Cagayan de Oro is an urbanized city in northern Mindanao, renowned as the “City of Golden Friendship” and the “White Water Rafting Capital of the Philippines”. While being a popular destination for water activities, there are several tourist attractions that you can visit during your trip; here are some attractions that I visited during my Independence Day long weekend trip there and my first trip to Mindanao.
Notes:
- DISCLAIMER: This list does NOT feature ALL possible attractions; only the ones that I actually visited are featured here.
- This is a three-part series of my trip to Cagayan de Oro; this is the second part, click here for Parts 1 (incoming flight) and 3 (return flight).
Saint Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral
This historic cathedral located at the heart of the city is the oldest church in Northern Mindanao. This Neo-Gothic cathedral is famed for its tall spires, arched interiors, and vibrant, historic stained-glass windows.
Founded in 1624 by Augustinian missionaries, the church is under the patronage of Saint Augustine. It was damaged during the Second World War, but was later reconstructed in 1951.
City Museum
The City Museum of Cagayan de Oro and Heritage Studies Center is located in a repurposed, century-old water tower in front of Gaston Park. Originally built in 1922, it is the city’s oldest surviving public structure. Today, the three-story museum preserves the rich local history and cultural heritage of Cagayan de Oro.
Entrance is free but visitors must log on to a logbook. We first visited a special exhibit marking the city’s seventy-sixth charter day, which took place the day after we returned home.
Cucina Hagala
This is one of Mindanao’s best-known restaurants, which serves authentic cuisine of our archipelago’s second-largest island (after Luzon).
We ordered our main course: calamari, tiyula itum, and bamboo rice. I told my mom when our rice was literally served on bamboo that it reminded me of my capstone project in Senior High School: a bamboo flood barrier for house doors. The main highlight of our lunch was our dessert: a sizzling caramel dessert.
Cogon Public Market
The largest public market in the city, it covers four blocks built in 2004 under a build–operate–transfer scheme. The three-level market consists of four escalators, which unfortunately, fell into disuse and disrepair when we saw it.
There is a restaurant hub on the market’s ground floor, which is known for its humba stalls. We ate at Humbaan ni Sio-Sio, where we tried their humba for 80 pesos and lauya for 90 pesos. These are cooked for two hours in low fire and are usually served without rice, which can be separately ordered for 20 pesos per cup.
Divine Mercy Shrine (El Salvador)
This is one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in the Philippines and Northern Mindanao.
Spearheaded by the Divine Mercy Foundation of Mindanao, work began in 2003. It was completed in 2008 and declared an Archdiocesan Shrine by the Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro from 2006 to 2020, Most Rev. Antonio J. Ledesma, S.J., D.D. It features a 15-meter-tall statue of the Divine Mercy of Jesus Christ built on the hills which overlook Macajalar Bay, which is recognized as the tallest such structure in the world. To access the heart of Jesus via a flight of stairs, you need to attend an orientation session first. There is an adoration chapel inside the heart as well.
Daily liturgies are held daily at an adjacent church building. Its roof design is patterned after the Crown of Thorns. On its feast day, Masses are held at a makeshift altar outside.
A strict dress code is implemented inside; you cannot enter the sanctuary if you are wearing shorts or improper attire. Otherwise, you would need to wear either long pants or skirts provided at the entrance, which was what other visitors I saw did.
Eden's Solace
Known for its scenic panoramic views of Cagayan de Oro, this hilltop retreat in Barangay Indahag is the best place to explore the serenity of nature. There is an entrance fee of 25 pesos per visitor. Outside food and beverages are subject to a corkage fee; otherwise, you are left with no choice but to purchase their delicacies inside.
Other attractions that you might want to visit
Like what I wrote at the start, this does not include all possible attractions. Here are some other places that you may want to visit as well in CDO:
- Amaya View - located in the Indahag Hills (the same as Eden's Solace), this amusement park offers breathtaking views of the city.
- Museo de Oro - located at Xavier University, this museum is closed on weekends and public holidays.
- Museum of Three Cultures - also at the city center with the same operating hours as Museo de Oro.
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