Banza Church Ruins are among Butuan's most atmospheric historic stops. What survives is not a complete church but a fragment of stonework, with a great balete tree gripping the old tower and turning the ruin into something half architectural, half natural.
The site speaks to Butuan's deep colonial and river history without needing much interpretation. It is a short visit, but a memorable one, especially if you pair it with the Balangay Shrine Museum to connect the city's older maritime past with its later Spanish-era layers.