It was our first family trip by plane and also my son’s first time on both a plane and a boat, a milestone for all of us!
From Boracay Plans to Camiguin Adventures
We originally planned to go to Boracay, but didn’t like the available flight options. So we changed plans and booked a flight to Cagayan de Oro (CDO) instead, with the intention of heading to Camiguin afterwards. No regrets—we thoroughly enjoyed our trip to CDO and Camiguin!
We flew to CDO and took a ferry to Camiguin Island. It was a fun mix of air, land, and sea travel.
A Near Miss
At one point, I thought we’d need to postpone our trip since my husband had to be in Shanghai, China, for work. Luckily, he made it home the day before our flight. Thank God everything worked out!
Our 5:00 AM flight was rescheduled to 6:05 AM due to a Philippine Airlines issue. I was anxious because we had to catch an 8:30 AM ferry to Camiguin. Our plane landed at 7:45 AM—cue the Amazing Race mode! We took a cab and managed to haggle the fare down from P350 to P300.
There was a bit of traffic, and I prayed hard that we’d make it in time because I didn’t want to go with the backup plan. Thankfully, we made it! We took the Para Sea Cat Ferry, which had a two-hour travel time to Camiguin Island. (I’m not sure if they’re still operating today.)
2010 Ferry Rates:
Deck: Php 400.00
View Deck: Php 400.00
Business Class: Php 600.00
Alternate Route (2010):
Ride a taxi to Agora Market (P350, travel time: 30–45 mins)
From Agora, take a Rural Transit (Yellow Bus) to Balingoan Port (P130, 1.5–2 hours)
At Balingoan terminal, ride a multi-tricycle (P7) or walk ~100 meters to the port
Take the ferry to Benoni Wharf (P135, ~1 hour 20 minutes)
Where We Stayed: Secret Cove Resort
We stayed at Secret Cove Resort, located just 15 minutes from White Island. Camiguin offers many accommodation options, but choosing the right one can be overwhelming. I booked our stay one month in advance—all done through email, no reservation fee required.
Why Secret Cove?
Affordable rates
Close to White Island
Great food – I read so many good reviews, and they didn’t disappoint. The servings were large, delicious, and reasonably priced.
Address: Yumbing, Mambajao, Camiguin
Tel: (+63) (88) 387-9084
Fax: (+63) (88) 387-9184
Email: tomsolski@fastmail.fm
Day 1: Exploring Camiguin Island
We were surprised by the number of tourists—probably because it was close to the Lanzones Festival. Thankfully, I booked a tour guide in advance, and he also recommended the boatman for our White Island trip. After lunch, we began our island tour.
Day 1 itinerary:
Tres Marias Volcano (photo stop)
Walkway to the Old Volcano
Ruins of Gui-ob Church
Sunken Cemetery
Sto. Niño Cold Spring
Soda Swimming Pool
Ardent Hot Spring
We passed by Tres Marias Volcano and took some photos before heading to the Walkway to the Old Volcano. Since we had kids with us, we didn’t climb the stairs and went directly to the Sunken Cemetery.
You can ride a boat to the big cross (P100/person), but due to strong winds, we decided to skip it.
Next stop: the Ruins of Gui-ob Church. A kind local offered to take our photos and directed us where to pose—he said his shots were "pang-Facebook," and they actually turned out great! There’s a massive tree nearby, said to be over 100 years old.
We made a quick stop to see a lanzones tree—my first time seeing one!
Then we visited the Soda Swimming Pool. I didn’t taste the water to verify the "soda" claim, but it was really cold.
At the Sto. Niño Cold Spring, the water was again too cold, so hubby and my son didn’t enjoy swimming.
Our last stop was the Ardent Hot Spring. Finally, warm water! It was the perfect way to relax after a full day of touring, though we didn’t stay too long because of the insects.
