Come again to Camiguin! This island paradise in Northern Mindanao has so much to offer to everyone. This travel guide will come in handy if you plan to visit the Island Born of Fire. Provided in this guide are information on getting there, where to stay, activities, sample itinerary, budget and more.
Discover Camiguin
Nested in the Northern Mindanao is a pear-shaped volcanic island of Camiguin, roughly 100 kilometers north of Cagayan de Oro City in Misamis Oriental.
Camiguin Island is said to be created by volcanic eruptions and land movements, thus the moniker “Island Born of Fire”. It has a total of seven volcanoes including Mount Hibok-Hibok, an active one with last recorded eruption in 1953.
Another famous landmark of Camiguin is “White Island“, a sandbar northwest of mainland, approximately two kilometers off the shore of Barangay Yumbing, Mambajao. White island submerges substantially during high tide but a favorite among tourists as it offers a panoramic view of Mount Hibok-Hibok and neighboring mountains.
With all its natural wonders and historical treasures, Camiguin Island is undoubtedly an inviting paradise! Let us discover and rediscover the magic of the island!
How to Get to Camiguin
Camiguin has its own airport in Mambajao but Cebu Pacific is the only commercial airline that has regular flights to the province from Cebu City. For those coming from Manila, make your way to either Cagayan de Oro or Butuan City.
Via Cagayan de Oro
Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have regular flights daily from Manila, Cebu and Davao to Laguindingan Airport of Cagayan de Oro City.
From Laguindingan Airport, ride a shuttle (Magnum Shuttle or LAX Van at P199.00/pax as of Dec 2016) direct to Agora Market where you can catch a bus (P148.00/pax as of Dec 2016) or a van (~P200.00/pax) to Balingoan for a two-hour ride. Get off in Balingoan Terminal and walk to the port. From there, ride a ferry (~P150.00/pax) to Benoni Port of Camiguin. Ferries from Balingoan Port to Benoni, Camiguin leave almost every hour from 5Am to 5PM, travel time is two hours.
Via Butuan
Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have regular flights daily from Manila and Cebu to Bancasi Airport of Butuan.
From Butuan Airport, catch a motorella or taxi to take you to the bus terminal and hop to any Cagayan bound bus (~P200/pax), travel time is more than two hours. The bus will stop at Balingoan Terminal just a short walk to the port where you can catch ferry to Camiguin (~P150.00/pax).
From Jagna (Bohol)
Super Shuttle Ferry serves Jagna, Bohol – Camiguin. Visit their website for schedule. You can book your ferry tickets from Jagna to Camiguin and vice versa below.
Where to Stay in Camiguin
There are numerous hotels/lodges in this island to choose from for budget or high-end tourists. Most are located in Mambajao. There are also decent homestays, cottages and lodges for as low as P500.00 per room.
One of the populars is Paguia’s Cottages located in Barangay Yumbing, Mambajao. It is owned by Ma’am Hospecia Paguia, contact no: (088)387-9018. A nice room for up to 6 people for only P1400/night.
Top-Rated Budget Accommodations in Camiguin
Top-Rated Hotels in Camiguin
Balai sa Baibai Resort |
Kurma Yoga Dive and Beach Resort |
Activities in Camiguin
Camiguin is best experienced than described, they say. Rent a multicab for a tour of the island (~P2500.00 for a big multicab that can fit 12 persons, including port transfers). With its natural wonders and historic landmarks, tourists will definitely enjoy these sites:
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Old Catarman (Gui-ob) Church Ruins
In Barangay Bonbon, 16 kilometers from the center of Catarman. What remains are ruins of adobe walls, belfry and convent that are testimonials to the devastating 1871 earthquake which wiped out the illustrious town of Catarman established earlier as a Spanish settlement in 1967.
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Cross Marker and Sunken Cemetery
Sixteen kilometers from Catarman proper; a huge cross was installed in 1982 to mark the community cemetery which sunk during the 1871 volcanic holocaust. A fluvial procession usually organized by the townsfolk of Barangay Bonbon is held to honor the sunken graves of their forefather.
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Stations of the Cross(Via Cruzes) / Walkway (Old Vulcan)
A walkway complete with 14 Stations of The Cross leads to the peak of Mt Vulcan Daan. Thirteen kilometers west of Mambajao, it has 70 to 80 meters drop and is a landmark of the PANAAD Pilgrimage.
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Katibawasan Falls
Five kilometers southeast of Mambajao center is a waterfalls which measures 250 feet high cascades to a rock pool surrounded by ground orchids, wild ferns, trees and boulders. Its cold water provides an ideal summer splash to bathers and picnickers.
