Benj Tupas

Benj Tupas

πŸ‡΅πŸ‡­

Philippines

Camiguin Travel Guide

Hi there! πŸ‘‹ I’m Benj Tupas and welcome to another Philippines Travel Guide where I write DIY and budget-friendly guides on how to travel to all 82 provinces of the Philippines!

For today’s guide, let’s explore Camiguin province!

Summary

It was ironic that "The Island Born of Fire" was raining hard majority of the time during the trip. πŸ˜† The island is still really beautiful despite the weather!

Please checkout the Bukidnon and Cagayan De Oro travel guides which are the best Camiguin side trips in my opinion.


Day 1:

πŸš™ Grab to NAIA Terminal 3

✈️ Flight to Cagayan de Oro via Cebu Pacific

✈️ Arrival at Laguindingan Airport in Cagayan de Oro

🚐 Ride the Van to Agora Terminal

πŸ₯„ Lunch at Agora Terminal

🚌 Ride the Bus to Balingoan Port

⛴️ Ride the Ferry to Benoni Port, Camiguin

🚐 Ride a Jeep or Motorela to SJ Pabua

πŸ›– SJ Pabua Travellers Inn (Book Here)

πŸ• Dinner at Paradiso


Day 2:

⛡️ White Island Ferry Terminal

πŸ–οΈ White Island (πŸ“½οΈ Episode)

✝️ Sunken Cemetery (πŸ“½οΈ Episode)

πŸƒ Tuasan Falls (πŸ“½οΈ Episode)

🌳 Katunggan Park (πŸ“½οΈ Episode)

Due to continuous rain, we had to cancel some destinations. Please consider:

πŸŠβ€β™€οΈ Soda Pool

β›ͺ Old Church Ruins

β˜• Beehive


Day 3:

πŸ›– Check-out at SJ Pabua

πŸ’¦ Katibawasan Falls

🏝️ Mantigue Island

⛴️ Ferry to Balingoan Port

πŸ₯„ Lunch Chicken Star

🚌 Bus to Agora Terminal

πŸ₯„ Dinner at Missy Bon Bon in Limketkai Center

🚐 Ride Magnum Express to Laguindingan Airport

✈️ Flight to Manila


⛴️ Super Shuttle Ferry

To Camiguin:

- Schedule: 5AM, 7AM, 9AM, 11AM, 1PM, 3PM, 4PM

- Contact: 09772385635

From Camiguin:

- Schedule: 7AM, 9AM, 11AM, 12PM, 1PM, 3PM, 4PM, 5PM

- Contact: 09772582396


πŸ“± Camiguin Contacts:

- Ronnie (Motorcycle Tour Guide): 09675230146

- Jay (Motorcycle Tour Guide): 09351604199

- Rey (Pedicab Tour Guide for up to 12 pax): 09057700747

- White Island Ferry Terminal: 09657868877



✈️ P2,734.52 - Flight with Cebu Pacific (With SuperPass)

πŸ›– P890 - SJ Pabua Travellers Inn (P1,780 / 2)

Day 1: P1,372

P200 - Van to Agora Terminal

P200 - Lunch

P200 - Bus to Balingoan Port

P397 - Ferry

P55 - Commute to SJ Pabua

P320 - Paradiso (P640 / 2)

Day 2: P1,970

P50 - Breakfast

P325 - Boat and environment fee to White Island

P120 - Lunch

P1,150 - Tour

P170 - Snack

P155 - Dinner

Day 3: P2,439

P50 - Breakfast

P1,150 - Tour

P374 - Ferry

P222 - Bus to Agora

P444 - Missy Bon Bon

P199 - Magnum Express

Day 1: Travel to Camiguin

πŸš™ 06:00AM - Grab to NAIA Terminal 3


✈️ 08:00AM - Flight to Cagayan de Oro via Cebu Pacific

- There's a direct flight to Camiguin but it was priced around P12,000+ when I checked.

- I only booked mine for around P2,750 with Cebu Pacific's Super Pass. The Cagayan de Oro route is way longer but significantly cheaper.

- Duration of the flight: 1 hour and 30 minutes (08:00AM to 09:30AM)


I love that Cebu Pacific is now committed to 100% contactless check-in from boarding pass to bag drop.

However, it needs a few minor tweaks to become perfect. It was my 3rd time to try this but it's still not smooth:

1. It takes some time to figure out how to put the sticker into the luggage

2. So many bar/QR codes, you'll get confused which one to scan

3. Minor errors but it worked after repeating the process a couple of times.

Don't worry if it's too confusing, the manual way is still existing if you need help.


🚐 10:00AM - Ride the Van to Agora Terminal

- At the Laguindingan Airport in Cagayan de Oro, take the van just outside of the airport and ask for Agora Terminal.

