Cagayan de Oro, often abbreviated CDO and sometimes called just "Cagayan", is known as the "City of Golden Friendship". It's the provincial capital of the Province of Misamis Oriental and the "Gateway of Northern Mindanao".

Located along the northern coastline on Mindanao island in the southern part of the Philippines, it serves as the regional center being the most populous highly-urbanized city in Northern Mindanao (Region X). According to the 2007 Census, the city has a population of about 550,000 people.

Understand

Climate

Cagayan de Oro has a tropical climate. The average temperature the whole year round is 28°C (82°F). The highest recorded temperature in the city was 39°C (102°F) in June 1998. Cagayan de Oro receives a relatively even amount of rain throughout the year. The driest month is April, while July is the wettest. Wet season in the city starts in June and ends in November. Drier season starts in December and ends in May. However, the difference in seasons is not very noticeable in the city, there are sunny and rainy days throughout the year and the rain is usually strong but brief (you will notice the season if hiking or driving on dirt roads in the highlands inland from Cagayan de Oro as it gets muddier). The city is outside the typhoon belt.

Religion

Roman Catholicism is the city's dominant religion, with almost 80% of the population. There are also a large number of Seventh Day Adventists, Iglesia ni Cristo, Protestants and Muslims in the city. Recently, the Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo Church has also decided to move the replica statue of the Black Nazarene to Nazareno Parish Church, so that Nazarene devotees from Mindanao may not have to travel to Quiapo Church in Manila for their annual pilgrimage.

Holidays

The city celebrates its foundation day every 28 Aug, hence it is under the patronage of Señor San Agustin. Kagay-an Festival is held every 26-28 Aug in celebration of Cagayan de Oro's patron, Señor San Agustin. The highlights of the Kagay-an Festival are the Agro-Trade Fair, Miss Kagay-an, Higaonon Street Dancing, Golden Float Parade and Halad sa Lambagohan. There are also cultural shows, competitions and celebrity concerts.

Local news

English is a popular language in Cagyan de Oro and you can read local news from magazines like PhilStar. Checking out recent news from Cagayan de Oro before leaving, can give you an image of what is going on when you arrive.

Talk

Bisayan (Cebuano), Tagalog and English is the city's main language. Other ethnic dialects in the city are Hiligaynon, Ilongo, Maranao, Waray among others. It is very easy as a visitor to travel, shop and meet people using only English.

Get in

Cagayan de Oro is accessible by land, air and water.

By plane

(Lumbia Airport, once the second busiest on Mindanao, has been defunct as a civilian facility since being taken over by the Philippine Air Force in June 2013.)

Arrival Area of Laguindingan International Airport (despite the name, there are currently only domestic flights)

Laguindingan Airport (Cebuano: Tugpahanan sa Laguindingan, CGY  ^IATA) is 46km (29 mi) north-west of Cagayan de Oro and also serves the city of Iligan. It's still often called Cagayan de Oro Airport and has flights from Cebu, Manila, Davao, and Iloilo. Airlines such as Philippine Airlines, and budget carrier Cebu Pacific use it.

An air-con Magnum Shuttle can take you to Limketkai mall for ₱199.

By boat

1 Cagayan de Oro Port. Serves regular 2GO Travel ferries to and from Manila, Cebu City, Bacolod, Iloilo. Trans Asia ferries go to and from Cebu and Tagbilaran on Bohol. The port has two authorized cargo-handling operators and is one of the busiest seaports in the Philippines. 

Tickets for some ferry lines are sold at offices to your right as you enter the port compund. Other lines have offices across the street from the compund entrance.

By bus

There are three integrated bus and jeepney terminals, which offer regular services:

• Agora Integrated Bus Terminal offers regular land trips to and from Gingoog, Bukidnon, Kabacan, North Cotabato, Butuan, Surigao (in the Caraga region), Davao, Tacurong and Balingoan (ferry going for Camiguin). Recently, the terminal is on a huge renovation.

