This summer, there’s no better way to celebrate your friendship than visiting the “City of Friendship,” Cagayan de Oro. This city on the island of Mindanao is a perfect place for friends to satisfy their thirst for adventure and fun.
It is a place where modernity and nature coincide and where you can do a lot of activities that can surely pump up your adrenaline and happy hormones.
Best of all, CDO is easily accessible and you can easily travel here from Manila or even your house for sale in Iloilo City!
If you’ve already booked your flight with your friends, here are eight activities you should try with your friends this summer in CDO for a fun-filled adventure:
Go Paragliding to Reach the Skies
CDO is one of the five sites in Mindanao where you can do paragliding. This aerial sport will make you feel like you are flying with wings. Beginners don’t need to worry about the risk of this ride as there will be a paraglider pilot present to assist and drive the parasail for you.
Flying a parasail is like controlling a kite. This summer, riding one with your friends will allow you to see a bird’s eye view of Cagayan de Oro and Macajalar Bay.
There are numerous companies offering paragliding rides in CDO, and it would cost you around PhP 3,000 each to book a paragliding adventure. It might be costly, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity you wouldn’t want to miss while in CDO.
Try White Water Rafting
White water rafting on the Cagayan de Oro River is one of the famous heart-pumping activities CDO is known for. The whirlpools and waves of the Cagayan de Oro River will indeed challenge your fears and rafting skills.
It will also strengthen your trust in your friends! But aside from the crashing rapids, don’t forget to look at the fantastic rock formations and lush flora and fauna you will pass along the way.
This adventure has different courses, from beginner to extreme, depending on what you and your group are up for. There are numerous white water rafting operators in CDO, but the good thing is the local government standardizes their prices.
The price per pax is usually PhP 700 to PhP 2,000, depending on the course. You can also opt for various packages to save more. Note that your operator provides all safety gears. This adventure may last for three to five hours, so it is best to allot a whole day for this activity.
Explore the River Rapids Through River Tubing or Kayaking
If you prefer a less intense but otherwise still exciting activity, try river tubing or kayaking across the Cagayan de Oro River!
You can also brave the Cagayan de Oro River rapids via river tubing (maximum five people) or kayaking (maximum three people). Though riding on a different river craft, these two alternatives will still surely give you the thrill you’re craving. If it is your first time riding a kayak or a river tube, the operator will provide you with lessons before allowing you to brave the Cagayan de Oro River.
Visit the Playground for Adults at Larry’s Hill in Sierra Del Oro
Larry’s Hill in Sierra del Oro is one of the places in Cagayan de Oro where you can travel back in time by playing the games you used to play when you were young. Only now, these playgrounds are again larger than you.
At Larry’s Hill, you can play at a ball pit, high ropes at sky level, high ropes at grass level, a two-way zip line, rappel from a helicopter, bungee trampoline, and their latest addition, the Maze Adventure. There are also lifesize statues of your favorite transformers in the area where you and your friends can take pictures. You will feel like a kid again once you include this in your itinerary in CDO.
Go to Macahambus Adventure Park, Cave, and Gorge
Macahambus Adventure Park is an exciting natural getaway in Cagayan de Oro you should visit with your friends when you’re in the city. Once here, you can enjoy a variety of adrenaline-rushing outdoor activities!
Challenge yourself and try river trekking, rappelling from a 65-foot waterfall, biking to the 350-year-old Dao Heritage Tree, riding120-meter The Zipline, and going to the 150-foot high and 135-meters long Skybridge. You can also try the “Slide for Life” for an added thrill when going down from the Skybridge.
Be Mesmerized by the Views in High Ridge
High Ridge CDO is one of the high spots that offers a panoramic view of the city. If you want to chill and relax with overlooking views, this is the place to be! High Ridge also offers tasty meals like soup, pasta, sandwiches, brick-oven pizza, and sweet desserts. After a tiring day out, why not chill with a bottle of ice-cold beer or a warm cup of coffee?
However, the best thing you can do here is to just sit down and marvel at the panoramic views of CDO. In addition, it is best to visit High Ridge before the sunset to view the golden hour from the best location in the city.
That said, after your exhilarating outdoor activities, freshen up at your hostel or house for rent in Cagayan de Oro and head to High Ridge for a sumptuous dinner or a couple of drinks.
Visit the Nearby Camiguin Island
Since you and your friends are in Cagayan de Oro, go on a side trip to the small and peaceful island of Camiguin. Dubbed the “Island Born of Fire,” this smallest island in Mindanao and the second smallest province in the country is home to seven volcanoes and the Mount Hibok-Hibok Protected Landscape.
Camiguin is perfect for people who love water-based, natural attractions. Aside from its stretches of white sand beaches, Camiguin is also rich in waterfalls, natural springs, virgin beaches, and diving spots.
If your group is into history and culture, you can spot some of Camiguin’s well-preserved ancestral houses, Spanish-era churches, and other heritage sites.
Some of the tourist attractions in Camiguin you should visit with your friends are:
- Sunken Cemetery
- White Island Sandbar
- Mantigue Island Nature Park
- Hibok-Hibok Hot Spring
- Sto. Niño Cold Springs
- Soda Water Park
- Katibawasan Falls
- Tuawasan Falls
Go on a Food Trip or Bar-Hopping Adventure
Last but certainly not the least, going on a gastronomic adventure is one of the best things to do in this city when you are with friends. The city is peppered with numerous restaurants serving authentic local and international dishes with the freshest ingredients.
This is also one of the best things to do if you want to learn more about the place’s cuisine and local eats.
CDO’s nightlife is also very much active and there are numerous bars, clubs, and karaoke places in CDO where you can party like a rockstar with your friends. If you have the whole night planned for partying, why not go bar-hopping?
Cagayan de Oro offers plenty of fun activities perfect for groups of friends. From thrilling paragliding sessions to relaxing meals overlooking the city, you’ll never run out of things to do with your friends here!
