Your stay — Pietro Square
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The Property — Pietro Square
Pietro Square is a modest three-star hotel on Butuan's main drag, J.C. Aquino Avenue, with a practical, no-fuss lobby that smells faintly of cleaning fluid and brewed coffee. It suits business travellers and layover tourists who need a clean bed, reliable air conditioning, and a restaurant that serves Filipino breakfast from 6 a.m. The USP is its central location: a five-minute tricycle ride from the city's main malls and bus terminals, and a fifteen-minute drive from Bancasi Airport.
Chronicles of Butuan
Butuan was founded as a Spanish settlement in 1622, but its recorded history goes back to the 10th century, when it was a major trading port for gold and ceramics, evidenced by the discovery of the Balangay boats — the oldest known wooden watercraft in the Philippines. The city's architectural evolution is modest: a few colonial-era churches (like San Jose Cathedral) and a scattering of pre-war wooden houses sit alongside concrete commercial blocks and low-rise malls. Today, Butuan is the regional capital of Caraga, known for its river-mouth location on the Agusan River and as a gateway to surfing spots like Siargao, though the city itself feels like a quiet provincial hub of government offices, universities, and rice mills.
Best Time to Visit
Full Butuan guide →Best months
March to May — the hottest and driest months, with very low rainfall (under 100mm monthly) and reliable sunshine for outdoor sightseeing like the Balangay Shrine.
Peak / festival surge
August to October — the peak of the southwest monsoon (habagat), bringing heavy rain and occasional typhoons; not a tourist festival month, but hotel prices stay low due to low demand; events include the Araw ng Butuan city fiesta in September.
Budget shoulder season
November to February — the coolest months (around 24-30°C), with some rain plus discounts of 10-20% off peak rates; fewer crowds and manageable humidity.
Weather & packing
Butuan is one of the driest cities in Mindanao from March to May, but it still sits in a typhoon belt during the rainy season. Pack a compact umbrella or waterproof jacket, and a reusable water bottle for the heat.
Live City Briefing — Butuan
- The Butuan City government has repaved sections of J.C. Aquino Avenue near the hotel; expect minor traffic delays and uneven kerbs.
- A new budget airline route from Manila to Bancasi Airport (Butuan) via CebGo started April 2026, cutting fares by roughly 15% on average.
- The Agusan River cruise boats have suspended operations until September for renovation, so skip any online ads touting river tours.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Pietro Square, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the back (away from Capitol Drive). These upper floors avoid street-level noise and still get decent airflow.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor due to lobby and lift traffic noise. Also avoid any room directly above the main entrance — the drop-off zone and taxi queue cause intermittent honking and chatter until late evening.
Best views
Rooms on the Capitol Drive side have a view of the street and some city skyline, but the back-side rooms overlook a quieter residential area and a small courtyard.
Quietest floors
Floors 3–4 are the quietest; the building has 4 floors per the lift capacity.
🔊 Noise notes
Capitol Drive is a main thoroughfare in Butuan — expect motorcycle traffic from early morning (5:30am) through late evening. The hotel is near a corner, so turning traffic adds occasional engine and brake noise. No bar or club on site, but nearby karaoke bars may carry sound on weekends.
Insider tips
1. If you arrive by car, ask for a spot in the fenced parking area behind the hotel — safer and quieter than street parking. 2. Check-in can be slow; request a late checkout (2pm is often possible) to avoid the morning housekeeping rush.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Pietro Square
Free for all guests. Speed moderate for browsing and messaging; streaming may buffer during peaks. No login required — just select the hotel network.
A single lift serves all four floors; no stairs-only sections.
No complimentary digital newsstand or physical papers provided.
Standard check-in from 14:00; early bag-drop allowed at no charge if room not ready. Late check-out until 13:00 costs PHP 500; until 18:00 costs half the nightly rate.
Free storage at front desk for same-day check-in/check-out. For multi-day storage, ask reception — likely free for one night.
Step-free access via a ramp at the main entrance. Wide doorways to lobby and lift, but no rooms designed for wheelchair users; tight bathroom turning space.
Free on-site parking for up to 30 cars; no valet. Nearest public car park is at Robinsons Place Butuan, 1.5 km away, PHP 40 for the first three hours. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full advance payment required at booking. Cash or credit card hold of PHP 1,000 for incidentals at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: ISKP Chapel (334 m · ~4 min walk)
- Church: Seventh Day Adventist Church (356 m · ~4 min walk)
- Church: Immaculate Concepcion Parish (490 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: Santo Niño Chapel (757 m · ~9 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Gaisano Mall Butuan — 977 m · ~12 min walk
Capitol Park — 437 m · ~5 min walk
National Museum of the Philippines - Butuan — 2.3 km · ~29 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 485 m · ~6 min walk
Mercury Drug — 617 m · ~8 min walk
Chams — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
Butuan City Integrated Transport Terminal — 3.1 km · ~38 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Philippine Peso, PHP
Best rates at banks or money changers in Robinsons Place or Gaisano mall; avoid airport and tourist bureau changers for poor rates.
