Iligan City is known as the City of Majestic Waterfalls. It’s not a claim based on air. This city south of the Philippines boasts a total of 23 waterfalls in its vicinity, making it one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Mindanao, both for backpackers and tourists alike.
Located in the province of Lanao del Norte, it is the industrial center of the south. Its name is derived from the Higaonon word Ilijan. The name of the city originally means fortress of defense, being the site of frequent pirate and Muslim attacks during bygone eras. The area was initially settled by sea dwellers before being invaded by Visayan migrants from the island of Panglao in the 16th century, making Iligan one of the earliest Christian settlements in Mindanao.
HOW TO GET TO ILIGAN CITY
Iligan City is located in the province of Lanao del Norte in Mindanao. Although there are no operational airports in the city as of this writing, it is still pretty accessible to tourists wanting to visit its many waterfalls.
There are numerous ways into getting to Iligan City.
VIA CAGAYAN DE ORO
Cebu Pacific, AirAsia Zest and PAL Express flies to Cagayan de Oro from Manila, Iloilo, Davao, Cebu and Bacolod daily (1hour 20mins). From there, one can take a 1.5-hour bus ride (₱90.00) from Bulua Terminal that would directly land you in Iligan City.
VIA OZAMIZ CITY
Cebu Pacific and PAL Express has daily flights from Manila and Cebu to Ozamiz (1hour 20mins). From Ozamiz, one can board a two-hour ferry from Cokialong Shipping Lines (₱200.00) that would directly dock in Iligan City.
VIA CEBU CITY
There are numerous flights to Cebu from all over the world daily. From Cebu, one can then board an overnight ferry from Cokialong Shipping Lines (₱880.00) that would drop by Iligan City.
► BOOK AN ILIGAN BUS, FERRY, PRIVATE TRANSFER, FLIGHT ONLINE
SPEAK ILIGAN CITY
Iliganons, as the people of Iligan City are called, use Cebuano as their native dialect. But since Iligan is also a mix of people from different regions—as is the case in most cities in the Philippines—there are those who are also fluent in Maranao, Hiligaynon, Ilocano, Chavacano and Waray. Most locals can converse in Filipino (Tagalog) and English. 
Thank You – Salamat
Good Morning – Maayong Buntag
Good Evening – Maayong Gabii
How Much? – Tag-Pila?
Where Is… – Aha… / Hain…
HOW TO GET AROUND ILIGAN CITY
Jeepneys, taxis, tricycles, habal-habals (single motorcycles) and karitelas or tartanillas (horse-drawn carriages) are the main modes of transportation in Iligan City.
Minimum fare for jeepneys is Php8.00 while tricycles start at ₱7.00, depending on where you want to get dropped. Habal-habal’s are mainly used for going out of the way places, haggle with the driver before boarding. Fares usually start at around ₱25.00 upwards depending on the distance you’re gonna go.
Karitelas are usually found in Poblacion and in Barangay Pala-o and Tambacan. They have a fixed route but it’s fun to experience riding one. Minimum fare is at ₱5.00 to ₱7.00 per person.
WHERE TO STAY IN ILIGAN CITY
There aren’t that many lodgings and accommodations in Iligan City. There are no big fancy hotels, most are simple inns and lodging houses which are usually frequented by people transacting business in the city. Overnight lodgings usually start at the Php300.00 range, which is perfect for budget traveling.
GO HOTELS ILIGAN 
Address: Robinson’s Place Iligan Complex, Brgy. Tubod
Contact Number: (063) 224-9599
GPS Coordinates Map: 8.218689, 124.240517 
RENE’S PENSION HOUSE / B&C PENSION HOUSE
Rates: Starts at ₱350.00 (2pax)
Address: Andrada Compound, Roxas Ave. Ext., Brgy. Mahayahay
Contact Number: (063) 221-3701, (063) 221-8360
GPS Coordinates Map: 8.224294, 124.240798 
THE LOFT HOTEL
Address: Aguinaldo cor. Ubaldo Laya St., Brgy. Pala-o
Contact Number: (0977) 812-9774
GPS Coordinates Map: 8.226156, 124.249188
WHERE TO EAT IN ILIGAN CITY
While Iligan City isn’t really known as a food destination, it does offer a wide variety of restaurants and fast food chains that most cities of its size have. Besides the usual Jollibees and McDonalds, there are numerous restaurants where tourists can try local dishes and specialties. Don’t forget to try the numerous durian stalls along the road too.
