Sprawling between the Rio Grande and the Tamontaka River, Cotabato City lies near the west coast of Mindanao. It was once a vast swamp surrounded by rainforest before the arrival of Muslim traders in the 16th century. In 1515, the Sultanate of Maguindanao was established and ruled the area until 1898.
Things to do in Cotabato City
Overlooking the mouth of the Tamontaka River is the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque, which is the second-largest mosque in the Philippines. Erected in 2011, it has the capacity to accommodate up to 15,000 worshippers and is named after the Sultan of Brunei, who helped fund its construction. Be sure to admire the 43-metre-high minarets and the gilded domes decorated with crescent moons.
Also on the banks of the Tamontaka River is the Church of the Immaculate Concepcion, which was built by Jesuit priests as part of a mission in the late 19th century. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 1976 and rebuilt in the following years before being designated as a National Historic Landmark. A tunnel leads beneath the church to a catacomb and continues on to Pedro Colina Hill.
Nestled at the foot of Pedro Colina Hill is Tantawan Park, a local recreational space that centres around a monument dedicated to the former sultan, Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat. It was here that Shariff Kabunsuan is said to have docked his boat during his 16th-century mission to introduce Islam to the region. In the following century, it served as a watchtower as locals defended Mindanao from Spanish attack.
Getting around Cotabato City
Cotabato Airport is a 20-minute drive from the city centre and has flights to destinations across the Philippines. Inter-city buses connect Cotabato City to communities across Mindanao, while minibuses and tricycles are available for getting around the downtown area.