Though busy, densely populated and chaotic, the capital of the Philippines, Manila, has a charm of its own that can only be discovered firsthand. Manila’s skyline makes it look like a modern city, but if you look closely, you can marvel at the city’s fantastic historic center, Intramuros, with colonial architecture that gives this Asian city a European feel.
Manila is the perfect place to start a trip to the Philippines as it has good transport links to the rest of the country and many places can be visited from the capital. Cagayan de Oro is one such place. It’s a big city, but CDO, as it’s often abbreviated, is famous for its opportunities for outdoor sports like rafting and kayaking. Nature parks, caves, beaches and waterfalls only add to the adventure, and in the city you can visit museums, water parks and much more. Read on to find out the best way to travel from Manila to Cagayan de Oro.
Options to go from Manila to Cagayan de Oro
If you look at the map, you will see that traveling from Manila to Cagayan de Oro seems impossible by land and that you would cover about 1,400 kilometers by indirect route. However, if we look closely, we can see that the route includes several ferry crossings and even if you drove non-stop, the journey from Manila to Cagayan de Oro would take about 30 hours. As you can see, it’s a possible option to do this tour, but we don’t recommend it unless you plan to visit several places along the way. The best way to get from Manila to Cagayan de Oro is by plane, and direct flights cover this route in no time. Another option is to go by ferry. Because there are so many islands in the Philippines, it is a common mode of transportation, and it is cheap, so it is used by tourists and locals alike. The ferry takes a few hours to get there, but it can be a relaxing and peaceful trip to explore.
Flights from Manila to Cagayan de Oro
Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport © Tupungato / Shutterstock.com
If you are going to be in the Philippines for a limited time and want to make the most of these weeks, it makes sense to choose the fastest means of transport to get from Manila to Cagayan de Oro. nothing but an airplane. Even flying between these cities, the distance is quite long. The flight time is approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes, compared to 30 hours by road or 34 hours by ferry.
Usually flying is too expensive for budget travelers as it is much more expensive than other modes of transport. This is not the case with the route from Manila to Cagayan de Oro. The price of flights is very affordable and depending on the type of ticket you choose, the price will be comparable to some ferry tickets. Therefore, considering the cost and speed, it makes sense to take this route by plane.
There are three airlines that serve the route from Manila to Cagayan de Oro: AirAsia, Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines. Of the three, AirAsia tends to have the cheapest fares, followed by Cebu Pacific. Philippine Airlines seems to be the most expensive option. Of course, the sooner you book your flight from Manila to Cagayan de Oro, the more likely you are to find a good price. The good thing is that with three airlines offering this route, there is a large selection of flights and it is not difficult to find one that fits your plans.
Airbus A321 Cebu Pacific at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport © Nate Hovee / Shutterstock.com
The main disadvantage of flying is that you have to count on extra time, not just the duration of the flight. Traveling to Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport can take some time, and it’s a fairly busy airport, so you’ll need to allow plenty of time for check-in and security checks. In Cagayan de Oro, the plane lands at Laguindingan Airport, which is about 46 kilometers from the city. Transfers can be made by shuttle bus, taxi or Super Five bus. Even if we add up all the stages of the journey, the flight is by far the fastest option to get from Manila to Cagayan de Oro.
You can book directly on the airlines’ websites, but if you want to easily compare prices and schedules and read reviews from other travelers, look for a route on the website 12Go.asia.
From Manila to Cagayan de Oro by ferry
Super economy class on the 2GO Travel ferry © Happy Auer / Shutterstock.com
Although the plane has the advantage of being the fastest means of transport from Manila to Cagayan de Oro and has a reasonable price, not everyone wants to fly. If you spend time in the Philippines and want to get around easily, you might think that driving from Manila to Cagayan de Oro is part of the adventure and take your time getting there.
If that’s the case for you, the Manila to Cagayan de Oro ferry might be the best option for you. 2GO Travel operates direct ferries on this route. There are ferries that accept vehicles and can be useful if you intend to do road work, but 2GO ferries are designed to take you directly from Manila to Cagayan de Oro. The journey takes around 34 hours which means you will be spending a lot time on board. But the ferries that operate this route are nothing like conventional ferries, instead they are fully equipped to make long journeys, so there are places to eat, a small shop, several entertainment options, and a selection of berths and cabins to choose from. the option that best suits your plans.
To save and get the cheapest ticket, check out the Mega Value Class and Super Value Class tickets. These tickets give you access to a shared space with other passengers, so they don’t offer much privacy. If you don’t mind spending more, the cabin is more comfortable. Economy class cabins are shared with other passengers, but they are smaller and more private spaces. There are also cottages for 4 or 6 people which are perfect if you are traveling with friends or family.
Manila to Cagayan de Oro ferries depart from Manila North Harbor, Pier 4 and arrive at Cagayan de Oro Port, which is close to the city center. As with flights, ferry tickets can also be booked online via 12Go.
Since there is not much difference in price between air tickets and ferry tickets, ultimately the choice will be a matter of taste. You can safely take the slow route, although it is not recommended if you are seasick or if you are taking a flight that will get you to your destination in a short time.