Camiguin
A hidden gem of the Philippines – a tiny island with local life, abundant nature, and a laidback atmosphere that will let you feel at ease
Camiguin is an absolute hidden gem of an island to visit. It’s a very local island, not frequented by too many tourists. And it feels very laidback, filled with lots of nature explore, good food to eat, and local life to experience. I would highly recommend a visit if you enjoy chill, local, off-the-beaten places, with plenty of nature to explore.
Contents
Getting to and around Camiguin
What to do in Camiguin
How long to spend in Camiguin
How to spend 1 week in Camiguin
Where to stay in Camiguin
Where to eat in Camiguin
Getting to and around Camiguin
Camiguin is a small island located within the Visayas (southern) region of the Philippines. To be honest, it’s a bit difficult to reach, but completely worth it!
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While Camiguin is a small island itself, it does have an airport! You can fly to Camiguin direct from Manila or Cebu. Direct flights leave from Manila only on select days through Sunlight Air and daily from Cebu through Cebu Pacific.
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Ferry from Cebu or Siquijor to Tagbilaran Port (Bohol). Through Oceanjet (fast craft), the journey takes about 2 hours and costs 800php ($14) from either Cebu or Siquijor.
Bus, tricycle, or van from Tagbilaran Port to Jagna Port. The bus takes around 2 hours and tricycle/van takes around 1.5 hours. The bus costs 150php ($2.50) but is a very crowded, hot local bus with no AC. You will need to take a 10 min tricycle ride from Tagbilaran port to the bus terminal. The tricycle/van costs 750-1000php ($15) for 2 people. Since we were in a rush, we took the van option and would recommend it.
Ferry from Jagna Port to Balbagon Port on Camiguin. The journey takes 3-4 hours and costs 650php ($11). We went the other direction and online it said the ferry only ran a few times a week, but we checked in-person and it ran daily, once a day.
From Balbagon Port to Mambajao. You can either pre-arrange for a scooter to be dropped off to you at the port, or take a tricycle to your accommodation. The port is close to the main town of Mambajao, only about a 10 minute ride.
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This is the journey we took and it was extremely long. Prepare yourself! We managed to make it in one day, but had to plan ahead a bit and get lucky with relatively quick transfers.
Ferry from Dapa to Surigao (2-3 hours). You can buy tickets in front of the port the morning-of (I recommend arriving at least 30 mins early) and they cost 500php ($8.50). If you want to make it to Camiguin in one day, you must take the first ferry at 6am.
Multicab or tricycle to the bus terminal (15 minutes). Multicabs are like small Jeepneys (kind of like the local bus system) and very cheap - only around 15php per person. Everyone is very nice and you can ask someone where to catch a multicab to the bus terminal. Otherwise a tricycle costs ~200php ($3.50).
Bus from Surigao bus terminal to Butuan (3 hours). At the bus terminal, ask for the quickest bus to Butuan. They don’t leave on a schedule and instead leave when the bus is at least half-full. The cost is 300php ($5).
Multicab or tricycle to Robinson bus terminal (15 min).
Bus from Butuan to Balingoan (3 hours). Tell them you want to get on the quickest bus to Balingoan. They will put you on a bus headed for Cagayan de Oro, and you will need to get off partway in Balingoan. You will need to tell the driver you want to get off on the highway at Balingoan Port here. Make sure you pay attention to when you’re approaching, as it’s not a normal stop on the route. The cost is 550php ($10).
Ferry from Balingoan to Benoni Port on Camiguin (1 hour). The home stretch! The ferry schedule from Balingoan to Benoni changes and honestly confused us. Here is the schedule for one of the ferry companies, but when we arrived, ferries were also being canceled and rescheduled so you kind of just need to show up and hope there is still another ferry leaving. Plan to arrive at Benoni Port no later than 4pm to catch the last ferry. The cost is 150php ($2.50).
Benoni Port to Mambajao (30 min). Note that if you are staying in the main town of Mambajao, Benoni Port is still around a 30 minute drive from the port. You can take a tricycle, hire a scooter from the port, or what we did, which I would recommend, is to take a multicab to Mambajao (only 30php). From Mambajao, you will have cheaper scooter rental options and gives you the flexibility of returning it in town in case you don’t leave from the same port.
If you want to make it in one day, you must take the 6am ferry from Dapa. We made no lunch stops or real breaks besides waiting at bus stations, and we arrived Benoni Port at 4pm, just in time to catch the last ferry at 4:15pm. If you know you will not make it in one day, I would recommend staying in Butuan for the night, as there is nothing around the Balingoan ferry port.
Getting around Camiguin
You will definitely need to rent a scooter to explore Camiguin. There are minimal transport options, and you won’t want to be paying for a tricycle everywhere you go. We rented from Camiguin Penoria's Motorbike And Car Rental and I would highly recommend them! We called them when we arrived to town at 7pm and the owner came and delivered the scooter to us within 30 minutes. The scooter was in good condition and he was very responsive throughout. The price was also good, we paid 300php ($5) per day for a 1 week rental. You can reach them via WhatsApp at +63 951 887 1514.
