Forward!
Stop!
Paddle back!
Paddles up, High Fiiiiiive!
These words you will always hear when you try the Whitewater Ratfing in CDO River.
I capped my Northern Mindanao Escapade with some dose of adrenaline down stream the CDO river.
I tag along Joel and the beautiful Francisco sisters. The original plan was to do only the basic course but then plans changed and so we did the advance course. Wooohoooo! We battled 21 major rapids in a 16-kilometer ride, on our left is the CDO side, our right is Bukidnon already…
The sights also offer a different experience, its kinda hot and ideally one should wear a sunblock and maybe a pair of sunglasses.
Unforgettable rapids are named: Twister, Rodeo 1 & 2; Elephant butt, 5-inch drop and Krisdrop (where Kris Aquino fell last 2003). Our guide, John Mar, is an experienced rafter, he maneuvered us smoothly. Our photographer, Jordan, used a rubber kayak and was always ahead of us to take shots while we shout at the top of our lungs as we approach the rapids. He also let me try how to use the rubber kayak.
There are parts of the river where one is allowed to swim, it was effin’ cold but refreshing. I swam even though I was being attacked with colds and flu. It was THE RIDE OF MY YEAR! This is actually the only reason why I went to Northern Mindanao, the Camiguin, Iligan and Bukidnon trips are unplanned.
A satisfied advance whitewater rafter, after a chilly 3-hour ride.
If you happen to visit CDO, don’t miss the white water rafting. Its available 365days a year. Even if its raining, you can do this adventure. Well, you should! You want more adventure, try it during the night.
Shout out to my co-paddlers Joel, Casey, Anna & Tin-Tin, paddles up, HIGH-FIVE?!!!
Important Note: For solo travelers, do reserve ahead of time, 2-3days before your target date. Alternatively, some rafting company offer a solo rubber kayaking experience on the same river, the same rapids but more difficult as you are on your own. I want to try this next time!
___ ___ ___
Whitewater Rafting Services:
1st Rafting Adventure. The Pioneer Whitewater Rafting in the Philippines
www.raftingadventurephilippines.com
Contact details: 0917-707-3583, (088) 856-3514
CDO Bugsay River Rafting. We’re not just your ordinary river guides. Ability + Knowledge + Experience.
www.bugsayrafting.com
Kagay. Cagayan de Oro’s Premiere Whitewater Rafting Voyages. Serious Fun!
www.cdorafting-map.com
*Travel Time to starting point is about an hour.
**Safety gears like helmet and life vest are included in the package.
***Please wear swimming attire: shorts, rash guard, (sunscreen and aqua shoes optional). Just leave valuable items like cellphone/wallet in the service jeepney, don’t worry it’s perfectly safe with the driver.
Rates from 1st Rafting Adventure:
Rates are regulated so all are the same, I even tried asking for a discount but I think my charisma is not enough.
Beginner’s Course (2-3hours actual river run, 12kms ride, 14 rapids): Php 700/head. Good for family with small kids. Only ages 5 and up are allowed to the course.
Advance Course 1 (3-4hours actual river run, 16kms ride, 21 rapids): Php 1000/head. Experienced paddlers is a PLUS. I recommend this for everyone! Lunch included and a can of SanMig Light.
Advance Course 2 (4-5hours actual river run, 18kms ride, 27 rapids): Php 1500/head
Professional Course (5hours actual river run): Php 2000/head
Night Rafting (3hours actual river run, 13 rapids): Php 1000/head
Pictures: Just add Php 250 for the whole group.
Videos: Just add Php1500 for the whole group.
_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
NORTHERN MINDANAO ESCAPADE. This post is part of a series born out of my adventures in Region X last January 19-25, 2011. I also challenged myself to live within Php500 or less/day budget (food, transportation, accommodation, etc.) as I am preparing for my “The Cheapest 100 Days of Backpacking around the Philippines.”
Bukidnon- What Does a Backpacker Do In A Golf Course? / Zipline Crazy Philippines?