• Eastbound-Gusa Jeepney Terminal offers regular land trips to and from eastern towns of Misamis Oriental, Camp Philips, Libona and Manolo Fortich in Bukidnon.

• Westbound-Bulua Integrated Bus and Jeepney Terminal offers regular land trips to and from western towns of Misamis Oriental including Laguindingan and El Salvador, Iligan, Marawi, Oroquieta, Ozamiz, Dipolog, Pagadian, Zamboanga and some parts of western Mindanao.

Common routes;

• From CDO to Davao, 277 km, one bus every 30-60 min, 7-10 hr duration depending on weather/traffic/road construction, multiple stops including lunch and dinner breaks: ₱432, ₱540 air-con.
• the A/c bus fare to Butuan is ₱350, and the trip takes 5 hours.
• to Iligan, 92 km, ₱120 and two hours.

The bus station is inside the city market. There are a few (mid/expensive) hotels nearby, and you can take Jeepney R2 to Pesoria for the town center.

Get around

Buses, jeepneys, taxis, multi-cabs and the motorelas (similar to Thailand's tuk-tuks) are the main modes of land transportation within the city. White and yellow colored air-conditioned taxis with meters installed, and car rentals are also available. As a visitor, do not agree to a flat-rate taxi fare unless you want to pay triple the meter rate: insist on meter only ("meter-plus 50" for an airport or late-night pick up). Motorellas are slow but you don't have to wait long for them to fill with passengers. They travel set routes, but will give you custom service for a negotiated price. Jeepneys are perfectly safe during the day and cost only a tenth of a taxi ride. If it doesn't take you where you meant to go, then you can take one to a large hub, where you can continue with another one. Try to find a full one, since an empty one will wait for more passengers. At night you may have to be careful with the drunks, since robberies do happen. Keep your cell phone and camera in your bag and your bag in your lap.

There are A/c vans from CDO Airport to downtown CDO from ₱130.00

See

• MacArthur Memorial Marker is located at the edge of Cagayan de Oro Port, the monument commemorates two historical events.

• San Agustin Cathedral is a Gothic inspired church with centuries old stained glass windows.

• Gardens of Malasag Eco-Tourism Village is in a reforested area in Malasag Hill. This 7-hectare village has replicas of tribal houses in the region and a panoramic view of Macajalar Bay. It is owned by the government and managed by the Philippine Tourism Authority. The views are well worth the short drive up the hill from the main highway (turn-off near Marco Hotel).

• Vicente de Lara Park is situated in front of the Provincial Capitol of Misamis Oriental with age-old mahogany trees that provide a therapeutic canopy for the promenades. The park is a popular jogging area during the morning. This is also the site of the Press Freedom Monument and a Sculpture of the Province of Misamis Oriental.

• Gaston Park, named after a former Mayor of Cagayan de Oro. It is located near the San Agustin Metropolitan Cathedral and Archbishop's Palace. This was the site of the first Spanish settlement established in 1622. The park, noted for its water-dancing fountain, is a favorite place to unwind for many Kagay-anons, especially during Sundays.

• Plaza Divisoria (Golden Friendship Park) built in the early 1900s as a town divider (Divisoria) or fire breaker after a great fire that almost burned down the entire town. It is now a park dedicated to local and national heroes.

• Macahambus Hill, Cave and Gorge is an underground cave with a 130-foot circular gorge. The ravine is thick with various species of plants and huge trees. It is the site of the historical battle between Kagay-anons and American soldiers during the Philippine-American War (1900).

• Museo de Oro, located within the campus of Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, it exhibits artifacts dug from Huluga Cave, and a repertoire of Bukidnon and Maranao cultures that have survived the ravages of time.

• Cagayan de Oro Tourism Showhouse showcases the products from Cagayan de Oro and the province.

• La Castilla is a museum of Philippine household heirlooms and antiques. This is the Rodolfo and Elsa Pelaez family memorabilia administered by the Liceo de Cagayan University.

