104 places · 7 areas

Places of the Bangsamoro

Islands and white sand, lakes in the highlands, mosques, falls and the old forts and houses of the sultanates: what is there, how to get there, and what to know before you go.

Ervin Malicdem · CC BY-SA 4.0Photo by Ervin Malicdem, CC BY-SA 4.0. Open the source file.

Beaches 6

Islands 11

Mosques 10

Lakes 5

Falls 5

Mountains 7

Nature 21

Heritage 22

Museums 5

Cities 2

Markets 2

Memory 8

Every place is traced to the pages it came from, and the guide’s own entries are the travel workspace’s. Photos are from Wikimedia Commons or English Wikipedia under free licences, each credited on the photo. 7 areas: Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte and del Sur, Tawi-Tawi, Cotabato City and the Special Geographic Area.

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Houses along the Rio Grande de Mindanao in the Cotabato City poblacion

Places · Nature

Rio Grande de Mindanao

Cotabato City

Also known as Mindanao River

Patrickroque01 · CC BY-SA 4.0Photo by Patrickroque01, CC BY-SA 4.0. Open the source file.

Overview

The second-largest river system in the Philippines, meeting the sea at Cotabato City.

The Rio Grande de Mindanao drains about 23,169 square kilometres of central and eastern Mindanao, from the Pulangi headwaters in Bukidnon down to Illana Bay. Before it reaches the sea it splits into two arms, the Cotabato and the Tamontaka, separated by a hill.

It has always been the region's road. Farm produce still moves along it, Datu Piang and Cotabato City grew up on its banks, and in Cotabato houses line the riverfront.

The river is also where the Shariff Kabunsuan Festival holds its boat race and fluvial parade each December.

Things to do

  1. 01Walk the Bai Walk along the riverThe river wall in Cotabato City has been turned into a riverside park.
  2. 02Watch the boat race at the Shariff Kabunsuan FestivalThe festival on December 15 to 19 includes a banca race and a re-enactment of Shariff Kabunsuan's arrival by river.
  3. 03Arrange a boat trip on the river locallyThere is no scheduled tour boat; trips are informal and arranged with boat owners on the riverfront.

Food to try

  • Banana-leaf parcels of pastil, one opened to show shredded meat over steamed rice.MaguindanaonPastilRice and shredded meat in a banana leaf — the region’s breakfast, and its icon.Photo: Obsidian Soul
  • A mound of yellow turmeric rice, the kiyoning or kuning of Moro tables, topped with chicken in palapa.MaguindanaonKiyoningTurmeric rice, yellow and fragrant, cooked in coconut milk.Photo: Obsidian Soul
  • Lacy discs of tinagtag, the fried rice-flour snack sold at Ramadhan stalls in Maguindanao del Sur.MaguindanaonTinagtagA lattice of fried rice-flour batter, crisp and sweet.Photo: Bangsamoro Information Office

The food is halal. Named eateries come from dated listings, so check they are still open.

Places to stay

Online booking works here. Phoning ahead still gets a better rate and a better room.

  • hotel · Cotabato CityAlnor Hotel and Convention CenterVenue of the 18th Regional Travel Fair (TPB, MTIT and DOT), August 2026Named in 2026
  • MarkoDalisay · CC BY-SA 4.0Photo by MarkoDalisay, CC BY-SA 4.0. Open the source file.hotel · Cotabato CityAlnor Suite HotelHotel with the Haraya function halls; hosted the Bangsamoro Writers Workshop, June 2026Named in 2026
  • hotel · Cotabato CityEm Manor Hotel and Convention CenterHotel and convention centre used for BARMM ministry events, May 2026Named in 2026
  • hotel · Cotabato CityKDT Manor Hotel and Convention CenterHotel and convention centre; venue of a Bangsamoro Women Commission dialogue, June 2026Named in 2026
  • hotel · Cotabato CityParagon Hotel and RestaurantHotel and restaurant used for BARMM workshops, November 2025Named in 2025
  • hotel · Cotabato CityGrand Pagana HotelVenue of a book launch by the Bangsamoro Government and the Institute of Bangsamoro Studies, June 2026Named in 2026

Each is named in an official or dated source; none could be checked against an accreditation list. No prices: rates change quickly, so confirm and book directly before you go.

Sourcesen.wikipedia.org ·en.wikipedia.org