Entrance Fees:
Sunken Cemetery (P100/boat to the cross)
Walkway to the Old Volcano & Via Cruces – P5
Sto. Niño Cold Spring – P20 (P50 cottage)
Soda Swimming Pool – P20 (P50 cottage)
Ardent Hot Spring – P30 adults / P15 kids (P70 cottage)
Day 2: White Island and Final Tour
When you say Camiguin, White Island instantly comes to mind—it’s known for its pristine sandbar. Just 2 kilometers off Mambajao, it’s best to visit early morning or late afternoon.
The shape of the sandbar changes depending on the tide—sometimes it looks like a letter C, sometimes letter I.
We waited by the shore as early as 5:30 AM, and our boat fetched us for the 15–20 minute ride. The round-trip fare was P450, and you can stay as long as you like—just coordinate with your boatman. We stayed until 7:00 AM. Entrance fee: P20/person.
Important Note:
There are no cottages, no shade, no restrooms—just pure white sand and a beautiful view of Mt. Hibok-Hibok and the Old Volcano. The water wasn’t too cold, and we were able to swim and snorkel. It was incredibly peaceful—a perfect spot to relax and take stunning photos.
More Camiguin Highlights
After breakfast and packing up at Secret Cove, we started our Day 2 itinerary:
Buy pasalubong (pastel & lanzones)
Katibawasan Falls
Camiguin Animal Breeding & Ostrich Center
Giant Clam Culture
Lunch at J&A Fish Pen Restaurant
We skipped Mantigue Island, having already experienced White Island.
Unfortunately, pastel wasn’t available at their store yet, so we planned to buy it at the port later. (Tip: You can find pastel everywhere, but prices vary.)
At Katibawasan Falls, I saw the tallest waterfall I’ve ever seen! Since we were heading back to CDO later that day, we didn’t swim—just took some photos and moved on.
We visited the Camiguin Animal Breeding & Ostrich Center, then headed to the Giant Clam Culture Center. Sadly, we couldn’t snorkel due to high waves, and I didn’t want to risk it since I’m not a strong swimmer.
Still, you can see a variety of clams up close, and local kids guide and educate visitors. They were so friendly and knowledgeable—it was refreshing to see their passion for marine conservation!
Fun Fact:
The clams here came from the UPMSI Bolinao Marine Laboratory!
Entrance Fees:
Katibawasan Falls – P15 adults / P6 children
Giant Clam Culture – P25/pax (P150 for tour guide)
Mantigue Island (not visited) – P550/boat + P20 entrance + P50 snorkeling fee
Lunch at J&A Fishpen
Before heading back to CDO, we had lunch at the famous J&A Fishpen Restaurant, located near Benoni Port.
Everything here is fresh—you can pick your seafood from their fish pens and have it cooked to your liking. They also offer non-seafood dishes, and prices are budget-friendly.
We were too hungry to take photos, but we ordered grilled bangus, grilled liempo, and steamed halaan. Highly recommended!
Pasalubong Shopping
Don’t forget to bring home lanzones and pastel! Since we visited during Lanzones Festival month, we bought plenty of both to share with family and friends.
Back to Cagayan de Oro
It was finally time to say goodbye to beautiful Camiguin and head back to Cagayan de Oro. The Paras Sea Cat ferry was scheduled to depart at 4:30 PM, so we had to wait at the port for more than three hours, followed by another two-hour sea journey.
From the CDO port, we took a cab to Pearlmont Hotel, our accommodation in the city. It’s quite near the port, and the taxi fare was only P70.
After checking in, we headed to Limketkai Mall for dinner at Bigby’s and picked up some bottled water. We originally planned to visit the Night Market in Divisoria, but we were all too tired—especially our two-year-old son—so we just went back to the hotel to rest.
Pearlmont Hotel
Limketkai Drive, Cagayan de Oro
(8822) 72-9455 / 72-9111 / 72-7477
(88) 856-2653 to 55
(8822) 72-8913
Have You Been to Camiguin?
Camiguin may be a small island, but it's packed with hidden gems, natural wonders, and warm, welcoming locals. If you’re looking for a peaceful escape from the busy city, Camiguin is a destination worth exploring.
From volcanoes and hot springs to sandbars and waterfalls, every part of the island offers something unique. I’ll always cherish this trip—not just for the scenic spots, but for the memories we created as a family.