• Museum of Three Cultures is a newly opened museum located in the campus of Capitol University. It houses a gallery of Maranao antiquities from Tugaya, Lanao del Sur; a gallery of ethnohistory which shall display Cagayan de Oro history, Butuan archaeological artifacts, lumad arts and crafts from the Hiligaynon and Manobo cultures, and a treasure of Christian lowland artefacts of Northern Mindanao; and finally an art gallery and coffee shop that shall promote the local visual arts of Mindanao.

• Divisoria Night Café and Night Market, set up every Friday and Saturday nights. Divisoria streets is closed to traffic and fills with delicious food stalls and cheap pitchers of beer, and most importantly thousands of people shop and enjoying a cheap night out. Haggle over a pair of imitation Adidas then relax at a plastic table with a huge piece of grilled tuna and beer with ice cubes and watch the crowd go by.

• Catanico Falls is concealed by huge boulders, the rapids, cascading falls and natural pool of Barangay F.S. Catanico.

• Kagay-an Resort, formerly Lawndale Spring in the Taguanao area, is usually packed with families and groups on weekends lounging in the cold springs.

• High Ridge is on a hilltop in Aluba area. High ridge has been open to the public for outdoor picnics and a scenic view of Cagayan de Oro.

• Monigue Cave is in Barangay Mambuaya this city; the cave entrance is flowing water from underground stream.

• Macahambus Adventure Park is in Barangay Lumbia.

• Plaza de Los Heroes is a memorial park dedicated to the heroes of the Three Battles of Cagayan de Oro during the Philippine-American War. It is located along Mastersons Avenue in Upper Carmen.

Do

• Whitewater Rafting a 14 rapids along Cagayan de Oro River. The rainy months of September and October are good for intermediate and professional levels (rapids range from class 3 to 4). The rest of the year especially during the dry season is good for novice or amateur rafters.

• Macahambus Adventure Park rappel and zip-line across trees a hundred feet above ground.

• Mapawa Nature Park ideal for horseback riding, biking, zipline and nature trekking.

• Cock-Fighting look for the arena along the National Highway in Gusa. The steep-walled concrete arena thunders with hundreds of shouting fans placing bets, as carefully bred and trained roosters in beautiful fighting form do what they're born to do. WARNING: seeing these magnificent and spirited creatures transformed into a limp piece of chicken by the flash of a steel blade may make you become a vegetarian. If not, the losing birds are for sale by the kilo and are rumored to have a distinctive flavor.

• Movies the screens are huge, people walk in and out at all times, bring your own full meal to eat in the seat.

• Videoke coin-operated video karaoke machines found in virtually every roadside bar in and around the city. Don't even come to the Philippines unless you know the words to at least one song you're willing to get up and sing like it's your one big shot at fame. The playlist is extensive (from Beatles to Nirvana with plenty of Bon Jovi and Gloria Gaynor in between) so no excuses.

• Shop, as the shopping capital of the Northern Mindanao region. Just visit the city to shop and enjoy the mall facilities; with numerous of department stores, supermarkets, retail stores and modern public markets.

Buy

Shopping malls & supermarkets

• Limketkai Center. 09.00-21.00. The largest mall in Cayagan de Oro. 
• SM City Cagayan de Oro - Mastersons Ave., cor Gran Via Street.
• Robinsons Cagayan de Oro - Rosario Crescent and Florentino St. in Limketkai Complex.
• 1 Gaisano City Mall, C.M Recto Ave. at Corrales (across the street from Ayala). A large and busy mall 
• SM SaveMore Supermakets - Kauswagan Highway. and General Capistano street.
• Ororama Supercenter – J.R Borja St., Cogon.
• Shopwise Hypermarket., Limketkai center. 09.00-20.00. 
• 2 Centrio Ayala mall, Corrales Avenue and C M Recto Avenue (across the street from Gaisano Mall). 10.00-20.00. Second largest mall in Cagayan de Oro, very busy. Has many restaurants, a large supermarket, a Robinson's, and the stop for airport busses. 
• Puregold Hypermarket., Claro m Recto avenue.. 9am-21.00pm. 
• 7-Eleven. 24 hours.. many stores all over CDO. (updated Mar 2016)

Laundry

• Mrs Labada Laundry station., 68 Toribio Chave-Pabayo streets, ☏ +63 8822 71-2969. 8am-8pm. need to have Two kgs of washing. p25 per kg. 

