CAMIGUIN

Since i've posted  some pictures and advertised tour packages going to Camiguin, a lot of people have inquired about it. So i'm posting this blog to provide some pertinent details on the Lovely Camiguin Island.

First of all, there is no airport in the island. It's best described as a pear shaped volcanic island lying in the Bohol sea some 54kms south east of Chocolate Hills and some 90kms north of Cagayan de Oro Airport, 120kms southeast of Mactan Int'l Airport and 10kms north of Misamis Oriental.

The only way to get to the island is through ferry transfer from Cagayan De Oro or Bohol.

If you are coming from Bohol, you must depart from Jagna (town in Bohol 1.5 - 2hrs ride from Tagbilaran) and ride Paras Sea Cat or Super Shuttle Ferry. Ferry ticket cost is P 400 per way per person.

Now if you're airplane ticket brings you to Cagayan de Oro, there are 2 ways to get to Camiguin. One way is to travel all the way to Balingoan Port (2hrs away from CDO) or better option is ride the Paras Sea Cat in CDO port.

Here are the schedules for Paras Sea Cat :

# Daily

    * Cagayan de Oro to Camiguin Island --> 8:30 AM
    * Camiguin Island to Cagayan de Oro --> 4:00 PM


# Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday

    * Cagayan de Oro to Camiguin Island --> 8:30 AM
    * Camiguin Island to Bohol, Jagna --> 11:00 AM
    * Bohol, Jagna to Camiguin Island --> 1:30 PM
    * Camiguin Island to Cagayan de Oro --> 4:00 PM
Ferry Tickets as i've mentioned is P 400/way each person.

Balingoan Port has more schedules in one day. It's up to you to find the most convenient and fastest and cheapest way to get to the island.

But whatever it takes, you will be rewarded . Camiguin is such a beautiful place with serene sorroundings, air unpolluted, timid people, nature at its best.

Every October a grand festival of Lanzones are held anda grand parade of the golden fruit id found prolific in the entire province.

Another festival not to miss is the PANAAD. It's an annual Holy Thursday and Good Friday activity. This is a gathering of different civic clubs in Camiguin and nearby regions for a yearly devotion to spend the Holy Week trekking to Mt Vulcan as an expression of patience and spiritual enrichment.

                             I got this map during one of my visits to Bahay Bakasyunan sa Camiguin. They were using it as a placemat . How ingenious. This helped us plan the day (eventhough we had our tour guide).

First thing on our agenda was to go to White Island. It's a strip of white sand bar some 10 mins by banca from the town of Yumbing or Agoho. I recommend that you start your day very very early to avoid raging heat of the sun. Make sure that you've finished your morning rituals for there are no toilet facilities in White Island.

There are no restaurants or day bed or sari sari store whatsoever. So bring your essentials.

After draining the space of our memory cards we headed off to SUNKEN CEMETERY to take pictures again? (btw we brought 4pcs of 4GB SD, 2 state of the art SLR and 1 Digital camera.) Then again to GUIOB CHURCH RUINS.

The ruins was the aftermath of MT VULCAN holocaust in 1871.

We wanted to go further to TUASAN FALLS but time does not permit us. And the road on the way to the falls was heavily draped with rocks from the mountains due to landslide.

We then proceeded to KATIBAWASAN FALLS (which is quite near to Mambajao) and then ARDENT HOT SPRINGS . Really enjoyed here. Water temp is about 40C , nice and relaxing .

One signage caught our attention while bathing in hot mineral water:

How about Indecent Proposals? LOL

Too bad we weren't able to visit MANTIGUE ISLAND but i heard it's more of a diver's destination.

Overall , we had fun. The place momentarily provided us peace of mind and total relaxation.

We're off to ANDA BOHOL. See you!!