Camiguin Island Roundtrip

Short Description

A 64 km trip around the Island of Camiguin. You may do it on bicycle, tricycle (motorela), on your rented motorbike, in a jeepney or in an aircon van. We recommend the rented motorbike. The only thing you have to decide is whether you turn clockwise or not. Our description starts in Mambajao at kilometer zero. There are yellow poles on the roadside where the distance from Mambajao is indicated. The same information you find on all bridges. This may help you to estimate your time consumption.

CAUTION: The ring road around Camiguin Island is interrupted at km 54. This is between Naasag and the Old Volcano in the north-west of the Island.
There are security maintenance works up the volcano slope.
The road is closed daily from 08:00 am to 12:00 nn and from 01:00 pm to 05:00 pm.
Schedule your travel according to this closing hours. The road is covered with sand and debris and is in a bad state for about 250 meters. Be careful!

Time and Distance

Distance is 64km. With a few sidesteps you will count perhaps 90km. One can do this trip in 3 hours or less. But think to visit hot and cold springs, waterfalls, beaches and get some rest. So it is good to plan a whole day from 07:00am to 05:00pm.
It might be even a good idea to do the trip twice (or even more). In one day you cannot visit all the points of interest.

Equipment

Take your swimming gear, a hat and your sunglasses with you. You will need at least 3 liters of water per person. But water is available everywhere on Camiguin Island.
If you chose the bicycle or motorbike solution you should wear a long sleeved shirt and long trousers. An alternative is a sunscreen of factor 40 or more. Apply the sunscreen repeatedly otherwise you get home with burning red arms and legs.

What you will see

We chose to ride counterclockwise around the island. Already at kilometer 0 you may do a sidestep and go up to the PHILVOLCS volcano observatory. There is a concrete road of some 3km up to the observatory. This observatory supervises the Mount Hibok-Hibok volcano. You may visit the technical installation and the historical and scientific exposition. The staff welcomes you with pleasure and answers your questions with great knowledge.

Either at Brgy. Kuguita, Bug-ong or Agoho there is a new possibility to sidestep. 3 roads (3km) lead up to the Ardent Hot Spring. The water of these springs is 40°C warm. The springs are open from 06:00am to 10:00pm. We suggest you take a bath in the evening, when air is slightly cooler.

At Brgy. Bug-ong or Agoho you will see signs inviting you for a trip to White Island. This is merely a sandbar of white sand laying a few hundred meters off shore. At the resorts here you can rent a pumpboat (barca) that brings you to the tinny island.

Near Brgy. Naasag is another hot spring, the Tagub (Tangub) hotspring. It is not easy to find, so ask for. The water comes from under the sea. So you will sit in the sea water and feel the hot springwater come up from the ground.

Continue about 2km and you are at the foot of Old Volcano and its Via Crucis. This Stations of the Cross are built of white statues. The first 4 stations lay in a shadowy forest and the steps and path are of concrete. After station 4 the concrete is replaced by a mud path and instead of large trees you find bushes. The view from the top of the path is worth the climb. Back on the ring road you may have a drink or buy a t-shirt.

Just before you arrive in Bonbon is the Sunken Cemetery and the ruins of an old Spanish church. You cannot miss them because the Sunken Cemetery is marked by a large white cross in the sea. The church and the cemetery had been destroyed by an earthquake in 1871.

After another 10km, either at Brgy. Catibac or Compol a road climbs the hills and leads to the Tuasan Falls (6km) and the Bura Sodawater Swimming Pool (3.5km). The Tuasan Falls aren't easily accessible. The last kilometer you must go on foot and we recommend to hire one of the boys up there as your guide. Otherwise you might not find the falls. The hike takes about 20 minutes (one way). We have not yet visited the Bura Sodawater Pool.

At Brgy. Looc, just before the town of Catarman starts the road that leads you to the Santo Niño Cold Spring, one of the must sees of Camiguin Island. In a nice park is a large pool with fresh water from the spring. Inside the crystal clear water live small fishes. If you stay motionless in the water, these fish will come and pick off all the dead skin of your body. You won't feel them, but after half an hour your body will be clean and smooth. This treatment is even recommended for some skin problems like neuro-dermatitis.
Around the pool, there are food stalls and a picnic area. Entrance fee is PHP 50. This might be a good place for your lunch.

Between Catarman and Guinsiliban the inland becomes flat with rice fields and in the background the majestic mounts Mambajao and Timpdonc. The beaches are covered with colorful pebbles (see our souvenir page).

2km after Guinsiliban the road to Brgy. Cantaan leaves the ring road on the right hand. This road had been financed by the Spanish government and brings you after 600 meters into Cantaan. If you have never seen mangrove trees, you should stop in the village of Cantaan near the basketball field and make the few steps to the beach. An even bigger mangrove swamp can be found about 1km after the village. There is a sign indicating the path downhill.
At Kabila White Beach you find one of the most beautiful beaches of Camiguin. Visit the Giant Clams Nursery at the other end of the beach. You may also go swimming and snorkeling. See the Giant Clams just some meters off-shore in their protected nursery.

Some kilometers later, just before arriving in the port of Benoni lays the Taguines Lagoon. This artificial lagoon is connected to the sea and serves as fish nursery.

Benoni is an interesting town. Its port is the main link from Camiguin to Mindanao. A major part of this town is constructed in the shallow sea. The houses are built on stilts.

In Brgy. Mahinog follow the signs to the Camiguin Breeding Center. There is the Camiguin Animal Breeding and Ostrich Production Center. At the moment of writing there lived some 30 ostriches up there.

At Brgy. Tupsan Bequeño a short road brings you to the Macao Cold Spring. We have not yet visited this spring.

You are now nearly back to the origin of your journey around the island. But before reviewing your interesting day, you should go up to the Katibawasan Falls. The water falls over 70m into a pool. the water is refreshing cool and you may recover from a hot day.

And remember: Get in contact with the people. The people of Camiguin welcome you with a bright smile and a "Hello friend". We actually got real friends on Camiguin not looking for the tourist to do business with, but looking at you as the human who brings news and tells stories. You get help without any question for money and you can pass entire days by chatting.

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