After a late night of revelry marking the conclusion of the 2023 Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX), held in Cebu City over the course of three days, I awakened at first light on the day of our departure to prepare for our exit from the Fili Hotel at 6:30 AM.
Cagayan de Oro | A “High Five” Adventure and Culinary Experience
In the lobby, I met my fellow participants of the post-PHITEX 2023 familiarization tour organized by the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines. Before arriving in the country, eighty-eight buyer representatives from nineteen nations were invited to select a specialized destination from a directory of curated locations throughout the archipelago.
The TPB organized a diverse array of post-event circuits, classifying them distinctively: Arts and History spanning Manila and Rizal Province; Dine and Dive across Pampanga and La Union; Faith, Farm and Fun exploring sectors of Cebu and Negros Oriental; Calm, Culture and Culinary in the beach environments of Boracay and Romblon; Wellness and Fun Dive along the clear waters of Coron, Palawan; and the specific Nature and Adventure escapade across Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon, and Davao that asianTraveler accompanied.
As I boarded our transit coaster toward the airport, I was introduced to our international guests. The delegation included the two Davids—David Chai from Malaysia, who managed logistics for a travel firm based in South Korea, and David Chandraraj from New Zealand, who directed a boutique tour agency in Sydney, Australia. Joining them were Franziska Wirth, a German professional working within a Bali-based travel operation, alongside Malaysians Julie Ang and Melissa Ong, who served as dedicated Department of Tourism liaison officers for Malaysia and Thailand.
.jpg "PHITEX travel delegates restaurant dining event Cagayan de Oro")
The caravan also welcomed three Filipina expats: Sarah Aldana, representing Polaris Travel and Tours in Toronto, Canada; Ludi Pasilabban, an established Canada-based tour operator; and Christy Tan, who directed a commercial travel enterprise out of Carson, California.
.JPG "Seven Seas Waterpark Cyclone water slide ride Opol Misamis Oriental")
Even though I had previously explored the three provinces anchoring the itinerary, I felt a distinct wave of anticipation since I would be navigating these trails alongside global industry experts witnessing these rich corridors of Mindanao for the first time.
Our opening destination: Cagayan de Oro.
Attempting to Paraglide at Amaya View
Our initial engagement was slated to be a tandem paragliding flight launching from Cagayan de Oro's highest geographic peak—at Amaya View, which sits 1,122 feet above sea level. Despite our limited sleep and the early morning transit flight from Cebu to northern Mindanao, the group's collective energy soared at the prospect of launching into the sky with certified pilots.
Regrettably, the shifting thermal winds proved insufficient for safe paragliding, and a heavy downpour blanketed the ridges shortly after our arrival. Undeterred, our delegation retreated to sample a delightful assortment of local platters, marveling at the sweeping cityscape views from the viewing decks of Amaya View. We discovered that the property houses multiple on-site attractions, including a lengthy, glass-bottomed suspension bridge stretched across dense mountain ravines leading directly toward a themed sanctuary named Noah’s Ark.
Riding the Rapids of Cagayan de Oro River
The following morning, we awoke to a gloriously bright sky, which gave our expedition the green light to satisfy our craving for extreme outdoor adventure. Geared up to face the currents, we looked forward to embarking on an intense white water rafting run across the churning rapids of the Cagayan de Oro River.
Kagay Whitewater Rafting, the professional outfitter handling our river operations, deployed highly seasoned river masters who were both technically flawless and immensely entertaining, seamlessly balancing tactical commands with practiced humor that kept spirits high.
Every time our inflatable raft approached a major drop, our guide would command us with, “Paddle forward!” or “Paddle back!” in precise, rhythmic intervals that aligned the vessel perfectly as it sliced through the violent whirlpools of each grade. Each time we cleared a churning drop without capsizing, the entire team celebrated with a synchronized high-five, raising our paddles high into the air.
While the river system offered tranquil, glassy corridors across long flat sections, the active rapids—numbering around fifteen distinct drops—generated powerful, swirling vectors that spun and occasionally lifted our raft. The journey was an absolute thrill; we easily would have flipped had our river guide not issued flawless, split-second technical commands.
.JPG "Cagayan de Oro river canyon rocky formations landscape")
Framed by towering limestone walls and pristine wilderness on both banks, it was frequently difficult to stay focused on the whitewater line because the surrounding ecosystems were so visually arresting. Beyond the gorgeous physical backdrop, the echoing songs of forest birds and the steady rush of the river carved out a pristine outdoor sensory experience.
