Tuna Festival is the biggest fiesta in General Santos City that started in 1998. Fondly called GenSan, the largest producer of sashimi-grade tuna in the Philippines celebrates all things tuna during the first week of September with this colorful festival.
Here’s a quick guide to what to expect and activities you can enjoy when you attend this amazing festival in the Philippines.
General Santos, the Tuna Capital of the Philippines, is less than two hours away by plane from Manila. Book a direct flight to General Santos via local airlines like Philippine Airlines and AirAsia.
If you’re from neighboring cities such as Cagayan De Oro, Cotabato, Davao, and Pagadian, there are buses, vans, and jeepneys that go to and from GenSan.
There are inter-island ferry routes to and from GenSan and major ports in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Editorial credit: Thor Jorgen Udvang / Shutterstock.com
Some of the events you can look forward to during the Tuna Festival include:
Editorial credit: Thor Jorgen Udvang / Shutterstock.com
Looking for a place to stay when you attend the Tuna Festival? Here are our top choices in and around the area where you can have a relaxing time after joining and checking out the activities:
Located along Tiongson Street, guests laud this for its small, yet clean rooms. It offers standard and family deluxe rooms. Check the latest rates here.
Get a room for less than PHP1,000 with free breakfast when you book this accommodation. Enjoy convenience too as it is nearby malls and restaurants. Check the latest rates here.
A few minutes away on foot to the Tuna festival’s major venues, booking your stay in Columbus Plaza Hotel is a good choice for budget travelers. Check the latest rates here.
Owned by the world-famous boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, enjoy spacious and well-appointed rooms without breaking the bank. Check the latest rates here.
Less than 30 minutes from the airport, Casa Rafael has 26 fully appointed rooms to make your stay comfortable and convenient. Check the latest rates here.
Editorial credit: Thor Jorgen Udvang / Shutterstock.com
There are many tourist spots you can visit when in General Santos. Make sure to include these attractions to your itinerary:
While you’re here, do the Pacman Adventour. This will give you a glimpse into the life of GenSan’s beloved son, boxing legend Manny Pacquiao. The tour will take you to his family’s mansions, gym, sports stadium, beach resort, farm, and hotel.
In addition, venturing out of GenSan is just as exciting, too. You can explore neighboring towns if you have some extra time.
Sarangani is less than an hour’s drive from the city. You can try white water river tubing at Maiyum River, soak up the sun at Gumasa Beach, or go diving in Sarangani Bay.
Got more energy, how about chasing some waterfalls? Koronadal, which is an hour away, has several amazing waterfalls you should explore including Kawa, Matimus, Siok, Cabillon, and Sarabia.
Go ahead and plan your trip to General Santos City! Book flights and hotels here for a convenient stay.
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