MINDANAO TOP PICKS

Have you been and seen the beauty of the Philippines the Land of Promise – Mindanao. Our Travel ambassador JR Flores shares his Top picks and tips on how to get there.

JR is a Traveler who worked as a Legal Officer in a Private Law Firm. He is also the Founder of the Travelers of the Philippines. His aim is to finish 81 provinces in the Philippines and he’s done with 61.

Check his travel album here.


AWAO FALLS & MAINIT SULFURIC HOT SPRING
Compostella, Valley

📍AWAO FALLS (Compostela Valley)
How to get there:
From Davao City, take either the Bachelor Bus, Metro Davao Shuttle or van ride to Monkayo.. The bus ride is good for 3 hours. Fare on the aircon bus is P150. In Monkayo, you have to rent a skylab towards the falls.

From Butuan, ride the bus going to Davao and the bus ride is good for 3.5-4 hours, then alight in Monkayo.
Awao Falls is located in Barangay Awao about 1 hour skylab (motorcycle) ride from the town proper.

BALAISAN RIDGE (Bukidnon)

HOW TO GET HERE:
You need to fly to Laguindingan International Airport which is near Cagayan de Oro city.

• From the airport, you can ride a van or bus bound for Cagayan de Oro City. You need to reach the Agora Bus Terminal, just tell the taxi or jeepney drivers.

• From Cagayan de Oro City-Agora Bus Terminal, ride the Davao City bound or Malaybalay City bound bus. Tell the ticket officer that to drop you along the highway road junction going to Impasugong. This drop zone is also the town’s tourism center as this is where the huge ethnic statues are built. Bus fare: approx. Php 200, travel time: approx. 2 hours.

• From Impasugong tourism center, hire a habal-habal that can drop you off at Ant farm in which is the starting point of the trek to Kaanibungan Ridge

DINAGAT ISLANDS

HOW TO GET THERE:
The province of Dinagat Islands can be reached by ferry or passengers pump boat coming from Surigao city, The capital of Surigao delNorte. It is the closest jump-off point to the province with travel time of about 1-1.5 hours depending on the sea conditions. Pump boat and ferries bound for San Jose the capital town of dinagat leave as early as 5-6AM. from the port in the boulevard of Surigao city, next trip is around 9am and the last trip departs in the early afternoon at around 2-3pm. 
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✔️BY AIR:
PHILIPPINE AIRLINE (https://
www.philippineairlines.com/
en/ph/home
) & CEBU PACIFIC https://
www.cebupacificair.com/
 ) has regular flights to Surigao city or Butuan City from manila. 
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✔️BY SEA:
COKALIONG SHIPPING LINES (https://
www.cokaliongshipping.com/
#home
 ) & 2GO FERRY (https://www.2go.com.ph/ ) has regular ferry trips to lipata Surigao city.

THE HOBBIT HOUSE OF BUKINON

Located within the Kitanglad Agri-Eco Farm, the hobbit houses are situated at 1,300 meters above sea level.

How to get here:
-Ride the bus to Malaybalay terminal
-Ride a multicab going to Casisang Central School
-Ask directions for the “habalhabal” terminal going to Imbayao, Sinaburan.
-Ride the “habalhabal” to the destination.

Fees:
Entrance fee: 50/Head
Habal-Habal Ride: 200/Head Roundtrip

KAANIBUNGAN RIDGE (Bukidnon) 

HOW TO GET HERE:
You need to fly to Laguindingan International Airport which is near Cagayan de Oro city.

• From the airport, you can ride a van or bus bound for Cagayan de Oro City. You need to reach the Agora Bus Terminal, just tell the taxi or jeepney drivers.

• From Cagayan de Oro City-Agora Bus Terminal, ride the Davao City bound or Malaybalay City bound bus. Tell the ticket officer that to drop you along the highway road junction going to Impasugong. This drop zone is also the town’s tourism center as this is where the huge ethnic statues are built. Bus fare: approx. Php 200, travel time: approx. 2 hours.

• From Impasugong tourism center, hire a habal-habal that can drop you off at Ant farm in which is the starting point of the trek to Kaanibungan Ridge.

LAKE HOLON (South Cotabato)

At Davao Ecoland Terminal,take a bus en route to Koronadal/Marbel that passes by General Santos. Trip will take around 4-5 hours. Alternatively, you may just take a bus to General Santos and transfer to a bus bound for Marbel. At Marbel, ride a van with a signboard”Direct T’boli”. Trip is about 45 minutes to 1 hour.

