Camiguin | Travel Guide
In this Camiguin Travel Guide, let us take you to this stunning island in Mindanao without breaking the bank!
Camiguin Island, is popularly dubbed as the “Island Born of Fire”. It is said to be the country’s most beautiful island enriched with plethora of natural wonders and historical riches.
A peaceful dreamland of pristine waterfalls, lush rainforests, and volcanic edifices. In addition, there are hot and cold springs, numerous coastlines with exotic marine life. The remoteness is quite dissuading, but do not be discouraged, to both the adventurer and urban dweller; Camiguin is Paradise.
Update (January 2018): In October 2017, a video uploaded by the Camiguin Tourism Office went viral for all the right reasons, no words to describe the island experience, just feel Camiguin.
Check the link here: #NoWords #FeelCamiguin
Where is Camiguin
Located in the Bohol Sea, Camiguin is about 10 kilometers from the northernmost part of main land Mindanao. It is the second smallest province in the country right after Batanes with Mambajao as its capital.
There are more volcanoes in the island than their towns. Its interior forest reserves known at Mt. Hibok-hibok Timpoong Protected Landscape is declared as an ASEAN Heritage Park.
How To Get There
● Via Cebu:
- Via Air: Cebu Pacific flies directly from Cebu to Camiguin every Monday/Wednesday/Friday at 7:25am and Camiguin to Cebu everyTuesday/Thursday/Saturday at 7:45am,
- If coming from Manila, take the earliest trip going to Mactan Cebu International Airport to catch the early Cebu-Camiguin flight. Trip takes approximately 40 minutes.
- From the Camiguin Airport, take any Motorella or Multicab bound for Mambajao or the destination of your choice.
● Via CDO: From Manila, take any daily flight bound for Cagayan de Oro via Cebu Pacific or Philippine Airlines (45 minutes travel time).
- From Laguindingan International Airport, ride any shuttle or bus bound for Cagayan de Oro City and alight at the Agora Terminal. (1 hour travel time)
- At the Agora Terminal, take any bus bound for Balingoan Port, Misamis Oriental (2-3hours), or if traveling in a group one can opt to rent a van for faster travel time (1.5-2hours).
- At the Balingoan Port, Misamis Oriental take the ferry bound for Benoni Port, Camiguin (45mins-1hour).
- Ferries leave for Benoni Port every 45 minutes and starts at 5:45 in the morning up to 5:30 in the afternoon. Fare is 179.00php.
- Another option is to wait for fast crafts (Ocean Jet) at the Macabalan Port in CDO which costs 550-650php, trips bound for Benoni Port usually leaves around 8:30-10:30 in the morning.
- From Benoni Port, if you are on a budget, you can take the public Multicabs bound for Mambajao (30php)
- Upon arrival at the town proper take the public Motorellas bound for Catarman and alight at the resort or hotel of your choice.
- If travelling in a group one can hire Multicabs or Motorella to take you to your hotel and also to tour the whole island for a day and costs around 1500php-2500php.
- Solo travellers can opt to hire a motorcyle or Habal-habal for a more cheaper option, rates starts at 800php.
Getting Around Camiguin
- Habal-habal for short destinations costs 10php at a minimum but you can arrange a trip with the driver to take you to the top destinations for the whole day.
- This is a cheap option to tour the island and may start at 800php and above depending on the chosen destinations, alternatively you can also rent the motorcycle yourself, just make sure to have a guide with you since having a local with you maximizes the trip and safety.
- Motorellas are Camiguin’s version of the tricycle but can accommodate more than 6 persons. The minimum fare starts at 8php but you can still arrange a trip around the island just like what we did. It cost our group (6pax) 1200php for the whole tour.
- Multicabs are smaller version of Jeepneys and usually plies the route of Benoni – Mambajao. Fare is at 25php but only leaves once they are full. One can also rent them to tour you around for 1700-2000php for a group of eight to ten persons.
