Cagayan de Oro City Travel Forum

is cagayan de oro city safe for english tourist, and is there a nice beach there,and good connections to cebu airport. thank you

Jason, I'm actually from Oro area. Yes, it's a safe place and don't panic, there are lots of foreigners in this small provincial city (whites and non-whites)as is true in the entire country. The locals will be curious of course but this is very much part of the Filipino hospitality and easy-jolly trait. Just be yourself and be open to things (with civilized caution naturally in all travels involved). You'll have fun and even a real adventure blast! Good beaches abound but try your best to get to nearby Camiguin Island - a real paradise still! Go to the web and get all the info. Once there, don't miss the White Island, a strip of pure white sand archipelago within the island; also visit the hot and cold springs, the market at Mambajao, the sunken literally beneath the sea) cemetery from the Spanish times and gosh, climb a volcano (but go with a local guide). Camiguin Island is a mere hour bus ride from Oro to the town of Balingoan where you take the 40-minute ferry. I think now you can also get a ferry to Camiguin direct from Cagayan de Oro. Do it, you won't regret it! Around Oro, visit the Maria Christina Falls and the beaches around Iligan are also very nice. In Oro itself, don't miss the great local markets and cheap cheap good restaurants. Check into a better hotel - they're very cheap. Onwards to Cebu, best to take an overnight super ferry from Oro - much much cheaper than the flight and wondrous sea travel (get a cabin). I myself is due to go home for a visit from 2nd Sept. to 25th September. E-mail me if you're there around this time. I can point you to more local destinations and info. Good luck and great travelling.

Cebu Pacific has a connecting flight from CDO to Cebu check their website for the sked at:
http://www.cebupacificair.com/index.html
I haven't heard any news about any foreigner being victim of hate crime or anything like that in CDO. If you are making Cebu your base, then you can take a ferry to Bohol or fly to CDO. Read the VT member pages on these islands for more things to do!
Good luck!!

Yeah CDO is safe I was there in `04 for 2 weeks and had no worries at all.

Also on Mindanao Davao is a nice spot (actually rated as one of the cleanest cities in the Philippines).I think it is advisable to stay away from the General Santos and Zamboanga areas in the south of Mindanao.