The city of Butuan and the rest of Agusan del Norte has always been a part Philippine History. It is said to be the original site of the first Easter mass in Philippine soil. It was the site of the first formal hoisting of the Philippine flag in Mindanao. And it was the home of the "Balanghais" or Butuan Boats, famous pre-historic native boats in Southeast Asia.

Aside from history, Agusan del Norte’s tourist spots are included in the country’s main destinations. These include the mighty Agusan River, Mt. Hilong-Hilong, Lake Mainit, Goso-on Fish Sanctuary, among others.

Demographics

1. Population – 612,405 (as of 2007 Census)
2. Land Area – 3,546.86 sq. km
3. Capital – Cabadbaran City
4. Language/Dialect – Cebuano, Butuanon, English, and Filipino
5. Divisions

Cities (2)

• Butuan City (independent city)
• Cabadbaran City

Municipalities (11)

• Buenavista
• Cabadbaran City
• Carmen
• Jabonga
• Kitcharao
• Las Nieves
• Magallanes
• Nasipit
• Remedios T. Romualdez
• Santiago

• Tubay

Site of the ‘First Easter Mass’ in the Philippines
Butuan City claims that the first mass in Philippine soil was celebrated, not in Limasawa, Leyte, but in the Masao, Butuan City.

Mt. Hilong-Hilong
It is the highest peak and premier climbing destination in Northeastern Mindanao. It is a confirmed nesting site of the critically endangered Philippine Eagle.

Mt. Mabaho
It is the second highest peak in Caraga and considered the second highest peak of Mindanao, with 1, 823 meters above sea level.

Balangay
These are large, wooden-plank-built and edge-pegged boat used by the natives during the earlier times.

Rio Grande de Agusan (Agusan River)
It is the third largest river basin and third longest river of the Philippines It finally drains into the Butuan Bay at its mouth in Butuan City.

Cultural

Our Lady of Assumption Parish Museum
Location: Jabonga, Agusan de Norte
Fr. Urios instigated the people of Jabonga to look for higher ground for a permanent church. Fr. Chambo, SJ, started its construction in 1878. Although not completely finished, Fr. Llobera, SJ, blessed it in 1897. Today, it is the oldest surviving Spanish church in the entire of Caraga

Butuan National Museum
Location: City Hall Compound, Doongan, Butuan City
This museum is the repository of historical and cultural materials and artifacts that proves Butuan’s prehistoric existence and rich cultural heritage. There are two exhibit galleries. The Archaeological Hall and Ethnological Hall Specimens of stone crafts, metal crafts, woodcrafts, poteries, goldsmithing, burial coffins, and other archaeological diggings are exhibited. At the Ethnological Hall are exhibits of contemporary cultural materials the Butuanon or every Filipino for matter used for a living. It is only in the Philippines where a flotilla of such prehistoric wooden boats exists throughout the world.

Balangay Shrine Museum
Location: Ambangan, Libertad, Butuan City
It served as graveyard of the Balangay 1 dated 320 A.D. or 1678 years old. This wooden plank-build and edge-pegged boats average 15 meters in length and 3 meters wide across the beam. To date, 9 Balangays have already been discovered in Ambangan, Libertad sites. Three have been excavated and others are still in Situ.

Atega Ancestral Home
Location: Cababdbaran City, Agusan del Norte
Caraga’s biggest and most beautifully preserved. It was originally built by Don Andress Atega – Cabadbaran’s revolutionary leader.

Historical

Magellan's Landing Site
Location: Magallanes, Agusan del Norte
This historic site is where Magellan and his men erected a cross and celebrated the 1st Mass on Philippine Soil on March 31, 1521. It is the highest elevation and promontory overlooking the whole of Butuan Bay.

Natural

Mt. Hilong-Hilong
Location: Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte
Towering at 2,012 meters above sea level, it is a confirmed nesting site of the critically endangered Philippine Eagle. It is negotiable in 3 to 4 days but is recommended to climbers with intermediate and expert skills only due to its degree of difficulty.

Mt. Mabaho
Location: Santiago, Agusan del Norte
With its 90 degree peak made of solid rock, one has to have appropriate climbing gear and skills to conquer it. Reported to be another nesting site of the Philippine Eagle, it is a perfect exploratory climbing destination for experienced mountaineers. No one has yet conquered its peak.

Mt. Mas-ai
Location: Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte
With a height of 1,624 meters above sea level., it is negotiable in 2 to 3 days and can be an experience opportunity for trained beginners.