Where To Stay
- Our group stayed at Camiguin White Island Beach Resort, only a heartbeat away from the White Island Sandbar.
- Barkada Room costs 1600.00php/night and can accommodate 6 persons. Room is airconditioned with own CR. You can contact Jay Louis Salcedo at 09177947896/09399175047
- For budget travellers, there are numerous cheap hotels in Yumbing to choose from. It is 30 minutes away from Mambajao Town Proper and is nearer the beach and other attractions and where our group also stayed.
● Other options are:
– Cabua-an Beach Resort (088)387-2103
– Secret Cove Beach Resort (088)387-9094
– Villa Paraiso Resort and Apartelle (088)387-0419
– Camiguin Island Golden Beach Club (088)387-9163
Travel Tips
- Plan ahead and prepare, make sure that you have already contacted your hotel/home stay/tour guide of your choice. Hotels may get fully booked during peak season.
- Always remember to treat your tour guides / drivers nicely. Always include them in your meals as a sign of courtesy with these hardworking locals.
- Travel during lean season as rates are relatively cheaper as compared during peak season. Moreover, you can enjoy the beach and other destinations without the usual crowds (travel on weekdays).
- It is advisable to travel with a companion or a group so rates can be divided to how many of you are in the group.
- Pack food and water with you always
- Check the availability of Passenger Ships/RORO to and from the island of Camiguin to avoid missing the last trip.
- It is advisable to waterproof your gadgets by bringing dry bags if visiting islands, beaches and waterfalls.
- Signal for Globe and Smart is present and has good reception at town propers
- Internet connection is available at your hotels, while data reception is sporadic and intermittent.
- Pack your trash and leave no trace, practice LNT Principles all the time
Things To See In Camiguin
- Mt. Hibok-Hibok (1332+MASL) – a part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, the active stratovolcano in the island that is famous for its Ilihan crater lake and scenic views of the whole island born of fire.
- Mt. Timpoong (1630MASL) – the highest peak in Camiguin island, making it one of 29 ultra prominent peaks in the Philippines
- White Island – is a sandbar smack right in the middle of the sea that continually changes its shaped depending on the weather and the tide.
- Mantigue Island – is a marine sanctuary in Mahinog that is a protected area that boasts of rich marine diversity and fine white sands across the clear azure waters.
- Katibawasan Falls – is a 76 meter high waterfall located at the foot of Mt. Timpoong that cascades down into a water basin surrounded by ferns and orchids.
- Tuasan Falls – a waterfall located in Catarman.
- Tongatoc Cove – is a cove in Catarman that gives a good view of Mt. Vulcan’s sloping mass that hides the Sunken Cemetery at the other side.
- Sunken Cemetery – after the volcanic birth of Mt. Vulcan in 1717, the towns public cemetery has been submerged below sea level, the place is commemorated by a huge cross above the water.
- Ardent Hot Spring – The hot mineral pool at the foot of Mt. Hibok-Hibok, the recently active volcano in the island.
- Sto. Nino Cold Spring – Take a dip at the natural pools of Catarman.
- Tangub Hot Spring – a hot spring located near the shore of Sunken Cemetery.
Extend Your Trip:
- Mt. Dulang-Dulang (2,938+), Bukidnon – is the second highest mountain in the country after Mt. Apo. Famous for its mystical mossy forests and sea of clouds at the summit.
