"The Latin City of Asia" was given to Zamboanga City because of their language called "chavacano," similar to Spanish. The city is situated on the Southern side of the Zamboanga Peninsula and on the Northern side of Basilan. Aside from their language, the city is also prominent with its "vinta," a colorful and stunning sailboat or watercraft that is usually used by the locals. Using Google Maps, had a walking tour of their top tourist spots and destinations.
Zamboanga City Tourist Spots:
- Zamboanga City Hall
- The Plaza Rizal or Rizal Park
- Paseo del Mar
- Fort Pilar and the National Museum
- The Pink Beach
This is Day 1 – 9 Days Solo-Backpacking in Mindanao
ZamBaSulTa, Zamboanga Provinces, Misamis Occidental
May Day 1 started at the Zamboanga City International Airport. To access the Public Utility Vehicles, I walked to the highway and rode in a jeepney to my first destination - the stunning Zamboanga City Hall. By the way, the driver dropped me off by the street near the city hall. Minimum fare. The city hall has a unique structural design with a clock tower in the middle. And from the City Hall, I used Google Maps to locate all tourist attractions in the area.
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| Photo: Zamboanga City Hall. |
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| Photo: Paseo del Mar, Zamboanga City. |
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| Photo: National Museum, Fort Pilar. |
According to the Historical Marker: "Founded as a southern outpost of Spanish domain under the supervision of Mechor de Vera, 1635; attacked by the Duch, 1646; deserted when troops were concentrated in Manila to drive away Chinese pirates, 1663; reconstructed by the Society of Jesus, 1666; rebuilt under the management of Juan Sicarra, 1719; stormed by Dalasi, King of Sulig, with 3,000 Moros, 1720; cannonaded by the British, 1798; witnessed the mutiny of the seventy prisoners, 1872; abandoned by the Spaniards, 1898; occupied by the Americans under General J.C. Gates, 1899; seized by the Japanese, 1942; taken over by the Republic of the Philippines, 4 July 1946."
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| Photo at Night: Plaza Pershing. |
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| Photo: Zamboanga International Airport |
How to Get to Zamboanga City:
- By Air: Book a flight from Manila to Zamboanga City. Travel time is about an hour and fifteen minutes. Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines have daily flights to their international airport.
- Then, I walked on the street to the highway and rode in a jeepney, and the driver dropped me off by the street near the city hall. Minimum fare.
Where to Stay in Zamboanga City:
👉There are a lot of hotels, lodging, and pension houses in the city. However, their rates are certainly higher than my allotted budget (less than a thousand pesos). On the Google Maps mobile app, I searched "hotel," and it gave me a lot of choices, but it was still expensive. Using the app, I walked on the streets and checked on the rates of all the hotels nearby. I checked in at Hermosa Hotel because they have the lowest price, 750 pesos for an overnight stay, with two single beds, aircon, and toilet and bath. Room Quality: 6/10. READ: Location, How to Get Here, My Solo-Backpacking in Zamboanga City
