Zamboanga Travel Guide

Zamboanga City lies at the tip of the Zamboanga Peninsular in western Mindanao and is one of the largest and most populous cities in the country. It has loads of appeal for tourists and is easily accessible.

Worth It?: Yes, there are plenty of attractions and getting here is straightforward.
What to Do: shopping, golfing, lazing on beaches.
Best Time to Go: November through February is the coolest, driest time in Zamboanga City.
How Long?: At least two or three days to explore Zamboanga fully.
Trivia: Zamboanga roughly means garden and is one of the busiest port cities in the country.

Zamboanga is known locally as the City of Flowers and comes with plenty of attractions, not least the Zamboanga Golf Course and Beach. The golf course here is purported to be the oldest course in the country and was set up by the Americans. It beautifully overlooks the Basilan Strait and comes with a swimming pool and quality hotel.

The main landmark in this busy port town is the 17th century Fort Pilar, with its stunning altar and impressive museum. Zamboanga also comes with good shopping, with five large malls and loads of department stores. For chilling out, check out Pasonanca Park, a unique landscape in the Philippines which comes with innumerable plants and trees and some lovely walking.

Travel to Zamboanga - Getting There

Flights come in from Manila with Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific, as well as from Cebu and Davao. Flight time from Manila to Zamboanga International Airport is about 90 minutes. Fast ferries also run to Zamboanga from Manial, Cebu City, and Davao.

Zamboanga Things to Do

Zamboanga Attractions

Fort Pilar

built in 1635 during the Spanish reign, the stone fort is impressive and is today an open-air shrine with a lovely altar. The National Museum here is well worth a look.

Zamboanga shopping

there are many shopping malls here and the call for souvenirs shopping along Ledesma Street is unbeatable.

Zamboanga Golf Course

this is the oldest golf course in the Philippines and has extensive facilities.

Side trips from Zamboanga

Sta Cruz Island: this nearby island has some excellent scuba diving and swimming along with a pink sand beach.