Island born of Fire, Camiguin 2days and 1night travel guide!
Camiguin island, dubbed as the "island born of fire" boosts several tourist attractions known by local and international tourists. Follow me as I step foot on the island of Camiguin!
My travel to Camiguin is just a jaunt to escape from a few days work and I've chose this island. I've been so fascinated about this small yet amazingly home for number of volcanoes; Camiguin volcano and Hiboc-hiboc volcano and waterfalls; Katibawasan falls and Tuason falls to name afew and hot and cold springs as well. It sits dramaticaly eastern side of Cagayan de Oro in Mindanao and southeast of Bohol island in Visayas.
How to get there:
There are several ways to go to Camiguin. If your originating from Cebu, PAL and Cebupacific flies to and from Camiguin island. CebuPacific flies twice a day. PAL also has direct flight from Manila. Touchdown point is Mambajao, Camiguin. Flying time will only take 50mins if weather and traffic permits.
With the pretty ground crew :)
Upon arrival in Camiguin:
Day one:
Day one:
Several motorcycle for rent await outside the airport. They will then offer a tour around the island and other neigboring islets. Habal-habal rate ranges from 700-1200php depending on your haggling ability. Never hesitate to haggle! Its one way to survive a tight budget travel. They will also offer to send you to wherever hotel you're staying. I was offered 100php from airport to Yumbing town where my hotel is located.
Camiguin airport
Places to visit:
Camiguin island, is known to be small but it boosts several attractions. A tour can be done with in the day or two to its major tourist spots. As for me, I've only visited places that I chose to go like:
Cold spring
- Cold spring, and from the name itself, the water is really cold. I even had second thoughts if im gonna give a dip or rather proceed to the next stop. Haha. They also have the Fish kiss spa. Small and bigger fish eats I guess the dead skin cells of you feet. It really tickles at first but you'll gonna enjoy it. I even said to myself "buti pa isda nakakakiliti, eh siya nakakasakit sa damdamin". Hahaha. 30php will be collected at the gate entrance and 10php for the Fish spa. Reciept will be given upon payment.
Fish spa
- Tuasan falls, a few minutes ride from the cold spring. On the way to the falls, you will passby the "Tres Marias". Its a part of the mountain that formed like a three conjoined mountain heads. The area is also prone for landslide and road seem to be slippery when wet. The Tuason falls also has an entrance fee of 30php.
Tres Marias
Tuason falls
- Soda water park, is another atrraction in the island. Its a pool in the town of Catarmam and is good for family outings. I didn't stop by as I already been in cold spring. They also collect 30php entrance fee for adults and discounted fees for Senior Citizens and PWD's.
Outside Soda spring
- Old Church Ruins, still in the town of Catarman Camiguin you'll find this ruins. If Bacolod has ruins, they also have it here! Its basically walls from an old church now covered with ferns and green moss making it a beautiful photo background. They collect amounts as donation only.
Old church ruins
- Sunken Cemetery, is famous maybe because of the thought that it's so unusual to hear a sunken cemetery in the Philippines. It's not Atlantic, its Camiguin's sunken cemetery! The cemetery, leaving the cross above the sea water sunk when Mt. Vulcan, an old volcano of Camiguin errupted on 1871. At present, it is being preserved by the locals. You can come near the cross for a fee of 20php. Snorkel along the clear water to see corals, marine life and tombstones underneath.
The Sunken cemetery
After the above activities, I went back to the hotel, changed and had a little rest. I walked around the area to look for something to eat and found a small store and got 3 pork bar-b-que, 1 choriso and 2cups of rice. It was still around 4 o'clock in the afternoon and decided to go to Mambajao via motorela. It's I think 10-15mins ride.
Around Mambajao, Camiguin:
The main transportation in the area is thru motorela which can carry 8pax on board, and the motorcycle-for-rent or habal-habal. Standard fare is 8pesos depending on the distance. They actually have color codings; orange motorela's route is only going West while the green motorela is going East. Motorcyle drivers and passenger must always wear helmet as it is strictly implemented to wear hemelt in Camiguin. As per the locals, motorelas are only until 0630 in the evening but can go beyond for special trips and for a special fare.
Mambajao Central school
San Nicolas de Tolentino church
Camiguin is also home of several century old houses
General Hospital of Camiguin
There's nothing much to do in the island after the sun sets and I guess I was never wrong in choosing this place to stay over the night. Alex's bar and music lounge offers great food and drinks plus a good music from a live band. They're up until 0100 in te morning.
