Cagayan de Oro

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

Understand
The city is on the northern coastline of Mindanao in the southern part of the Philippines, with Macajalar Bay to the north, the municipality of Tagoloan to the east, Lanao del Norte to the south, and the municipality of Opol to the west. The Cagayan River splits the city into two, the Poblacion (downtown area) being on the eastern side of the river. CDO serves as the regional center of Northern Mindanao (Region X), and is the region's most populous highly-urbanized city. The 2020 Census showed the city population as 728,400.

Climate
Cagayan de Oro has a tropical climate, with the average temperature the whole year round being 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. The wet season in the city starts in June and ends in November, while the dry 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). Although the city is also outside the typhoon belt, it has been hit by a few tropical systems, most notably Tropical Storm Sendong (international name Washi) in December 2011.

Religion
Roman Catholicism is the city's dominant religion, with almost 80% of the population being Roman Catholics. There are also a large number of Seventh Day Adventists, Iglesia ni Cristo, Protestants and Muslims in the city.

Talk
The main local language is Cebuano (Bisayan); Tagalog and English are also common. Other ethnic dialects in the city include Hiligaynon, Ilonggo, Maranao, and Waray. It is very easy to travel, shop and meet locals using English, especially in shopping malls where there are many other foreigners. English is used for the majority of street and road signs, so you shouldn't have any trouble getting around if you don't understand any Bisaya. However, you might have difficulty conversing with people in the local markets or on public transport in English.

By plane
Laguindingan Airport came into service in 2013, and the old Lumbia Airport in CDO was taken out of service. This new airport serves CDO, Iligan, Northern Mindanao, Lanao del Norte and Bukidnon. Laguindingan sees a mix of Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft, and smaller ATR-72 and Bombardier Dash 8Q-400 turboprops. No flights operated by widebody aircraft take off and land here due to the insufficient runway length at only 2,100m.
 * Philippine Airlines has daily flights from Manila, Cebu and Davao, and three times weekly flights from Clark.
 * Cebu Pacific has daily flights from Manila, Cebu, and Davao, as well as weekly flights from Dumaguete, Iloilo, Tagbilaran, and Bacolod.
 * Philippines AirAsia has daily flights from Manila and Cebu, four times weekly flights from Clark, and three times weekly flights from Iloilo.

When departing, enter the terminal via the entrance located on the ground floor on the right-hand side. There's a ticket inspection with a security guard, baggage scan a metal detector before you even get inside, so be sure to prepare your printed tickets beforehand. Once you're done checking-in, head upstairs either via the escalators or the elevator and head to the second baggage scan and metal detector. After this, you'll find the departures area and a small number of eating places. There are three gates at the airport numbered 1-3 from right to left when you're facing the runway. The airbridge at Gate 1 is not in use, so you'd have to walk on the apron and use the airstairs instead. Fortunately, courtesy umbrellas are handed out.

When arriving and after disembarking the aircraft, either head downstairs or enter the terminal through the double doors found on the right side facing the apron. After entering, you'll see the baggage carousels and eventually the exits leading to the meeters and greeters area.

The airport has an observation deck, but it is closed to the general public.

Although it is sometimes referred to as an "international" airport, as of May 2018 there are no scheduled international flights to Laguindingan. Since its opening, there have been plans for flights to Seoul or Busan in South Korea, but these have not yet come to fruition. There is only one two-story terminal at the airport which easily gets crowded because of its small size.

Magnum Express, LAX Shuttle, Donsal's Express, Odyssey Airport Express, CAGATRANSCO, CDOTRANSCO, and Glorymer Transport operate airport shuttles between Laguindingan Airport to shopping malls (Centrio, Limketkai, Gaisano City, and SM CDO Downtown Premier), Eastbound Bus Terminal, or Divisoria. These usually cost.

You can catch a bus to CDO instead. Public Utility Vehicles (PUV) operated by CDOTRANSCO go from the airport to the National Highway for. Afterwards, get a Rural Transit or Super 5 Transport bus traveling along the highway. Rural Transit air-conditioned buses cost and  for non-air conditioned buses. Super 5 Transport can also take you from the airport to the city - first by an airport shuttle to the highway, then on one of their Super 5 buses - for, including the airport shuttle. Rural Transit and Super 5 buses terminate at the Westbound Bus Terminal.

Take an accredited airport shuttle, with the company's name displayed prominently on their vehicles, and avoid so-called colorum or illegal transport services.