Mt. Mina-asug
Location: Brgy. La Fraternidad, Tubay
It is the practice destination of mountaineering beginners. It is negotiable in a day.

Mt. Mayapay
Location: Butuan City
Local lore has it that the mountain got its name from the Madjapahit Empire which counted Southeast Asia within its sphere of influence around the 10th or 11th Century.

Agusan River
Location: Butuan City
It is the third largest river basin of the Philippines with a total drainage area of 10, 921 km² and an estimated length of 350 kilometers from its origin. One of the prominent features in the Agusan River basin is the presence of the Agusan Marsh covering a total area of 19,197 hectares.

Lake Mainit
Location: Kitcharo, Agusan del Norte
A confluence of 28 rivers, this 17,430-hectare lake situated 80 ft. above sea level with a mean depth of 128 meters is the 4th largest in the country.

Goso-on Fish Sanctuary
Location: Brgy Gosoon, Carmen,
This 10-ha. fish sanctuary is becoming a favorite destination of skin divers. Its well-protected coral reefs are becoming an attractive shelter for various marine life including several exotic tropical fishes.

Scuba Diving Sites
Location: Jabonga, Tubay, and Carmen, Agusan del Norte
All in all, these towns offer 22 dive sites. Diving in Carmen waters provides an excellent 80 feet of visibility. Reef life is rich, with soft and hard corals plus abundant reef and pelagic fishes. The profile here ranges from sloping walls to cliffs ranging in depths from 40 ft. to over 100 ft. with generally white sandy floors.
The Jabonga and Tubay dive sites, on the other hand, are generally rock formations - crevices, caves, alleys, overhands, walls - with depths ranging from 45 ft. to over 200 ft. Pelagics abound together with snappers, sweet lips, and trevallies.

Religious

St. Joseph Convent Diocesan Ecclesiastical Museum
Location: St. Joseph Convent, Butuan City
Showcases a collection of religious and liturgical arts and maters used by Catholic missionaries in the country. It is the first ecclesiastical museum in Mindanao. The collection ranges from all kinds of church vestments to paraphernalia such as chalices, relics of saints, and others, already rare these days.

Sto. Niño Diocesan Shrine
Location: Km. 5, Brgy. Libertad, Butuan City
Magellan first brought the image of the Sto. Niño (Holy Child) to Butuan before it stayed in Cebu. Devotees grow in number yearly. Mt. Mayapay serves as a backdrop of the altar. It was declared a Diocesan shrine by the Bishop of Butuan in Jubilee Year 2000.

Baoto Festival
Place: Jabonga, Agusan del Norte
Date: Second Week of June
This sports festival is a part of the annual celebration of the Araw ng Agusan del Norte. The longest paddling race in the Philippines for 3-seater dug-out canoes, the contest is about to be upgraded into a Mindanao Island race. The activity covers two days: June 14, pre-qualification of baroto entries, and June 15, the race day

Lisagan
Place: Magallanes, Agusan del Norte
Date: Third Saturday of October
This is a religious celebration that showcases Mamanwa dances and healing rituals. It is a re-enactment of the first miraculous healing that supposedly happened in 1910 to a Mamanwa native while dancing in front of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Nuestra Señora del Rosario or Our Lady of the Rosary, that was brought to the municipality of Magallanes from Las Nieves, Barcelona, Spain.

Commemoration of the Hoisting of the Philippine Flag in Mindanao
Place: January 17
Date: Butuan City
The first formal hoisting of the Philippine flag in Mindanao was done on January 17, 1889 in Butuan City. The commemorative events are spearheaded by the Butuan Local Government and Butuan Historical & Cultural Foundation.

Kahimunan Festival
Place: Libertad, Butuan City
Date: Third Sunday of January
It is Butuan City’s version of the Sinulog Festival of Cebu, it is celebrated to pay homage to the city’s patron, Sto. Niño. Kahimunan is the Lumad term for “gathering.” The annual fest is a mixture of Christian and folk elements celebrated with pomp and pageantry.

Abayan Festival
Place: Butuan City
Date: last Sunday of July
Day-long festivity of baroto/baoto race, fluvial procession, and parlor games in honor of St. Anne, patroness of the Agusan River.

Adlaw hong Butuan
Place: Butuan City
Date: August 2
Charter Day celebration of Butuan City. Highlighted by a thanksgiving mass, motorcade, Palagsing Festival, street parties, and the Recognition of Outstanding Butuanons & City Employees Night.