My family, some friends and I, went to Camiguin for a vacation last January. It was the first time i have been there. We rode a van to get there. Along the way, we passed by San Francisco, Cagayan, Iligan, Bukidnon and so on. It was a fun vacation and a great bonding time with Mom and My Stepdad.

CAMIGUIN is believed to be one of the Philippines’s most beautiful island – a virtual paradise – as the island allows visitors to experience a sample of untouched beauty in its entirety. Locked in the eternal embrace of the sea, CAMIGUIN continues its simple existence sheltered from and unfazed by the virulent pressures of today’s accelerated lifestyles.

How to get to Camiguin?

One has to travel one and a half hours from Cagayan de Oro City to Balingoan, Misamis Oriental, and take any of the hourly scheduled ferries across the channels of Mindanao Sea, which dock in either ports of Guinsiliban or Benoni. There is a regular sea and air transportation from Cebu to CAMIGUIN and vice versa. Once in CAMIGUIN, one can go around the 64-kilometer circumferential road in just one hour and a half time through public or private transportation.

My brother, at the ferry going to Camiguin

Where to go when you’re there?

- White Island

also known as Medan Island, it is one of the most popular sites to visit in Camiguin. This small inhabited white sand bar, with picturesque Mt. Hibok-Hibok and Mt. Vulcan as its backdrop, is located two kilometers across from the beaches of Agohay and Yumbing. The island, with a shape that differs depending on the tide, is ideal for swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, and shell collecting.

white island at my not most sexy moment, hehehe.

White Island at a glance

Motorized bancas (small boats) will take you there are white island, they could also wait for you till you get home. There are motorized bancas at the CAVES Resort or at the PARAS Resort which may be hired to ferry visitors to the island. Early in the morning is the best time to visit white island as to there are no trees for shade there. There are vendor’s over at white island selling fresh fish and some cold drinks.

Sunken Cemetery

Lying 20 feet underwater in Barrio Bonbon, Catarman lies the sunken cemetery, the remains of a volcanic eruption. Coral encrusted tombstones can still be explored by snorkellers and scuba divers. A huge cross was installed in 1982 to mark the community cemetery which sunk during the 1871 volcanic eruption. A fluvial procession usually organized by the townfolk of Barangay Bonbon is held to honor the sunken graves of their forefathers on the month of November. Islanders bring flowers and candles as an offering to those who once were buried there. For those who want to take a closer look, there are bancas that can be rented to take you to the site of the cross.

My family at Sunken Cemetery

Catarman Church Ruins (1882)

The church has been damaged by the earthquake in 1871. What are left of the church are its ruins. The belfry, huge walls, columns and the convent stands there as a testament of the tragedy. The destructive eruption has wiped out the Catarman Town established earlier as a Spanish settlement.

Bhogie, Sam, Ej, Ding, Malyn and me at the Catarman Church Ruins

Via Cruces (The way of the cross) – Old volcano slope

Going west from Mambajao, in the town of Bon bon, you can walk up one of Camiguin’s seven volcanoes. There you’ll find Via Cruces. In via cruces you will find life size statues. It depicts the passion, crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. It is a long way to get to the top. You must bring something to drink. Nice place to reflect with family and loved ones.

Viacusis at the Via Cruces… Cool…

Ardent Hot Spring

Sto. NINO Cold Spring