Melo Villareal
The Ultimate General Santos City Budget Travel Guide
General City is the home of the Generals. They got that name when kababayans from Luzon and Visayas under the leadership of General Paulino Santos discovered GenSan, hence the name General Santos. Its name used to be Rajah Buayan in 1948 then named General Santos in 1968 when it attained its cityhood.
GenSan is rich in agricultural produce like corn, coconut, pineapple, asparagus, banana and rice, and tuna; making it the ‘Tuna Capital of the Philippines and having the world record for having the largest tuna display in the world. Shopping in GenSan is popular and so does is its food items, water activities, and festivals.
In this General Santos City Travel Guide blog, we listed helpful DIY GENSAN travel tips and advice on how to get there, get around, fun activities, restaurants, best hotels, tour packages and more.
Best Time to Visit
General Santos enjoys sunny weather almost all year round that it’s considered to be one of the provinces in the Philippines that has dry weather. It’s outside the typhoon belt so anytime is a good time to visit.
Currency and Accessibility to ATM Machines
ATM machines from various Banks are widely available in General Santos City
How to Get There
From Manila
Flights from Manila to General Santos are available through Cebu Pacific. Cebu Pacific has daily flights and each flight takes about 2 hours. Philippine Airlines also flies to General Santos City but travel time varies.
From Cebu
Cebu Pacific has direct flights from Cebu to General Santos City which takes about an hour.
Connectivity
It was reported that General Santos is now the first ‘Fibr City’ in Mindanao; thanks to PLDT. Through these efforts, locals and visitors can enjoy uninterrupted internet usage. There are also places where there’s free WIFI.
Things to do in General Santos City
Attend Festivals
GenSan is a bustling city and its locals like to embark in festivities all year round. If you come in September 1-5, you can attend the Tuna Festival where you can watch tuna parades and enjoy eating tuna especially sashimi. Other notable festivals are National Tourism Week which showcases what the city has to offer and Kalilangan sa GenSan which happens in February and celebrates the tri-people heritage of the city through textures, rhythm, and culture.
Shop in GenSan
The city has the best products from corn husk products to native doll, native decors, hats, bags, slippers, and orchid flowers. Visitors can also buy t-shirts, preserved fruits, juices, and vegetables. For visitors who are interested to buy tuna products, tuna tocino, embutido, nuggets, hotdogs, chicharon, etc. are available to buy in many stores. There are more products that General Santos City has to offer and visitors can find them in public markets.
Dine in GenSan
Most restaurants in the city offer menu that’s centered on their precious tuna fish. The tuna of General Santos is of premium quality thus it can be used as sashimi and tourists should try that. Other dishes of tuna that everyone must try are kinilaw, sinugba and tuna lechon. While tuna is its main fish offering, there are a lot of seafoods for everyone to try and rest assured, these seafoods are fresh.
Water Activities
GenSan is the ‘City by the Bay’ that’s why there are different ways to get some adventure in the water. For a more laid back adventure, visitors can try paddle boarding and kayaking or just go swimming while for the risk takes; jet skiing, scuba diving and skim boarding are the water adventures to try. There are other activities like snorkeling and banana boating. There’s also the Dragon Boat adventure during the Tuna Festival.
Where to Eat
Being a city makes General Santos a place where there are many choices in terms of dining, shopping, and attractions. Here are some of the restaurants worth visiting.
Ranchero’s Grill and Seafood Restaurant
Location: National Highway, General Santos, Mindanao, Philippines
The reviews of this restaurant show that they have good food. They serve tuna but people particularly love their Baby Back Ribs. They serve different seafood meals which include Pampano fish and baked oysters. They also serve dragon fruit which is gaining popularity all over the Philippines. They’re open daily from 9:00am to 10:00pm.
Lola Sisay Seafood House
Location: Jose Catolico Avenue, General Santos City, Mindanao, Philippines
Lola Sisay is a buffet restaurant offering a wide variety of dishes with strong focus on fresh seafood. Guests also love their vegetable dishes like Ginataang Langka and Chopsuey and they also put lechon on their menu for an additional price. They serve their buffet selection at 11:00am to 2:00pm and 6:00pm to 10:00pm daily.
Tiongson Arcade
Location: Tiongson Street, General Santos City, Mindanao, Philippines
Much like Dampa sa Libis, Tiongson Arcade offers the best raw seafood and you can have them cooked for you in different ways. This place is good for large groups of people and visitors looking for budget meals that are delicious. Don’t forget to order grilled tuna from this place.
Itinerary and Tours Offered by the Local Tourism Establishments
Histocultour
Places to visit include the old city hall, Plaza Heneral Santos, Pioneer Avenue, NDDU Museum, The Hadano Park, MSU Museum, GPS Landing Site: Pioneer’s Park, Queen Tuna Park, GenSan Public Market, GenSan Bagsakan, Biggest Japanese Bunker and Barangay Ligaya.
Tuna Adventour
This tour include GSC Fishport Complex, tuna canning factory, Calumpong Dried Fish Market, HorizonCan (tin can factory), Mt. Sabrina Panoramic View and Resort, Ten Point Factory, Queen Tuna Park, Makar Wharf and a visit to Tuna Value Added Products Outlets.
High Hill Tour
Joiners of this tour will visit Sarangani Highlands Resort, Mt. Sabrina Panoramic View & Resort, 5th Mt. Adventure View and Resort, Nopol Hills, Sanchez Peak, Snipers View Deck (optional).
Agricultour
Tourists will go to Sarangani Highlands Resort, Asparagus Plantation, Dragon Fruit and Honey Dew Plantation, Hito Farm, coffee plantation, grapes plantation, orchid farm, and other farms.
Where to Stay in General Santos City
Green Leaf Hotel
Location: San Miguel St. cor J. Catolico Avenue, General Santos City
Deluxe Twin Room price starts at USD69++
[Check Rates and Availability]
This is GenSan’s luxury hotel with 111 rooms and suites to choose from. The hotel has restaurants, wellness facilities, swimming pools, sauna, and spa onsite. Their grand ballrooms and multi-function halls can hold meetings and other events.
East Asia Royale Hotel
Location: National Highway, Lagao, General Santos City
Price for Standard Room starts at USD31++
[Check Rates and Availability]
The hotel is just a few steps away from many attractions of the city like Mabuhay IT Park and Saint Paul Novitiate Park. There’s free WIFI in the guestrooms and they offer airport transfer to and from the hotel.
Sun City Suites Hotel
Location: National Highway, Lagao, General City
Price for Superior Room starts at USD34++
[Check Rates and Availability]
Experience world-class service and comfortable stay at Sun City Suites Hotel and enjoy its close proximity to what the city has to offer. They offer 24-hour room service, security and a convenience store in the area.
Travel Tips
When traveling, don’t forget to pack light, bring enough cash and be on time for tours and flights.
Contact Info
- Tourism Division, CEMCDO Tel.nos. (083) 302 2595/ (083) 553 8338
- Police Station Tel.nos (083) 301 0200/ (083) 3016728/ (083) 301 6672
- Hospital Tel.nos (083) 552 4808
- CDRRMC Tel.nos (083) 552 3939
- Fire Station Tel.nos (083) 301 3111/552 3111
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