Camiguin: Overnight in a Nutshell

A small, pear shaped island located north of Mindanao’s main Island, Camiguin promises a sensory overload of beautiful sunscapes, jungles, mountains, waterfalls, springs and beaches.

HOW TO GET TO CAMIGUIN VIA CAGAYAN DE ORO

From the Laguindingan Airport take a shuttle van to Agora Terminal. The rate for this trip is around PhP 200.00 Travel time is 1 to 1.5 hours.  At Agora Terminal CDO you can get a shuttle to Balingoan Port for PhP100.00 -150.00 depending on the type of van you will ride. If you are lucky you can ride with people who are on their way to Balingoan port and who will just ask for PhP150.00 as fuel contribution. These trips are not as full as the chartered van trips and are more comfortable considering the 3 hour trip.

Once at the port, you can ride the ferry to Benoni Port in Camiguin. Rate is PhP175.00 plus a terminal fee of  PhP15.00. Balingoan Port is the only port that will take you from the Mindanao mainland to the island of Camiguin. There used to be a fast craft from the CDO port but this stopped operating sometime in 2014. The ferry boat will take you an hour. Just make sure you get your cameras ready as the volcano island of Camiguin is picturesque even as you approach it. From the port of Benoni, you can either ride a jeep to Mambajao the capital or hire a motorella to your desired resort.

WHAT TO SEE IN CAMIGUIN

Must-see:

• White beach. Go there during sunrise or sunset with a good camera to be able to snap the most picturesque photos. Boat rental is PhP500.00. Guides will also let you rent a picnic mat and snorkeling gear for an extra PhP100.00.

• Breakfast/sunset drinks at  Casa Roca. Breakfast is around PhP200.00 This spot is perfect and the food is exceptional!

• Habal-habal tour of some of the historic sites. Ride on the back of a motorcycle and go to the picture points around the island (sunken cemetery, old church, stations of the cross). Travel during the evening and you get a to see a full view of the starry night sky with the cool wind in your hair.

Optional:

• Ardent Hot Springs – The springs are not too hot, which makes the experience more enjoyable. It’s best to go early during the day to avoid the thick crowds in the evening.  

• Soda water Springs -  The springs look like a regular pool but the water is chlorine free. The water temperature is ideal, striking a good balance between that of cold and hot springs. 

• Tuasan Falls – Still worth visiting despite being under development, compared to the more popular Katibawasan Falls 

• Pizza at Northern Lights – Can’t beat a good pizza for PhP200.00 with everything on it. Pair it with a shake or an ice cold beer for a perfect comfort meal.

I was not able to visit the other tourist spots yet as we were only there overnight. This just goes to show you that Camiguin is an island theme park of many natural sites sounds. More sites to see if you have time include Katibawasn Falls (the most popular waterfalls on the island), Sto. Nino Cold Springs and Mantigue Island (best snorkeling spot in the island).

The strong water and shallow pool of Tuasan Falls 

The remains of the church of the old capital flattened by the eruption of 1861

Mt. Hibok-Hibok

Sunset at the shoreline

The sun peaking from behind this fire island of camiguin as viewed from the pristine sandbar of white island.

The new monument to mark the sunken cemetary. Old graves line the seafloor of a cemetary that was lost during the volcanic eruption