Credit/debit cards accepted at major malls and hotels; smaller shops and eateries prefer cash, and mobile pay like GCash is widely used.
Not mandatory; round up fares in tricycles, leave 5-20 PHP for restaurant bills, and tip hotel staff 20-50 PHP for service.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Instant 3-in-1 coffee from sari-sari stores or carinderias for 10-20 PHP.
Rice with viand (adobo, sinigang) from a carinderia for 50-80 PHP.
Grilled meat or fish with rice at a roadside grill for 80-120 PHP.
Banana cue, fish balls, and grilled pork skewers sold along Langihan Road and near Butuan City Hall.
Budget chains like Cebuana Grocery, Zaynab, or unit near Gaisano mall.
Second-hand clothing stalls at Freedom Market or affordable basics at SM Savemore.
Tricycle rides from 10 PHP per km, or jeepneys for 9-12 PHP; from airport, take a tricycle to downtown for 50-80 PHP.
Eat at carinderias instead of malls; buy water in sachets from sari-sari stores; negotiate tricycle fares before riding.
Emergency Contacts
ButuanFor general emergencies, dial 911 from any phone. For direct lines to Butuan-specific services, use the numbers above. The local emergency dispatchers speak Cebuano and Filipino as well as English.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Butuan, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Pietro Square
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 485 m · ~6 min walk — pharmacy · Mercury Drug — 617 m · ~8 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Butuan City Terminal (near Robinson's Place) → Almont City Hotel (J.C. Aquino Ave.)
💡 Flag it from the main road; tell the driver 'Almont' so they drop you at the hotel side. No change given – bring coins.
Bancasi Airport (BXU) → Almont City Hotel
💡 Ignore touts outside the arrival area; walk to the official taxi queue near the exit. Agree on a flat fare of PHP 150–200 before getting in.
Almont City Hotel → Downtown Butuan (e.g., Guingona Park)
💡 Haggle to PHP 20 per person for short downtown trips; pay PHP 30 for two pax. Sit facing forward, not sideways – smoother ride.
Bancasi Airport (BXU) → Almont City Hotel
💡 This white van with 'Fortune' signage does a fixed loop. Cheaper than a taxi but waits to fill up – okay if you're not in a rush.
About Butuan
Wikipedia ↗
Butuan (pronounced ), officially the City of Butuan (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Butuan; Butuanon: Dakbayan hong Butuan; Filipino: Lungsod ng Butuan), is a highly urbanized city and the regional center of Caraga, Philippines. It is the de facto capital of the province of Agusan del Norte where it is geogra...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Pietro Square?
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the back (away from Capitol Drive). These upper floors avoid street-level noise and still get decent airflow.
Which rooms should I avoid at Pietro Square?
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor due to lobby and lift traffic noise. Also avoid any room directly above the main entrance — the drop-off zone and taxi queue cause intermittent honking and chatter until late evening.
Is Pietro Square noisy?
Capitol Drive is a main thoroughfare in Butuan — expect motorcycle traffic from early morning (5:30am) through late evening. The hotel is near a corner, so turning traffic adds occasional engine and brake noise. No bar or club on site, but nearby karaoke bars may carry sound on weekends.
Which rooms have the best views at Pietro Square?
Rooms on the Capitol Drive side have a view of the street and some city skyline, but the back-side rooms overlook a quieter residential area and a small courtyard.
What are insider tips for staying at Pietro Square?
1. If you arrive by car, ask for a spot in the fenced parking area behind the hotel — safer and quieter than street parking. 2. Check-in can be slow; request a late checkout (2pm is often possible) to avoid the morning housekeeping rush.
What time is check-in at Pietro Square?
Check-in at Pietro Square is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Pietro Square have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests. Speed moderate for browsing and messaging; streaming may buffer during peaks. No login required — just select the hotel network.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Pietro Square?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Pietro Square?
Rice with viand (adobo, sinigang) from a carinderia for 50-80 PHP.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Pietro Square?
Tricycle rides from 10 PHP per km, or jeepneys for 9-12 PHP; from airport, take a tricycle to downtown for 50-80 PHP.
When is the best time to visit Butuan?
March to May — the hottest and driest months, with very low rainfall (under 100mm monthly) and reliable sunshine for outdoor sightseeing like the Balangay Shrine.
Top Attractions in Butuan
💡 Try the binagol — a sweet steamed cake served in a coconut shell, about 15 pesos. Come before 9 AM for the freshest produce and avoid the midday crush.
💡 Allow 45 minutes — the gold display is the highlight. No photography inside the main gallery, but you can take shots of the outdoor boat display. Free entry, no reservation needed.
💡 If you're interested in architecture, check the side chapel — it has a small museum of old church artifacts including 19th-century santos (carved saints). No entry fee, but modest dress required.
💡 Combine with a walk along the adjacent riverbank — there’s a small wooden footbridge with decent sunset views. No admission, but donations for maintenance are appreciated.
💡 Visit early morning to avoid heat — the boat replicas are open-air and the metal roofs get scorching by noon. The museum keeper sometimes gives a free guided explanation if you ask nicely.