Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Come Again in Camiguin

Endless sun, salty breezes, sea as far as the eye can see – there is really nothing like an island getaway. I am a traveler. And among the places I have visited, there are some which have stuck more in my mind than other. One of those places is an “Island Bourne on Fire”.

Camiguin is the smallest province in Northern Mindanao. It plays host to seven volcanoes, including the still-active Mount Hibok-Hibok. In fact, Camiguin has more volcanoes per square kilometer than any other island on earth.

Tourist attractions include the Gui-Ob Church which was devastated by a volcanic eruption in 1871. There is also the Cross Marker and Sunken Cemetery installed by the Provincial government to mark the community cemetery that sunk during the same volcanic holocaust.

Abundant natural attractions such as Tanguines Lagoon, Katibawasan and Tuasan Falls, Tangub and Ardent Hot Springs, Sto. Nino and Soda Cold Springs, Mantigue and White Islands will definitely keep adventurers busy.

Camiguin is widely recognized for having the sweetest lanzones in the Philippines, and a festival is celebrated every October as a tribute to this delicacy. Parades, pageants, dancing and of course lanzones-eating highlights the event.

Although Camiguin is located in Mindanao, the island is relatively safe with almost nil crime rate. In fact, one of the island’s best traits is its peacefulness and serenity. Although the place is teeming with natural wonders, still, it is uncorrupted by large number of tourists and those who do come there feel proprietorial about Camiguin and guard news of its treasures like a secret.

There is currently no direct flight from Manila to Camiguin. You can take Philippine Airlines or Cebu Pacific flight to Cagayan de Oro City. Flying time approximately takes one hour and 20 minutes. From the Cagayan de Oro City airport, you can take a cab to the bus terminal located at the Agora Market and get on a bus for Balingoan, a town 88 kilometers outside the city. At Balingoan, take a ferry bound for Camiguin Island approaching Camiguin by sea. The trip usually takes an hour before you reach Benoni Wharf of Mahinog, which is 17 kilometers from the capital town of Mambajao.

To see more of my Camiguin Adventures please click here.

27 comments:

  1. Ganda dyan pare,, may sementeryo sa gitna ng dagat... Ang ganda pa ng beach, white sand.

    ReplyDelete
  2. i spent 8 days in Camiguin and i was virtually hugging this tree trunk when it was time to leave. i hope to see Camiguin one more time.

    ReplyDelete
  3. yan naman ang maganda sa Camiguin. dameng pede puntahan. hmmm...like i wanna spend my bday trip here!

    ReplyDelete
  4. as usual nice shot nanaman pare!! soon i will be in Camiguin for some work purposes... pa add sa BLOGGERS UNITE pare, done adding your link... peace out! :D

    ReplyDelete
  5. Kelan pa ako makapunta ng camiguin. Nakatwice ka na.

    ReplyDelete
  6. It is nice to be out in the sea or by the beach. Too bad we dont have such beautiful beach and crystal clear sea.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Such a small island with lots of attractions... A perfect getaway! I had full of memories there... hehehehehe

    ReplyDelete
  8. Such a gorgeous place! And a superb capture as always! Thanks for sharing the beauty, it does indeed look like a wonderful getaway! Hope your week is going well!

    Sylvia

    ReplyDelete
  9. I haven't been to Camiguin. Looks nice ah. Parang ang sarap magmuni-muni.

    ReplyDelete
  10. i don't know, it's beautiful, pero i'm creeped out dun sa underwater cemetery. feeling ko may hahablot sakin pailalim. :P

    ReplyDelete
  11. there is simply nothing as pretty as the waters/beaches in our country. i wish i could all see this too.

    ReplyDelete
  12. bumalik ka na camiguin atty?
    i remembered reading your posts prior to our camiguin trip last summer.
    pagbalik mo, pabili ng pastel! =)

    ReplyDelete
  13. That cross in the middle of the sea is a unique sight to behold! And what a journey it is to reach Camiguin itself! Of course, it shows that it's worth the travel!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I suddenly miss CDO reading this post.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I was grinning when I read that part of Camiguin having the sweetest lanzones. Because some towns in Laguna have the same claim. :) Anyway, I've never been to Camiguin, but in the past I've tasted the pasalubong lanzones from some people. I agree that they're sweet. But don't ask me which is sweeter. I'll be biased, of course. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Alam ko dyan nagpunta si Gelli de Belen ng inagaw ni Regine sa kanya si Ariel hahaha. Ang ganda nga ng lugar. Hope to go there someday kaso dapat di heartbroken.

    ReplyDelete
  17. On the list of my future trips around the country!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Beautiful place. Love to go there.

    ReplyDelete
  19. You got me at the first line. I was half expecting a beach escapade this long weekend but it seems everyone is going to the beach kaya I think I will just stay home and adore the beach photos here.

    ReplyDelete
  20. i agree. maybe it's one of the safest islands of mindanao plus great beaches and the lansones.

    ReplyDelete
  21. always a perfect view sir!

    babalik balikan talaga!

    ReplyDelete
  22. kelan kaya ako makakarating dito? siguro pag lumaki laki na ang mga bangka nila. ahahahaha!! :))

    ReplyDelete
  23. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  24. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I have never been to Camiguin but would definitely want to go someday because I have heard so many good things about the place. And of course, I so love Lanzones.

    ReplyDelete
  26. pretty island indeed but I would be scared living in one with 7 volcanoes hehe :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Nakakamiss ang Camiguin! I'm finalizing my blog entries now. One of the best destinations in the Philippines :D

    ReplyDelete