Travel+Experiment: Backpacking: Best Things to Do in Camiguin, Philippines

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After your adrenaline-pumping whitewater rafting adventure in Cagayan de Oro City, up next is the volcanic paradise island of Camiguin.

Camiguin is an island province of the Philippines located in the Bohol Sea, about 10 kilometers (6.2 mi) off the northern coast of Mindanao. It is politically part of the Northern Mindanao Region of the country and formerly a part of Misamis Oriental province.

Camiguin Activities & Attractions must see.

Destination: Introducing Camiguin!

How to Get to Camiguin from Cagayan de Oro (CDO)

Via Balingoan

From Cagayan de Oro, take a taxi or van to Agora Bus Terminal. Fare should be around 200.00 pesos per person. From your hotel within the city center, you can take a taxi or motorela to Agora Bus Terminal. Take a Butuan-bound bus (143.00 pesos) or van from Agora Bus Terminal to Balingoan Port. Travel time is about 2-3 hours. If you're taking the bus, get off at Balingoan Bus Terminal and rent a tricycle or motorela (8.00 pesos) to the Balingoan Ferry Port. Alternatively, you can just walk towards the port. For vans, you can ask to be dropped off at Balingoan Port. RORO and ferry boats (170.00 pesos) leave hourly from Balingoan Port to Benoni Port (Camiguin). Early trip is 5:00 AM. Travel time takes about 1 hour.

Via Fastcraft in Macabalan Port
This is the expensive option but fastest way. From Cagayan de Oro Airport, take a taxi or van to Macabalan Port in Cagayan de Oro City. From your hotel within the city center, you can rent a motorela or take a jeepney (with "Pier" sign) to Macabalan Port. Take the Ocean Jet ferry from Macabalan Port to Benoni Port (Camiguin). Fare is 550.00 pesos per person and travel time is about 2 hours. Take note that Ocean Jet has only one trip per day (8:30 AM). We took this option from Camiguin to Cagayan de Oro (4:00 PM).

4 Days 3 Nights Cagayan de Oro with Camiguin Package Tour - usually this package tour would cost around less than 5,000 pesos.

Day 1 – Pick-up from Cagayan de Oro Laguindingan Airport, drop-off to hotel in the city. Standard check-in time is at 02:00 PM. If reaching early, it will be optional for the group to go to Water Rafting, Dahilayan in Bukidnon for the zip line activity or visit Del Monte Plantation. Overnight in Cagayan de Oro Hotel.

Day 2 – Drive to Balingoan port, located 1hour away from Cagayan de Oro City. Take 1 hour ferry from Balingoan to Benoni port in Camiguin. Upon reaching, proceed to do the Camiguin Countryside Tour. Spots to visit when in Camiguin, during Camiguin Tour: Island hopping, Waterfalls, Sunken Cemetery, Church Ruins, Soda Water Pool, Sto. Nino Cold Spring, Ardent Hot spring, Station of the Cross. Overnight in one of the Camiguin resorts.

Day 3 – Time to go Island Hopping in Camiguin. The most popular spot is White Island, which is a sandbar which may be reached through a pumpboat (outrigger). Those who are trying to catch a trip back to Cagayan De Oro must leave early. However, it is suggested that pax allocate an entire day so they can also visit Mantigue Island and the Giant Clam Sanctuary before heading back to Cagayan de Oro. Depending on flight details on Day 4, the group can decide whether to spend another night in Camiguin or head to Cagayan de Oro in the afternoon.

Day 4 – Departure from Cagayan de Oro

I. Camiguin Tour

Camiguin Island is a pearl-shaped island with an area of approximately 238 km2 (92 sq mi). The island measures about 23 kilometers (14 mi) at its longest and 14.5 kilometers (9.0 mi) at its widest breadth. The island is mountainous with the highest elevation reaching over 5,000 ft (1,500 m). It is encircled by a national road with a total length of about 64 kilometers (40 mi). As of the August 1, 2007 census, the province has a 5th class income classification with a population of 81,293.