Cagayan de Oro is far from the airport, so allocate more than enough travel time. On an airport shuttle, the journey from the downtown takes between 45 minutes to one hour in good traffic (between the morning and evening rush hours). However if you are traveling during a rush hour or using multiple modes of transportation, be prepared for a longer journey.

By ferry
Ferries arrive at Cagayan de Oro Port in Barangay Macabalan, just north of downtown CDO. Tickets for some ferry lines are sold at offices to your right as you enter the port compound. Other lines have offices across the street from the compound entrance.
 * 2GO Ferries have ferries to/from Manila, Cebu City, Bacolod, Iloilo.
 * Trans Asia shipping lines has a daily ferry from Cebu City non a/c, air-con . There is also a Trans Asia ferry from Tagbilaran on Bohol 3 times a week, non air-con , air-con.
 * Lite Ferries have a ferry to Cebu City 3 times a week, non A/C class, air-con class . Lite also has a ferry from CDO to Jagna Bohol island 4 times a week.
 * Lite Ferries have a ferry to Cebu City 3 times a week, non A/C class, air-con class . Lite also has a ferry from CDO to Jagna Bohol island 4 times a week.

By bus
There are plenty of bus services to Cagayan de Oro from all the major cities in Mindanao, and from Manila via ro-ro ferries.

The city has two integrated bus terminals:

Common routes:
 * The distance from Davao to Cagayan de Oro is 277 km, with one bus every 30 min-1 hour. The bus journey takes 7-10 hours depending on the weather and traffic conditions, as well as any road constructions along the way. There are multiple stops including lunch and dinner breaks: ; air-con.
 * A/c bus fare from Butuan is, and the trip takes 5 hours.
 * From Iligan, 92 km, and 2 hours.

Get around
Jeepneys, multicabs, motorelas, taxis, trisikads and sidecars are the main modes of land transportation in Cagayan de Oro. Like other cities in the Philippines, CDO has its own share of traffic problems. The city experiences significant traffic congestion from 6 am to 8 am in the morning, between 11 am and 2 pm in the noon, and from 5 pm to 8 pm in the evening. These timeframes reflect periods of heightened vehicular activity and commuting, contributing to the traffic issues faced by the city. This is especially evident during Fridays, weekends and holidays, along Claro M. Recto Avenue (where several of the malls are located) and in Divisoria.

To catch public transport in the city, look for a loading/unloading zone indicated by a sign and/or a yellow box on the road. If there are no yellow boxes, avoid waiting close to intersections or No Parking areas.

Public transport during rainy weather can be unreliable. Jeepneys, multicabs, and taxis are few and far between, and those that do turn up are usually either full or can't be bothered to pick up passengers. In these situations you have a few options: wait for an empty jeepney, multicab or taxi with sufficient empty seats available, wait for the rain to stop, or if worst comes to worst, walk to your intended destination.

By jeepney or multicab
Jeepneys and multicabs are usually safe during the day and cost only a tenth of a taxi ride. Fares are usually for the first 4 km and  for students and senior citizens, however this does vary depending on the length of the route. It's a common sight to see conductors riding at the rear, not only collecting the fares of the passengers, but also shouting at passersby the destination and/or intermediate stops.

Riding on a jeepney or multicab can be very uncomfortable, especially if you're tall. Not only are the passenger compartments small and claustrophobic, but the drivers would usually want the vehicle to be completely filled with passengers before departing a terminal. To make matters worse, there might even be sacks of rice and farm animals on jeepneys and multicabs that go through the markets.

If they don't take you where you wanted to go, then you can take one to a large hub, where you can continue with another one. Jeepney and multicab routes are displayed at the front, windshield and sides of the vehicles, which makes knowing where to go a lot easier. Try to find a full or nearly-full jeepney, since the driver of an empty one will tend to wait for more passengers. Also, avoid catching one if you're in a rush as it'll take you a long time to reach your intended destination. Catch a taxi - it'll be safer and you'll get to where you want quicker.

At night you may have to be careful with drunks, since robberies do happen. Keep your cellphone and camera in your bag and your bag in your lap. It's best to avoid riding on jeepneys with sound systems; not only might the jeepney driver be playing deafening techno "music," but he might be speeding as well.

