Camiguin Island

We stayed overnight in Cagayan de Oro but headed towards Balingoan Port for a travel time of two hours to catch the ferry to Camiguin Island at 4:30 am. Another option to get to the destination is by bus or by van wherein the ferry trips are scheduled hourly starting at 5:30 am.

We had our breakfast at the port where there are a lot of "carenderias" to choose from. The fare from Balingoan Port to Camiguin Island is Php170.00 per head with a Php15.00 terminal fee. The travel would take an hour and thirty minutes and next thing you will know is that you are already in Benoni Port.

The beautiful Camiguin Island

Camiguin Island, also known as the "Island born of fire" is the second smallest island in the Philippines. The Island is blessed with natural resources like waterfalls, hot spring, cold spring, soda water and clear blue waters.

Waiting for us at Benoni Port is our multicab service from the Pabualan Cottages. For more information, see the details:

PABUALAN COTTAGES

Yumbing, Mambajao, Camiguin

Contact Person:  Mr. Teddy Pabualan

Contact #:   0939-244-0521 and 0917-521-9391

Website:  camiguintransport.blogspot.com

Email:   teddypabualan@gmail.com

Services Offered:

Camiguin Countryside Tours    

Air conditioned rooms/ cottages

Vacation houses with kitchen

Multicab rentals

Motorbike rentals

The beautiful Camiguin Island

A whole day trip for the multicab service costs Php 1,500.00. Your driver will tour you around the prominent tourist spots of Camiguin Island. Now, let me share to you how our Camiguin Island escapade began:

1. The first destination was to Sto. Niño Cold Spring.

Sto. Niño Cold Spring, Camiguin Island

If you are feeling the heat of the Island , It would be best to immerse yourself in the cold spring. Entrance fee is Php 30.00. Cottages for rent are also available. You can bring your own food or better yet have it cooked outside where there are offers for "lutong bahay" like tinolang manok, crispy pork or bangus.. you may just order before swimming so they can cook it while you are enjoying the water and they will just inform you once they are ready to serve it.

2. Tuasan Falls Mainit, Catarman, Camiguin Island

Tuasan Falls, Camiguin Island

Surprisingly, a magnificent falls with easy road access. You just have to walk two to three minutes from the parking lot and lo and behold! you can already take pleasure of enjoying the waters. And wait there's more! No entrance fee! ( isn't that great?)

Tuasan Falls, Camiguin Island

3. The Soda swimming pool

With an entrance fee of Php 30.00 per person, you get to swim in the soda swimming pool, a wide spacious pool where you can swim with your friends and you can also rent cottages if you want to order food from the resort.

5. The Old Church Ruins

The most horrifying tragedy for the locals in 1871. As the church ruins mark the  volcanic eruption where hundred of lives were lost as houses and churches crumbled into pieces when Mount Vulcan gave out its fiercest and most violent outbreak. This place served as one of the landmarks of Camiguin available on postcards.

 The Old Church Ruins, Camiguin Island

 The Old Church Ruins, Camiguin Island

 The Old Church Ruins, Camiguin Island

The Old Church Ruins, Camiguin Island

5. The Sunken Cemetery

 Sunken Cemetery, Camiguin Island

It is such an amazing feeling to be able to see this beautiful place in Camiguin Island. The Sunken Cemetery had been featured to several movies already. To name some of them: Ouija ( stars: Jolina Magdangal, Judy Ann Santos, Rhian Ramos and Iza Calzado), Ikaw lang ang mamahalin (Jomari Yllana and Gelli de Belen) and a lot more. You may be having goosebumps thinking that there are dead people buried below the water as the place was an old cemetery but it sank when the volcano erupted long time ago. Behind the big cross, you will see a straight line which signifies their old road. If you want to go to the big cross and take pictures of it, you can ask a boatman to take you there. The ride will cost you Php100 per boat.

6. The Ardent Hibok- Hibok Spring Resort

Ardent Hibok- Hibok Spring Resort, Camiguin Island

We were all ready and excited to experience the natural jacuzzi but sadly, we failed on our quest, when we arrived in Ardent hot spring, the water was just with a lukewarm temperature. In addition, it's no longer flowing. So we have to bear with the 4 feet water. The entrance fee is all just the same with the rest of the spots. It is Php30.00 per person.

Ardent Hibok- Hibok Spring Resort, Camiguin Island

Overall experience of my Camiguin Island escapade was definitely awesome. Natural resources are incomparable. If only we can take care and treasure the beauty of these blessings, we will surely be the one who can benefit from it.  

And by the way, if you are planning to go to Camiguin, here is the computation of my expenses:

Fare (ferry to and from Camiguin)                              Php  370.00 (Php170.00 fare + Php 15.00 terminal fee)

Multicab service                                                          Php  300.00 (Php1500.00 /5)

Homestay                                                                    Php  220.00 (Php1100.00 /5)

Food                                                                            Php  500.00 (3 meals)

Total cost:                                                                    Php 1390.00

Isn't that affordable? Camiguin island is indeed a place worth to be visited!