Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GETTING AROUND
By jeepney
Most jeepney rides around town cost P6.50;
By taxi
A/c taxis charge P40 then P2.50/300m, while
non-a/c “PU” taxis run fixed routes for a set rate of P30. Taxis
should charge around P100/hr for tours of the waterfalls.
ACCOMMODATION
Celadon Pension House
Ubaldo Laya Ave Circle
T
063
221 0711.
Just north of Quezon Extension, this bright pink
place is a decent budget choice with clean, basic singles
and doubles, most of which have cable TV
and in
ternet
access. “Deluxe” rooms (P600) have hot water.
P500
Cheradel Suites
Off Raymund Jeffrey Rd (north of
Quezon Extension)
T
063 223 8118,
E
cheradelsuites
@yahoo.com.
Attractive collection of rooms and suites
within a pleasant whitewashed building around a small
pool. Rooms are modern and comfortable and have a/c and
cable TV; the biggest Re
sidentia
l Suite (P9500) has three
bedrooms plus a kitchen.
P1590
EATING AND DRINKING
Iligan is home to several celebrated food products: try the spicy coconut vinegar known as
pinakurat
, produced by
Suka Pinakurat
at 5 Sparrow Rd, near the end of Quezon Extension, or grab a bag of addictive toasted peanuts at
Cheding's
Peanuts
, Sabayale St, downtown near the port.
★
Gloria's Ihaw-Ihaw
Zamboanga Hwy, opposite
Timoga Springs and Macapagal House.
Just one of
numerous simple canteens that line the shoreline
here, selling
lechon
(P350/kilo) or whole roast chicken
(P190).
Gloria's
has a garden overlooking the sea where
you can enjoy the famed stewed tuna jaw.
Daily
11am-3pm.
Iliganon Restobar
Quezon Ave Extension at Seminary
Drive
T
063 225 4577.
Serves decent coffee and excellent
pizzas (medium from P130), morphing into a popular bar
at night when local bands play live. Free wi-fi.
Daily
10am-midnight.
Sunburst Fried Chicken House
Tino Badelles St at
Lumboy St
T
063 221 3401.
The first branch of the now
nationally famous fried chicken chain - aficionados claim
that the chicken at this store tastes different (and much
better) than at the others. It's not health food, but the
fried chicken skin (P90) is certainly a mouthwatering treat.
Daily 10am-10pm.
Zoey Café
Aguinaldo St at Echiverri St
T
063 221 2876.
Free wi-fi, roasted coffee and a selection of delectable
treats (try the carrot walnut cake) make this the best
coffee shop in town.
Mon-Thurs 9am-8.30pm, Fri & Sat
9am-9pm.
8
Ozamiz
Sitting on the western side of Panguil Bay, the tumbledown port city of
OZAMIZ
was
renamed in honour of World War II hero Senator José Ozamiz in 1948. There's not
much to keep you in the city itself, but it's a decent base from which to explore
Dolphin Island (see p.410) and Mount Malindang (see p.410).
Fort Santiago
Daily 8am-6pm • P5
The only real sight in Ozamiz is old
Fort Santiago
, or “Cotta”, on the seafront,
built by the Spanish in 1756. It was badly damaged by an earthquake in 1955,
but there are panoramic views across Panguil Bay from its crumbling walls. Part
of the outer walls house a venerated image of Mary (said to be miraculously
growing), centrepiece of the open-air
Shrine of Nuestra Señora del Triunfo de la Cruz
(or
Birhen sa Cotta
).
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
OZAMIZ
By plane
Tiny Ozamiz Airport has two daily flight connec-
tions with Cebu City (1hr) and Manila (1hr 25min). Taxis
into town cost P60.
By bus
Coming from Iligan (hourly; 2hr) buses save a huge
detour by taking the frequent car ferries (passengers P25;
you get off the bus to pay) across Panguil Bay. Buses
continue from the port (in the centre of town), to the main
bus terminal on the outskirts and on to Dapitan (hourly;
2hr) and Zamboanga (2 daily; 7hr), but there are plenty of
tricycles near the wharf to whisk you around the city
should you wish to stay.
By boat
There are ferry links with Cebu (2Go: 2 weekly;
7hr; Cokaliong: 5 weekly; 10hr). Tickets are available at
the port.