By motorela
Motorelas are essentially motorcycles with a passenger compartment attached at the rear. Like jeepneys, motorelas have a longitudinal seating arrangement, making it more difficult to see where you are going. It was invented in Cagayan de Oro, making them one of the icons of the city. Motorelas are similar to Thailand's tuk-tuks and India's rickshaws, though they can seat seven passengers. They are slow but you don't have to wait long for them to fill with passengers. Motorelas usually travel set routes around Agora, Carmen, and Macasandig, as well as along several streets downtown. The regular fares are usually (slightly less for students and senior citizens). However, motorela drivers will give you a custom service for a negotiated price, such as later in the evening when there are very few jeepneys taking commuters home.

By taxi
Air-conditioned taxis with meters installed can be found all over the city, and many of them can be hailed using either Grab or Hirna. Grab taxis can be easily identified by the green and white Grab stickers on the rear passenger windows. As of June 2018, the taxi flag down rate is, per kilometer, and an additional  every minute. Grab taxis may also include a booking fee on top of the final taxi fare. Taxis have two color codes: white and yellow. White taxis are the most common ones, while yellow taxis, operated by Alphat Airport Taxi, usually transport passengers to and from Laguindingan Airport. However, there are some yellow taxis that aren't airport taxis (Royale Taxi), and some airport taxis pick up passengers in the city. Be careful as these airport taxis charge a flag down rate of, rather than the regular rate of.

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).

By motorcycle
If you're feeling adventurous, you can use the Angkas motorcycle-hailing service, similar to GrabBike in Indonesia and Vietnam. Motorbike drivers are professionally-trained and passengers are given their own helmet to wear for the journey.

Aside from Angkas, there are also motorcycles for hire that pick up passengers from major intersections in the city late at night and early in the morning, when hardly any other public transport vehicles are going around.

By trisikad or sidecar
Trisikads, which are pedal-powered tricycles that typically seat between two-four passengers, and sidecars are used in less urban and outlying areas of CDO. Be cautious when travelling on a trisikad or sidecar at night and always ask for the correct change, as the drivers might forget to give you the change (intentionally or unintentionally) upon arrival at your destination.

By bicycle
Cagayan de Oro is definitely not a bicycle-friendly city. Aside from two short, protected bike lanes along Our Lady of Perpetual Help Avenue in Barangay Patag (outside the Philippine National Police camp) and bike lane signs along the National Highway in Gusa, (although vehicles can regularly be seen parking over it), CDO is pretty much devoid of any real bike lanes. To make matters worse, not many drivers respect cyclists, so you have to constantly watch out for drivers (particularly in SUVs and pick-ups) zigzagging when overtaking slower vehicles, opening their doors to spit or throw garbage, or simply being distracted behind the wheel. And it's not uncommon to see dogs, both strays and with owners, taking over the streets in the evening and early in the morning before sunrise. Some of these dogs have a tendency to bark at or chase cyclists.

The city doesn't have any bike-sharing initiatives, which isn't too surprising seeing how dangerous the roads are. Bicycle racks are very hard to come by, however, you can find two at Centrio Mall - one located next to the Corrales Avenue entrance, with the other one near the LAX Shuttle terminal on Vicente Roa Street.

If you're still keen on cycling, the best time is between sunrise and before the morning rush hour when there aren't many drivers on the road. Try to avoid the main thoroughfares, though secondary roads can also become quite busy. A helmet, lights and reflectors on your bicycle are an absolute must.

By foot
Like cycling, walking around most parts of the city is not for the faint of heart. Because of the usually hot and humid climate throughout the year, even traveling a short distance by foot is difficult, and is one of the reasons why locals usually prefer to catch public transport instead. Extra precaution should be taken when crossing roads in Cagayan de Oro, as many drivers fail to give way to pedestrians, even if they're crossing at a designated pedestrian crossing.

Exploring the city by foot is also risky due to the lack of decent sidewalks, the presence of vendors occupying them (especially in the markets), not to mention the danger of being sideswiped by reckless drivers. That being said, Don Apolinar Velez St. is one of the walkable roads with adequate sidewalks on both sides, plus it can take you from Vicente de Lara Park to Rodelsa Circle, two popular spots for exercising in the morning. Walking along the city's bridges is also risky because many motorcyclists tend to use the sidewalks as an extra lane during rush hour. This often happens on the four-lane Maharlika Bridge as the footpaths here are lower than on the other bridges. Many streets are poorly-lit, including downtown. Take extra precautions when walking in these areas, especially by yourself.

