If you are planning on having a trip to Mindanao, the city of Cagayan de Oro and the province of Camiguin are two of the best places that you can visit. Cagayan de Oro, being a progressive city in the province of Misamis Oriental, serves as a gateway to Mindanao and is well known for river rafting activity. Camiguin, a small island province located north of Misamis Oriental, offers a wide range of tourist attractions, food and activities. It was nine months prior to our travel when we had the chance to book a roundtrip promo flight to Cagayan De Oro. However, it was a couple of months later that we realized we wanted to maximize our stay in Camiguin so we booked a one way regular fare flight from Camiguin to Manila four months prior to our travel date. Although it was an additional expense for us, we had a big advantage since we would not go back anymore to Cagayan de Oro and it will save us a lot of time. We also had our tour arranged arranged by availing a tour package prior to our travel date. In this blog, I will be sharing our experiences, itineraries and expenses during our five day tour on Cagayan de Oro and Camiguin.
Airfare
We booked our flights with Cebu Pacific Air and Skyjet Airlines. Cebu Pacific has daily flights from Manila – Laguindingan vice versa and Skyjet Airlines offers direct daily flights from Manila – Camiguin vice versa.
Facebook Page:
Cebu Pacific
Roundtrip promo ticket:
August 28, 2019 – Wednesday
Manila (MNL) – Cagayan (CGY)
August 31, 2019 – Saturday
(CGY) Cagayan – Manila (MNL)
Note: We paid an additional 1,000 PHP for the luggage fee since it was our mistake by not knowing that our booked flight doesn’t have a luggage fee included and we did not include it upon accomplishing our online check-in. For our return trip to Manila,we decided not to push through with it and instead book a direct flight from Camiguin to Manila on a Sunday. Upon arrival at Laguindingan Airport, you still have to do a 1 hour landtrip from Laguingdingan, Misamis Oriental going to Cagayan De Oro, Misamis Oriental.
Skyjet Airlines
One way ticket:
September 1, 2019 – Sunday
Manila (MNL) – Camiguin (CMG)
Note: Instead of going back to Cagayan de Oro and spending at least 5 to 6 hours of traveling, we decided to just book a direct flight from Manila to Camiguin via Skyjet Airlines. It was a big advantage for us since the travel time from Camiguin to Manila is only 90 minutes plus we also had ample time to buy pasalubong and visit the tourist attractions within the island.
Ferry
If you are coming from Cagayan de Oro, the best way to get to Camiguin is to have a 3 hour land trip going to Balingoan Port at Balingoan, Misamis Oriental then ride a ferry for 1.5hrs to 2hrs going to Camiguin. You can take the Bus going to Butuan then drop off at Balingoan Port or if you have an arranged tour, the agency will be the one to arrange your landtrip and ferry ride. Ferry ride costs around 250PHP per pax.
Accommodation
PJ Suites
We stayed at PJ Suites for one night at Cagayan de Oro inclusive of breakfast. The Suite is just a walking distance from Plaza Divisoria which is considered as a historical landmark of the city. There are also a lot of establishments near Plaza Divisoria but unfortunately, we were not able to try any of the restaurants along Plaza Divisoria since we were really tired after spending the afternoon for River Rafting.
Paguia’s Cottages
A well known accommodation in Camiguin, we stayed at Paguia’s Cottages for three nights inclusive of breakfast. They serve breakfast upon request. Located at Mambajao, the capital municipality of Camiguin, is only a walking distance from the highway, food establishments, and White Island boat terminal.
Things to do in Cagayan de Oro
River Rafting
This is one of the best things to do in Cagayan de Oro. River rafting is offered by a handful of rafting companies in Cagayan de Oro with different courses and different starting point. We had the basic course for our river rafting and lasted for about 3 to 4 hours. Participants will be picked up in their respective accommodation by a jeep together with the tour guide then will drop off the participants at their designated starting point depending on their chosen course. Activity duration will also depend on the chosen course of the participants. By the end of the activity, the jeep will meet the participants at the end point and will drop them off at their respective accommodations. Swimming in the river will also be allowed by the tour guide during the activity but always make sure that you follow them and their safety rules. We were lucky enough that our group was the only one doing the activity on that day. Our tour guide Loloy was very informative and entertaining during our activity. He pointed out a handful of animal species that lives within the area, historical evidences and also informed us that Cagayan de Oro river acts as a natural border between the province of Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon. Our river rafting activity was provided by 1st Rafting Adventure and you may check their Facebook page here.
Take a walk around Plaza Divisoria
Since PJ Suites was only a walking distance from Plaza Divisoria , we decided to take a stroll first around Plaza Divisoria after our river rafting. We were able to buy a Buko juice and a half kilo Lanzones after strolling. There a lot of food choices along Plaza Divisoria but we were unable to try any of them even though we planned to go back by dinner time since we were really tired and already fell asleep after taking a shower.
Things to do in Camiguin
Visit Mantigue Island
An island and a marine sanctuary located in the municipality of Mahinog. Mantigue Island is just a 10 minute boat ride. We were able to do snorkeling in this island and encountered a couple of marine species and coral plants. We were also lucky enough that we visited Mantigue Island late in the afternoon because of the low tide and only few people remain in the island.