ARUMA COFFEE LOUNGE
Type: Cafe; Coffee, Pizza, Pasta, Sandwiches
Opening Hours: 10:00AM to 7:00PM, Daily
Address: Preface Building, De Leon cor. Burgos St., Brgy. Poblacion
Contact Number: (063) 221-7913
GPS Coordinates Map: 8.229359, 124.238016 
DELECTA DINER AND CAFE
Type: Diner, Cafe; Coffee, Salad, Steaks, Rice Meals
Opening Hours: 9:00AM to 9:00PM, Daily
Address: 16 Aguinaldo St. Ext. Palao, Poblaction
Contact Number: (063) 221-3397
GPS Coordinates Map: 8.227898, 124.240581 
EL CANTO GRILL AND SEAFOOD HOUSE
Type: Restaurant, Grill House; Rice Meals, Sizzling Dishes
Opening Hours: 11:00AM to 11:30PM, Daily
Address: Zamora cor. Lluch St., Poblacion
Contact Number: (063) 221-6905
GPS Coordinates Map: 8.229661, 124.240031 
FLAMOO
Type: Burger House; Burgers, Fries
Opening Hours: 11:00AM to 8:00PM, Daily
Address: The Strip, Quezon Ave. Extension, Brgy. Pala-o
Contact Number: (063) 302-6503
GPS Coordinates Map: 8.226745, 124.249463 
JACKO’S KAN–ANAN
Type: Restaurant; Rice Meals, Filipino Dishes
Opening Hours: 8:00AM to 9:00PM, Daily
Address: National Highway, Hinaplanon
Contact Number: (0917) 716-8773 | (063) 222-4610
GPS Coordinates Map: 8.246246, 124.262730 
TITA FANNIES LIEMPO & CHICKEN HAUS
Type: Restaurant; Rice Meals, Lechon Dishes
Opening Hours: 9:00AM to 11:00PM, Daily
Address: Zamora St., Brgy. Poblacion
Contact Number: (063) 223-1899
GPS Coordinates Map: 8.229668, 124.239850
WHAT TO SEE & DO IN ILIGAN CITY
Iligan City is home to the country’s arguably most famous waterfall, the Maria Cristina Falls. But besides this giant of a waterfall, it is also home to 22 other falls that are also not to be missed. The city isn’t dubbed as the City of Majestic Waterfalls for nothing.
The city also has a couple of other attractions that tourists and backpackers would find interesting, like its church, the country’s former presidents’ ancestral house, museums, some parks and cold springs.
With more time, one can also explore the nearby coastal town of Linamon, if one is inclined to go beaching. For the braver souls, the Islamic City of Marawi is also just an hour ride away via fixed route vans.
CENTENNIAL PARK
Address: Butuan-CDO-Iligan Road, Sitio Mapalad, Brgy. Dalipuga
Opening Hours: 8:00AM to 9:30PM, Daily
Entrance Fee: Free
GPS Coordinates Map: 8.320084, 124.247993 
HINDANG CAVE
Address: Brgy. Hindang
GPS Coordinates Map: 
ILIGAN CATHEDRAL
Address: Quezon Avenue, Brgy. Poblacion
Contact Number: (063) 221-5325 | (063) 221-3285
GPS Coordinates Map: 8.229298, 124.239465 
MACAPAGAL-MACARAEG ANCESTRAL HOUSE
Address: Brgy. Buruun
Opening Hours:
Contact Number: (063) 223-6992
GPS Coordinates Map: 8.191245, 124.178911 
MONTANER BEACH
Address: Brgy. Mago-ong, Linamon
Entrance Fee: Free
GPS Coordinates Map: 8.185341, 124.156700 
TIMOGA SPRINGS
Address: Sitio Timoga, Brgy. Buruun
Contact Number: (063) 223-6993
Entrance Fee: ₱50.00
Opening Hours: 6:00AM to 10:00PM
GPS Coordinates Map: 8.191261, 124.179791 
DALIPUGA FALLS
Address: Sitio Kalubihon, Brgy. Dalipuga
Entrance Fee: Free
GPS Coordinates Map: 8.309556, 124.275358 
DODIONGAN FALLS
Address: Brgy. Digkilaan
Entrance Fee: Free
GPS Coordinates Map: 8.271956, 124.313459 
HINDANG FALLS
Address: Brgy. Hindang
GPS Coordinates Map: 8.306739, 124.340963 
KALUBIHON FALLS
Address: Sitio Kalubihon, Brgy. Dalipuga
Entrance Fee: Free
GPS Coordinates Map: 8.301818, 124.275002 
MARIA CRISTINA FALLS
Address: NPC Nature’s Park, Maria Cristina
Opening Hours: 9:00AM to 4:00PM, Daily
Entrance Fee: ₱25.00 Kids | ₱35.00 Adult