Our entire river run spanned approximately four hours, leaving us thoroughly famished and with a slight ache in our shoulders. As we stepped ashore from the rafts, however, there was unanimous agreement that the run was magnificent. Even though I had navigated the Cagayan de Oro rapids twice before, I was thrilled to log another memorable chapter on these waters.
Becoming Kids at Seven Seas Waterpark
Our downstream destination initially caught a few of our international travel buyers by surprise. Franziska asked with a laugh, “Are we children going to a waterpark?” True to form, within minutes of concluding lunch at the Seven Seas Waterpark, she, David, Sarah, and the rest of our crew enthusiastically shed their professional identities to ride the park's premier attractions. We spent hours on the Cyclone—a massive water slide where a four-person cloverleaf raft plunges from a six-story launch platform, accelerates down an enclosed tube, and sweeps vertically up a massive funnel wall before dropping into the splash pool.
.JPG "Seven Seas Waterpark and Resort aerial view wave pools Opol")
Visitors to the Seven Seas Waterpark and Resort, situated in the coastal municipality of Opol roughly an hour outside the city center, can access a deep inventory of high-speed slides. The facility specializes in high-thrill architecture, including the looping open-spiral Pira-Chute, the high-velocity Riptide boomerang slide, the expansive Buccaneer Bay wave pool, and numerous specialized splash zones.
A Taste of Mindanao Cuisine at Cucina Higala and Kagay-anon Restaurant
An immersive tour of the City of Golden Friendship is incomplete without diving into the local culinary baseline. The people of Cagayan de Oro—famously called Kagay-anons—possess a legendary warmth, consistently going out of their way to ensure visitors experience the finest flavors of their heritage kitchens.
We had the opportunity to dine at two of the city's premier heritage restaurants, Cucina Higala and Kagay-anon Restaurant, both celebrated for their execution of traditional Mindanaoan culinary arts.
Blending the Spanish cocina (kitchen) with the local vernacular higala (friend or family), Cucina Higala serves authentic Northern Mindanao classics with an elevated, contemporary approach. The specialties served across our long table—including rich Beef Rendang, crisp Sinuglaw, savory Humba, Kinilaw with classic dilis, Chicken Pastil, Kare-Kare, and Chicken Surol—instantly captivated our international companions.
During the feast, we sat with co-owner Jan Uy, who detailed the restaurant's deep commitments to preserving and amplifying Northern Mindanaoan gastronomic identity. This includes active micro-sourcing from local agricultural producers and operating the interior as a gallery space to exhibit the visual works of regional Mindanaoan artists.
.jpg "Kagay-anon Restaurant traditional Filipino wooden furniture interior")
Kagay-anon Restaurant, anchoring the city’s culinary scene as one of its most time-honored institutions, consistently validates its status as an essential landmark for food connoisseurs. The venue features beautifully detailed interiors filled with native hardwood Filipino furniture, curating a traditional atmosphere that mirrors the classic recipes delivered to its guests.
.jpg "Kagay-anon Restaurant specialty ostrich salpicao dish local food")
Sampling their signature Ostrich Salpicao immediately confirmed that this rich, savory dish would remain a personal favorite. Other standout highlights included their overflowing Halo-Halo presented inside a fresh, giant coconut, their perfectly seasoned Pinakbet, fresh Sinuglaw, and tender grilled tuna belly.
Seda Centrio: Our Home in CDO
For our two-night urban base, Seda Centrio provided exceptionally comfortable accommodations right in the commercial heart of the metropolis, located mere paces from the Centrio Mall and major downtown corridors.
This 150-room business hotel fields a seamless balance between modern city amenities and immediate proximity to rugged wilderness trails. The sleek design is supported by excellent on-site comforts, including an elevated lap pool, a fully equipped fitness center, a polished executive lounge, and a high-caliber in-house restaurant.
Water adventures: checked. Local gastronomy: checked. High-altitude mountain vistas: checked. Despite missing the paragliding window at Amaya View due to shifting weather lines, the Cagayan de Oro baseline of our tour concluded beautifully. It was clear that my international companions experienced a stellar introduction to the City of Golden Friendship. Next up on the overland trail: Bukidnon.