Banks & ATMs

• Bank of the Philippines islands.. 24 hours.. has a p 10.000 per time master card/visa card ATM for a p 200 fee. 2%. (updated Jul 2015)
• BDO Unibank has a p10,00 per time master card/visa card ATM for a p 200 fee.
• Metro bank has a p10,000 per time master card/visa card ATM for a p200 fee.
• PNB has a p 10,000 per time visa card ATM for a p200 fee.

What to buy

Cagayan De Oro's native delicacies:

• Jamon Cagayan de Oro (Pork ham) sold by Slers, Oroham and Pines.
• Chicharon (Pork rind or skin) sold by Slers.
• Fely's Homemade Cheese Sticks
• Fely's Homemade Assorted Flavored Peanuts
• Cashew Nuts from Lumbia district.
• Lechon Manok a rotisserie chicken sold roadside, salty but delicious. They're everywhere, quality varies, buy from the one with the most customers in line.
• Lechon Baboy a whole pig roasted over coals on a bamboo spit, stuffed with lemongrass. Ask a local friend how to arrange one day in advance. Much cheaper in Cagayan de Oro than in Manila.
• Malunggay Pastel Bread.
• Turrones de Mani

Eat

• Bigby's Café - SM City Cagayan de Oro and Rosario Arcade, Limketkai Center. Western-style dishes.
• Café Laguna- Robinsons Cagayan de Oro. Fine dining and Filipino cuisine.
• Country Side Steakhouse, Limketkai Center. Grilled beef or steak.
• Dadang's Seafoods Restaurant, 3 National Highway, ☏ +63 88 858-6670. Km. Kauswagan. Filipino seafood cuisine.
• Kagay-anon Restaurant - Limketkai Center. Filipino cuisine and ostrich meat.
• La Tegola, Archbishop Hayes St. Italian restaurant, quiet and comfortable. A favorite of foreign visitors wanting a great Italian meal and a good bottle of wine.
• Vienna Kaffehaus Don A. Velez St. European and western-style dishes. 
• La Vetta Wine Bar and Restaurant, Rosario Arcade, Limketkai Center (beside Kagay-anon Restaurant), ☏ +63 88 856-1207. 10:30AM-11PM. Classy ambience combined with French Mediterranean cuisines. The Executive Chef is from Switzerland. mid-price. 
• Sentro 1850, Don A. Velez St. (near Divisoria), ☏ +63 8822 731-850. 11AM-10PM. Great foods ranging from Asian to Western-style dishes. mid-price. 
• 99 Ranch Eat all you can, corrales avenue (beside Puncbowl music and booze), ☏ +63 88-856-1353. 11.00-23.00. for p99 you get Pork Hamonada. Roast beef Kilawin. Sisig. Chopsuey. Chicken nuggets. Tapioca. Chocolate cake. Soup and Iced tea. July 2015 Close as there was a a fire p99. 
• Lugawan Bulaluhan Restaurant, Capistrano street. 08.30am-5am. Batchoy =p20 Gato =p30 Lugaw =p15 Zeki =p55 sort drinks from p10 (updated Feb 2015)

Drink

• Brewberry Café, Don A. Velez St. (beside Sentro 1850). 
• Sentro 1850 (Eat), Don A. Velez St. (near Divisoria), ☏ +63 8822 731-850. 11AM-10PM. Great foods ranging from Asian to Western style dishes. 

Coffee

• Divisoria Night Café - every Friday and Saturday evening the streets of Plaza Divisoria are filled with stalls selling grilled food.
• Bo's Coffee - Don A. Velez St. A Cebu based coffee shop.
• Taza - Limketkai Center. Locally owned coffee shop.
• Kofitricks Café, Yacapin-Velez Sts. A Coffee shop, and Pinoy and Indian cuisine (Wi-Fi zone). 

