General Santos, officially the City of General Santos, referred to as General Santos City and abbreviated as GenSan, is a 1st class highly urbanised city in Soccsksargen, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 594,446 people. Located on the island of Mindanao, it is the southernmost and 15th-most populous city in the Philippines. It is the regional centre for commerce and industry of the Soccsksargen region, and is geographically located within the province of South Cotabato but administered independently of it. Formerly known as Dadiangas, the city was named after Gen. Paulino Santos, a former Commanding General of the Philippine Army and the settlement's leading pioneer. The nomadic B'laan people are the original inhabitants of General Santos, and traces of their early settlement of the area are found in the city's place names, which are derived from their vocabulary. Their name for the city, Dadiangas, is from the thorny Ziziphus Spina-Christi tree that was once abundant in the area and is now a protected species under Republic Act 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples Right Act of 2007. The B'laan tribe presently lives alongside the city's new generation of settlers and other immigrants.

Airports in General Santos

1. General Santos International Airport

General Santos International Airport, is an alternate international airport located in the city of General Santos, Philippines. Situated in Park New Hondagua, Uhaw, Barangay Fatima, the airport is the largest airport in the island of Mindanao and is officially classified an International Airport by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), a government bureau which is responsible in the management and operations of General Santos International Airport and all other airports in the country except regular international airports. Inaugurated on July 6, 1996, in time to serve the influx of visitors, athletes and participants coming in from different parts of the country who were taking part in the 42nd annual Palarong Pambansa (National Games) that was held in South Cotabato, Sarangani and General Santos (SOCSARGEN) area at that time. Since then, the new airport immediately replaced the old and smaller Buayan Airport in Barangay Buayan, which is now converted into an air station for the use of The Philippine Air Force and renamed it "" Rajah Buayan Air Base"". Though new, wider and much modern, General Santos International Airport nevertheless retained its old IATA airport code(GES) from the old Buayan Airport.

How to Get Cheap Flights to General Santos?

Traveloka is a travel search engine that makes it easy for travellers to find the cheapest flights to General Santos. All you need to do is key in the information in the search box, and the application will recommend the best trip according to your budget. It compares flight prices across some trusted airlines to help you to get the best possible deal. Use Traveloka’s price alert feature to be notified of flights in your desired price range to get the best flight price to General Santos.

When is the Best Time to Fly to General Santos?

Average temperatures in General Santos vary barely at all. Considering humidity, temperatures feel hot all year with a chance of rain throughout most of the year. The area is far less temperate than some in the 4th percentile for pleasant weather compared to tourist destinations worldwide. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit General Santos, the hottest months are April, March, and then May. The warmest time of year is generally mid-April where highs are regularly around 93.3°F (34.1°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 74.3°F (23.5°C) at night.

What are the Top 3 Things to Do in General Santos?

1. Queen Tuna Park – Apparently called the Tuna Capital of the Philippines, General Santos City is host to modern amenities and endowed with the beauty of nature, where diverse cultures abound. One attraction that gives a legacy to GenSan's original product is the Queen Tuna Park, which is a favourite destination of many locals. Nested in Barangay Dadiangas South, Queen Tuna Park is regularly visited by many locals and foreign tourists to spend leisure time together with their loved ones. The whole environment is good to be photographed, and if you want to explore it, you can have a walk around and feel the cool breeze coming from the Celebes Sea. Another good thing in the place is the large life-size statues of animals such as elephants, fishes and dinosaurs. If you’re going to visit the park, you will notice kids playing with the large waves and fishing boats docked in the nearby wooden port. Despite some issues in Basilan, the local government of the city gives their best efforts to improve the place and make it one of the centres of tourism in General Santos City. Queen Tuna Park is open to the public from 5:00 am to 10:00 pm. Before entering the park, there are some rules and regulations to follow for the park's welfare.

2. Plaza Heneral Santos - Plaza Heneral is a big rotunda, the centre of the city where you can find the city hall. By nightfall, the plaza comes alive with stalls selling different kinds of street foods from mango shake to fish balls. It’s a place where skaters, BMX riders, break dancers and joggers converge. They have their respective spots inside the plaza. You will also find a big monument dedicated to whom this town is named- Gen. Paulino Santos.

3. Sanchez Peak - Sanchez peak is located at Sitio balakayo, Barangay Olympog. One of the tourist destinations for mountaineer and outdoor enthusiast in gensan. It is more or less 800pa. 1hr walk for a seasoned climber, 2hrs for beginners. Sanchez peak is owned by Mr and Mrs Jun Sanchez. The first settler of the land are Blaans, and it was given to the father of uncle Jun as a gift of friendship. At the back of Sanchez peak is where Amsikung seven falls can be seen. The boundary of Gensan, Polomolok and Malandag. Sanchez peak is opened to the public last 2010 as a tourist destination in Gensan. And since then many people came and witnessed its beauty.