Thursday, November 22, 2012

Travel Guide: 6-Day Northern Mindanao Adventure: Summary, Itinerary and Expenses

by lakwatserong tatay



This 6-Days of Northern Mindanao Adventure with X-plorerboyz is a series of blog post during our visit to the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Bukidnon and Lanao Del Norte last year. One of my so many draft post.....^_^

Day 1: (September 28)
Our flight schedule is quite late afternoon by 4pm via Cebu Pacific flight and estimated time of arrival in Lumbia Airport is at 525pm. Sad to say the time we arrived it was quite raining at Cagayan De Oro. We hailed a taxi from the airport to our Victoria Suites.

Itinerary:
Day 1:
1300 Meet - up place (Office BGC)
1330 ETD to NAIA Terminal 3 (via Taxicab)
1430 ETA Terminal 3 (check-in procedure & wait for departure)
1600 ETD to Lumbia Airport (Cagayan de Oro)
1725 ETA Lumbia Airport (Taxicab to Victoria Suites)
1800 ETA Check-in Victoria Suites
1900 Dinnertime (Stroll and Beer Session @ Hammertime Grill & Bar)


Blogs:

Expenses: (where 5 persons on this trip, expenses is based per person)

Taxi to Terminal 3 (from BGC)                       Php 25
NAIA Terminal Fee                                              200
Taxi to Victoria Suites                                           60
Victoria Suites: Family Room (Php1500)               300
Dinner (Carinderia)                                               60
Hammertime Grill & Bar                                       156
Mineral Water & Chips                                         50

Total                                                            Php 851 

How to Get There:

From Cagayan de Oro City Airport to City Proper
Two modes of transportation is available via Taxi's or PUJ's,  Taxi's could range php 250-300 going to the city proper. PUJ's, Carmen bound jeepneys are available outside the airport, php 17, travel time is about 30 mins. From Carmen, take jeepney bound to Bonbon and tell the driver to drop you off at Plaza Divisoria, travel time is around 15 mins.

From City Proper to Cagayan de Oro City Airport
Best mode of transportation if your group is Taxi, like we did...^_^. But if your tight in budget, take jeepney bound to Carmen and get off at KSY. From there, take a jeepney bound for Lumbia which passes by the airport, fare is php 18 and travel time is around 30 mins, all in all.

Transportation:

Since Cagayan De Oro is the city center, there are several modes of transportation. From jeepney or motorela when going around the city or take a bus when going to Camiguin, Bukidnon, Butuan, Iligan or as far as Ozamiz, Pagadian, Davao or Dipolog.

Three Integrated Bus and Jeepney Terminals are available in the city:

Agora Market City Bus Terminal - regular land trips from and to Davao City, Malaybalay, Valencia, Butuan, Gingoog City and Balingoan.

Bulua-Westbound Bus Terminal - regular land trips from and to Western towns of Misamis Oriental, Iligan City, Marawi City, Tangub and Ozamiz City, Pagadian, Zamboanga and Dipolog City.

Gusa-Eastbound Jeepney Terminal - regular land trip from and to Eastern towns of Misamis Oriental, Camp Phillips, Manolo Fortich, Libona, Valencia and Malaybalay, Bukidnon.

Accomodations:

There are number of accommodations available in the city, from expensive once up to cheapest hotels, resorts and affordable hostels, guest houses and inns and lodging facilities.

Notes: Get your accommodation that is near to Plaza Divisoria, so can more utilize your stay in Cagayan De Oro. If you wish to have walk tour and near to city center.

For more additional list of accomodations, click here or here.

Tourist Spots:

For more attractions to see and to visit in the city, click here.

City Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office
Grd flr. Tourism Hall
Tel. no. : (088) 857-3164

For more information about where to go, where to shop, where to eat, what to do, look for accomodations, guide and travel agencies in Cagayan De Oro city, you may click here or here.


Day 2 and 3: (September 29 and 30)
Early check out at Victoria Suites, but we will back again after two days of exploration at Camiguin.

