The Island that has everything! Camiguin Island, Philippines

Published: 31 August 2016

By: William

The Philippines has 7,107. Camiguin Island was one of the islands and it is located at the northern part of Mindanao (Region 10).  The island exists due to the four main volcanoes namely; Mount Hibok-Hibok, Mount Timpoong, Mount Butay, and Mount Guinsiliban. All the volcanoes are active. The island is mountainous. There is a 64 km provincial road that encircled the island so travelling around is so easy.

Tourists will enjoy what the island offers, mountain climbing, lovely sunset, waterfalls, cold spring, hot spring, White Island, historical landmark, affordable fresh seafood, home of the sweetest Lanzones fruit and SCUBA diving (underwater cemetery and coral reefs).

MOUNTAIN CLIMBING

I was not able to climb the Mount Hibok-Hibok. But I have seen some photos online that the scenery on top is very majestic. You can check here on how to get there.

COLD SPRING and HOT SPRING

Some people will come to Camiguin Island just to enjoy the cold spring and hot spring. The Sto. Nino Cold Spring Pool temperature is around 20°C. The temperature is enough to cool your body during summer days. It is advisable to use the pool during day time.

The Ardent Hibok-Hibok Hot Spring Pool is advisable to take a dip during the night. The pool is open for twenty four (24) hours. The pool will serve as a post dive relaxation session. The pool was design to divide the level of hotness. The highest portion is the source of the hot spring, the hottest area and the lowest portion is less hot. In order to tolerate the hotness, you should submerge to the lowest area first and gradually climb up to the hot spring source. By doing this, it will make your body adapt slowly to the temperature of the pool.

To check more details about the place, please click here.

WATERFALLS

The island has two waterfalls namely; Katibawasan Falls and Tuasan Falls.

The Katibawasan Falls cascades 250 feet (76 meter) down to a pool surrounded by orchids and ferns. This is the jump-off point for trekkers and mountaineers in search of adventure on the slopes of Mt. Timpoong.

The Tuasan Falls is located in Mainit, Catarman, Camiguin. I was not able to visit this falls due to the remote location. So it means the place is pristine during that time, I should have visited it. But the local government just recently completed the road construction leading to this area. So tourist can have easy access and enjoy the natural beauty of the place.

To know more about the falls please click the Katibawasan Falls and Tuasan Falls.

HISTORICAL LANDMARK

One of the famous ruin that you can visit in the island is the Guiob Church Ruins. The ruin is located in Barangay Bonbon in Catarman. The church was destroyed due to the eruption of Mt. Vulcan in 1871. Old structures were mostly made of rock walls and hard wooden trusses as roof. What was left in this church is only the rock walls around one meter thick, which survive the volcanic eruption and earthquake. To check more about the ruins, click here.

Sunken Cemetery was in the present condition today also  because of Mt. Vulcan eruption. The place was commemorated by a huge cross erected in 1982. The place is nice to visit during sunset or sunrise. To check more about the place, click here.

AFFORDABLE FRESH SEAFOOD

The island seafood will complete your journey and will satisfy your taste of local food after strolling around. There is a dish that we call “SuTuKil” the fish, which means “sugba” (grill), “tinola” (soup) and “kinilaw” (raw fish). The fish will be cook in three kinds of dishes, grilled fish, fish in soup and raw fish.

SCUBA DIVING

Actually this is the main topic of this article, SCUBA diving in Camiguin Island. I have been planning to dive in this place the moment I was certified a PADI diver. It was materialised last January 2016. I spend the time together with my wife, 3 months old daughter and my parents.

My diving experience in this island was not that rewarding because I aborted my first dive at the Sunken Cemetery due to my mask malfunction. We were already around 10 meters deep and I noticed that water was entering into my mask. I was a little bit panicked and due to the poor visibility and difficulty in breathing, I decided to surface and aborted my dive on that day. I missed to take my underwater photos at the Sunken Cemetery. Lesson learned here; check all your equipment before diving. I will visit again this island to get the photo that I want in the sunken cemetery.

On the second day, we went to the white island coral reef area. The dive was great and the sea managed to delete the bad memories on the previous day. Sadly, my wife and daughter were not able to visit the white island because my daughter was still young. But my parents were with me; while I was diving my parents enjoy the white island scenery. They became teenager again.

SUGGESTED TIME FRAME

One week will be enough to enjoy all the places that are mention above. If I were to plan your trip in Camiguin Island, this plan exclude travelling going to the island:

Day 1: Climb the Mount Hibok-Hibok in the morning, after descending from the mountain, enjoys the Ardent Hot Spring.

Day 2: Visit all the water falls

Day 3: SCUBA Diving at Sunken Cemetery

Day 4: SCUBA Diving and Enjoy the White Island

Day 5: Visit all the Historical Landmark

Day 6: Take a dip in the Sto. Nino Cold Spring and Drink some beer until you get drunk.

Day 7: Relax and say good bye to the Paradise Island.

TRAVELLING TO CAMIGUIN ISLAND

There are two ways to travel to Camiguin Island. If you want a faster route, you take an air plane. If you want to enjoy the neighbouring city, Cagayan de Oro City, the city of Golden Friendship, then you have to travel by land and barge. Mostly foreigners will travel by air plane.

By Plane:

Cebu Pacific has direct flight from Cebu to Camiguin Island. The Schedules are below:

Direction	Day	Time
Cebu to Camiguin	Monday, Wednesday & Friday	6:45 am to 7:25 am
Camiguin to Cebu	Monday, Wednesday & Friday	7:45 am to 8:25 am

By Land and Barge:

The nearest airport that has a regular flight going to Cebu and Manila is the Laguindingan Airport located in Cagayan de Oro City. So from Cagayan de Oro City (CDO) to Camiguin Island, you have to travel around 2 hrs by car and 45 mins to 1 hr by Ferry.

Direction	Day	Time
CDO to Balingoan Port by Car	Any Day	2 to 3 hours travel
Balingoan Port to Camiguin Island by Ferry	Any Day	45 mins to 1 hour travel

The first trip of ferry from Balingoan Port to Camiguin Island will start at 05:45 am and the last trip will be at 17:00 pm. The first trip of ferry from Camiguin to Balingoan Port will start at 04:00 am and the last trip will be 18:00 pm. To check some package tours please click here.

For cheaper and to avail great deals for staying in the island you can check in Agoda.com and Booking.com for your hotel of choice.

God Bless and Enjoy Your Future Travel and Dive Trip!