- Fare: P200

- Duration: 1 hour and 15 minutes (10:00AM - 11:15AM)

- There's a shopping center at the Agora Terminal. You can buy pasalubong here when go home.

- You can also eat lunch here


πŸ₯„ 11:30AM - Lunch at Agora Terminal

🍲 Mr. 8 Fastfood

- Just a few stalls on the right of the Agora shopping center

- Sample Order: Nilagang baka with rice (P140)

🍩 Poppers Doughnut

- In-front of Mr. 8 Fastfood

- 4 doughnuts at P10 to P12 each. Sobrang mura pero masarap!

There are fast food restaurants nearby like Jollibee, Mang Inasal, Chowking, Dunkin, and Mister Donut but better try local.


🚌 12:15PM - Ride the Bus to Balingoan Port

Two Options:

1. Butuan Bus

- They have comfortable chairs with air condition and CR

- Ask the conductor to stop at Balingoan Port

- Fare: P198

2. Direct to Balingoan Port

- You can ride the direct bus but not air-conditioned

- Fare: P158

Start: 12:15PM

Stopover: Balingasag Bus Terminal (01:30PM)

Duration: 2 hours and 15 minutes (02:30PM)

πŸ₯₯ Don’t miss the buko pie for only P15


⛴️ 02:30PM - Ride the Ferry to Benoni Port, Camiguin

- From the bus stop, go to Balingoan Port. It’s less than a minute walk.

- Choose Super Shuttle Ferry (Contact: 09772582396)

Total Fare: P397

+ P359 - Ferry

+ P15 - Terminal fee

+ P15 - Environment fee

To save time, please create Isle Visit Camiguin QR code at islevisitcamiguin.com as you'll be needing this both at Balingoan Port and Benoni Port.

Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes (02:30PM to 04:00PM)


🚐 04:00PM - Ride a Jeep or Motorela to SJ Pabua

Just to reiterate, please create Isle Visit Camiguin QR code at islevisitcamiguin.com to save time and you won't miss the jeep coz it's only limited.

Two Options:

1. Commute (P55):

+ P35 - Jeep going to Mambajao

+ P20 - Orange motorcycle going to SJ Pabua in Brgy. Agoho

2. Direct with Motorela (P500 - good for 8)

- If you ever miss the jeep

- You can ask fellow travelers to share the ride with you


πŸ›– 05:00PM - SJ Pabua Travellers Inn (Book Here)

Spacious bedroom with aircon, TV, sheets and towels that smell really good, and clean toilet.

Terrace to relax after tours and get fresh air! This cute doggo excitedly welcomes you in this terrace everytime you go home from a tour.

They have a kitchen and all the utensils you need if you want to cook. You can also order from their partners and the food be delivered to your room.

Drinking water is unlimited. Just bring a water bottle. (See Travel Essentials)

Food is also very accessible. You can just go outside and eat at the following:

- Paradiso (A little fancy Italian restaurant)

- Abang Eatery (barbeque and lutong bahay)

- Stores are available for bread and canned goods

Only P890 per night for 2 people already: Book Here.


πŸ• 06:30PM - Dinner at Paradiso

- Located a few steps away from SJ Pabua

- Sample order: Spaghetti Aglio e Olio (P290) and Hawaiian Pizza (P350)


πŸ’†β€β™‚οΈ 08:00PM - Buy Breakfast and Sleep Early

- You need to buy breakfast the night before coz you'll wake-up very early on Day 2. You can do groceries just outside of SJ Pabua.

- Prepare for the tour and relax after the long day

Day 2: White Island and Land Tour

To catch the sunrise at White Island, you need to wake-up at 03:30AM πŸŒ…


β˜• 03:30AM - Breakfast

- All restaurants and stores are still close at this hour.

- This is the reason why you need to do groceries the night before just outside of SJ Pabua.


⛴️ 04:30AM - Register at White Island Ferry Terminal

Two options to go there:

1. Walk: 15-minute from SJ Pabua (not much motorela at this hour)

2. Motorela: 3-minute ride (P10 per person)

Registration:

+ P550 - boat (good for 4)

+ P50 - environmental fee

- You can share the boat with other people but you'll go back when they want to go back. Better rent the entire boat so you can stay on the island as long as you want.

- Tourism Contact: 09657868877


⛡️ 05:00AM - Boat Ride to White Island

- You can actually see the island from the registration

- Duration: 5 minutes or less

🌧️ The weather was really bad during this trip but the sandbar was still really beautiful. Just imagine if it was a sunny day.

πŸ–οΈ The sandbar is C-shaped to represent Camiguin

To go back, just contact your boat to pick you up or ask the lifeguard to radio the terminal.