Contact Number: (063) 221-3988 | (063) 221-9032 to 33
GPS Coordinates Map: 8.183349, 124.194256 
MIMBALOT FALLS
Address: Purok 3, Mimbalot Buru-un
Contact Number: (0926) 422-4206
Entrance Fee: ₱50.00
Opening Hours: 7:00AM to 5:00PM, Daily
GPS Coordinates Map: 8.180352, 124.170405 
PAMPAM FALLS
Address: Sitio Kalubihon, Brgy. Dalipuga
Entrance Fee: Free
GPS Coordinates Map: 8.309137, 124.278200 
TINAGO FALLS
Address: Agus River, Brgy. Ditucalan
Opening Hours: 7:00AM to 5:00PM, Daily
Entrance Fee: ₱30.00
GPS Coordinates Map: 8.159290, 124.185992 
MARAWI CITY
Address: Marawi City, Lanao Del Sur
GPS Coordinates Map: 8.003094, 124.285078
Iligan City is not as touristy as some of the more famous tourist destinations in the Philippines. There are only a few stores selling souvenirs but one can still bring home a piece of Iligan City thru its native delicacies.
CHEDING’S PEANUTS
Address: 25-A Sabayle St., Iligan City
Opening Hours: 8:00AM to 5:00PM
Contact Number: (063) 221-5164
GPS Coordinates Map: 8.231056, 124.235389 
PINAKURAT VINEGAR
Address: Greengold Gourmet, 5 Sparrow Rd., Isabel Village, Brgy. Pala-o
Contact Number: (063) 222-0809
GPS Coordinates Map: 8.227150, 124.256463
FESTIVALS IN ILIGAN CITY
Iligan City has an annual festival in the form of Diyandi Festival. Celebrated every September, it is a month-long celebration dedicated to the city’s patron, St. Michael. Expect trade fairs, street dancing, concerts and other events leading to the final festival week.
DIYANDI FESTIVAL
Location: Quezon Avenue, Iligan City
Schedule: Every September
ILIGAN CITY TOURIST SPOT MAP
ILIGAN CITY SAMPLE ITINERARY
The usual three-day vacation is enough to cover most of the tourist spots in Iligan City. But it would be ideal if one could stay for at least five days to spread one’s waterfalling adventures much more thinly. Visiting the city’s waterfalls usually comes with a fair amount of hiking and it does get tiring if one plans to visits more than three falls in a single day.
DAY 1
Morning arrival in Iligan via Cebu, Ozamiz or Cagayan de Oro
Check in at Hotel (leave your bags at the lobby if early check in is not allowed)
Breakfast at any nearby Carinderia or Restaurant
Visit Maria Cristina Falls and Nature Park
Lunch at any nearby Carinderia or Restaurant
Visit Tinago Falls
Visit Mimbalot Falls
Dinner at Tita Fannies Liempo and Chicken House
DAY 2
Breakfast at any nearby Carinderia or Restaurant
Visit Dalipuga Falls
Visit Pampam Falls
Visit Kalubihon Falls
Late lunch at any nearby Carinderia or Restaurant
Afternoon and Sunset at Centennial Park
Visit the Iligan Cathedral
Dinner at Jacko’s Kan-Anan
DAY 3
Early Hotel Check Out – I suggest you leave your bags the lobby first
Breakfast at any nearby Carinderia or Restaurant
Visit Dodiongan Falls
Visit Macapagal-Macaraeg Ancestral House
Visit Timoga Hot Spring
Late lunch at any nearby Carinderia or Restaurant
Depart from Iligan City END OF 3-DAY ITINERARY
DAY 4 – EXTENDED ITINERARY
Early Hotel Check Out – I suggest you leave your bags the lobby first
Breakfast at any nearby Carinderia or Restaurant
Visit Linamon Beach
Depart for Marawi City
Visit KM Zero
Visit Mindanao State University
Lunch at the Mindanao State University
Visit Aga Khan Museum
Visit the Capitol Mosque
Visit Padian Market
Visit the Darangen Dolls Store
Visit the Mindanao Islamic Center Mosque
Go back to Iligan City before 5PM
Dinner at any nearby Carinderia or Restaurant
Depart from Iligan City END OF 4-DAY ITINERARY
UPDATED AS OF OCTOBER 25, 2022