Camiguin- Cheapest Island Tour / Sunken Cemetery: From Top to Bottom Down / In Transit: CDO to Camiguin / Cheap Accommodations
CDO- The Ride of my Year / Murals, Hawker Stalls, Ukay-Ukay etc.
Iligan City- Ma.Cristina Falls: A Dream Fulfilled / Tinago Falls: Hidden Delight
Wild ride! Gotta do this someday… antay ko mag-5 si Luna
Wild ride! Gotta do this someday… Will wait for Luna to turn 5
talagang 2 comments? one for you and one for luna? hahaha
yeah, the family should try this, get high (and low) sa cagayan de oro river! luna will have a blast here. please note that you have to pay extra for luna, as someone will hold her during the entire trip.
Haha! Spam ako ng comments ;p
I like to try the beginner course… as this is a must-try in CDO, guided din ba yan lalo na sa first timers?
walang challenge yung beginners for you. you will love the advance. yes, guided naman lahat ng tours and its safe.
they said that ex-PGMA also tried this.
na-dyaryo pa yata yun siguro naman beginners din try nia, hehe… ako baka beginners munasiguro if ever baka mapasubo ako, hehe…
cant agree more, Water Rafting palang, sulit na ang pagpunta sa Mindanao! (bonus nalang yung Camiguin and others)
ditto chyng! astig na experience di ba?!!
wow! an saya nman nito! I wanna try this soon, maybe next year!
yes, you HAVE to! so you will not be a frustrated traveler anymore.
thanks for leaving a comment. noce blog btw
inggit ako
what a way to cap your Northern Mindanao series, I shall go back for this adventure after 3 years 
may last pa pala, yung wrap up, all the expenses and the P500/day challenge, lets see kung successful yung practice for the big day. coming up before this week ends.
and also, thanks for being a loyal commenter/visitor sa series. fan ako ng blog mo claire, hahaha
you want to kayak cagayan de oro river? try this…
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=videos&search_query=cagayan+kayaking&search_sort=video_date_uploaded&suggested_categories=17%2C19&uni=3
Oops! only for men…
…b’coz white water kayaking separates men from the boys.
huwattt??? sino ‘to? this is not me?
no worries pre, his email add is stoner_rifle16@yahoo.com
different IP ADD too: 121.96.247.18. kulang pa ng a yung name nya.
hahaha!!! may gumagamit na ng name ko? sikat na ba me? lolz!!! hahaha!!! thanks James!
Amazing feat! Looking forward to doing this kind of adventure in the near future. You live an exciting life James!
thanks lois! after the SEA trip, pinas na ha! you will surely appreciate the philippines more after that 6-month trip abroad. WE ARE HAVING THE TIME OF OUR LIVES- TRAVELING! woot woot!
regards to chichi! take extra care.
james. astig talaga. we are about to schedule the white water rafting this summer. tapos ka na pala. advance pa. ayos….
We’re just in Davao but must fess up that we are too chicken to try this because of the very inconsequential reason of not knowing how to swim, booo! hahaha! Thanks for sharing your wild ride, I guess we’ll just live vicariously through you:-)
I should do this again. At the time i tried it, wala pang video and camera packages. Wala tuloy ako matinong picture! And wala pang mga basic, advanced or whatever. I should do the advance next time. Brave!
yeah, maybe you are the first ones who tried it? yup advance or even the night ride!
Get 50% off for all Zipzone’s zip rides for two at DAHILAYAN ADVENTURE PARK at AND 50% off in Whitewater Rafting at Rafting Adventure Philippines! Read all the great deals at http://pakyaw.com.ph/team/index.php
Try the 50% off Whitewater Rafting at RAFTING ADVENTURE PHILIPPINES. BEGINNER COURSE is only P450 (instead of P900) and ADVANCE COURSE 1 is only P600. It’s a hassle-free trip with ADDITIONAL PHOTO COVERAGE, packed lunch, safety gears and dry bags for your valuable things. Get the deal at http://www.pakyaw.com.ph
The rapids sure look wild in the 3rd photo!