Bars

• The Site - Rosario Strip, Limketkai Center. Popular among yuppies.
• Loreto's Grill and Restaurant - Tomas Saco St., Nazareth.
• Pulse Formerly Xcite, it is in front of the Dynasty Court Hotel.
• The Beat Club Adjacent to Pulse, it has several billiard pools.
• Club Mojo Disco bar back at Ralps.
• Backyard - Chaves St.
• Karumata - Dolores and Pabayo Sts. When you're sick of the DJs and the bands playing cover tunes, there are serious artists and original musicians in Cagayan de Oro, and you might share them a beer that you won't see at the shopping malls and beach resorts.
• Zaks Retro Bar - Velez St.

Sleep

Budget

• D'Morvie Suites - Cnr of Capistrano and Yacapin St. also have a 2nd Branch at Lapasan highway and a 3rd Branch at Yacapin street. - ₱250 for 12 hr

• MASS SPEC Hostel -Tiano Bros. St, Dorm Beds from php250 a night.
• Y.M.C.A. Hostel - Julio Pacana St, from php300 a night

• Hotel Ramon, Tirso Neri, Burgos st. Aircon, wifi, laundry service. from 12 hours ₱200. 
• Park view Hotel., Tiro neri street (over looks Golden friendship park.), ☏ +63 8822-726656, +63 88-8571197, parkviewhotelcdocity@yahoo.com. fan double rooms with outside bathrooms. a/c double rooms with outside bathrooms. all rooms have Cable TV. phone. free wifi. can pay with master card or visa card. ₱350/420. 
• Willshire inn, Yacapin street corner Aguinaldo street, ☏ +63 8822-720531. Economy a/c Single rooms with own bathroom and Cable TV. Economy a/c double rooms with own bathroom and cable TV. Standard a/c double rooms. deluxe a/c double rooms. ₱450/500/595/695. 
• Plaza star Business hotel, R N Abejuela street (3 floor divisoria arcade.), ☏ +63 88-852-0148. a/c single/double rooms with own hot water bathrooms and cable TV. Free wifi ₱450/570. 
• Wills Place Business hotel., Mabini don apolinar Velez street, ☏ +63 8822-745-888. Economy a/c single/double rooms. with own hot water bathrooms. and Cable TV. free wifi. ₱450/500. 
• CDO tourist inn, Tiano bros street, ☏ +63 9-353629638. fan rooms 12 hours. a/c rooms 12 hours. a/c rooms 24 hours. common bathrooms free wifi. ₱190/240/480. 
• D Santes place Business hotel, Pres osmena corner luna streets, ☏ +63 88-323-1164. a/c single room with own hot water bathroom and cable TV. a/c economy double room with own hot water bathroom and cable TV. ₱500/600. 
• King Lawrences inn, Mabini-capistrano street, ☏ +63 88-857-3728. A/c rooms with own bathroom 12/24 hours. ₱225/450. (updated Mar 2015)
• G V Hotel, Corrales ext, ☏ +63 88-323-1547. a/c single and double rooms with own bathrooms and Cable TV. the GV Hotel CDO has 102 rooms. ₱450/575/620/700. 
• Jerggys Appartelle Inn, 31st street Nazareth., ☏ +63 88 323-1033, +63 9351842333 (cell). a/c double rooms with own bathrooms and cable TV. 7 hours. 12 hours 24 hours. ₱250/300/550. 
• Beatrice Inn, Capistrano street., ☏ +63 9177930706. a/c single rooms with own bathroom and cable tv.. a/c double rooms with own hot water bathroom and cable tv. all rooms have free wifi. ₱380/450. 
• Rosarios Place business Hotel., Biacel bldg Corrales aveune, ☏ +63 9177950116. single room. economy double. standard double. de luxe good for 3 persons. all rooms have a/c. LCD TV. hot water. ₱395/450/500/600. 
• King William Inn, Cruz Taal street cor Burgos street, ☏ +63 8822-712888. A/c rooms with own bathrooms and cable TV ₱330. (updated Mar 2015)
• Mardale Pension House, Pabayo corner Gaerlan streets (downtown cdo), ☏ +63 88-856-1990. a/c single/double rooms, with own hot water bathroom, cable tv, Wifi zone. standby generator. telephone in room. Monday till Wednesday all rooms ₱500. from ₱500. (updated Jul 2015)
• Budgetel Cagayan de oro, corrales extension (behide the Gaisano city mall), ☏ +63-88-856-4200. Check-in: 12 noon, check-out: 12 noon. 16/18 bed dorm with a/c. ₱250 per person. (updated Jul 2015)

