Whitewater Rafting in Cagayan De Oro

If you want to experience the thrill of white water rafting in the rapids of the Philippines, the place to go is Cagayan De Oro.

Located in Mindanao, Cagayan is a thriving province rich in culture and natural sights. A great come-on is the white water rafting activity along the stretch of rapids along the Cagayan De Oro river.

There are three stages for the activity. If you are a beginner, it is best to try out the beginner's 3-hour trek with a guide. You can contact them beforehand. If you go directly to Cagayan, any hotel can recommend you to the various local guide groups. We availed of "Bugsay" (Visayan for paddle) c/o Alfred, our very knowledgeable host. They charge Php 900.00 per head which is a bargain.

For the not so first time rafter, there is the "intermediate" which would take 5 to 6 hours, and the "advanced" which takes about 8 hours at the most. The inflated raft can accommodate at the least 6 persons and 8 at the most. So it is best if you travel in groups in order to maximize the balance and enjoyment of the activity.

It is advisable for you to wear wet suits and lots of sun block. The rapids are fun and tricky at the same time. The guides are basically very knowledgeable of the trek points since they have beem exploring the area since the 80's. They are mostly Visayan-speaking but are very fluent in English. Our guide Alfred started our activity with a briefing and oriented us on the proper handling of the paddle as well as tips just on what to expect along the way.

The rafting can be physically challenging so there are areas where you can rest and swim for a bit. Best place is the area which they call "Kiss the Wall", dubbed as that because of hte strong currents which would bring you to "kiss the wall" if you are not able to control your way around it.

Currents are strong, so it is best to keep your lifevests on. Helmets are provided also to protect you from the rocks just in case the raft overturns.

The sights along the way are a nature lover's dream. There are mini waterfalls where you can bath, gigantic boulders along the sides of mountains, mini coves where bats might come out anytime, and some areas where snakes can be seen hanging from branches. The last time we were there, we spotted an iguana who gamely eyed us from his perch on a rock by the bank.

The last part of the activity brings everyone to a 15foot rock in the middle of the river. It is said that every rafter should conclude the activity with a jump from the rock into the rushing currents of the river. Challenge your fear factor and jump your worries away!