CAGAYAN DE ORO lies along the northern coastline of Mindanao. It is the provincial capital of the province of Misamis Oriental and the regional center for Northern Mindanao (Region 10). There are several places in the Philippines named Cagayan. One must distinguish Cagayan de Oro City from Cagayan Province in Northern Luzon. There are also islands in the Sulu Sea named Cagayan.

Cagayan de Oro is located along the central coast of Northern Mindanao. To the south, the city is bordered by the Bukidnon Province and Lanao del Norte (Iligan City). The Municipality of Opol, Misamis Oriental borders the city on the west and Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental to the east. To the north lies Macajalar Bay facing the Bohol Sea.

Cagayan de Oro has a tropical climate. Cagayan de Oro receives an even amount of rain through out the year. The driest month is April, while July is the wettest. Wet season in the city starts in June and ends in November. Drier season starts in December and ends in May. Cagayan de Oro is rarely visited by a typhoon since it is outside the Pacific typhoon belt. The city's major languages are: Cebuano / Visayan, English, and Filipino .