Mid-range over php 700 a night

• Pryce Plaza, Carmen Hill, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines, 9000, ☏ +63 88 858 4537. Pryce Plaza is located at Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. It offers 80 air-conditioned rooms and suites, all of which have Mini-bar, Cable TV, and IDD phone with extension in the bathroom. Some of its amenities include elite spa and fitness club, swimming pool, and restaurants (Cafe Cagayan, Compadres Bar, Josefina's Seafood & Grill, and Japanese Corner) .While staying here, you can visit some interesting places like La Castilla Museum, Migtugsok Falls, and Macahambus Hill Cave. Best rates on official website start at PHP 3,700.00. 

• Ridgeview Chalets, Xavier Estates, Fr. Masterson Ave., Upper Balulang, 9000 Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines, ☏ +63 88 8587946. Located within the Xavier Estates complex, every room has air conditioning, pocket refrigerator, mini bar, cable TV, and high-speed Internet access. Some of its amenities are fitness room, game room, restaurant/café/bar lounge, and an outdoor swimming pool. Best rates on official website start at PHP 1,850.00. 

• Seda Centrio, C.M. Recto corner Corrales Avenue, ☏ +63 88 323-8888. All rooms have executive work desk, mini-bar, coffee and tea making facilities, in-room safe. Restaurant, lounge, meeting rooms, gym, adult/children pool, in-room massage, currency exchange, parking, safety deposit boxes, airport and city transfers, laundry and dry cleaning. Rates start at ₱3450.00. 

• Miami Inn. Vamenta Blvd., Carmen. 
• Mountain Suite Business - Kimwa Compound, Tablon.
• Middleton Aparttelle - Lirio Ext., Carmen.
• Philtown Hotel. 
• Country Village Hotel - Villarin St., Carmen.
• Kingston Lodge. Mastersons Ave., Upper Carmen. Only 5 minutes from Lumbia Airport, it sits adjacent to Pueblo de Oro Golf Course and lies opposite Xavier Estates Sports and Country Club. Phone number: +63 88 858-5696. Price: PHP 1,120.00 

Special price

• Gardens of Malasag Eco-Tourism Village. Is a unique and beautiful place, please read description in the "See" section above. 

• The Malasag House. Unique in The Philippines, European style Bed & Breakfast, relaxing with stunning view. 

Splurge

• Pryce Plaza Hotel - Carmen Hill.
• De Luxe Hotel. Capt. Vicente Roa St. 

• Hotel Koresco - Pueblo de Oro Township, Mastersons Ave., Lumbia.
• Mallberry Business Suites Hotel. Florentino St., Limketkai Center. 
• Dynasty Court Hotel - Archbishop Hayes cor. Tiano Bros. Sts.
• VIP Hotel - Don A. Velez cor. C. Pacana Sts.
• Marco Hotel - Alwana Business Park, Cugman.
• Chali Beach Resort and Conference Center - Zone 3, Cugman.

Stay healthy

• Northern Mindanao Medical Center. Capitol Road. Phone +63-8822726362. (Government Hospital).
• Cagayan de Oro Social Hygiene clinic City Health street. Phone +63-8822 721189 Mon-Fri 8am-4pm (free STD and HIV testing).

Go next

• Camiguin Island
• Misamis Oriental
• Bukidnon
• Iligan