Mindanao

Introduction

Mindanao is the main island of the Mindanao Island Group, which comprises the southern portion of the Philippines.

Geography

Mindanao is the second largest island in the country at 104,630 square kilometers, and is the eighth most populous island in the world. The island is mountainous, and is home to Mount Apo, the highest mountain in the country. Mindanao is surrounded by 4 seas: the Sulu Sea to the west, the Philippine Sea to the east, and the Celebes Sea to the south, and the Mindanao Sea to the north. Of all the islands of the Philippines, Mindanao shows the greatest variety of physiographic development. High, rugged, faulted mountains; almost isolated volcanic peaks; high rolling plateaus; and broad, level, swampy plains are found there. The island group of Mindanao encompasses Mindanao island itself and the Sulu Archipelago to the southwest. The island group is divided into six regions, which are further subdivided into 26 provinces.

Cities

• Cagayan de Oro
• Davao City
• General Santos City
• Zamboanga

Weather

Mindanao has a warm and humid tropical climate.

Getting There

By Plane

The Davao International Airport (DVO) has the following flight options:

• Cebu Pacific Air has flights to Cebu, Hong Kong, Iloilo, Manila, Singapore, Zamboanga
• Philippine Airlines has flights to Manila
• Air Philippines has flights to Cebu and Manila
• Asian Spirit has flights to Seoul (seasonal) and Palau
• Singapore Airlines has flights to Singapore
• SilkAir has flights to Singapore
• Sriwijaya Air has flights to Manado on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi

General Santos International Airport (GES) has flights to/from Iloilo, Cebu and Manila. Cagayan de Oro has flights as well to these places.

By Boat

There are ferry services between Zamboanga and Sandakan in Sabah, Malaysia with Aleson Shipping Lines, taking about 13 hours completing the journey.

Sleep