Zamboanga Hotels

With Spanish as its second official language and many hispanic influences in its culture, Zamboanga City has come to be known as “Asia’s Latin City”. Learn more about our country’s spanish roots and explore the many historical sites within the area. Thinking of going for a swim after a long day of exploration? Try and visit the many beaches and islands that surround Zamboanga City.

Not only is Zamboanga the third largest city by land area in the country, it is also one of Mindanao’s most urbanized cities. Aside from its famous seaweed production and sardines industry, most of the Zamboanga peninsula region’s commercial and industrial centers are located here. Despite the city’s rapid industrialization, Zamboanga has also carefully preserved its heritage sites and tourist spots for travellers like you to see.

How to Go

By plane

If you want to book a quick flight, carriers like Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and Air Asia have daily trips from Manila to Zamboanga. From Zamboanga’s airport, you can ride a taxi to the city center.

By boat/ferry

Not in a hurry? 2go offers scheduled trips from Manila to Zamboanga on their website. The trips take around two days but prices are relatively cheaper than travelling by air. The ship departs at Manila North Harbor’s Pier 4 and arrives at the PPA Port in Zamboanga City. Remember, there are no daily schedules so don’t miss you trip!

By land transportation

From Cubao, take a Ceres Bus with scheduled RoRo trips going to Zamboanga. You can choose to ride a regular non-aircon bus or an aircon bus depending on your preference and budget.

Getting Around

Two of the best ways to get around the city are through jeepneys and tricycles. But if don’t mind roughing it out, habal-habal (motorcycles) can also take you around the city.

Tourist Attractions

Get ready to walk around the city and explore all its famous landmarks like Fort Pilar, Rizal Park, Plaza Pershing, Zamboanga City Hall, Paseo del Mar, Cawa-Cawa Baywalk, Pasonanca Park, and Climaco Freedom Park. Take a tour around these instagrammable sites and snap some photos with your friends.

If you want to take it slow, relax, and go for a dip at the beach, Zamboanga City has a lot to offer you. Get your tan on in places like Great Santa Cruz Island, Once Islas, Bayangan Island, Pandilusan Island, and Caragasan Beach. You can also check out beautiful waterfalls like Merloquet Falls, Tagbilat Falls, Dulian Falls, and Nancy Falls.

Top Things to Do

It’s hard to get bored in Zamboanga City with so many sites, mountains, waterfalls, and beaches to explore. If you’re looking to enjoy some sun and sand, pick from the many beaches that Zamboanga has to offer, book a place to stay in, and have fun in the sea.

At Pasonanca Park, you can go camping and hiking with your family or your friends and enjoy swimming in pools of cool spring water. Try out their treehouses as well for a unique overnight experience.

You can take a stroll around the city and grab a bite at food places in Paseo del Mar or you can visit the unique Yakan Weaving Village and watch as some of the indigenous Yakan people weave intricate designs for their Yakan cloth. This is also a great place to shop for some souvenirs.

Where to Eat

Eat well-cooked crab with great sauce at the Alavar Seafood Restaurant. This restaurant is one of the most popular restaurants in the city and both locals and past visitors will definitely recommend it to you as well. If you can’t get enough of seafood, try Hai San Seafood Market and Restaurant. Here, you can pick out fresh and delicious meals like their Shrimp in Sweet and Sour Sauce.

Other must try restaurants in the city include Hacienda de Palmeras Restaurants, Don Vicente Restaurante Latino, La Vista del Mar, and Greenfields Mano-Mano Resto.

Nightlife

Paseo del Mar is known as a vibrant night life district. Here you can choose from restaurants and bars where you can eat, drink, listen to live music, or even sing karaoke. At the Lobby Bar, be ready to listen to local bands playing all kinds of music. You can even sing with the live bands as well. Some of the other bars you may want to try out are the Draft Bar, Vistro Hangout, The Vape Bar, Big Dawgs Bar Services Bistro, and Zamboanga White Disco Pub.

Where to Stay

If you’re willing to splurge for a place to stay in, check out some of the best hotels in Zamboanga City like the Garden Orchid Hotel, Marcian Business Hotel, Astoria Regency, Ever O Business Hotel, and Cityinn Hotel.

But if you’re a backpacker on a budget, these are some of the more affordable Zamboanga City hotels. Casa Don has cheap but spacious rooms where rates are based on 12 to 24 hour intervals. N. Atilano New Pension House is located near Casa Don in the same compound and has around the same rates. You’ll find that the rooms here are also spacious and comfortable. Other cheap hostels you might want to check out are AA Bed and Breakfast Pension House and Alavar Bed and Breakfast.

Travel Tips

• When walking around and taking pictures in the city or at the beach, don’t leave your things unattended.

• Strike up a conversation with local indigenous people. One of the reasons why people travel is to learn about different cultures. Start with learning about cultures in our own backyard.

• The Chavacano dialect that locals speak is based on the Spanish language so knowing a bit of Spanish might come in handy for you.