Itinerary:
Day 2
0600 Checkout to Victoria Suites
0630 Breakfast time
0700 Agora Bus Terminal (bus transfer bound for Butuan / get off at Balingoan)
0830 ETA/ETD to Balingoan and walk to Balingoan Port
1030 ETA Benoni Port (pick up via Multi Cab / Kuya Chris)
1100 ETA to Pabua Cottages (Owner: Kuya Poloy Pabua)
1130 Lunch time @ Carinderia
1200 Start of the Tour
1800 ETA Pabua Cottages
1900 Dinnertime (room near Pabua Cottages)
2100 Chillax time, and drinking session again...^_^

Day 3
0530 Island Hopping and remaining tourist spots in Camiguin
1630 RORO ride back to Balingoan Port, Balingoan, Misamis Oriental
1700 ETD from Balingoan Port to Cagayan De Oro (GT Express Van to CDO)
1900 ETA Check in @ Victoria Suites
1930 Dinnertime & Beer Session @ Plaza Divisoria (ala Merchato) onwards...

Pabua Cottages
Blogs: (Day 1 @ Camiguin Island)

Blogs: (Day 2 @ Camiguin Island)
Kuya Chris : Camiguin Tour
Expenses: Day 1 @ Camiguin Island: (where 5 persons on this trip, expenses is based per person)

Jeepney ride to Agora Terminal                                                Php 7
Bachelor Express (Butuan bound / Drop off to Balingoan)               84
RORO ride to Benoni Port (Camiguin) Ticket                                 170
Terminal Fee                                                                               2.25
Rayban Shades (nakalimot magdala)                                            60
Lunch @ Carinderia                                                                     73
Sto.Niño Cold Spring (entrance)                                                    20
Fresh Buko Juice                                                                         20
Camiguin souvenir tshirt                                                              120
Bora Soda Pool (entrance)                                                            20
Guiob Church (donation)                                                               10
Sunken Cemetery (entrance and tip)                                              40
Walk to Old Volcano (entrance)                                                      5
Dinner @ Carinderia                                                                      58
Ardent Hot Spring (entrance)                                                         30
The Bar, Red Horse & Chips                                                          30

Total                                                                                     Php 749

Expenses: Day 2 @ Camiguin Island: (where 5 persons on this trip, expenses is based per person)

Coffee                                                                                    Php 10
Banca Rent (5 pax - php400)                                                         80
White Island (entrance)                                                                  20
Swaki                                                                                           20
Kuya Chris (Camiguin Tour - php2500)                                           500
Pabua Cottages: Family Room (php1000)                                      200
Camiguin Souvenir tshirt ulit...^_^                                                  100
Katibawasan Falls (entrance)                                                         15
Ostrich Farm                                                                                free
Mantigue Island (entrance)                                                             20
Banca Rent (5 pax - php550)                                                        110
Tip tou our Eco Tour Guide                                                            20
Softdrinks @ Mantigue Island                                                        10
Giant Clams Sanctuary (entrance)                                                  25
Snorkeling Activity @ Giant Clams Sanctuary (super discount)       100
Lunch near Balingoan Port                                                             57
RORO ride ticket to Balingoan port                                               170
Van ride to Cagayan De Oro                                                         100
Dinner @ Plaza Divisoria (street foods)                                          124
Family Room: Victoria Suites (php1500)                                        300
Beer time @ Plaza Divisoria (street life)                                          60

Total                                                                                     Php 2041
 
Me w/ Kuya Poloy Pabua
How to Get There:

From Cagayan De Oro City to Camiguin
From your hostel take jeepney ride to Agora Market Terminal, take a Bus(Bachelor Express) bound for Butuan and get off Balingoan Bus Terminal, fare is php84, travel time is almost 2 hrs. Few minutes walk coming from bus terminal Balingoan Port is located and take ferry ride to Benoni Port in Camiguin, fare is 170, and travel time is almost an hour.

Transportation:

Camiguin Island is can toured in a day via its circumferential road. Public transportation is available but sometimes limited. It is recommended to get a habal-habal (single motorcycle) or rent a multicab to go easily on all tourist spots in Camiguin Island. Great thing in Camiguin, transport service is systematized and well organized, it has standard rate so tourist alike wouldn't get fooled by operators who tend to overprice.