Alex Bar and music lounge
Checkpoint restobar
Day two:
I woke up early on my second day in Camiguin for White island tour. Its just a 5mins walk from my hotel to the port going to the island. Its basicaly a long stretched of white sand about 1kilometers long and not even a tree to shed from the heat of the sun. I waited for almost an hour for other tourists to arrive to share the boat rental with me. Boat rental is 470php good for 6persons plus 20php for per head as an entrance fee going to the island. Guides never fail to advice guests to go there early morning as there isn't anything to shed tourists from the scourging Mr. Sun! Snorkels is readily available for rent.
Overlooking the highest peak of Camiguin
Snorkling yo!
Don't forget your sunglasses!
Where to stay:
I stayed in Medano Resort in Yumbing, Camiguin as I wanted to stay near a place going to the white island. I rented a dorm type room for only 400php. The place is safe and nice and it is its own pool and a pool side bar. Sunset viewing is also nice. There are several hotels and resorts in the area which also offer island tours and motorcycle for rents.
Medano Resort
Other hotels that you might want to check:
- Seascape Dive Resort
Bug-ong Mambajao, Camiguin
- Sunset Paradize Lodge
Naasag, Camiguin
- Enigmata Treehouse
Balbagon, Camiguin
- White Island Resort
Yumbing, Camiguin
- GV hotel
Mambajao, Camiguin
What to bring:
Sunblock
Insecr repellant
Shades
Snorkling gears
Waterproof cameras
Selfie stick
Waterproof bag
Note: If you are renting motorcycle, make sure you bring your license and your helmet as the island is strict in that traffic rule. There are even some check points in the area. Keep your eyes on the road as dogs scatter in the area, others even lie in the middle of the road.
Cebu Pacific air also has an organic ticket office in Mambajao, just a fee metres away from the PNB building. If you have further inquiries you may contact these numbers: +639189637302/088-3870593.
Entrada
- Sunken Cemetery, is famous maybe because of the thought that it's so unusual to hear a sunken cemetery in the Philippines. It's not Atlantic, its Camiguin's sunken cemetery! The cemetery, leaving the cross above the sea water sunk when Mt. Vulcan, an old volcano of Camiguin errupted on 1871. At present, it is being preserved by the locals. You can come near the cross for a fee of 20php. Snorkel along the clear water to see corals, marine life and tombstones underneath.
After the above activities, I went back to the hotel, changed and had a little rest. I walked around the area to look for something to eat and found a small store and got 3 pork bar-b-que, 1 choriso and 2cups of rice. It was still around 4 o'clock in the afternoon and decided to go to Mambajao via motorela. It's I think 10-15mins ride.
Around Mambajao, Camiguin:
The main transportation in the area is thru motorela which can carry 8pax on board, and the motorcycle-for-rent or habal-habal. Standard fare is 8pesos depending on the distance. They actually have color codings; orange motorela's route is only going West while the green motorela is going East. Motorcyle drivers and passenger must always wear helmet as it is strictly implemented to wear hemelt in Camiguin. As per the locals, motorelas are only until 0630 in the evening but can go beyond for special trips and for a special fare.
On board the motorela
There's nothing much to do in the island after the sun sets and I guess I was never wrong in choosing this place to stay over the night. Alex's bar and music lounge offers great food and drinks plus a good music from a live band. They're up until 0100 in te morning.
Day two:
I woke up early on my second day in Camiguin for White island tour. Its just a 5mins walk from my hotel to the port going to the island. Its basicaly a long stretched of white sand about 1kilometers long and not even a tree to shed from the heat of the sun. I waited for almost an hour for other tourists to arrive to share the boat rental with me. Boat rental is 470php good for 6persons plus 20php for per head as an entrance fee going to the island. Guides never fail to advice guests to go there early morning as there isn't anything to shed tourists from the scourging Mr. Sun! Snorkels is readily available for rent.
Where to stay:
I stayed in Medano Resort in Yumbing, Camiguin as I wanted to stay near a place going to the white island. I rented a dorm type room for only 400php. The place is safe and nice and it is its own pool and a pool side bar. Sunset viewing is also nice. There are several hotels and resorts in the area which also offer island tours and motorcycle for rents.
Other hotels that you might want to check:
- Seascape Dive Resort
Bug-ong Mambajao, Camiguin
- Sunset Paradize Lodge
Naasag, Camiguin
- Enigmata Treehouse
Balbagon, Camiguin
- White Island Resort
Yumbing, Camiguin
- GV hotel
Mambajao, Camiguin
What to bring:
Sunblock
Insecr repellant
Shades
Snorkling gears
Waterproof cameras
Selfie stick
Waterproof bag
Note: If you are renting motorcycle, make sure you bring your license and your helmet as the island is strict in that traffic rule. There are even some check points in the area. Keep your eyes on the road as dogs scatter in the area, others even lie in the middle of the road.
Cebu Pacific air also has an organic ticket office in Mambajao, just a fee metres away from the PNB building. If you have further inquiries you may contact these numbers: +639189637302/088-3870593.
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