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Tuasan Falls
Six kilometers northwest of Catarman, the trek to this 25 meter high rapid waterfalls entails a very scenic hike passing thru the quaint Barrio Mainit. The falls can be tapped as a mini hydro source of power.
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Binangawan Falls
Where several miniature and gigantic waterfalls gushing through majestic granite stones that converge in one main pool, covered with luscious unspoiled vegetation, and a mystical rainbow is arched by the fall’s mist as the sunlight penetrates through it.
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White Island
An uninhabited white sandbar with Mt. Hibok-Hibok and Old Volcan in the backdraft that reflects the grandeur the Province of Camiguin has ever achieved. It is reached within 10 minutes through a banca from anywhere in Yumbing, Mambajao area.
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Ardent Hot Spring
Six kilometers west of Mambajao is a mineral pool with water around 40 degree centigrade. Vapor rises from the heated waters that run down the vents of the dormant Hibok-Hibok volcano. The springs are ideal to bathe in at night surrounded by cool mountain air. It has therapeutic effects. Picnic huts and tables are available in the beautifully landscaped gardens with a restaurant on site.
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Sto. Niño Cold Spring
Located 4 kilometers north of Catarman is a huge pool of cold spring water with a sandy bottom. The area has native stores, picnic huts and toilets for visitors and guests.
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Others
Taste the Pastel de Camiguin, a very yummy yema filled bun; visit Macao Cold Spring, Tangub Hot Spring, Mantigue Island, Kibila Giant Clam Sanctuary and Taguines Lagoon; dine in Luna Ristorante; dive or snorkel in the diverse and unspoiled waters around the province; tour nearby Cagayan de Oro City, Bukidnon and Butuan.
Sample Itinerary (Camiguin – CDO – Bukidnon)
Day 1: Camiguin En Route and White Sand Bar Sunset
0600H – 0825H: Assembly in NAIA 3 / Check-in
0825H – 0950H: Manila to Cagayan de Oro Flight
0950H – 1030H: Assembly / Baggage Check-in
1030H – 1100H: Cagayan de Oro Airport to Agora Terminal
1100H – 1300H: Agora Terminal to Balingoan Port
1300H – 1400H: Lunch
1400H – 1530H: Balingoan to Benoni Port, Camiguin
1530H – 1600H: Benoni to Paguia’s Cottages
1600H – 1630H: Check-in/Fix-up
1630H – 1830H: Camiguin to White Sandbar (by boat) / Sunset at White Sand Bar / Back to Mainland Camiguin
1830H – 1930H: Wash-up Fix-up
1930H – onwards: Dinner / Socials / Lights off
Day 2: Camiguin Island in a Day
0600H – 0800H: Call Time / Breakfast
0800H – 1300H: Multicab Tour: Ol Vocano Station of the Cross / Sunken Cemetery / Gui-ob Church Ruins/ Sto. Niño Cold Springs
1300H – 1400H: Lunch
1400H – 1800H: Katibawasan Falls / Ardent Hot Springs
1800H – 1900H: Wash-up / Fix-up
1900H – onwards: Dinner / Socials / Lights off
Day 3: Wild Water Ride
0345H – 0430H: Call Time / Paguia’s to Benoni Port
0430H – 0600H: Benoni Port to Balingoan
0600H – 0800H: Balingoan to Cagayan de Oro
0800H – 0900H: Check-in New Dawn Pensionne / Heavy Breakfast
0900H – 1800H: White Water Rafting!!!! (Buffet Lunch included)
1800H – 1900H: Wash-up / Fix-up
1900H – onwards: Dinner / Socials
Day 4: Zip High in Bukidnon
0500H – 0600H: Call Time / Breakfast
0600H – 0800H: Travel CDO to Bukidnon
0800H – 1100H: Zip, Zorb and more in Dahilayan (Lunch and Snacks Included)
1100H – 1300H: Travel Bukidnon to CDO
1300H – 1400H: Hotel Check-out / Travel to Airport
1400H – 1555H: Assembly / Airport Check-in
1555H – 1720H: Travel CDO to Manila
Budget for Camiguin – CDO – Bukidnon
(Approximately P5,000 – P5,500 each for a group of 6)
Taxi (Airport to Agora Terminal): P50.00
Bus (Agora To Balingoan): P143.00
Ferry to Camiguin: P150.00
Multicab (Tour/Transfer): P250
2 Nights Camiguin Accomodation: P600
Boat to White Island: P150
Ferry Camiguin to Balingoan: P150.00
Bus (Balingoan to Agora): P143.00
Taxi to New Dawn Pension: P30.00
1 Night CDO Accomodation: P350
White Water Rafting + Zipzone: P1999
Terminal Fee CDO: P30
Miscellaneous/Foods/Entrance Fees/Etc: P1000
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Approximate Budget: P5100
*First published: 29-March-2008. Updated: 10-December-2013; 02-November-2017; 16-Jul-2019; 07-Mar-2020
…and the latest rate for aircon cottage @ paguia’s good for 10 pax is P 1,800.00
angel, it’s only 30 minutes from benoni to mambajao. aircon vans for hire are available too – it’s more costly now.