Accommodations:

Since we stayed in Camiguin Island for two days, and most of the time we spent on the road, it is better to get a homey type accommodation which has reasonable and very friendly prices....^_^. But there are number of accommodations available, from expensive resorts, hotels, guest houses and inns. For more list of accommodations, you may get here or here.

Contact Details:
Kuya Chris (Camiguin Tours) -  09215637788 / 09069272420
Kuya Puloy Pabua (Pabua Cottages) - 09064152557


Tourist Spots:

For more attractions to see in Camiguin Island, aside from our adventures, you may click here or here.

Camiguin Provincial Tourism Office
Contact nos. : (088) 3871094 loc. 119-120 / 09057895640
camiguin.tourism@gmail.com


Day 4: (October 1)
This day is one hell of adventure day, we will have our zipline adventures at Dahilayan Adventure Park and stop over at Del Monte Pineapple Plantation at Camp Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. By lunchtime, back at Cagayan de Oro, a sumptuous meal and eat all you can treat at Mindy's and afterward, one wet ride in an advance course rafting in Cagayan de Oro river. Below is our driver/tour guide/photographer and additional friend in Cagayan De Oro...^_^

Itinerary:
Day 4:
0700 Pickup from Victoria Suites
0730 ETD to Dahilayan Park Zipzone, stop to Del Monte Pineapple Plantation
0900 ETA Dahilayan Park proper, 3 stages zipline rides....^_^
1230 Eat all you can @ Mindy's
1400 Kagay's Advance Course Rafting @ Cagayan De Oro river
1800 ETA to Victoria Suites
1830 Dinnertime via Plaza Divisoria (ala Pancheto naman...^_^)
2200 Sleeping time daw.....^_^

Blogs:

Expenses: (where 5 persons on this trip, expenses is based per person)

Family Room: Victoria Suites (php1500)                   Php 300
Package Adventure (Zipline and Rafting)                         2400
Zipline Cert and photo souvenir                                       150
Ref magnet souvenir                                                       35
Dinner @ Plaza Divisoria                                                 94

Total                                                                    Php 2979  


How to Get There:

From Cagayan De Oro City to Dahilayan Adventure Park
From your accommodation go to Agora Market Terminal, take a van going to Camp Phillips, travel time is almost an hour. Hire a habal-habal that will take you to Dahilayan Adventure Park, trip is almost 30 mins. It is better to talk with your habal-habal driver so to fetch right after your activities at the park.

Transportation:

There is no public transportation available when going to Dahilayan Adventure Park. The available options are rent a van coming from CDO or commute going to Camp Phillips and hire a habal-habal. We did not actually tried any of these options because we got a tour package from Kagay, which consist of vice versa transportation on each of our activities, eat all you can treat and vice versa transportation on our homestay hotel.

Accomodations:

Since we did not have the chance to stay in Bukidnon. I can't give you any recommended accomodation. However, based from websites there are number of accommodations available, from expensive to cheapest staycation you want. For list of accommodations in Bukidnon, you may click here.

Tourist Spots:

Check out the official site of the province for its comprehensive list of attractions and spots to see in Bukidnon. Click here.

For additional places to visit in Manolo Fortich, click here or here.


Day 5: (October 2)
Our last day of activities, road trip to Iligan City and first time to see one of the mightiest falls of Iligan "Maria Cristina Falls" and one of the hidden treasure falls, known as "Tinago Falls". Although we just seen 2 out of 23 wafterfalls in Iligan, were happy to say...that we had a great and fun filled experiences with falls. Aside from chasing waterfalls, we roamed around NPC's nature park, of course we had so much photo souvenirs on each of these places....^_^

Itinerary:
Day 5:
0500 wake-up call (pero di naman nasunod)
0700 late check out @ Victoria Suites (buti nalang mabait yun manager, wala na extra charge..^_^)
0745 ETA Westbound Terminal (Rural Transit Bus bound for Iligan)
0945 ETA Iligan City Proper
**Supposed to 3 waterfalls, visit Timoga Spring and photo opps @ Macaraeg-Macapagal Ancestral House
1630 ETD from Buru-un to Iligan city proper
1900 ETA CDO West bound bus terminal 
2000 ETA to Victoria Suites (ulit.....^_^)

