28 Jun Recreation and Leisure in Cagayan de Oro – Top Hotel Pools, Beach Resorts, and Nature Parks Where You Can Unwind, De-stress, and Spend Quality Time with Family
Going out with the family or friends for some bonding time or just time to de-stress and unwind doesn’t necessarily mean going to far-off places like Boracay or Palawan for any long weekend. Cagayan de Oro has its share of awesome and competitive nature parks, beach resorts, and hotel pools that – believe it or not (you’re better off believing it) – many out-of-towners come to the city to experience. So, instead of booking a flight and lugging all that luggage around, you only need things for a day or weekend that are easily packed in a car or your backpack in case you want to take the bus or a jeepney to these awesome places.
Apple Tree Resort
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The Apple Tree Resort and Hotel is situated in Taboc, Opol, Misamis Oriental.
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Though technically already outside Cagayan de Oro City limits, it is only around 20 to 30 minutes commute from the city center. It’s a great getaway place with two swimming pools where family and friends can go swimming, or enjoy the private beach area for swimming and picnics.
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If you go early on Sunday morning they have “Zumba by the Beach” at 7:00 a.m. If you’re there for the food, the resort has an indoor and outdoor restaurant with complimentary Wi-Fi.
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Night dining will give you an awesome view of the Macajalar Bay. Should you decide to stay there overnight with the family, they have 39 guestrooms and suites with good room amenities.
Chali Beach Resort and Conference Center
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One of the oldest beach resorts of the city, it is located in Cugman, just a 10 to 15 minute drive from the city center.
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What started as a small picnic resort area in 1954 is now one of the most popular resorts, with families and groups spending weekends at the outdoor swimming pool and beach picnic area.
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For night dining and a spectacular view of Macajalar Bay, the Tres Marias Restaurant serves the finest and best Filipino food and international cuisine.
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They also have spa massage and Wi-Fi access. Should the family decide to stay overnight, they have family sized rooms among their 55 guest rooms with great room amenities.
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The Luxe Hotel features the very first rooftop outdoor infinity swimming pool in the city.
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It even has a wading pool for children.
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For a family swimming bonding day or night swimming with friends, the rooftop swimming pool offers a great view of the city, especially at night.
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The pool area contains a pool bar for quick drinks in between swims. For the health enthusiasts, they also have a gym, dance studio, and sauna.
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For night dining, their Kave Restaurant and Bar and Lounges serves the best local and international cuisines.
N Hotel
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Situated along the C.M. Recto Highway in Kauswagan fronting the NHA Subdivision entrance and Jollibee, they have one of the most sought after swimming pools for family gatherings or just large group bonding for a day or the weekend.
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N Hotel is only around 5-10 minutes out of the city center.
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Aside from the large outdoor pool, children can enjoy the kiddie pool. They even have a gym and fitness center for the health conscious.
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For lunch or dinner, their Bon Café serves local and international cuisine all day. Should the family decide to stay for the weekend while using the pool for free, the hotel has 63 guest rooms including 3 suites and a family room good for 11 persons.
Cabula Spring Resort
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If you want something different, like an outdoor spring pool in a picnic area where you can cook your own food, then this is the place for you.
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This resort is located in Cabula, Lumbia, around a 40-minute drive from the city center. It’s the boundary before entering Talakag, Bukidnon. There’s an entrance fee of PhP50.00 for adults and PhP30.00 for children. Tables can be rented for PhP50.00 while cottages can be rented for Php250.00, PhP150.00, or PhP100.00.
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The pool is very large with continuous free-flowing fresh spring water. The resort itself is right beside the Cagayan River, though there is a fence to ward off potential river swimmers since the current is very strong. Occasionally, river rafters can be seen going past at terrifying speeds. For the more adventurous swimmers, the pool has a side hanging bridge that leads up to a platform and a zip line.
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The line ends by plunging into the pool. You can bring your own food to cook, which is already half the fun with such picnics. It is advisable to bring a candle or two to light on the table to ward off the flies since it is an open picnic area. If you don’t have a vehicle, you can take a Lumbia jeepney at the Carmen Market and just tell the driver to drop you off at the resort.
Mapawa Nature Park
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This is a surprising nature park located at the Malasag area, Cugman. Though technically only a 15-minute drive from the city center, the rough roads going up to the park may extend travel time to almost an hour.
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Since the park is almost always fully booked, it is advisable to call ahead and to also confirm if the coming weekend weather is good.
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You can also take advantage of their package tours and treks at around PhP1,200 per person. The resort is a 2,500 hectare eco-tourism park ideal for trekking, hiking, and zip lines.
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The flora here, especially the trees, is said to be centuries old. They also have rappelling, cliff jumping, and a water slide. You can bring your own food there for cooking. They also have a restaurant and outdoor swimming pool.
Jatico Adventures
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One of the newest eco-tourism parks in the city, it is located just 15 minutes outside the city, though the rough roads can extend travel time up to nearly an hour.
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The park contains hiking trails, a playground, aviary, campgrounds, bamboo sway huts for picnickers, and different rides and jumps such as the zip lines, ATV rides, big swing, water zorb, and the only bungee jump in the city.
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There is an adult pool and a kiddie pool.
Malasag Eco-Tourism Village
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Located in Malasag, Cugman, just 15 minutes away from the city center, the village is actually accessible only by private vehicles or riding a three-seat public utility motorcycle the locals call “habal-habal” and charges PhP20.00 per person.
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There is an entrance fee of PhP30.00 and a map is provided since navigating the rather large park can be confusing especially if you get carried away along the paths and stairs surrounded by luscious flora and some fauna sprinkled around like the Philippine deer (locally called “usa”), monkeys, birds, and a snake cage.
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The restaurant offers a breathtaking view overlooking the city, especially at night. There is a swimming pool at PhP50.00 per person and a camping and picnic grounds if you want to bring your own food to cook. There is a series of hanging monkey bridges among the towering centuries-old trees that can be fun to cross except for those with wobbly legs.
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