Hi Lakwatsero how many hours fro Benoni to Mambadjao and what mode of transportation is available going there? Thanks!
alright..!! thanks a lot again mr. lakwatsero!!! godbLess c”,)
hello!! i’d like to ask, how safe is the travel by bus or van from agora market to balingoan? i mean, are there any cases of kidnapping or hold-up along the way? i would really love to go to camiguin but am afraid becoz it’s in mindanao where abu sayyaf reigns. and also how long is the travel time of a ferry boat from balingoan port to benoni port? thanks a lot!!!
Hi Lakwatsero. Happy here again. 😀 Being the travel expert that you are, I would like to share with you our itinerary for our trip and would like to ask your suggestion on how we are gonna do this. From Camiguin, we will transfer to Bohol and then from Bohol we are transferring to Cebu. Our entry point will be CDO going to Camiguin and exit point is Cebu going back to Manila. The reason I’m asking if there is a ferry from Camiguin going to Bohol is because Camiguin is our first destination…Hope you can give us your suggestions on this. Thanks!! 😀
hi..
me and my friends are planning to go to cagayan and camiguin on feb 2009.. we need help, what the best place to stay with affordable accomodation, comfortable,clean and nice place to stay..? do you know how much per nigth? we are all excited to go na! hihi
Hi Lakwatsero. Your site is super informative! Thanks for all the infos. Is there a ferry from Camiguin going to Bohol? Thanks!
Hello, nice site you have here.. Is there a RO-RO service in the CDO-Camiguin or Balingoan-Camiguin route? Planning to bring pickup truck from Gensan one of these days. Thanks. Regards
can you recommend a resort that can accomodate at least 180 pax? Im looking for a place for our company outing there in camiguin. will appreciate your fast response to this query.
Thanks! very helpful information.. 🙂
I’m planning to visit Camiguin soon. More power to your site.
may ro ro po ba from bohol to camiguin. para po madala namin yung motor, ikutin yung buong camiguin island.
i need a number of a tour guide sa camiguin. apparently mang cris’ number is not working anymore!! pls help
sir allan, butuanon here. kaya po <2hrs from butuan 🙂 madaling araw naman po eh. dere2tso ang byahe
Hi allan, it will take 3 hours to get to Balingoan Port from Agora Market, Cagayan de Oro and around 2 to 3 hours from Butuan
how many hours it will take you to reach balingoan port if you are coming from butuan and or cagayan de oro?..
Thanks for sharing Ching. 🙂
Hi Marlene!
If u will be coming from Davao, u can also take a bus to Butuan. I dont guarantee though that it will be a smooth ride as there are still rough roads, then head to Balingoan Port for the ferry to bring u to the island.
Wow, you just went to macau? I love that place, hehe! I will feature that one of these days.
Anyway, Paras is good so as Bahay Bakasyunan. But I will prefer Paras than Bahay Bakasyunan. Paras rate is around P1700.00/room/night for a standard room and P2500.00/room/night for a family room. But if you are in a group and you are looking for a cheaper and decent place to stay, there are rooms for rent just across Paras for as low as P1500/room/night (aircon, with cable TV) that is good for 5-6 persons. Paras is along the shore of Camiguin fronting the white island, where the boats dock. Dont expect white sand beach in Camiguin, the only white sand is the white island. Davao is on the southern Mindanao, Camiguin is on the Northern Mindanao, so you need to travel by land to Balingoan Port in Misamis Oriental, passing through CDO, or you may opt to travel by Air to CDO or Butuan then head to Balingoan Port.
sa paras maganda ba talaga or sa bahay bakasyunan? ito kc ang recomended place ng travel agent sa davao expo. alin ba dito ang maganda tirahan , hindi masyado mahal malapit sa lahat ng pupuntahan? malapit lang to sa dvo siguro no need na to go to CDO, no idea talaga, can u help me out on this? who knows this is going to be my next place to visit after macau this summer. tnx