Day 6
0500 wake-up call (ulit di na naman nasunod)
0700 Check-out in Victoria Suites
0730 ETA check-in procedures in Lumbia Airport
1030 ETA NAIA Terminal 3
1300 ETA Touchdown: Antipolo....^_^

Blogs:
Expenses: Day 5 (where 5 persons on this trip, expenses is based per person)

Tricycle to Vjandep Tiano                                    Php 14
Vjandep Pastel                                                          590
Jeepney ride to West Bound Terminal (Bulua)              13
Bus to Iligan (Rural Transit: Ordinary)                         120
Jeepney to City proper from Bus Terminal (Iligan)         7.50
Lunch @ Iligan carinderia                                            66
Jeepney to Buru-un (drop off NPC park)                      11
Maria Cristina (entrance)                                             35
Maria Cristina (shutle service)                                      10
Jeepney from NPC toBuru-un market                           7
Habal-habal to Tinago Falls                                          25
Back to highways og Iligan                                           25
Life jacket rent                                                            20
Mineral water                                                              25
Jeepney from Buru-un to Iligan city proper                   14
Iligan souvenir tshirt                                                    119
Bus to CDO (Rural Transit)                                          95
Bulua Bus Terminal to Plaza Divisoria                           12
Dinner                                                                        79

Total                                                                Php 1287.50

Expenses: Day 6 (where 5 persons on this trip, expenses is based per person)

Vjandep Pastel (12 buns) 4 box                            Php 520
Vjandep Pastel (6 buns) 3 box                                     210
CDO Souvenir  tshirt                                                   150
Suite Room: Victoria Suite (php1300)                          260
Taxi fare to CDO Airport                                             60
Lumbia Airport (terminal fee)                                       30
Bus to EDSA MRT/LRT                                              20
Lunch @ Crossing                                                      53
Jeepney ride to Antipolo                                              25

Total                                                                  Php 1328


How to Get There:

From Iligan City proper to NPC Nature's Park
From city proper, ride a jeepney bound for Buru-un. Inform the driver to drop you off at Maria Cristina Falls, fare is php12 and travel time is around 20 minutes.

From Iligan City proper to Maria Cristina Falls
From city proper, ride a jeepney bound for Buru-un. Inform the driver to drop you off at Maria Cristina Falls, fare is php12 and travel time is around 20 minutes. Then walk towards NPC complex for about 10 minutes.

From Iligan City proper to Tinago Falls
From city proper, ride a jeepney bound for Buru-un. Inform the driver to drop you off at Buru-un Market, fare is php14 and travel time is around 20-30 minutes. From there, ride a habal-habal to jump off of Tinago Falls, fare is php25. From there you will approximately 20-30 minutes or it will depends.

Accomodations:

Since we did not have the chance to stay in Iligan City, Lanao Del Norte. I can't give you any recommended accomodation. However, based from websites there are number of accommodations available, from expensive to cheapest staycation you want. For list of accommodations in Iligan City, you may click here or here.

Tourist Spots:

Check out the official site of the province for its comprehensive list of attractions and spots to see in Iligan. Click here, here, here or here.

Iligan City Tourism Office
Contact  no.: (063) 2213426
www.iligan.gov.ph

Lanao Del Norte Provincial Tourism Office
Contact nos.: (063) 3415241 / (063) 3415804
www.lanaodelnorte.gov.ph

So all in all, my total expenses for a 6-Day Northern Mindanao Adventures...........

6-Day Total Expenses : Php 9325.50

So what do you think......it is expensive or not?

4 comments:

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George said...

Saktong-sakto na ang budget na 10K at napuntahan niyo na ang apat sa mga magagandang puntahan sa Northern Mindanao. For sure, masaya naging trip niyo!

Ana said...

Wow you've visited a lot of places in Northern Mindanao. I hope you enjoyed it. You should come back soon and visit Cagayan de Oro, Camiguin and Bukidnon.

Thien Nguyen said...

Hi! I'm Thien from Vietnam. I love beaches too. Thanks greatly for your sharing!

Would you like to try out some wonderful places in Vietnam? Check out this Things to do in Vietnam for various useful suggestions.
Do hope that you can visit and explore our country one day.

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