July 5-7, all set for CDO-Bukidnon-Camiguin. Pero I’m sure kumpleto na ang trip, CDO pa lang, dahil sa whitewater rafting. soooo excited. 
you’re not going to iligan? wahhhhh, thats a must kaya lang kulang pala yung araw mo, enjoy and have a blast! NICE blog btw you have there ella, continue traveling and sharing your stories
thank you for promoting tourism in our country ^^
my pleasure! a beautiful country like the philippines deserves a promotion
Nagawa ko na din to!
Pero parang nakamura kami kasi Php 1000/head lang kami, advanced course (not sure kung ilang rapids). Kasama na sa package yung lunch and documentation (videos and santambak na hi-res photos. 
)
eto yung lwento:
http://tuwatula.blogspot.com/2011/03/amazing-race-cagayan-de-oro-iligan_15.html
21 rapids yung advance course namin, hmmm… buti nakamura kayo.
nice
hi james, im going to cdo on oct…. will be staying there for 7days and we want to include camiguin and bukidnon.. can you suggest an itinerary? thanks
hi jo! if you have 7 days you can include iligan for the waterfalls, its awesome.
from cdo, head agad to camiguin, then back to cdo for bukidnon then iligan…
i dont make itineraries po, you can research and show the itinerary to me, i then make a comment.. that’s easier po siguro.
enjoy!
thanks James for this blog. it gives me the courage to try rafting (solo!). and it happened last Sept. 25, 2011. I booked it with 1st rafting adventure (as per your suggestion) and I super love the guides because they care for their guests (esp. the ones who are solo like me). **wink**
wow! glad that this helped!
congrats, astig talaga mag rafting noh! so you are now friends with your co-paddlers?
high-five!
yeah, astig talaga! i wanna go back next year to try the extreme (hopefully!). honestly, i forgot to ask the names of my co-paddlers and even our guide because i was overwhelmed with my experience that it slipped my mind. hehehehe. high five! ahoo…ahoo!!!
We had fun last Sunday. I want to try the EXTREME sana pero out of budget n kami. But will definitely find time to go back and DO IT!!!! yeah!!! HIGH FIVE!!!
hi doiknowu_18! thanks for letting me know that you guys had fun.
ahahaha, i understand your flight, i was penniless after the ride too but hell yeah, the experience was FUN FUN FUN.
ayan, high five din! forward! hope you will soon experience the extreme ride and the night ride, exciting din yun.
Will go here in February. Thanks for the post! I’m now even more excited!
Hi guys, would like to ask how many hours will it take to travel papunta sa water rafting site? our group is planning to go to CDO next month Sept. 23-25..and one of our plan is to try water rafting..and then visit Iligan..advise naman po kung saan din pwede mag stay yong affordable lang..11 kami lahat sa group..thanks!!!
30-45 mins lang..very near the city proper.
I went to CDO last June 2010 with my friends and the whitewater rafting was one of the experiences I would never forget in my life.We had so much fun kahit na twice tumaob yung raft namin, and I don’t even know how to swim!haha..I definitely recommend it to my friends, a visit in CDO would not be complete without trying it..
Try visiting this site for accommodation choice– cdodev.com/cdo-guide-hotels/
Hi James,
Just came from CDO earlier this month and this post was really helpful. I also booked an Advance Course 1 with 1st Rafting Adventure. It was really a great experience. I want to try the Advance Course 2 or maybe the Professional Course next time.hahah
cool! glad the post helped
puede ba 2 persons lang?
pwede po, contact the right company nlng po na nagcoconduct ng white water rafting tour
binabasa ko pa lang yung blog, na-eexcite na ako. My friends and I will definitely try that pagpunta naming CDO on August. Actually, yun lang talaga yung major reason kaya napasama ako sa CDO trip namin. hehe!
)
enjoy! this is one of my adrenaline-pumping solo trip!