Known as the “Island Born of Fire” Camiguin earned its moniker from the seven volcanoes that dot the place. Fret not, all are dormant you won’t see any fire and lava flow in your visit. Instead, you will find green jungles to explore, amazing waterfalls, azure ocean waters, exotic food, friendly locals, and experiences that will give you sweet memories of the place.
There are a lot of things to do, all are interesting, in this beautiful province of Camiguin so I picked seven to help shorten your list.
Getting to Camiguin
Getting to Camiguin from Manila is a combination of air, land, and water travel.
The nearest airport to Camiguin is in Cagayan de Oro, Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have flights to the province. The airfare starts at PHP 4,404.00 for a one-way ticket it takes 1 hour and 36 minutes to reach the place.
From Cagayan de Oro Airport take an express van to Agora Market in Cagayan de Oro the fare is PHP 199.00 travel time is 45 minutes. Transfer to an air-con bus bound for Balingoan Port in Misamis Oriental prepare PHP 150.00 for the ticket travel time is 3 hours.
At Balingoan Port take a ferry ride to reach Benoni Port in Camiguin the fare is PHP 170.00 add PHP 10.00 for terminal and environmental fees it will take 2 hours to reach the port in Camiguin.
At Benoni Port, there are vans, jeeps, multi-cabs, and habal-habals (motorbike) to take you to your destination in Camiguin.
Things to Do in Camiguin
After about 8 hours of arduous travel, you’ve finally reached Camiguin Island. Your efforts will be rewarded – Guaranteed! with lots of interesting things to do in this beautiful “Island Born of Fire.”
Visit Katibawasan Falls
Credit: jetfarer.com
Among the waterfalls in Camiguin, Katibawasan Falls is the most visited by foreign and local tourists. This 250-foot gift of nature stands at the foot of Mt. Timpoong right in the middle of a rainforest. Water cascades into a partially man-made pool for swimmers. The area is enclosed by lush green vegetation and boulders visitors are awed by this magnificent sight.
Hike Mt. Vulcan
Credit: thecrazytourist.com
It takes an 8 km leisurely hike to reach the top. Along the way, there are 14 life-sized Stations of the Cross strategically placed on the walkway. The place is jam-packed with devotees and tourists during Holy Week.
The view from the top is breathtaking and was worth every step. Experience the wondrous sight of the ocean and White Island, luxuriant rainforest, and a dormant crater.
Dive under the Sunken Cemetery
Credit: thecrazytourist.com
Mt. Vulcan erupted in 1948 and 1953 sinking the local cemetery 20 feet below the sea’s surface. Stunning corals grew on the gravestones and marine life flourished making it a diver’s underwater wonderland. A great experience awaits the adventurous, the spirits will want to swim with you.
A floating cross atop marks the spot of the Sunken Cemetery which is one of the most well-known symbols in Camiguin.
Celebrate Lanzones Festival with the Locals
Credit: gmanetwork.com
If you love this fruit go to Camiguin on the 3rd week of October for the Lanzones festival. It is the sweetest in Mindanao and grown all over the island.
It is a four-day event filled with music, street dancing, parade, and a trade fair. The participants paint their face and garbed in colorful costumes. Of course, have your fill with tons of lanzones.
Get Lots of Ultraviolet (UV) Rays on White Island
Credit: thepoortraveler.net
White Island is an uninhabited sandbar that is small in size, it is literally just sand with no vegetation. There is no shelter so bring lots of skin lotion, head cover, and sunglasses. Unless you want to leave looking like a lobster.
You can only go there when it is low tide, daytime, come night during high tide the island disappears into the water.
See Giant Clams at the Clam Sanctuary
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The Clam Sanctuary was put up to regenerate giant clams in the area, the species is fast decreasing in numbers due to external factors.
Giant clams live in the shallow water you can see these things live by snorkeling. They are huge and come in all kinds of vivid colors. You won’t be disappointed it will be quite an experience to see something unique about animals that are astonishingly gentle and beautiful.
Food Trip
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Delicious food is one of the trademarks of Camiguin. Enjoy the freshest catch of the sea available every day, sample local fish varieties, shrimp, squid, lobster, and for the daring try the sea urchin. Have it fried, mixed with condiments or raw all are delicious.
Try their fern salad, it’s seasonal, they have ceviche, kilawin, composed of a marinated fish dish mixed with a local plant called habon habon.
The lanzones wine will go well with your meal and a lanzones ice cream for dessert will complete it.
When passing by a carinderia ask for a surol. It is a concoction of chicken soup made with coconut milk.
The typical snack is kiping made from kamoteng kahoy, cassava, fried and dripped with latik, coconut jam.
For the pasalubong, gift, bring Vjandep Pastel. It’s a soft bun stuffed with yema perfect partner for coffee.
Sources:
https://www.thepoortraveler.net/2012/04/camiguin-island-weekend-trip-summary-expenses/
https://i1.wp.com/jetfarer.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/camiguin-cc-2015-7.jpg?resize=1024%2C680&ssl=1
https://osmiva.com/camiguin-tourist-attractions-you-should-not-miss/
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