Pagadian Travel Guide

Dubbed the 'Little Hong Kong of the South' for the mountains that hem in the city, Pagadian is capital of Zamboanga del Sur Province in the Philippines. This is an area with few tourists and plenty of natural beauty.

Worth It?: Pagadian does not see many visitors and is only worthwhile for those intent on exploring Mindanao Island.
What to Do: visit Dao Dao Islands, picnic by a waterfall, climb the steep hills.
Best Time to Go: rains start in April and last until the end of the year, so the best time to visit is December to March.
How Long?: A day is enough time for Pagadian.
Trivia: nearly half of the city terrain is set on steep slopes.

Most of the local attractions center on the landscape, and tourists will find that there is not much in the way of facilities. Popular destinations include islands and secluded beaches backed by mountains. Hiking and horseback riding are popular ways to explore the countryside.

The volcanic activity of the Philippines has opened up craggy rock faces, deep caverns and hot springs, all of which are popular sightseeing attractions. The city itself has basic facilities, including an array of budget and mid-range hotels along Napsallys Street.

Travel to Pagadian - Getting There

Pagadian serves as gateway to the region, with SEA Air and Asian Spirit flying in from Cebu and Manila. The port receives a small amount of passenger traffic, but the vast majority is set aside for shipping. Buses connect to Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga among other major cities on Mindanao.

Pagadian Things to Do

Pagadian Attractions

Twin Caves

this is an up-and-coming tourist attraction with caverns and two tiers of waterfalls.

Mt Palpalan

looms 684 feet above the city and offers panoramic views of the entire area. Bulatoc Hill is another place to get an elevated perspective on Pagadian.

Boating

tourists can charter a boat and visit White Beach (a five-minute ride) or Dao Dao Islands (a ten-minute ride).

Side trips from Pagadian

Lison Valley: a popular picnic spot, this valley boasts a waterfall within 25 miles of the city proper.
Hot springs: there are two popular places to enjoy the springs, namely Springland Resort and Lourdes Hot and Cold Spring.