Navigating one's way through the city can be challenging at times due to the lack of clear and legible street signs. Case in point Barangays Nazareth and Macasandig, where the layout of the streets make the problem even worse.

If you do walk around, having lots of water handy, a good hat and excellent situational awareness are a must. Pedestrian overpasses are very few and far between, although Limketkai Center does have a skywalk which you can use to access almost any point of the complex. Jaywalking is a definite no-no, especially in Divisoria as offenders can be fined. However in the rest of CDO, it is very to common to see people crossing anywhere and everywhere, without even checking for any oncoming traffic.

Parks
Sadly Cagayan de Oro doesn't have any large parks like those found in other countries. However, the parks CDO does have to offer are still worth visiting nonetheless, especially for those wanting to take a break from the noise and chaos of the rest of the city.

June
Himugso (Cebuano for birth) is a week-long event in June commemorating Philippine Independence Day on June 12, Cagayan de Oro's Charter Day on June 15, and the birth of national hero Jose Rizal on June 19. The celebration, which started in 2015, is a time when Kagay-anons show civic and national pride, with a number of activities being held such as a Freedom Run, Flag Raising Ceremony on the three aforementioned dates, and a tour of the city.

August
The Higalaay Festival (formerly the Kagay-an Festival) is held every August in honor of Cagayan de Oro's patron saint, Saint Augustine of Hippo. The highlights of the festival include the Agro-Trade Fair, Miss Cagayan de Oro, Higaonon Street Dancing, Civic-Military Parade, Fluvial Parade along the Cagayan River and Halad sa Lambagohan. There are also cultural shows, competitions, celebrity concerts, and sales in the city's malls.


 * 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.
 * 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.

Shopping malls & supermarkets
Cagayan de Oro has a plethora of shopping malls and supermarkets catering to all types of shoppers, from cheap and cheerful to upscale. They are a hive of activity during Friday nights, weekends and holidays as family and friends spend quality time together at restaurants or just malling (window shopping and wondering around aimlessly in malls). Most of the malls are along Claro M. Recto Avenue.

Markets
If you're looking to buy fruits, vegetables, meat and fish at prices cheaper than those in the supermarkets, check out CDO's public markets. Although they're noisy, crowded and chaotic, you do get a real taste, literally and figuratively, of everyday life in a Philippine marketplace.

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

 * Café Laguna- Robinsons Cagayan de Oro. Fine dining and Filipino cuisine.
 * Country Side Steakhouse, Limketkai Center. Grilled beef or steak.
 * Café Laguna- Robinsons Cagayan de Oro. Fine dining and Filipino cuisine.
 * Country Side Steakhouse, Limketkai Center. Grilled beef or steak.
 * Café Laguna- Robinsons Cagayan de Oro. Fine dining and Filipino cuisine.
 * Country Side Steakhouse, Limketkai Center. Grilled beef or steak.

Coffee

 * Bo's Coffee - Don A. Velez St. A Cebu-based coffee shop.
 * Bo's Coffee - Don A. Velez St. A Cebu-based coffee shop.

Bars

 * Pulse Formerly Xcite, it is in front of the Dynasty Court Hotel.

Budget

 * YMCA Hostel - 91 Julio Pacana St, from a night

Mid-range

 * Middleton Aparttelle - Lirio Ext., Carmen.
 * Country Village Hotel - Villarin St., Carmen.
 * Middleton Aparttelle - Lirio Ext., Carmen.
 * Country Village Hotel - Villarin St., Carmen.
 * Country Village Hotel - Villarin St., Carmen.
 * Country Village Hotel - Villarin St., Carmen.

Splurge

 * Marco Hotel - Alwana Business Park, Cugman.
 * Chali Beach Resort and Conference Center - Zone 3, Cugman.
 * Marco Hotel - Alwana Business Park, Cugman.
 * Chali Beach Resort and Conference Center - Zone 3, Cugman.
 * Marco Hotel - Alwana Business Park, Cugman.
 * Chali Beach Resort and Conference Center - Zone 3, Cugman.

