Cultures that have survived the ravages of time. It houses important historical artifacts of Cagayan de Oro, including a human skeletal remain found at Huluga Cave, calibrated by the University of California in San Diego as dated 377 AD, one of the earliest known existence in the entire Mindanao. The Museum building was inaugurated by President Cory Aquino on July 6, 1986.

Cagayan De Oro River
     This 90km meandering river is a worthwhile visit. But you dont just visit it, you experience adventure with it. And thats where Cagayan De Oro whitewater rafting adventure comes in. Theres a lot of whitewater rafting adventure packages that will surely cater to you as a beginner, novice or advanced whitewater rafter. Rates (minimum of 6pax) range from Php500/pax for the Basic course to Php2000/pax for the extreme course.

HOTELS
    There are many hotels within the city limits of Cagayan De Oro as well as outside the city proper. I have stayed in Southwinds Hotel, located in Captain Vicente Roa Extension. They have three standard rooms, eighteen de luxe rooms, eight executive rooms, one junior suite, one suite and one family room. All rooms are fully air-conditioned with NDD/IDD telephone, AM-FM Radio, 24 Hour cable TV and hot and cold shower. Room rates range from Php1040 to Php1760.
    My room, an executive room, has a personal ref and a 32 inches LCD television. The staffs are friendly and they have a spacious parking space with security guard. They even have a free carwash so you dont have to worry about your car's dirt from your city adventures. One thing that they need to improve though is their wifi connection. The wifi cannot reach the rooms so if you want internet connectivity on your laptop, you have to go to the lobby.
    Another accomodation that I have been to is the Mountain Suite Business Apartelle, located at Kimwa Compound, Baloy Cagayan De Oro City. This place is ideal for families and groups. The apartelles are fully furnished. My rented apartelle has its own garage, a living room with sala set, dining room, kitchen with microwave oven, electric oven, refrigerator and kitchen utensils. There are two rooms on the second floor, both have a queen size bed and airconditioned. The apartelle has two bathrooms, one on the ground floor and the other is on the second floor which is common to the two rooms. Apartelle rates range from Php1950 to Php2950.

USEFUL LINKS



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