Northern Mindanao Voyage Tips and guide

Contents

Map of Northern Mindanao

• 8.483333123.81 Oroquieta — the capital of the province, it has an old Spanish fortress
• 8.15123.852 Ozamiz — a small city on Iligan Bay
• 8.233333124.253 Iligan — home to many waterfalls, springs, and beach resorts
• 8.483333124.654 Cagayan de Oro — also called CDO, it is famous for its whitewater rafting and kayaking adventures along the Cagayan de Oro River
• 8.816667125.15 Gingoog — the "vacation city of Misamis Oriental"
• 8.156389125.1333336 Malaybalay — a small unspoiled city, with friendly people and a mild climate
• 7.904167125.0927787 Valencia — a typical Philippine city near Lake Apo (a crater lake) and the Kasanayan Cave

• 8.142778124.91251 Mount Kitanglad Range Natural Park — the Kitanglad mountain range has numerous peaks: the more prominent ones are Mt. Kitanglad, Mt. Kaatuan, Mt. Maagnaw and Mt. Dulang-Dulang

Northern Mindanao is one of the more peaceful regions of Mindanao. It is a progressive region, with large tracts of land available for agriculture and industry. It is blessed with natural wonders: large, protected forests, white sandy beaches, coral reefs and sheltered bays rich with aquatic life. It is accessible and a strategic location for trade.

Most of Northern Mindanao's inhabitants are Cebuano speakers and have Visayan ancestry. In Lanao del Norte, the Muslim Maranao people form a majority alongside the Christian Visayans. Indigenous ethnic groups are the Bukidnon, Kamigin, and the Subanen.

The primary and only airport with commercial service in the region is Laguindingan Airport (CGY ^IATA), served by PAL Express, Cebu Pacific and AirAsia. There are flights from Manila, Clark, Cebu and Davao.

Orange Rural Transit buses connect the region with Zamboanga Peninsula to the west and Davao to the south, while yellow Bachelor Express buses run from Butuan to the east, both terminating at Cagayan de Oro.

Philtranco also operates a Manila-CDO service, which takes the ferry between Leyte and Surigao.

Three major highways connect Northern Mindanao with other regions.

• Rte 9, the main east-west highway, connects with Butuan in the east and Zamboanga del Sur to the west.
• Sayre Hwy (Rte 10 and AH26) connects with Davao City via Bukidnon.
• Rte 77 from Lanao del Sur

Cagayan de Oro has ferry services from the Visayas and Manila. Iligan and Ozamiz also have ferry terminals, and Camiguin is connected to Bohol by RORO ferry.

Most transportation within Northern Mindanao is by road. Major highways are Rte 9 and Sayre Highway: the former runs along the north coast and the latter from CDO to Bukidnon.

There are plenty of bus service between cities and towns, with the hub at CDO. Major bus companies are Rural Transit, Bachelor Express, Super Five and Pabama Transport. Rural Transit provides most service out of CDO's western bus terminal, while Bachelor Express dominates routes out of the eastbound terminal. Super Five and Pabama meanwhile competes with Rural Transit on services out of CDO to Iligan and Bukidnon, respectively.

Camiguin is connected to the mainland by RORO ferry and pump boat.