What to do in Camiguin
Mantigue Island
Mantigue Island is a small island where you can relax on the beach and snorkel with turtles! The center of the island has trees, so it’s possible to find shade. You can also take a nice stroll around the whole island in about 20 minutes.
How to get there: To reach Mantigue Island, you’ll need to go to the Mantigue Island Departure Area, where you’ll take a small boat to reach the island, about 20 minutes away. The boat costs 750php ($13) and can be shared with up to 6 people. It’s fairly easy to find other people to share with once you arrive. The boat will take you to the island and then pick you back up in 3 hours to return back to the mainland. You can rent snorkeling equipment on the mainland or on the island for the same price. We also took a guide for snorkeling, which I would recommend for best chances of seeing turtles.
Mantigue Island was a really nice experience and I’d definitely recommend it! Bring snacks and water (or buy some from the departure area) as there’s nothing for purchase on the island.
White Island
Camiguin’s most iconic spot! White Island is a very cute little island sandbar off the north coast of the Camiguin. The best time to visit is during low tide, when the full sandbar is exposed. Keep in mind that there are no trees on the island, meaning there is no shade! Because of this, people prefer to go early in the morning, or later in the afternoon. There are also umbrellas to rent for 200php ($3.50). There’s not much to do on the island besides sunbathing, swimming, and just enjoying the beautiful island sandbar with Camiguin’s iconic volcanos in the background. Still, it makes for a very nice beach day!
How to get there: To reach White Island, you’ll need to go to the White Island Ferry Terminal and take a short boat ride, about 15 minutes, to reach the island. The boat costs 550php ($10) for up to 6 people. The boat will drop you at White Island, and then pick you back up 3 hours later to return back to the mainland.
We sadly didn’t get a chance to do this, but I wish we did! There aren’t many other nice white sand beaches to really chill on in Camiguin, so if you’re after some sun and a nice beach day, this would be your best option!
View of the White Island sandbar in the distance from Utopia Cafe
Tuasan Falls
Tuasan is a nice single cascade watefall surrounded by lush jungle. While the waterfall itself is nice, and the water is good for a refreshing dip, I personally didn’t enjoy that it felt commercialized. There were shops selling things outside and a whole paved path to get to the waterfall. It didn’t feel too much like true nature. That said, the falls were still a nice stop to see while exploring the mountains and made for a refreshing dip!
Katibawasan Falls
We really liked these falls and enjoyed them more than Tuasan. It’s also a nice single cascade waterfall surrounded by lush jungle, but it felt less commercial and more like a wild waterfall, though there were still some shops outside. These waterfalls are nice for a quick visit and refreshing dip. I would recommend!
Cold Springs
We admittedly didn’t go to any cold springs! We wanted to though and here’s the research we did about them. The largest cold spring is Sto Niño Cold Spring and many people say it’s the nicest. It appears to be quite commercialized though, and more like a large pool than a true cold spring found in the wild.
There’s also Sa-ay Cold Spring, which is less developed and more like a natural spring experience. People say it’s better than Sto Niño and an underrated spring, which is nice because likely you won’t be sharing it with too many other people!
There’s Soda Water Pool, which is a cold spring fed from water that resembles soda water! This is also a developed spring area and is more like a pool. People had recommended Sto Niño over this one to me.
Giant Clam Sanctuary & White Beach
This is the only white sand beach area on the island. While we were there, the giant clam sanctuary was closed and the beach itself, I would honestly say was just okay. It was nice to go for a swim and if you walked towards one end of the beach, you could find slight seclusion. But overall, the beach was quite small and not particularly beautiful. It’s worth stopping if you want to have a little swim (and even better if you bring your own snorkel), but not a particularly spectacular beach.
Sunken Cemetery
Sunken Cemetery is an iconic viewpoint in Camiguin. It’s essentially a small platform with a large cross on it that memorializes a cemetery that sank beneath the waves there after volcanic eruptions in the 1870s. Nowadays, it makes for a beautiful and iconic viewpoint from the mainland, especially at sunset.
You can also visit the platform itself by taking a small boat, which costs 100php ($1.50). Or, you can even swim and snorkel there! I’d recommend taking a guide if you’re going to snorkel, as they can show you giant clams and a few of the remains of the cemetery. While there’s not much to do on the platform itself, it’s nice to view the sea all around you from there. And while there’s not too many remnants of the cemetery itself to explore underwater, there is still also a nice reef you can snorkel around and explore there.
