#iLoveMindanao
Day 1: Whitewater rafting in CDO.
Avail the earliest flight bound from Manila to Cagayan de Oro.
Touchdown Laguindingan airport around 6:10 AM.
Outside the airport, thereare lots of vans offer for ride to CDO city proper, fare is P150, travel time is approx. less than 1 hr. at 7:00 AM, we reached CDO city proper, drop off point is Ayala Mall.
We decided to do whitewater rafting at 7:30 AM, we avail the "KAGAY" services for the rafting, contact number is +639177122442 rate per head is P700 then P3500 for one boat.Also P500 for the photos&videos but you can bring your own camera. Better to call prior your preferred date if your group is less than 5 members, so they can join you to other group. The package also include the round trip transportation from your prefer pick-up point to drop off area after the rafting. This is a half day activity.
After rafting, we
check-in to D'Morvie Suites hotel, 10 minutes away from Agora
Terminal. Rate is P300 for Queen size bed and P400 for
2 single beds (with aircon, tv) but don't expect for huge space but I
guaranteed that it's comfy.
Food must
try is "sinuglaw".
First
time to eat the "Puto Maya", yummy.
You'll
observe lots of mall in CDO city proper - Ketkai, Gaisano Mall, Centro Mall and
etc.. no hassle for the commuter.
We ended
the first day wearing our big smile and dropping jaw when we reached the "High
Ridge", entrance fee is P100
per head but it is consumable. The operating hours is until 12 Midnight. You
will see the top view of Cagayan de Oro.
Day 2: Exploring
Camiguin Island.
How to go to Camiguin Island from Cagayan de Oro?
Hints:
- Early check out in D'Morvie Suites hotel then go straight to Agora Terminal
- Target is to catch the bus trip around 2:00AM bound to Butuan in Agora Terminal to avail the earliest ferry bound to Camiguin.
- From Agora terminal (Bus ride bound to Butuan) to Balingoan Terminal, fare is P148 – travel time approximately 2hrs.
- From Balingoan Terminal, ride a “motorela” to Balingoan Port, fare is P20 for 2pax – travel time approximately 5 mins.
- From Balingoan Port to Benoni Port (Camiguin) – Ferry fare is P170, Terminal fee P15 – travel time approx. less than 2hrs.
- Touchdown CAMIGUIN.
Prior our trip I
contacted “Kuya Jojo” a local from Camiguin,
to be our tour guide. His day tour service fee is P800 (for 2 pax – habal habal
backride) excluded the entrance fees of all the tourist spots. You can contact
him at +639059566288.
The tour will start
depends on your preferred time but it will end at 6:00 PM.
Camiguin Day Tour:
- White Island : P450 boat rent to sandbar , P20 per head for Environmental fee , P150 per head for vests and snorkel rent
- Old Church ruins : free
- Sunken cemetery : P100 boat rent from shore to Sunken Cemetery spot.
- Old vulcan via crucis walkaway : P5 entrance fee
- Sto Nino cold spring : P30 entrance fee
- Ardent hotspring (my favorite) : P30 entrance fee
- Katibawasan falls : P30 entrance fee
- Tucsan falls : free
We missed the ff. due to time shortage and bad weather.
- Soda mineral water pool
- Giant Clam Sanctuary
- Mantigue Island – Boat rent is P550, don’t miss this Island. We will back for this.
We avail the
accommodation near Benoni Port, it will take less than 10 minutes from our
accommodation to Port. The rate is P1000, included aircon and 2 single beds.
This time the room is spacious. J
For our breakfast and
dinner, we ate in carendia then we reward ourselves during Lunch.
No specialty in terms
of food.
And take note...
Choosy is prohibited, bear in mind that you’re in an Island.
You can roam the
Camiguin Island in just a day, it’s only 64km from Round trip from to Port.
Great experienced for
a person newbie in HABAL HABAL backride J
Day 3. Conquer our fear at Dahilayan Adventure Park Rides in
Bukidnon.
How to get there … Camiguin Island - Dahilayan Adventure Park, Bukidnon –
Cagayan de Oro?
- Target to catch the earliest ferry trip from Benoni Port to Balingoan Port. (Make a deal with your tour guide to give you a habal-habal ride to Port and confirm the earliest schedule of ferry bound to CDO, earliest schedule is either 4:00AM or 5:00AM).
- At 4:00 AM, we are already at Benoni Port.
- From Benoni Port to Balingoan Port, ferry fare is P170,terminal fee P15 – travel time approximately 2hrs.
- At Balingoan Port, there are vans parked outside the port bound to Cagayan de oro, fare is P100.
- Tell the driver to drop you in Puerto Cagayan de Oro “Gaisano Mall”
- At Gaisano Mall, ride a jeepney bound to Camp Philips, fare is P15.
- At Camp Philips, ride habal habal bound to Dahilayan, fare is P250 (one way, but still it is negotiable)
- From Dahilayan, ride habal habal bound to Camp Philips, fare is P250 (one way, but still it is negotiable. Also be at this place before 6:00PM because the vans are limited.)
- At Camp Philips, ride a van bound to Cagayan de Oro (Drop off to Ketkai Mall), fare P60.
- Ride a cab to accommodation “D'Morvie Suites hotel”, room rate is P300, transpo is less than P100.
We tried the
Challenge Package for P1000, (zipline
all, python roller zipride, tandem dropzone)
Dropzone is my
favorite, our friendship became deeper J
I assigned myself to
pull the string. After pulling the string, you heartbeat will stop for a
moment. Your body will fall at 120 ft then swing to the highest where it can
reach. You just have to apply the riding techniques in anchors away and you’ll
enjoy the swing of your body.
Day 4: Chasing waterfalls in Iligan City turned to Explore
Cagayan de Oro.
We’re not able to
monitor the money we allot in every meal, on our last night we counted our remaining
money and surprisingly it’s not enough if we will push the chasing waterfalls
in Iligan. Since the 3 days we had are already fulfilling we decided not to
push through the Iligan trip.
Sharing our Chasing
waterfalls plan in Iligan City:
- Early check out at D'Morvie Suites hotel” around 2:00 AM, then ride a cab to Bulua Terminal, fare is P150.
- At Bulua Terminal, ride a bus bound to Iligan City, fare is P150.
- At Iligan City Terminal, ride a jeepney bound to Siudad (Iligan Market) fare is P10.
- At Siudad, ride a jeepney bound to Buru-un.
- All falls are along the way to Buru-un:
- Mimbalut falls - P15 entrance fee
- Tinago falls : P200 Cottage , Donation for entrance , P20 life jacket , P50-70 local guide , P150 habal-habal
- Maria Cristina Falls : P20 entrance , P10 multicab tour
- At Maria Cristina falls, ride a jeepney bound to Siudad.
- At Siudad, ride a jeep to Integrated Bus and Jeep Teminal (IBJT) in Iligan City
- Buy a ticket in Super Five Ticket Booth bound to CDO, at Integrated Bus and Jeep Teminal (IBJT) in Iligan City, told the conductor that your heading to Laguindingan Airport, fare is P150,
- Drop off at Laguindingan Intersection, transferred to Super Five Shuttle going to Airport, fare is P50.
Going back ..
Our last stop “Divine Mercy”
Give thanks for the
wonderful escapade in Mindanao.
It changed my
impression in Mindanao places…
It’s been a good start...
Looking forward for More Travels in Mindanao.
