Things to Do in Cotabato

Central plaza with a gazebo, mature acacia trees, and benches. Weekday afternoons see families and students hanging out. Has a small playground and outdoor chess tables.

🕐 Open 24 hours

💡 Come on a Sunday morning for the free zumba session at 7am. Avoid at noon — shade is limited.

Public pump boat ride along the main river. No frills — you share with locals carrying goods. Views of stilt houses, floating markets, and coconut groves. Costs about 20 pesos per person.

🕐 Daily 6am–6pm, departures every 30 minutes

💡 Take the 5pm departure for golden light and cooler breeze. Bring small change.

Small museum inside the city hall complex. Houses pre-colonial gold, Islamic art, and Moro weapons. Displays explain the region's mixed Muslim and Lumad heritage.

🕐 Mon–Fri 8am–5pm, closed weekends

💡 Ask the guard to turn on the lights in the basement vault — that's where the best pieces are kept.

Historic Spanish-era cathedral by the Rio Grande. Simple white facade with a striking bell tower. Known for peaceful coexistence of Christian and Muslim communities nearby.

🕐 Open daily, mass times vary

💡 Go early morning to see locals buying fish at the riverside market just behind the church.

One of the largest mosques in Mindanao, with a gold-painted dome and tall minarets. Visitors welcome outside prayer times. Dress modestly — women must cover head and wear long skirts.

🕐 Daily 8am–12pm, 2pm–5pm (closed during prayers)

💡 The caretaker sometimes offers brief tours in English. Leave shoes outside the prayer hall.