Katunggan Park
We actually didn’t really like this park. It’s a few wooden platforms built amongst the mangroves that you can walk along, and also find a little kubo to relax at over the water. We thought it sounded nice, but when we arrived, there were multiple big groups of locals blasting music on speakers, and it didn’t make for a relaxing or nature experience at all. We ended up just walking around a little bit but then leaving. If you get lucky that there’s no disturbing neighbors and don’t mind a little bit of built up facilities, it could be nice to spend a little while there swimming and relaxing at a kubo over the mangroves.
How long to spend in Camiguin
We spent one week in Camiguin and it was perfect. Camiguin is a small island with a very chill, laidback vibe and plenty of nature to see. It’s a nice island to just drive around and explore by scooter, soaking in the local life while also visiting the various nature attractions. One week is a perfect amount of time to explore the island at a relaxed pace.
1 week in Camiguin
Here’s how we spent one week in Camiguin, and it’s itinerary I’d recommend.
Day 1: Have lunch at a nice cafe (I recommend Saga or Utopia). Drive around a bit to see the island but mostly take a rest day after a full day of travel the day before. Catch sunset and get dinner at Daos Plant-Based Kitchen.
Day 2: Have breakfast/lunch at a nice cafe again. Visit Mantigue Island and snorkel with turtles! Dinner at La Dolce Vita.
Day 3: Have a mountain day, exploring the waterfalls and cold springs in the center of the island. You could combine Tuasan Falls and Sto Nino Cold Spring and make your way to the south of the island, and then drive a loop around back to Mambajao.
Day 4: Have a relax day at the accommodation. Book a massage. Drive around and see the island at your leisure. Dinner at Sapore (nice Italian restaurant) or Farmhouse Pizzeria (amazing pizza).
Day 5: Have a beach day. Visit the Giant Clams Sanctuary & White Beach. We also stopped at Katunggan Park but didn’t like it so much and didn’t stay. Loop all the way around the island and stop for a snack at the BeeHive Driftwood Cafe. Stop at the Sunken Cemetery viewpoint and Chan Lookout Point.
Day 6: Have another mountain day and visit Katibawasan Falls and Sa-ay Cold Spring. Dinner at Sapore or Farmhouse Pizzeria.
Day 7: Relax at the accommodation. Drive around and see the island at your leisure.
We didn’t visit White Beach, but I hear it’s the highlight of many people’s time in Camiguin and I would definitely recommend adding it in (and wish we did).
Where to stay in Camiguin
Mambajao is the main town of Camiguin. It’s convenient to stay relatively close (within 10 minute drive) of Mambajao, as many restaurants and places to visit are around there.
We stayed at Camiguin Volcano Houses and absolutely loved our stay. It’s located inland up the mountain, about a 10 minute drive from Mambajao. I would highly recommend it if you want a peaceful retreat in nature, away from it all while at the same time, not too far from civilization, food, and waterfalls. It’s 2 large houses set amidst a huge garden property. There’s the main Panoramic House and the A-Frame House. We stayed in both, and absolutely loved all of our time there. For the ultimate holiday retreat, I recommend staying in the master bedroom of the Panoramic House. Many reviews for it aren’t great due to the house being old and unmaintained, so we were also not sure what to expect. But while it’s not kept up to perfect shape, we thought it was kept well enough with very friendly staff, and we overall really enjoyed our stay.
For budget options, my friend stayed at Shey's Travellers Inn and Playa del Fuego Hostel and Resort and she really enjoyed them both.
Where to eat in Camiguin
Farmhouse Pizzaria – A must have! Amazing pizza at a very reasonable price, and in a cute little outdoor garden restaurant setting.
Sapore – Excellent Italian food at a very cute little restaurant. Small rotating menu, higher quality than La Dolce Vita, but also a bit pricey. A good spot for a special evening or date night out.
Daos Plant-Based Kitchen – Absolutely delicious vegan Filipino food in a small, cute restaurant by the water. Really unique usage of herbs and flavors and very friendly owner. We actually ate there our first night and loved it so much, that my boyfriend surprised me with cooking classes he arranged with the owner and chef! Cooking classes are not typically offered there, but if you’re interested in learning more plant based cooking and Filipino flavors, you may be able to convince him to give you a lesson!
Josh + Luke Restaurant – Very good Filipino food in a cute little restaurant at a resort on the mountain. Also a convenient option if you’re staying on the mountain.
La Dolce Vita – Good Italian food at a cute restaurant (but located along the busy main road).
La Mesa Pizza Station – We didn’t go here, but the chef of Daos Kitchen recommended this place as a no-frills, authentic and delicious pizza spot.
Saga Specialty Coffee – Excellent coffee and pastries in a cute little cafe (but located along the busy main road).
Utopia Cafe – Great spot for breakfast or lunch on the mountain, while not being too far away from town. Very nice views over the island and ocean with good Filipino and Western food options.
Nanaw Cafe – Cafe on the mountain with a large menu of Filipino and a few Western food options. We thought it was just okay, but it’s a decent spot to try if you’re looking for a casual bite on the mountain.