- Tinago Falls, Iligan City
Itinerary and Expenses
The Northern Mindanao Adventure
Iligan-Cagayan de Oro-Camiguin 3D2N Itinerary
Day 0
1900 Taxi to NAIA Terminal 3 (50php/pax)
1930 Arrival NAIA Terminal 3
2100 Depart for Cagayan De Oro via Cebu Pacific
2245 Arrival at Laguindingan International Airport
2345 ETD to Iligan via commuter van (199php/pax)
Day 01
0110 Arrival at Iligan City, Stayed at North Bay Suites (1200php-Barkada Room good for 6pax)
0130 Dinner at the night market, tried the Halang-Halang
0215 Back at Hotel, lights off
0600 Wake up
0630 Take jeepneys bound for Buruun (Located at Ramiro St. cor Aguinaldo St., 12php/pax)
7000 Arrival at Buruun proper, breakfast
0730 Haggle with Habal-Habal drivers (400php/motorcycle/2persons/3 waterfalls)
0745 Arrival at Mimbalot Falls
0800 Depart for Brgy. Linamon
0810 Arrival at Tinago Falls (25php/pax entrance fee, 25php/pax lifevest, 15php/pax rent for raft ride, 50php/pax additional habal fee from Brgy. Linamon)
1000 Depart for Maria Christina Falls
1020 Arrival at Agus 6 Hydropower Plant, facility closed due to bomb threat)
1100 Back at Hotel, tidy up
1200 Depart for Tambo Terminal (7php/pax from Gaisano Mall)
1215 Arrival at Terminal, take buses bound for CDO Westbound Terminal
1230 Depart for CDO (85php/pax)
1445 Arrival at Westbound Market, take multicabs bound for Agora Market
1500 Arrival at Agora Market, rent van going to Balingoan Port (2000php/trip, 333php/pax)
1515 Depart for Balingoan Port
1710 Arrival at Balingoan Port, take passenger ferry bound for Benoni Port (170php/pax fare, 15php/pax terminal fee)
1730 Depart for Benoni Port, Mahinog, Camiguin
1830 Arrival at Benoni Port, Camiguin rent Motorella bound for White Island Resort, Mambajao (400php/6pax, 67php/pax) (Island Tour at 1200php/group)
1850 Depart for Mambajao
1930 Arrival at White Island Resort, rented an ACU Room good for 6 pax (1600php/night, 3200php/2 nights, 533php/pax)
2030 Dinner
2200 Lights Off
Day 02
0500 Meet-up with guide and wait for multicab (100php/back and forth)
0530 Arrival at Yumbing Trail Jump-off point (200php/pax Registration Fee, and 1200php/group of 5 Guide Fee)
0540 Start trek
0640 Arrival at campsite, breakfast
0700 Resume trek
9000 Ilihan Crater Lake, rest
0910 Final assault to summit
1000 Highest point of Mt. Hibok-Hibok (1332+MASL)
1100 Descend down
1130 Crater lake
0130 Jump-off point
1400 Back at Hotel, rest
1530 Travel to Catarman
1600 Tongatoc Cove
1700 Tuasan Falls
1800 Sunken Cemetery, Guiob Church Ruins, Walkway to the Old Volcano
1900 Back at Town, Dinner at Check Point Restaurant
2100 Back at Hotel, tidy up
2230 Peninsular Kape Art, late night coffee, stargazing
0000 Lights Off
Day03
0530 Wake up
0600 Wait for rented boat at the Port going to White Island
0645 Boat ride
0700 White Island (450php/small boat good for 6pax, 20php/pax entrance fee)
0830 Take boat back to mainland
0845 Back at Hotel, pack-up
0930 Last leg of tour, take Motorella
1000 Arrival at Katibawasan Falls (20php/pax entrance fee)
1100 Depart for Mahinog
1200 Mahinog Port (550 boat/6-8pax, 50php/pax entrance fee, 150php/pax snorkeling mask, 100php/pax life vest)
1220 Mantigue Island, lunch
0230 Depart for Marine Sanctuary (50php/pax entrance fee, additional 200php boat fee/group)
1600 Back at Mahinog, tidy up
1700 Benoni Port, catch last trip going to Misamis Oriental
1745 Departure of Passenger Ferry to Balingoan Port
1900 Arrival at Balingoan Port, rented a van bound for Laguindingan Airport (2500php/6pax)
2030 Laguindingan Airport
2145 Flight back to Manila (250php/pax Terminal Fee)
2315 Arrival at NAIA Terminal 3
Updated December 2016