Visit Sunken Cemetery
A Cemetery located in the municipality of Catarman that was unable to escape from the eruption of the Old Volcano. As one of the locals said, it was not only the cemetery that sunked into the ocean because there were also villages nearby that also sunked after the Old Volcano erupted. When you are visiting the Sunken Cemetery, there are small boats for hire which will take you at the foot of the Cross and you can also do free diving within the area.
Visit Guiob Church Ruins
A Church also located in the municipality of Catarman. According to our Tour Guide, the Church was also unable to escape the eruption of the Old Volcano. One of the locals said that the people during the eruption believed that the Church was the safest place that they can took shelter but unfortunately, the Church became one of the casualties of the eruption.
Visit Sto. Nino Cold Spring
This is a natural cold spring located in the municipality of Catarman. This is probably one of the best options to include in your itinerary if you will be visiting Camiguin during the Summer season.
Visit Tuasan Falls
This is a tourist friendly waterfall located in the municipality of Catarman, Camiguin. It is just a walking distance from the road. The downside of our visit here is that there is an ongoing construction so we only spent a short time in this attraction.
Visit White Island
An island or more realistically a sandbar that is just a five minute boat ride from Yumbing Village, Mambajao, Camiguin. The place gives you one of the best views of the island of Camiguin.
Visit Ardent Hot Spring
The Hot Spring which is located in Mambajao, Camiguin was not so hot anymore. According to our tour guide, the source of the Hot Spring was probably moved after the 2013 Bohol earthquake. Despite of this, we still visited the Hot Spring and took a picture.
Visit Bura Soda Swimming Pool
A natural swimming pool located in Catarman, Camiguin. The pool has a mild taste of soda but is more of a normal dip in a swimming pool.
Enjoy the scenic view of Tongatok Cliff
We took a stop over at this place while on our way to the Sunken Cemetery. The place has an open view of the Bohol sea.
Enjoy the scenic view of Mt. Tres Marias
We were able to drop by at this location on the way to the Tuasan Falls.
Dine in at J&A Fishpen Lagoon
Located beside the Taguines Lagoon in the Municipality of Mahinog, Camiguin. This is the place that we had lunch after our arrival in Camiguin.
Dine in at La Dolce Vita
Owned by an Italian national, this is probably one of the best places to dine here in Camiguin that serves an authentic Italian cuisine. The restaurant also offers a free angkas back to your accommodation.
Dine in at Checkpoint Food
Located at Yumbing Village, Mambajao, Camiguin and has a generous serving. This restaurant was only a walking distance away from our accommodation.
Dine in at Luna Ristorante Italiano
This restaurant is just beside Checkpoint Food.
Pasalubong
One of the well known products in Camiguin, which is commonly bought for pasalubong is their Pastel. It is a soft bun with originally a creamy Custard or Yema filling inside. Nowadays, Pastel comes in a variety of flavors. The famous brand of Pastel in the island is the “VJANDEP”. They have a pasalubong center located at the downtown of the capital municipality which is Mambajao, Camiguin. Another well known product of the island is the Lanzones that can be easily bought from the street vendors near the White Island boat terminal.
Itinerary
Day 1
- Flight: (Manila – Laguindingan)
- Landtrip (Laguindingan – Cagayan De oro; Approximately 1 hour)
- Arrival at Cagayan De Oro
- Lunch
- River Rafting
- Plaza Divisoria
Day 2
- Breakfast
- Landtrip (Cagayan De Oro – Balingoan Port; Approximately 3 hours)
- Ferry (Balingoan Port – Benoni Port, Camiguin; Approximately 2 hours)
- Arrival at Camiguin
- Lunch – J&A Fishpen Lagoon
- Mantigue Island
- Dinner: Luna Ristorante Italiano
Day 3
- Breakfast
- Stopover at Tongatok Cliff
- Sunken Cemetery
- Guiob Church Ruins
- Sto. Nino Cold Spring
- Lunch at Sto. Nino Cold Spring Eatery
- Tuasan Falls
- Bura Soda Swimming Pool
- Dinner: La Dolce Vita
Day 4
- Breakfast
- White Island
- Lunch at Checkpoint Food
- Pasalubong
- Ardent Hot Spring
- Dinner at La Dolce Vita
Day 5
- Breakfast
- Flight (Camiguin – Manila)
- Arrival at Manila
Other Pictures
Tour Package
Roel P. Paguia
Contact Number: 09173107085
Kuya Ricky – Tour Guide
Contact Number: 09975093928
Tips and Advises
- If you are a Filipino, locals around the Island will normally talk to you in Bisaya
- If you are planning to have a CDO – Camiguin adventure, it will be better to have a return flight from Camiguin to save time
- Show respect and be polite with the locals
- Show respect to Mother Nature
- Aside from the Motorella and Multi Cab, habal-habal is another common way of transportation in the island
- Cherish every moment when travelling
Travel Diaries 