The heart-pumping White Water Rafting at Cagayan de Oro River

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Battling the rapids

This is the second installment of our MNL-CDO trip.  After our heartfelt experience at Camiguin Island, we went back to Cagayan de Oro (CDO) City by ferry and checked in at Casa Isabella. 

Our day 3 has officially started when we went at the downtown CDO to meet our river tour guides for our exciting activities for the day. As they say what is Cagayan de Oro if you have not try their breath-taking adventure of White Water Rafting.

One of my friends has reserved the water rafting tour along with zipline at Great White Water Tours.  I could not compare other outfitters as I have not try other services. What they are promoting is a great service including a zero-free accident by far. Their advertisement is 'Discover Pure Adrenaline'. 


What an exciting and heart-pounding moment that day was for me. 

Great White Water Tours Ad

Before anything else, we were oriented by one of their river guides regarding rules on how to paddle and its corresponding name like forward and the like, safety tips especially when the boat flipped and the famous 'high five' action (paddle up) and more. It is very important to follow their tips and commands or else you might get injured.


We left our things at their office. But we brought our important valuables like mobile phones and wallets at the site but they were placed in a water-proofed bag (so no worries that they could get wet) to be carried by one of our river guides (our official photographer). It is better if your group has at least one camera so renting a camera there would not be a problem since it's not that cheap to rent one in their office. 

We traveled almost 30-45 minutes by land before reaching the starting (debarkation) point. We waited our guides to setup everything while we prepared for the main event. Life/floating vest has been worn and we picked up our own paddle. There were a total of three guides who will come along with us on the rafting - two have joined us in the boat while the other one was our official photographer (at the kayak). 


We expected to pass 21 rapids for about 3-4 hours. Imagine that every rapid is somewhat dangerous as it could totally flip the boat especially if you get at the center of its whirlwind motion and not to mention the strong current of the water - these ideas are totally killing me. I'm not a swimmer so the idea of falling in a 17-ft deep river is really crazy. The water is not as white as expected because it's rainy season already and before that week, rain has continuously poured down. Good thing was that the sun was not that too hot for us to worry to get sunburned.

'High Five' action (at the center image)

When the main event has started, I silently prayed for guidance. It was really smooth at the start. Just like enjoying the longest paddling moment I would ever had. The river we were passing is actually the boundary between Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon province. 

As we were traversing each rapid, the river guides have lots of stories to tell and mostly humorous. So I never get bored during the entire rafting experience. I thought that 3 hours was boring but once you're there battling an adrenaline rush and listening to classic Pinoy jokes, one would really feel that this entire adventure was worth remembering and enjoyable.

And then the moment of truth has come, passing rapids by rapids, my heart was beating so fast every rapid we passed. And when the first boat flip happened, my whole body was submerged into the water and I felt like I was drowning. As advised, do not do anything when you fell out of the boat nor force yourself to swim. And that's what I did, I just let myself go with the flow. After 3 seconds, I was amazed to find myself floating already at the surface. I just waited my turn for our river guide to pull me up to get up on the boat again. 

Our boat flipped in action

No idle moments. Everyone was laughing the whole time. One of my friends was even wanting for more boat flips but I was one of those who refused to have more flips. 

As we approached each rapid, more unique styles or actions have been applied to make our rafting more exciting. One of the times the right and left rafters would be asked to paddle in opposite direction to have a circular motion effect on the boat, then one time all rafters would move closer at the front or at the back and the most exciting one was all rafters would stand up and balance the boat. The only fear I have there was to get drowned when I fell into the water or the boat might crash a big rock or enter a water whirlwind. But the river guides were very professional in keeping us safe the whole time and in avoiding those barriers.

The final wave of Water Rafting

There were also quiet moments on the whole rafting experience. That is, when the next rapid was too far and the water was very calm. Our guides have allowed us to swim and enjoyed the non-rapid area. 

When we approached the final wave, everyone has claimed that the boat to be flipped for the last time. As our river guide screamed for 'high-five', we all raised our paddle and screamed 'high-five'. And the river guides intentionally flipped the boat at their best (they're really good in doing this the whole time). 

Thank God as we're safe at end of that crazy adventure. Just as everyone enjoyed it, I enjoyed it very much too.

Great White Water Tours really didn't exaggerate their promotion as I'm one of their satisfied clients. At end of this tour, everyone was really wanting for more pure adrenaline rush and fun. 

For this tour along with the zipline and packed lunch and dinner, we settled Php 1999/pax and Php 1250 for the van rental. That is, a total of Php 11, 245 for 5 pax.