Butuan City Hotels

Butuan City, an independent city of Agusan del Norte in Mindanao, is on fast road to being a cosmopolitan city. It may not be your typical tourist destination but its history, kinilaw (raw seafood or meat dish similar to Latin America’s ceviche) and longest zipline in Asia would be more than enough to entice and satisfy the traveler and foodie in you.

Butuan is a city of festivals and culture and of natural and historical sites of wonder. It is known as the Home of the Balangays (old wooden sailboats) and as the Timber City of the South. If you are a nature-lover, visiting the city will feel like you’ve found your sanctuary.

How to Go    

By plane

The fastest way to get to Butuan City is via a direct flight from Manila, which takes an hour and 35 minutes. There are also direct flights from Cebu, which takes 50 minutes. Coming from other provinces in the Philippines, there are connecting flights which will have a stop either in Cebu or in Manila before flying to Butuan City.

By boat or ferry

If you prefer to be a sea-traveler, there are also daily trips of ships from Manila and Cebu going to the Ports of Nasipit and Surigao. From there, you can take a bus going to Butuan City. This is the cheapest way to travel and also the longest way to go because the trip lasts for 12 hours to three days.

By land transportation

Traveling by bus or by a private car, if you are coming from Manila, is possible by taking them on Roll on-Roll off (RORO) once you arrive at the Batangas or Cebu port. If you are coming from the city’s neighboring countries in Mindanao, you can also ride a bus, drive your car, or hire a van to get there.

Getting Around

Traveling for short distances within the city is commonly done by riding a tri-sikad (a three-wheeled human-powered bicycle), or a tricycle. Take these rides for a mini-adventure in the city. For more comfortable rides, private cars, vans and buses can be hired particularly if you are traveling in groups or for long distances.

Tourist Attractions

Visit Butuan’s National Museum, particularly its extension the Balangay Shrine Museum and see for yourself the remnants of the 320 A.D. balangay, a wooden boat similar to those used by the ancestors of Filipinos to reach the archipelago.

See the oldest Bitaug tree in the country at the coastal areas of Magallanes, which is also the site of the First Catholic Mass in Agusan del Norte.

Be surrounded by the remnants of an old civilization when you visit the Bequibel Shell Midden and Bitor Shell Midden in Brgy. Bonbon.

Top Things to Do

Ride the longest zipline in Asia at Delta Discovery park. The 1.3km ride that takes a little more than a minute is enough for you to take in the beautiful sights of the city.

Explore the Agusan River and its surroundings by cruising along the river itself and maybe see a relative of Lolong, one of the biggest Philippine Salt Water Crocodile. Continue the experience by visiting the Bunawan EcoPark and Wildlife where you can actually meet Lolong. Inside the EcoPart, you can also swim at the Masapya Falls.

Where to Eat

Don’t miss going to the Langihan Public Market where you can buy and eat seafood for cheap prices. Let the expert vendors pick out a fish for you, fillet it and serve you kilawin.

For dessert-lovers, visit the local’s favorite, Margie’s Kitchen. For the popular local snacks Pao (a local root crop dipped in coconut jam) and Tumpi (a chewy delicacy made from coconut), drop by any public market or roadside stalls.

Lastly, dine at the Grand Palace for a Chinese feast, whatever your budget is. On the first floor, you can order Chinese fast food set meals, while in the second floor, you can order authentic dimsum and Chinese dishes with crabs and eels.

Nightlife

For a late night craving for grilled seafood or chicken, visit Baron’s Grill, which is a car wash by day and a grill by night.

If you want to go out with friends or relatives, visit the club at Sultan Hotel or the nightclub Rams At Night. If you want to sing your own songs, head to Bluehaven, Karaga Hotel’s KTV bar. You can also simply loiter at the Caraga Square and watch the event they have there for the night.

Where to Stay

For a luxurious accommodation in the city, reserve a room at Almont Inland Resort or Balanghai Hotel and Convention Center. If you are working on a budget but wants a decent place to stay, head to the Prince Hotel, Caraga Ultimate Apartelle or the Wayfarer Pension House and Dormitory.

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