Our favourite places to stay on this sleepy Cebu island.
Contributed by Miked’s Travel PH
Extreme and exciting activities, majestic waterfalls and lovely natural attractions — all these and more await you in Northern Mindanao! Let me share with you a travel guide to help you prepare for your Iligan, , Bukidnon and adventure!
Also read: 20 Underrated Provinces in the Philippines Totally Worth Visiting
Laguindingan Airport in
Northern Mindanao comprises five provinces: , , Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon and Misamis Occidental. The main entry point is via . Laguindingan International Airport gives access to Northern Mindanao via air travel.
We <3 CDO
There are direct flights coming from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and Mactan-Cebu International Airport to Laguindingan International Airport. Ferries from Manila and Cebu to are also available. The flight takes around an hour while travelling by sea is around 33 hours and 8 hours from Manila and Cebu, respectively.
Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, and AirAsia have Manila or Cebu to CDO (Laguindingan Airport) flights. Cebu Pacific and AirAsia usually have cheaper promo flights. Once in Laguindingan Airport, you can either take a bus going to the city proper for PHP 50.00 (non-AC) and 85.00 (AC) or a shuttle that ranges from PHP 100-200. Alternatively, you can rent a car or van with driver for a day for PHP 1,000 – 1,800.
By sea, you can check 2Go Travel or Cokaliong Shipping for ferries from Manila and Cebu. There are also provincial buses from Cubao that can take you to City.
Shuttles in Laguindingan Airport
Iligan City is geographically part of the province of Lanao del Norte. Laguindigan Airport is still the access point when going to Iligan since there are no airports in Lanao del Norte.
By air, take flights from the airlines mentioned above. At the airport, ride a shuttle van going to Laguindingan Intersection. The fare is PHP 50. At the intersection, ride a bus bound to Iligan City. The fare is PHP 145 and travel time is around an hour and a half. By sea, you can also check the ferry lines mentioned above.
Van routes in Agora Terminal
is an island in Northern Mindanao. Air and sea travel are options but the former is limited since its airport only serves flights coming from Cebu City.
From the city proper, ride a jeep going to Agora Market Terminal. Then ride a bus or van bound to Balingoan Port. The fare is around PHP 150++ and travel time is two to three hours. At Balingoan Port, take a ferry or RoRo vessel going to Benoni Port in . The fare is around PHP 150 – 170 and travel time is at most two hours. At Benoni Port, there are motorbikes that you can rent or multi-cabs you can hire to get you around the island.
Waiting area in Balingoan Port
City is highly urbanised so finding a place to stay here is not a problem. Same goes for Iligan City. While in , you can stay at beach resorts.
Win Min Transient Inn at Agora Terminal
Here’s a list of places to visit and activities that you should definitely try!
The majestic
There are around 23 waterfalls in Iligan City. You can have a day trip to the city to visit some of the accessible sites like the Maria Cristina Falls, Mimbalut Falls, and the ever beautiful .
Also read: 13 Awe-Inspiring Waterfalls in the Philippines You Must Visit
Iligan’s pride, Cheding’s Toasted Peanuts
Take home Cheding’s Toasted Peanuts as pasalubong (souvenir).
Sunken Cemetery Marker in
White Island with Mt.Vulcan and Hibok-Hibok
Take a million selfies in White Island with Mt. Vulcan and Hibok-Hibok Volcano at the background and go beach bumming in Mantigue Island.
The sweetest Lanzones!
Be sure to buy Lanzones that costs only around PHP 15 – 30 per kilo! also celebrates Lanzones Festival every third week of October.
The 840 meter zip line in
Try out some adrenaline pumping activities in Dahilayan Adventure Park like the 840-meter zipline, the drop zone, and sky tower base jump!
High five!
Continue the extreme activities by white water rafting in River!
This is another destination for extreme seeking travellers. Mapawa Nature Park offers extreme activities like zip-lining, rappelling, and canyoneering.
Also read: I Spent My Birthday Weekend with a Grand Adventure in
Puto maya and hot chocolate or “sikwati” (top left) with Humba (top right) in Cogon Market
Go to Cogon Market to have some humba (somewhat like adobo) in Humba ni Aling Violy then sikwati and putomaya for dessert.
Pastel from Missy Bon Bon and Vjandep
Aside from Cheding’s Roasted Peanuts, be sure to take home s, the famous bread from that you can also buy in .
Divine Mercy Shrine in El Salvador
Have a little side trip to El Salvador City to visit the Divine Mercy Shrine. It has a 50-foot statue of the Divine Mercy Christ.
This is our 5 days, 4 nights itinerary for our Iligan, , Bukidnon and Trip.
07:00 AM – ETA Laguindingan Airport
07:30 AM – ETD Iligan City
09:30 AM – Start of tour/ETA Maria Cristina Falls/Mimbalut Falls
12:00 NN – Lunchtime (Ihaw-ihaw eateries along Linamon Highway)
12:00 NN – Sidetrip Macaraeg-Macapagal Ancestral House
01:30 PM –
05:00 PM – Back to CDO/Stay in inns at Agora Terminal
05:30 AM – Wake up call/Breakfast
06:00 AM – ETD Agora Terminal to Balingoan Port (2-hour bus ride)
09:00 AM – ETD Balingoan Port to Benoni Port in (2-hour ferry ride)
11:00 AM – ETA /Check-in to accommodation
12:00 NN – Lunchtime
01:00 PM – Start exploring the island:
–:00 PM – Katibawasan Falls, Soda Water Park, Tuasan Falls, Sto Niño Cold Spring, Ardent Hotspring
–:00 PM – Back to accommodation/Dinner/Rest
06:00 AM – Wake up call/breakfast
06:00 AM – Continue island exploration: Walkway to Old Volcano, Sunken Cemetery, Guiob Church Ruins
07:00 AM – White Island
09:00 AM – Mantigue Island
01:30 PM – Late lunch/Checkout
03:00 PM – ETD Benoni Port to Balingoan Port (2-hour ferry ride)
05:00 PM – ETD Balingoan Port to Agora Terminal, CDO (2-hour bus ride)
07:00 PM – Check-in to hotel/accommodation then dinner
06:00 AM – Wakeup call/Breakfast
06:00 AM – ETD Agora Terminal to Brgy. Dahilayan, Bukidnon (an hour or more travel time)
08:00 AM – Extreme Activities in Dahilayan Adventure Park
11:00 AM – Go back to CDO
12:30 PM – Lunchtime/Prepare for White Water Rafting
01:00 PM – White Water River Rafting
06:00 PM – Back to hotel/accommodation then dinner
07:00 AM – Wakeup call/Breakfast
07:30 AM – Optional: Mapawa Nature Park
07:30 AM – Optional: City Tour
12:00 NN – Lunchtime
03:30 PM – Prepare and pack up
04:00 PM – Visit Divin Mercy Shrine in El Salvador City (on the way to airport)
05:30 PM – ETA Laguindingan Airport
Chilling out in Sto. Niño Cold Spring
Here’s a breakdown of our expenses (per person in a group of five persons) during our trip. This only includes necessary expenses like fares, food, tour guides, entrance fees, and accommodations. Tips and other expenses like souvenirs are not included.
Total: PHP 1,355.00
Ihaw-ihaw and puso rice in Gloria’s Ihaw-Ihaw, Iligan
Total: PHP 1,340.00
Riding in
Total: PHP 1,048.00
Sunset in Balingoan Port
Total: PHP 3,300.00
Divisoria in
Total: PHP 231.00
Also read: An Open Letter to Filipinos: Travel the Philippines First
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