Camiguin Island

Camiguin is a lush and green island located off the northern coast of Mindanao province. It's got 7 volcanoes squeezed on about 200 square kilometers of which 2 are still considered 'active' (active means at least 1 eruption every 600 years). Thermal activity and volcanoes is not what you should visit Camiguin for, if you aspect smoking cones and volcano like landscapes you'll be disappointed. The only reminder of thermal activity and volcanoes is the (very nice) Ardent hot spring and the sunken cemetery (not that spectacular). What you should come here for is the nice, relaxed atmosphere, beautiful scenery (jungle, waterfalls, trekking) and truly friendly people. I'll try to give an image of that on this page, while on the next page there are some photos of an island crossing.

Links:
Cebu: from Cebu you can get to Camiguin by airplane or boat (every Sunday, approx. 700PHP/OW, 12 hours). Or take a daily ferry to Cagayan de Oro and travel overland to Balingoan to catch the ferry to Camiguin.
Mindanao: take a ferry from Balingoan (several times per day, 30PHP).

Camiguin from a distance, the multiple classical volcano like cones are clearly visible.

Mambajao is the capital of Camiguin. It's not that spectacular, but it's got a nice ambience. Some old colonial style wooden houses can be found here.

The Hibok-Hibok volcano, the most active vulcano of the seven, as seen from White Island. Active means at least 1 eruption every 600 years, the last eruption was around 1951 and since than it has been very quiet. If you're looking for thermal activity and volcanoes you might be better off with the Mayon volcano in The Philippines or probably even better go to Sulawesi or Java in Indonesia.

One of the good places to kick back and drink a cold San Miguel, a small store in front of Jasmin by the Sea (very good & small resort!).

Probably one of the best things to do is to hire a motorbike (around 500PHP/day) and cruise around the island. If you're not into crossing the island by foot (see next page), this is the best option to explore the waterfalls, springs and snorkel locations.

The Katibawasan waterfall. Easy accesible by motorbike only a few kilometers up the mountain from Mambajao.

The Tuwasan Waterfall. There are different ways of getting here, one is by island crossing or the other one is taking a few kilometer long dodgy mountain path (possible with motorbike though) from an entrance near Catarman. The last kilometer or so you have to walk and climb through some jungle, as you can see in the next photograph.

Note:
this waterfall has killed some people, the last one was a German in 2004. Don't come to close or jump from the rocks as this is a powerfull waterfall.

One of the dodgy looking handmade stairs down to the waterfall.



Camiguin Island Camiguin is a lush and green island located off the northern coast of Mindanao province. It's got 7 volcanoes squeezed on about 200 square kilometers of which 2 are still considered 'active' (active means at least 1 eruption every 600 years). Thermal activity and volcanoes is not what you should visit Camiguin for, if you aspect smoking cones and volcano like landscapes you'll be disappointed. The only reminder of thermal activity and volcanoes is the (very nice) Ardent hot spring and the sunken cemetery (not that spectacular). What you should come here for is the nice, relaxed atmosphere, beautiful scenery (jungle, waterfalls, trekking) and truly friendly people. I'll try to give an image of that on this page, while on the next page there are some photos of an island crossing. Links: Cebu: from Cebu you can get to Camiguin by airplane or boat (every Sunday, approx. 700PHP/OW, 12 hours). Or take a daily ferry to Cagayan de Oro and travel overland to Balingoan to catch the ferry to Camiguin. Mindanao: take a ferry from Balingoan (several times per day, 30PHP).

Camiguin from a distance, the multiple classical volcano like cones are clearly visible.

Mambajao is the capital of Camiguin. It's not that spectacular, but it's got a nice ambience. Some old colonial style wooden houses can be found here.

The Hibok-Hibok volcano, the most active vulcano of the seven, as seen from White Island. Active means at least 1 eruption every 600 years, the last eruption was around 1951 and since than it has been very quiet. If you're looking for thermal activity and volcanoes you might be better off with the Mayon volcano in The Philippines or probably even better go to Sulawesi or Java in Indonesia.

One of the good places to kick back and drink a cold San Miguel, a small store in front of Jasmin by the Sea (very good & small resort!).

Probably one of the best things to do is to hire a motorbike (around 500PHP/day) and cruise around the island. If you're not into crossing the island by foot (see next page), this is the best option to explore the waterfalls, springs and snorkel locations.

The Katibawasan waterfall. Easy accesible by motorbike only a few kilometers up the mountain from Mambajao.

The Tuwasan Waterfall. There are different ways of getting here, one is by island crossing or the other one is taking a few kilometer long dodgy mountain path (possible with motorbike though) from an entrance near Catarman. The last kilometer or so you have to walk and climb through some jungle, as you can see in the next photograph. Note: this waterfall has killed some people, the last one was a German in 2004. Don't come to close or jump from the rocks as this is a powerfull waterfall.

One of the dodgy looking handmade stairs down to the waterfall.


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