At T’boli Town, register at the Municipal Tourism Office of T’boli to get local guides. From there, you have to charter skylab (motorbike) to Barangay Salacafe, the jumping off to Mt.Melibingoy. Fare is Php 100 per person, minimum of two persons. You may also ask for porters before you proceed with the trek, ask how much is the fee before proceeding. The hike is about 3-4 hours to Lake Holon.

PANIMAHAWA RIDGE (Bukidnon) 

Paminahawa Ridge is in Barangay Impalutao, Impasugong, Bukidnon. It is one of the famous mountain hiking destinations in Bukidnon. It is ideal for first-time hikers and starters because of its easy and scenic trail, and high chances of catching the sea of clouds.

HOW TO GET HERE:
You need to fly to Laguindingan International Airport which is near Cagayan de Oro city.

• From the airport, you can ride a van or bus bound for Cagayan de Oro City. You need to reach the Agora Bus Terminal, just tell the taxi or jeepney drivers.

• From Cagayan de Oro City-Agora Bus Terminal, ride the Davao City bound or Malaybalay City bound bus. Tell the ticket officer that to drop you along the highway road junction going to Impasugong. This drop zone is also the town’s tourism center as this is where the huge ethnic statues are built. Bus fare: approx. Php 200, travel time: approx. 2 hours.

• From Impasugong tourism center, hire a habal-habal that can drop you off at Ant farm in which is the starting point of the trek to Paminahawa Ridge. — at mindanao.

LAMPANAG RIDGE (Bukidnon)

HOW TO GET THERE: 
Fly to Cagayan de Oro
Major airlines have daily flights to Laguindingan International Airport, Cagayan de Oro City. from the airport; hop on a shuttle to Agora Bus Terminal
From Agora Bus Terminal; Ride a Bus, (any bus going to Davao) to Impasug-ong

Fly to Davao City
Major airlines have daily flights to Francisco Bangoy International Airport, Davao City. From the airport; Take a taxi to Ecoland Bus Terminal Ecoland Bus Terminal; Ride a bus, (any bus going to Cagayan de Oro City) to Impasug-ong

Fly to Butuan City
Major airlines have daily flights to Butuan Airport (Bxu). Outside the Airport along the highway, Ride a bus (any bus going to Cagayan De Oro) and drop to Puerto, then ride a bus (any bus going to Malaybalay or Davao City) to Imapsugong.

📍SINULOM WATERFALLS
Sinulom Falls is a newly discovered tourist spot near Cagayan de Oro. The falls streams directly to Cagayan River that borders Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon. Geographically, the falls is located on the walls of Talakag, Bukidnon but it is best accessed in Sitio Impakibel, Brgy. Tignapoloan, Cagayan de Oro City, 45 kms from the city proper.

The waterfall got its name from a Visayan term called “Sulom” meaning black ant. It was discovered by the residents in year 2002 and became the newest addition in Cagayan de Oro’s Travelers spot.

The waterfall is very unique and majestic, consisting around 28 waterfalls within the area. The water is really cold and refreshing, comes from the spring surrounded by mosses and trees.
The cascading water from the falls directly passes through the Cagayan de Oro River. It is safe for drinking which is away better than mineral water.

The background of the place will definitely catch your attention. It has a good angle for picture taking. 

KABUJUAN ISLETS (Surigao Del Norte) 

How to Get to Kabujuan Islet:
If coming from Surigao City, ride a Bachelor Bus bound for Tandag or a van bound for Hayanggabon at the Surigao City Terminal. Tell the driver/bus conductor to drop you off at Brgy. Panatao, Claver. From the highway at Brgy. Panatao, walk towards Panatao Port. (When you reach Claver, remind the van driver/bus conductor to drop you off at Brgy. Panatao because sometimes they forget). Travel time from Surigao City to Brgy. Panatao is around 1 hour to 1 1/2 hour by van. It is much longer if by bus.
If coming from Butuan, ride a Bachelor Bus or van bound for Bad-as or Surigao City. Alight at Bad-as and ride a Bachelor Bus bound for Tandag or a van bound for Hayanggabon at the Surigao City Terminal. Tell the driver/bus conductor to drop you off at Brgy. Panatao, Claver. From the highway at Brgy. Panatao, walk towards Panatao Port.