πŸ₯„ 10:00AM - Early Lunch

- To go back to SJ Pabua, ride a motorela for P10.

- Change clothes, leave your wet stuff, and prepare your tour essentials.

- Just a few steps of SJ Pabua, you can eat at Abang's BBQ and Grill.

- Sample order: fried chicken, chopseuy, rice, and 3-in-1 coffee. All for P120.


🚐 10:30AM - Start of Tour

You can rent a pedicab by contacting SJ Pabua on Facebok or Rey (09057700747) for the whole day

Rates:

- P2,300 for 1-2 pax

- P2,500 for 3-5 pax

- P2,700 for 6-7 pax

- P3,000 for 8-12 pax

If you're traveling solo, there are also motorcycle tour guides for around P800 to P1,200. Please check the summary above.


✝️ 11:00AM - Sunken Cemetery

This place is free of charge but you'll have to register at the tourism office.

Rentals:

β›΅ P100 - Boat to go to the cross

🀿 P50 - Snorkel, mark, and fins

🌧️ Unfortunely, the weather wasn't good and the water was really cold so I decided to skip snorkeling.

The Sunken Cemetery is just across the street and you'll be passing by a pasalubong center. The best place to buy pasalubong.


πŸƒ 01:00PM - Tuasan Falls

Entrance Fee: P75

- They have clean restroom if you want to change outfit.

- There's no signal there but they have Starlink. Sosyal!

- Please try "kiping", one of Camiguin's delicacy, for only P10.


🌳 Katunggan Park

A beautiful mangrove park to chill after the fun yet tiring tour.

They have huts scattered inside the mangroves where you can eat or celebrate something

- They have a restaurant if you want to grab a meal

Sample order: sisig (P150) and rice (P20)


🚐 Go back to SJ Pabua


πŸ₯„ Dinner at Abang BBQ and Grill

- Sample order: Chicken BBQ (P90), Balbacua (P50), Rice (P15)


🧳 Pack your things and rest

Day 3: Mantigue Island

πŸ›– Check-out at SJ Pabua


β˜• Breakfast by buying food outside


🏝️ Mantigue Island and Katibawasan Falls

Photos from Jonny Melon and Philippine Travels via Google Images

- Both destinations are on the way to the port.

- This was the original plan on the last day and I was really looking to this but the weather did not permit.

- You can contact Kuya Rey of SJ Pabua on Day 2 or the habal guides on the summary section

- Better if you rent the pedicab again especially if you have luggages coz you can leave them at the vehicle while touring and you can choose to go to the port directly.


Going home from SJ Pabua to Benoni Port:

πŸ›΅ Motorela to Mambajao Terminal (Bagsakan Public Transport)

- Duration: 10 minutes

- Fare: P25

- If you're planning to go 123, this kid will kick your ass. πŸ˜†

🚐 Jeep to Benoni Port

- Duration: 30 minutes

- Fare: P15


⛴️ Ferry to Balingoan Port

- Fare: P359

- Terminal Fee: P15

- Duration: 1 hour and 15 minutes (09:00AM - 10:15AM)


πŸ₯„ Lunch Chicken Star

- After arriving at Balingoan Port, you can eat lunch at Chicken Star

- Located just on the right side of the exit.

- Sample order: 2-piece chicken with rice (P93)


🚌 Bus to Agora Terminal

- Just walk outside of the pier and go right, you’ll see the bus stop right away.

- Fare: P197 + P25 if the with baggage

- Duration: 2 hours

Two options from here:

1. If you still have the energy, you can still go to Limketkai Center to eat dinner and buy pasabulong at Missy Bon Bon. You can ride the Magnum Express van transfer to the airport from there.

2. Ride the van to the airport from Agora Terminal.


πŸ₯„ Dinner and Buy Pasalubong at Missy Bon Bon in Limketkai Center

Located right beside Starbucks and Mcdo

Sample order: Cordon Bleu (P285) and Blueberry Chessecake (P159)

- There's also a mall if you want to shop

- Magnum Express is located right in front of the mall's entrance


🚐 Ride Magnum Express to Laguindingan Airport

They have a comfortable lounge with food, drinks, wifi, and TV

- Premium Van: comfortable chairs and high ceiling

- Fare: P199

- Duration: 1 hour

- You can also ride Magnum Express to go to Dahilayan Park in Bukidnon.


✈️ Flight to Manila

- There are food stalls and pasalubong centers at the airport. There's Missy Bon Bon too.

- Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes


Please checkout the Bukidnon and Cagayan De Oro travel guides which are the best Camiguin side trips in my opinion.

Thanks for reaching this far!

πŸ‘‹ Say hi on Facebook if you have any questions about the guide

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πŸ—“οΈ Travel dates: January 28 to 30, 2024