About Camiguin 

From the air, Camiguin looks like a wild paradise – a ring of golden sand surrounds the island, kissing the cobalt blue waters, and seven volcanoes (the most per square kilometer in the world) tower over the verdant forests. A single 64km road loops around the island, the second-smallest province in the country, after Batanes.  

Camiguin is a pear-shaped island lying between mainland Mindanao to the south and Bohol to the north. Once considered a part of Misamis Oriental, it is now a standalone province within Region X (Northern Mindanao). Called the “Island Born of Fire”, Camiguin is said to have been formed by centuries of volcanic eruptions. Lush vegetation nourished by volcanic soil, church ruins covered in moss and a haunting underwater cemetery share real estate with the usual beaches and a bounty of waterfalls and natural springs. 

 

Highlights for the Traveler 

After landing in the capital of Mambajao, you can spend your day on a mainland tour. Visit the Sunken Cemetery 12km west, where a massive cross marks the spot of a graveyard under the sea. It’s said that the cemetery sank below sea level after the island’s Mount Vulcan erupted in the 1870s. You can pay your respects from the shore, take a short boat ride to the cross or go scuba-diving to see the coral-encrusted tombstones. 

The Guiob Church Ruins (also known as the Old Church Ruins) are another casualty of the 19th-century eruption. The remaining stone walls of the church — covered in a velvety layer of green — enclose a smaller, newer chapel within.  

Nature lovers can visit Katibawasan Falls, which is enormously popular with the locals. Pack a picnic lunch, go for a swim then hike up Mount Timpoong, the tallest volcano on the island. End the day by submerging in one of Camiguin’s many natural springs — Ardent Hot Spring can soothe aching muscles while Santo Niño Cold Spring is the perfect antidote to the tropical heat. A bit further out, a 15km boat ride from the ferry terminal will take you to White Island, a particularly stunning beach that’s best enjoyed early in the morning. 

An easy trek up Mount Hibok-Hibok, the island’s only active volcano, will lead you to an observatory, remnants of past eruptions and an unrivaled view of neighboring islands. But bring a hat — there are no structures or trees where you can take cover from the midday sun.    

 

By Ian Cigaral, as of January 2020.