History: Volcanic activity from 1871 to 1875

On February 16, 1871, earthquakes began to be felt on the island, which increase in severity until April 30 when a volcanic fissure opened up 400 yards southwest of the village of Catarman, northwest of Hibok-Hibok Volcano. Mt. Vulcan was born and continued erupting pouring lava into the sea at the same time gaining in height and width. In 1875, theChallenger expedition visited the area and described the mountain as a dome, 1,950 ft (590 m) in height, without any crater, but still smoking and incandescent at the top.

The town of Catarman was destroyed and portion of the town sank beneath the sea. The settlement moved to where the town center is presently located and today, all that remains of old Catarman are the ruins of the ancient Spanish church, a convent and a bell tower.

1) White Islands

Located just a few kilometers off the coast are the two islands of Camiguin.

White Island is accessed from Agoho which is about 5 km (3.1 mi) west of the town of Mambajao

Mantigue Island can be reached from Mahinog about 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) south of Mambajao

2) Lanzones Festival

Lanzones Festival is held every third week of October and it is a four day grand celebration of the lanzones fruit. The most important livelihood in Camiguin is lanzones. It is when a lot of tourists come to witness the joyous Lanzones festival.Lanzones is one of the major fruit producers in the Philippines. Lanzones is a tropical fruit that grows extravagantly on the north-central coast of Mindanao. Lanzones has a pale brown skin and sweet translucent flesh. It is said that the sweetestlanzones in the Philippines comes from Camiguin. The town of Mambajao in Camiguin celebrated its annual festival calledLanzones Festival together with its harvest in the month of October.

3) Churches

Old Catarman Church Ruins: The church of the Old Catarman town was destroyed and partly submerged by volcanic debris during the eruption and formation of Mt. Vulcan from 1871 to 1875. Also known as Gui-ob Church, only the ruins of the church and bell tower remains of the old town. An unsightly modern white lighthouse was recently erected close to the bell tower
Baylao Church: The Church located in Brgy. Baylao in Mambajao is claimed to be miraculous attributed to saving many lives during the last volcanic eruption of Hibok-hibok
Santo Rosario Church: The Santo Rosario Church in the municipality of Sagay was built in 1882 using coral stones. The church is decorated with driftwood chandeliers, the sawali (woven bamboo skin) walls, the ornamental plants at the entrance, bamboo columns, and other environment-friendly materials.

4) Springs

Ardent Hot Spring. At the foot of Hibok-Hibok Volcano bubble the mineral pools of Ardent Hot Springs. Wisps of steam can be seen rising from the running waters heat by the cauldron of the mountain, the most recently active of the seven volcanoes on the island. Entrance fee is also at 30 pesos.

Sto. Niño Cold Springs and Bura Natural Soda Water Swimming Pool in Catarman are other popular places to get a relaxing dip on the island. Entrance fee in Bura Soda Water Spring is 30 pesos. The pool was divided into two areas, obviously for the swimmers and non-swimmers.

5) Sunken Cemetery

During the volcanic birth of Mt. Vulcan that lasted from 1871 to about 1875, some areas in the town of Bonbon subsided, sinking the cemetery of the town to below sea level. The place is commemorated by a huge cross erected in 1982.

6) Waterfalls

Katibawasan Falls. Located 5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Mambajao, the Katibawasan Falls cascades 250 ft (76 m) down to a pool surrounded by orchids and ferns. An invigorating dip on the pool is popular especially on warmer days and several hiking trails are within the park. This is also the favorite jump-off point for trekkers and mountaineers in search of adventure on the slopes of Mt. Timpoong.

Admission Fee

Adult - 20 pesos
Children - 5 pesos
Students - 10 pesos

Tuasan Falls is located 6 km (3.7 mi) northeast of Catarman. Getting to the falls entails a very scenic hike passing through the Barrio of Mainit, Catarman and along the rocky river bed. The pool below the waterfalls is deep and clear. The surrounding scenery is unspoiled and perfect for a peaceful picnic, the only sounds around you is that of the tumbling falls and running water. There is no entrance fee but you have to hire a tour guide to take you the waterfalls. The water is very clear and clean.

7) Walkway to the Old Volcano and Station of the Cross

It is an 8 kilometer path with 14 human-sized stations situated at Mt. Vulcan in Barangay Bonbon, Catarman. The spot is actually one of the famous tourist destinations in Camiguin Island especially during the Lenten Season as it serves as a pilgrimage site to Roman Catholic devotees.