General Santos

Overview

General Santos is the tuna capital of the Philippines, and its most vivid experience is the fish port complex at dawn, when boats unload yellowfin and the day's catch is auctioned and packed. The same trade supports market eateries where tuna is grilled to order at low prices, and the city trades on its boxing hometown mythology and its position on Sarangani Bay. Beaches at nearby Gumasa and the road up to the highlands of Lake Sebu make it a useful southern hub.

Standout experiences

• 01 Fish Port dawn visit

  The working port at its busiest between about 3am and 6am, when the catch comes in and is auctioned.

• 02 Tuna at Calumpang

  Market eateries that grill fresh tuna to order, the city's best-value meal.

• 03 Queen Tuna Park

  A waterfront park over Sarangani Bay, popular for sunsets and street food.

• 04 Sarangani Bay beaches

  The white sand of Gumasa and other bay beaches, a short drive south.

• 05 Road to Lake Sebu

  The highland route west into South Cotabato's cool lake country.

Getting there

General Santos International Airport (GES) is 14 kilometers from the central business district, and Cebu Pacific, PAL Express and Philippine Airlines fly there from Manila, Cebu and Iloilo. At Makar Wharf in Barangay Labangal, 2GO Travel runs inter-island ferries to major ports in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, and Indonesian lines serve nearby Indonesian ports.

When to go

General Santos has a tropical wet and dry climate and, with under 1,000 millimeters of rain a year, is one of the driest places in the Philippines. February to April is the driest stretch, and rainfall is light for most of the year, though June and July are wetter. The city has a typhoon-free climate, so trips are possible year round.