Cagayan River (Cagayan de Oro)

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Cagayan de Oro River is the main boundary of the two districts of Cagayan de Oro City. The river's tip is the Macajalar Bay and the start is way up there in the mountain range of Bukidnon. It is famous for its white water river rafting and kayaking.

One of the best, or perhaps THE best, white water rafting and kayaking destination in the Philippines. And is the most convenient and accessible white water rafting and kayaking runs. Unlike other white water rafting or kayaking destinations in the Philippines where you need to travel 5-8 hours by bus before you can get to the "put-in". And if you do multi-day rafting or kayaking, you have to stay overnight in the forest, and mosquitoes will be feasting on you. Popular rafting and kayaking runs in Cagayan de Oro river don't require multi-day event. Because the rapids are very close to the city.

The Cagayan de Oro River or Cagayan River passes through the city center. And the popular Mambuaya put-in point is only about 30 or 40 minutes from the city. And if your fitness level is very good, you can actually do kayaking and/or rafting everyday. Because you don't have to worry about the transportation to the put-in. And you can choose your take-out point as well. For kayaking (not for rafting), you have so many options for the take-out point. You can choose the old Carmen Bridge, and just go straight to Divisoria for coffee, tea, lunch, or early dinner. Or choose Taguanao/Huluga as your take out point and go directly to ShoeMart (SM) mall which is less than 10 minutes drive. Or choose the Marcos Bridge and or the last bridge at Puntod. Your option is almost unlimited.

There are about 6 or 7 rafting outfitters that serves Cagayan de Oro. And as of now only one white water kayaking outfitter. Bookings is essential for kayaking because of limited kayaks. While with rafting, you can just go directly to Divisoria before 8:00AM and ask whether you can still get a seat.

President Gloria Arroyo (http://www.sei.dost.gov.ph/finals_coll/coll03/files/Water_Rafting.htm) and many Philippine TV/Movie personalities have done rafting here. This is the only (with Class 3 rapids) rafting destination that a Philippine president have done it.