Do you already have a plan for how to spend your holidays this year? Exploring South Cotabato sounds like a great idea because you can discover new places and have new experiences. However, make sure you know how to navigate General Santos Airport, the gateway that will take you to South Cotabato, Philippines.
If you know how to navigate it, you can avoid confusion, trouble, and distraction. Here, you will find a guide to General Santos Airport, covering its history, terminals, and facilities. There’s also information about nearby hotels, transportation options, and tourist attractions. Here are the explanations!
About General Santos Airport
What is the name of General Santos Airport? Many of you might be curious about this. Although it is better known as Tambler Airport, it is also known as General Santos International Airport. The code is GES.
This airport was established in 1996, replacing Buayan Airport. It was built for the 42nd annual Palarong Pambansa, the national games held in General Santos. A larger airport was needed to accommodate athletes, coaches, and staff.
After undergoing renovation in 2023, it became the largest airport in Mindanao.
The airport is located in General Santos City, South Cotabato, Philippines. To be precise, on Filipino-American Friendship Avenue. It serves the greater area of SOCCSKSARGEN, especially General Santos City and South Cotabato Province. The airport is about 17 km from downtown.
Even though it’s an international airport, international flights are rare. There used to be flights to Bangkok and Manado, but these were discontinued due to financial constraints.
Currently, the airport only operates domestic flights to Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, and Clark. You can find three airlines serving these routes: Cebu Pacific Air, Philippine Airlines, and PAL Express.
Aside from its history, make sure to know how to navigate General Santos Airport Terminal in the next section!
General Santos Airport Terminal
Did you know that General Santos City is known as the Tuna Capital of the Philippines? That’s why the airport has the shape of tuna fins. There is one terminal with two building levels, serving both departures and arrivals. The terminal can accommodate around two million passengers per year.
Arrivals are located on the first floor, while departures are on the second floor. Pay attention when departing from the airport because there are four departure gates. Some areas in the terminal are still under maintenance. However, most of them are already fully operational.
You can also enjoy several facilities in General Santos Airport. Find out the information below!
General Santos Airport Facilities
You can use multiple facilities while you’re in the airport. The options aren’t extensive, but they’re decent enough to meet your basic needs, such as:
- Free Wi-Fi.
- Food Kiosks, you can find around 4-5 food stalls. However, the prices are a bit pricey. So, if you want to save money, you can go to some restaurants near the airport.
- Waiting Area, for both departures and arrivals.
- Charging station, you can find a few stands around the airport.
- Lounge, which you can find on the second floor in the departure area.
The lounge is only accessible for departing passengers. So, once you’ve landed, you can look for nearby hotels from General Santos Airport to get a better rest. More information about it can be found below here!
General Santos Airport Hotels
There are no on-site hotels at the airport. However, you can find many nearby hotels.
Here are some of the recommendations:
- Times Plaza Hotel, a 2-star hotel around 5,1 km (10-minute drive) from the airport. The rates start from PHP 1,600 (USD 27.96).
- OYO 489 Casa Mia Hotel Suites, a 2-star hotel around 2,8 km (6-minute drive) from the airport. The rates start from PHP 1,064 (USD 18.59).
- Sarangani Highlands Garden Hotel, a 3-star hotel around 7,3 km (14-minute drive) from the airport. The rates start from PHP 1,314 (USD 22.97).
- Dolores Tropicana Resort, is a 3-star hotel around 11 km (16-minute drive) from the airport. The rates start from PHP 2,632 (USD 45.99).
- Sundance Tourist Inn, a 3-star hotel around 2,8 km (6 minutes drive) from the airport. The rates start from PHP 987 (USD 17.25).
You can get to the hotel with ease using various transportation options from the airport. We’ll break down the best and most convenient choices for you in the next section!
General Santos Airport Transportations
Another thing you should know is how to get downtown from General Santos Airport. There are a few options that you can choose from, such as:
- Taxi, is an expensive but convenient choice. The fare is usually around PHP 300. It could be cheaper or more costly, depending on your destination.
- Rideshare services, such as Grab and other mobile apps. The fare is cheaper than a conventional taxi, but you need install a mobile app and create an account first.
- Tricycles, to get the unique experience. However, make sure to agree on the fare with the driver before you ride. The fare is usually around PHP 100.
- Jeepneys, for the most affordable option. The fare is usually around PHP 50 per person.
- Van services, a more comfortable and spacious option. The fare is usually around PHP 1,600 (USD 27.96) for a van and PHP 1,100 (USD 19.22) for a minivan.
- Car rental, perfect if you’re planning to explore the town while driving. It usually costs around PHP 923 (USD 16.13) per day.
After choosing the most suitable transportation, you can visit some tourist attractions. Check out the list in the next section!
General Santos Attractions
You can visit multiple tourist attractions in General Santos City, such as:
- Hunting for cheap giant tuna at General Santos Fish Port Complex.
- Enjoying the beautiful beach and lagoon at Grande Santa Cruz Island.
- Witnessing a stunning sunset at Buntod Gensan.
- Viewing the bonsai collections at Sarangani Highlands Garden.
- Taking photos with pretty flowers at Boombil’s Peak.
That’s everything you need to know about General Santos Airport. YAou can book flights to this airport from around the world, though most international travelers must first fly to Manila or Cebu. Discover the best price at Airpaz!
