Cagayan De Oro is the provincial capital of the province of Misamis Oriental, located in north central Mindanao and is the most populous highly-urbanized city in Northern Mindanao. According to the 2007 census, the city has an estimated population of 553,996 people.

The city is known by many nicknames such as "Gateway to Northern Mindanao", "City of Whitewater Rafting and River Trekking", "ICT Goldmine of the Philippines" and "A City in Bloom, Blossom and BOOM!". Officially, Cagayan De Oro is known as "Dakbayan sa Bulawanong Panaghigalaay" or in English the "City of Golden Friendship". This phrase is part of the official city seal. The name "Cagayan" is derived from a lost, ancient sound that evolved into "Kagayan",meaning "River". Oro is a Spanish word meaning gold. Literally, Cagayan de Oro translates into "river of gold".

There are also other places in the Philippines with a "Cagayan" name. One must distinguish Cagayan de Oro from Cagayan province in Northern Luzon and the Cagayan Islands in the Sulu Sea.

The area was first inhabited around 377 AD (the late Neolithic Period), by island natives who lived in a settlement then known as Himologan (now known as Huluga), eight kilometers from present day Cagayan de Oro. The natives were polytheistic animist and paid tributes to Sultan Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat, the Sultan of Maguindanao. In 1622, two Spanish Augustinian Recollect missionaries came in contact with the natives of Himologan and in 1626, Fray Agustin de San Pedro persuaded the chief of Himologan, Datu Salangsang, to transfer his settlement down river, to the present day Gaston Park. Fray Agustin later fortified the new settlement against warriors who were sent by Sultan Kudarat.

On February 27, 1872, the Spanish Governor General Carlos Maria de La Torre issued a decree declaring Cagayan the permanent capital of Segundo Distrito de Misamis. During this era, the name of the town was known as Cagayan de Misamis. On January 10, 1899, Cagayan de Misamis joined the Philippine government of Emilio Aguinaldo and celebrated its independence from Spain. It was the second time the Aguinaldo government was declared and the new Philippine flag raised on the Mindanao island.

By virtue of the 1898 Treaty of Paris, Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States; this caused friction and resulted in the Philippine-American War. In March 31, 1900, the Americans occupied Cagayan de Misamis and on April 7, 1900, battle erupted in the town center led by General Nicolas Capistrano and Filipino resistance fighters. This would later be known as the Battle of Cagayan de Misamis. The Americans won the war and, about forty years later, gave the Philippines its independence June 12, 1946, after the Philippines had been liberated from Japanese occupation and after Japan had surrendered.

During WWII, General Douglas MacArthur escaped from Corregidor and arrived at Macabalan wharf on March 13, 1942. There he and his entourage stayed at the Del Monte Plantation for 3 days before being airlifted to Darwin, Australia. From there he made the famous “I shall return” speech.

The majority of the people of Cagayan de Oro are Roman Catholics. Other religions include; Christians of various sects, Muslims, Buddhists and others. The Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro is an Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines.

Cagayan de Oro City is the shopping capital of the Northern Mindanao region. Residents from nearby provinces visit the city to shop and enjoy the mall facilities, surrounded of numerous department stores, supermarkets, retail stores and modern public markets. Amongst the largest of these malls are SM City and Limketkai Center. We will focus our evening activities on exploring these malls.

Cagayan De Oro city has a number of cultural and eco-tourism attractions. We will focus our daylight touring on some of these spots as agreed upon by the tour group and time permitting.

	Gaston Park and St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral. Gaston Park is located across from the Saint Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral. The park, noted for its water fountain, is a favorite place to unwind for many locals, especially during Sundays. Saint Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral is the home of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro.
	Whitewater Rafting and River Trekking along the Cagayan de Oro river. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself went whitewater rafting here in 2002 to promote tourism in the area.
	Catanico Falls which is concealed by huge boulders and accompanied by rapids, cascading falls and a natural pool, located in Barangay F.S. Catanico.
	Mapawa Nature Park is ideal for horseback riding, biking, zipline and nature trekking.
	Gardens of Malasag Eco-Tourism Village is located in a reforested area in Malasag Hill. This 7 hectare village has replicas of tribal houses in the region and a panoramic view of Macajalar Bay. The tourism village is owned and managed by the Philippine Tourism Authority.
	Vicente de Lara Park is situated in front of the Provincial Capitol of Misamis Oriental with age-old mahogany trees that provide a therapeutic canopy for the promenades. The park is a popular jogging area during the morning.
	Plaza Divisoria, also known as the Golden Friendship Park was built in 1901 as a town divider and fire breaker after a large fire burned most of the town. It is now a park dedicated to national heroes like President Ramon Magsaysay, Andres Bonifacio, Dr. Jose Rizal, as well as other local Philippine heroes.
	Bonifacio Park is among several parks located in Plaza Divisoria. Most of the local soldiers who died during the Philippine-American War of 1900 are buried beneath the monument.