Travel NOTES | Camiguin Travel Guide

The island of Camiguin is a beautiful place set in Mindanao, surrounded by Bohol Sea. The whole island is also a province; the country’s second smallest both in land area and population. This pearl-shaped island got its name from “Kamagong”. It is not abundant in the area but close to Lake Mainit in Surigao del Norte from where the earliest settlers came. The settlers gave the island this name.

Explorers Miguel López de Legazpi and Ferdinand Magellan have actually landed on the island. Camiguin even had a Spanish settlement beginning in 1598, although it was not until 1679 that a major Spanish settlement was established in what is now known as Catarman. The entire island was a sub-province of Misamis Oriental but gained an independent status in 1966.

TRIVIA

• Camiguin is known as “The Island born of fire”.
• The island is home to several volcanoes, although only parasitic Mount Vulcan and its host, Mount Hibok-Hibok, are the only active ones.
• Mount Vulcan is locally known as “Old Volcano” but is actually the youngest in the province, born during the devastating eruption of Mount Hibok-Hibok in 1871.
• The island is home to the Sunken Cemetery, an actual cemetery sunk by the 1871 eruption of Mount Hibok-Hibok. Today, the area is a major tourist attraction and is marked by a large cross erected in 1982.
• The island is home to at least 4 endemic species: Camiguin Narrow-mouthed Frog (Oreophryne nana), Camiguin Hanging Parrot (Loriculus camiguinensis), Camiguin Forest Mouse (Apomys camiguinensis), and Camiguin Forest Rat (Bullimus gamay).
• The island is a relatively safe place to stay and visit, with very low crime rate.

Region: Northern Mindanao (Region X)

Country: Philippines

Coordinates: 9.1667° N, 124.7167° E

Area Code: 088 (+6388)

Zip Code: 9100 – 9104

Currency: Philippine Peso (PHP 1= US$ 0.02)

Language: English| Tagalog | Kinamigin | Cebuano | Hiligaynon

Local Dialect: Kinamigin is a Manobo language primarily used in the island of Camiguin. Its usage is mainly limited to the island and its native inhabitants. Recent years have seen a decline in the use of the language, especially because of the influence of other languages, especially Cebuano. The latter is now among the most used languages across the island and the Kinamigin is on the road to extinction. Some examples of the Kinamigin: Thank you – Salamat | What is your name? – Ino imo ngaran? | Where are you going? – Handi ka ay pailing? | Good evening to you all. – Maupay na duman na injo aan. | People – Utaw | No – Bari | Yes – Oo | Many – Dakol | How much? – Tag-pila? | How do I go to (location)? – Unsaon nako pag-anhi (location)?

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

• Camiguin Provincial Police Office: (088) 387-1052
• Catarman MPS: (088) 387-7017
• Guinsiliban MPS: (088) 387-4516
• Mahinog MPS: (088) 387-3031
• Mambajao MPS: (088) 387-0038
• Sagay MPS: (088) 387-6029
• Camiguin Tourism Association: (088) 387-9163
• Camiguin General Hospital: (088) 387-1216, (088) 387-1256
• Catarman District Hospital: (088) 387-7002

WHERE TO STAY

• GV Hotels Camiguin. Burgos Street Mambajao, Camiguin. Contact: (088) 387-1041 | website:http://www.gvhotels.com.ph/mindanao/camiguin/.

• Camiguin Island Golden Sunset Beach Resort. Barrio Yumbing, Mambajao, 9100 Camiguin Island. Contact:(088) 387-9163, 09989829483, 09088696038 | website:http://www.camiguinisland.net/cgi-bin/index.cgi.

• Paras Beach Resort. Rocky Village, Yumbing Mambajao, Camiguin Province. Contact:(088) 387-9008, (088) 387-9117 (fax), 09177152285 | email: parasbeachresort@gmail.com | website:http://www.parasbeachresort.com/.

• Pabua’s Cottages. Rocky Village, Yumbing Mambajao, Camiguin Province. Contact: (088) 387-9033, 09064152557 | email: info@pabuascottages.com | http://www.pabuascottages.com/.

• Bahay Bakasyunan sa Camiguin Resort. Balbagon, Mambajao, Camiguin Province. Contact: (088) 387-0131, (088) 387-1057, (088) 387-0278 (fax), 09177212798 |           email:camiguinbbc@gmail.com | website: http://www.bahaybakasyunan.com/.

• Camiguin Volcan Beach Eco Retreat & Dive Resort. Baring, Naasag, Mambajao, Camiguin Island. Contact: (088) 387-9551 | email: info@camiguinvolcanbeach.com |       website:http://www.camiguinvolcanbeach.com/en/.

• Secret Cove Beach Resort. National Highway, Yumbing, Mambajao, Camiguin Island. Contact:(088) 387-9084, (088) 387-9184 | email: tomsolski@fastmail.fm | website:http://www.secretcovecamiguin.net/.

• Camiguin Highland Resort. Barangay Soro-Soro, Mambajao, Camiguin Island. Contact: (088) 387-0515, (088) 387-0516, (088) 387-0517; Cebu Office: (032) 344-7682, 09228198020, 09228198030 | email: info@camiguinhighlandresort.com | website:http://www.camiguinhighlandresort.com/.

