Cagayan de Oro: rafting on the Philippine river of gold

On the island of Mindanao, Cagayan de Oro takes its name from the river that once carried gold deposits from the surrounding mountains.

The center, departure point for white-water rafting on the Golden River of the Philippines, is comfortably explored by taxi or jeepney.

The Cagayan de Oro River, with its class three and four rapids, remains among the Philippiness most celebrated rafting destinations.

A few steps away, the Cathedral of San Agustín, rebuilt multiple times, dominates the historic center of the city with its white facade.

Heading inland one visits the Monastery of the Poor Clare Sisters, which offers a panoramic vantage point over the entire city from atop a hill.

As evening falls, the riverside animates restaurants and bars with views of the waters where water sports are practiced during the day.

Cagayan de Oro's name derives from gold deposits once carried by the river from surrounding mountains, exploited by prospectors since pre-colonial times and still remembered in the city's coat of arms.

Rafting on the Cagayan de Oro River, introduced as a tourist activity in the Nineties, has helped make the city one of Southeast Asia's leading adventure tourism centers, attracting visitors from across the region.