After meeting the ever enthusiastic CDO bloggers headed by Chiq Montes and having lunch @ Bigbys, we headed to the Gardens of Malasag Eco-Tourism Village in Cagayan de Oro. With my cool travel companions, we rented a jeepney to bring us to Cagayan de Oro’s cultural hub.

Gardens of Malasag Eco Tourism Village Entrance

My first visit to this place was a couple of years ago during the National White Water Rafting competition and I was lucky to be invited by the former DOT Secretary Richard Gordon along with fellow local travel writers and photographers with the goal of promoting the eco-tourism activities in Cagayan de Oro City.

Birds of Paradise

The Tourism Village is pretty much the same as before but I missed the beautiful cultural welcome dance from Mindanao’s prominent tribes. Wearing authentic and colorful tribal costumes, they used to have native dancers showcase their traditional dance and play native instruments to welcome guests and tourists.

Prime Tourist Destination in CDO

The village has an impressive collection of Philippines flaura and fauna, being one of Northern Mindanao’s ecology-friendly and cultural destination. You can also visit different tribal houses to view some interesting traditional and indigenous artifacts from different tribes of Northern Mindanao.

If you love trekking, you will surely enjoy the interconnected eco-trails and their hanging bridge near the mini bird sanctuary.

Subanon Tribe

It was noon time when we visited the village and we were not in the mood hiking to explore the 7.2 hectare of lush green mini forest so we decided to go back to the Higaonon Resto Cafe to freshen up and enjoy the breathtaking view of the beautiful Macajalar Bay instead.

If you plan to visit Gardens of Malasag Eco Tourism Village in Cagayan de Oro, try to schedule your visit in the morning or in the late afternoon when the temperature is not humid so you can enjoy walking and discovering the cultural wonders of Mindanao.

Macajalar Bay

The village is nestled within the slopes of Cugman Watershed in Cagayan de Oro City, it is a 30-minute drive from Lumbia Airport (Cagayan de Oro City Airport).