• Caves Dive Resort. Agoho, Mambajao, 9100 Camiguin Island. Contact: (088) 387-0077, (088) 387-9040, (088) 387-1044, (088) 387-0077 (fax), 09189157593 | email: cavesresort@yahoo.com | website: http://cavesdiveresortcamiguin.com/index.html.

• Cabua-An Beach Resort. Barangay Cabuan, Mambajao, Camiguin Island. Contact: (088) 387-2103; Cagayan de Oro City Office (Mile-O Travel Agency): (088) 2272-6426, (088) 857-7750 | email: cabuanbeachresort_camiguin@yahoo.com, mile-o@cdo.philcom.com.ph | website:http://cabuaan.com/.

WHERE TO EAT

• Unique Dining Experience: J&A Fishpen Restaurant (diners can catch the fish to be prepared for the meal and could dine at a table on stilts at the lagoon)
• Fine Dining: La Luna Ristorante | Paras Beach Resort Restaurant | Caves Dive Resort Restaurant | Camiguin Highland Resort Restaurant
• Fastfood Chains / Budget Restaurants / Barbeque Places / Grills: Casa Roca Inn | Little Bridges Taberna Ramada | Secret Cove Restaurant | Kiwi Bar and Grill | Typhooncrazy Chillout Bar | Camiguin Northern Lights | Roof Top Restaurant and Grill
• Pastries: Cafe Cecilia

WHAT TO DO

• Celebrate Festivals. Lanzones Festival celebrated every October for an entire week
• Visit. Cross Marker and Sunken Cemetery | Catarman Church Ruins (Gui-Ob Church) | Moro Watch Tower | Sto. Rosario Church | San Nicolas de Tolentino Church | The Catholic Church of Catarman
• Walk. Stroll along the beaches lining the beautiful island
• Explore. Old Volcano Dive Site | Jicduf Shoal | Burias Shoal
• Outdoor Fun. Hiking to Katibawasan Falls | Mountain climbing at Mt. Hibok-Hibok | Enjoy the White Sand Bar | Mountain climbing at Old Vulcan | Tanguines Lagoon | Tuasan Falls | Tangub Hot Spring | Macao Cold Spring | Mantigue Island | Ardent Hot Spring | Sto. Niño Cold Spring

TRANSPORTATION

• Airport. Cebu Pacific Air flies from Manila- Cebu- Camiguin every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday| Laguindingan International Airport serves most tourists visiting Camiguin and the rest of Northern Mindanao
• Seaport. Served by 3 ports: in Guinsiliban, Benoni, and Balbagon | Direct trips between Balingoan, Misamis Oriental | Trips to Benoni port take around 1 hour but have more schedules | Trips to Guinsiliban port take just 45 minutes but have lesser schedules | Daily trips from Jagna, Bohol to Camiguin  | Weekly trips from Cebu to Camiguin
• Inland Transportation. Plenty of multicabs and motorcycles for rent to tour the island | Jeepneys

HOW TO GET THERE

• Laguindingan International Airport (Cagayan de Oro Airport) | Served by 3 airlines: Philippine Airlines/PALExpress, Cebu Pacific, AirAsia/Zest Airways | Serves flights to the following destinations: Manila, Bacolod, Cebu City, Iloilo City, Davao City, Zamboanga City | From the Laguindingan International Airport, ride in a bus / taxi / van/coaster going to Agora Bus Terminal located about 13.5 km (8.4 mi) in city center Cagayan de Oro.

#1.) In Agora Bus Terminal look for the bus bound to Gingoog or Butuan City. 

#2.) Tell the driver / conductor to drop you in Port of Balingoan- travel time is more or less 2 hours (from CDO). 

Note: Schedule of trip of Ferries going to Camiguin starts @ 4:00 am and the last trip is 5:00 pm.  Ferries from Balingoan Port are either bound to any of the two ports in Camiguin. The closest is the Guinsiliban port – travel time is more or less 45 minutes. While ferries to Benoni port takes about an hour and have more scheduled trips as it takes passengers closer to Mambajao – the capital town.

• From  Butuan City. Ride in a bus bound to Cagayan de Oro. Tell the driver to drop you in Balingoan Port- travel time is more or less 4 hours. (then read Note above)

• From  Surigao City. Ride in a bus bound to Butuan City- travel time is more or less 3 hours. At Butuan Integrated Land Transportation terminal, ride in a bus bound to Cagayan de Oro. Tell the driver to drop you in Balingoan Port- travel time is more or less 4 hours. (then read Note above)

• From Davao City. At Ecoland Terminal, ride in a bus bound to Cagayan de Oro- travel time is more or less 8 hours. Major airlines serves the Davao-Cagayan de Oro route. (then follow #1 and #2 instructions above).

Other Option:

• Cebu Pacific Air flies from Manila- Cebu- Camiguin every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

MUST TRY

• Camiguin has one of the best lanzones available in the entire country. These succulent fruits are definitely a must-try when visiting this stunning province.
• Also try Camiguin's version of kipping - made from ground camote (sweet potato), sun-dried then fried and served with latik or sweet sauce made from coconut.
• A tour to the eerie yet beautiful Sunken Cemetery is also a must try.

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