Mobile
Cellular service in urban areas of Cagayan de Oro is generally fine by Philippine standards, as long as you have a 4G LTE smartphone/tablet or pocket WiFi that can take advantage of faster speeds. However the further you are from a cell tower, the weaker the signal will be, especially in mountainous areas. Globe, Smart and TM (Touch Mobile, an MVNO owned by Globe) prepaid LTE SIM cards can be purchased at carrier stores in shopping malls, 7-Eleven outlets, cellphone stores found throughout the city, and even in local neighborhood sari-sari stores. The Globe and Smart prepaid LTE SIMs cost, while the TM ones are. More Kagay-anons use either Globe or TM over Smart, and Globe has noticeably faster LTE speeds than Smart. It's another advantage if you have a device compatible with the 700MHz LTE band (which both Globe and Smart support), as it has a longer range and better indoor coverage compared to higher-band frequencies. Phone calls can also get choppy or drop out at times and text messages sometimes take a while to send because of the lack of towers to cope with the large number of subscribers.

Globe and Smart switch off cellular signals - sometimes without prior notice - near areas where events are held for security reasons. These include the Nazareno procession in January and various events as part of the city fiesta in August. However, areas that aren't close to these events regularly don't have cell signals as well. On numerous occasions, the signals only come back hours after the events have ended.

Internet
Many public places in Cagayan de Oro offer free Wi-Fi connectivity, including shopping malls, cafes, restaurants, as well as parks and government offices. For example, Centrio Mall offers free Wi-Fi access for one hour, while Gaston Park has unlimited Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi speeds are slower during peak times and weekends. There are also some establishments that charge you for using their Wi-Fi, although at a reasonable rate.

Stay safe
CDO is almost certainly safer than much of Mindanao, but that does not mean it is entirely safe. See the Mindanao article for warnings that apply to the entire region.

Flooding
Sudden downpours are a regular occurrence; in the wet season, it rains almost every afternoon and evening. Most of CDO is low-lying and flood-prone, even in the uptown areas, and the city lacks an adequate drainage system. Limketkai Center and Claro M. Recto Avenue between the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) and SM CDO Downtown Premier are particularly vulnerable to flooding.

Before going around during the wet season, pay close attention to the weather forecasts on the internet and television, as even a localized thunderstorm can grind the city to a halt.

Pollution
Air pollution is a worsening problem in Cagayan de Oro. On most days, a thick layer of smog can be seen hanging over the city. Some of the contributing factors include the increasing number of private vehicles on the roads (especially diesel-powered SUVs and pickups), the continuing use of black-belching jeepneys, open burning of garbage such as plastics and tyres, and the use of charcoal or wood for cooking. If you have asthma or other respiratory problems, wearing a good facial mask (preferably an N95 mask) when outdoors is highly recommended.

Power outages
Blackouts (or brownouts as they're referred to in the Philippines) are an all-too-common occurrence in Cagayan de Oro, especially between March-June. Sometimes these may last just a few minutes; other times for more than half a day. It always pays to have some flashlights and a powerbank handy to charge your devices in case the lights go out. Reliable flashlights can be purchased at hardware stores like ACE Hardware or Handyman, while powerbanks can be found at gadget shops in the malls. Check the website of the Cagayan Electric Power & Light Company (CEPALCO) for blackout schedules.

Tap water
According to the Cagayan de Oro City Water District (COWD), tap water in the city is "safe to drink." Most locals, however, rely on either bottled water or water filtration systems for their drinking needs, as brown sediment can occasionally be seen in the tap water. Many areas in the city experience low water pressure, especially in the mornings, and water supply can be turned off, sometimes without prior notice, due to repairs or other incidents. It's a good idea to check COWD's website regularly for any water interruption announcements, and to stock up on water just in case.

Emergency
In the event of an emergency, dial 911. 911 calls are not free and are only available to Globe subscribers with at least worth of credits.

Clinics

 * Cagayan de Oro Social Hygiene clinic City Health street. Phone +63-8822 721189 M-F 08:00-16:00 (free STD and HIV testing).

Pharmacies

 * Generika Drug Store Pabayo-Chaves Street.

Immigration

 * Bureau Of Immigration Cagayan de Oro office.Ground floor. Ymca Building. Julio Pacana Street.

Newspapers
Cagayan de Oro has two local English language newspapers: Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro and the Mindanao Gold Star Daily. National newspapers such as The Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin and Manila Times are also sold in the city. Newspapers can be purchased at convenience stores like 7-Eleven and Cham's, and from newspaper sellers along the roads and sidewalks. However, the price of the newspapers can vary from one newspaper seller to another.

Go next

 * Camiguin Island
 * Davao via Bukidnon
 * Iligan