Introduction
Joan and I were invited to Cagayan de Oro in January 2024. For a few days, we explored with family and friends Camiguin Island in a private jeepney. We drove to the White Island, Tuasan Waterfalls, Hot Springs, Mantigue Island, and Soda Water Pool.
1st Day – Off to Camiguin Island
We departed from Manila to Cagayan de Oro with Air Asia at 04 AM. Just with our cabin luggage, we arrived at Laguindingan Aiport ninety minutes later. My cousin came to pick us up by cab, and we drove to his home. A few hours later, the whole group (nineteen adventurers!) was ready, and we took his jeepney to drive to Balingon Ferry Terminal. Before noon, we loaded the jeepney onto the ferry to Benoni Port Terminal on Camiguin Island.
On the island, it was one more drive to the rented accommodation. The rest of the day, we stayed at home and prepared for our activities in the upcoming days.
2nd Day – White Island, Tuasan Waterfall & Hot Springs
Our first target was White Island, which is situated north of Camiguin. We had to go there in the morning because of the hot weather. At the White Island Ferry Terminal, we parked the jeepney. From there, we took small boats to white island. Each has space for up to four people, and a return ticket for four people costs three hundred pesos.
At 10 AM on the white beach, the sun was already unbearable. We did photo shooting, swimming, flew the drone, ate sea urchins sold by local fishermen, and returned before lunch.
For the second part of the day, we drove to Tuasan Waterfalls and nearby hot springs. Both locations have a small entry fee. These places are hidden around the island’s center and covered by rocks and trees—great spots to stay during the daytime and hide from the heat.
3rd Day – Mantigue Island
Today, we focused on Mantigue Island, situated east of Camiguin. This spot is not just a white beach like the day before. There are chairs and tables available for daily rent, and we brought food to stay the whole day until late afternoon.
4th Day – Soda Water Pool
On our last morning, before taking the boat back to Cagayan de Oro, we went to the Soda Water Pool. It is a natural spring resort with a vast swimming pool.
At 06 PM, we were back in the City of Cagayan de Oro. Joan and I booked three nights at the MH Metro Hotel. It’s a low-budget accommodation with Wi-Fi and includes breakfast. There are many malls nearby, just a few minutes on foot.
5th Day – River Rafting
Today, Joan and I went with three friends on the Camiguin trip for river rafting. We met at 09 AM in the city and were picked up by the team of Bugsay River Rafting. It was a forty-five-minute drive to the starting point. We got one guide assigned and had a short safety lesson on how to behave on the boat and paddle on the river. After the dry run, we spent around three hours on the river.
6th Day – Cagayan de Oro, Malls
Today was our city walk day, and we went to different malls and enjoyed local delicatessen. In the evening, one last time, we met friends and family from the Camiguin trip at Panagatan Seafood restaurant.
7th Day – Dahilayan Resort
Joan and I still had two more days, so we went to Dahilayan for one night. At Magnus Express Terminal near the SM Mall, we booked a van the day before. The journey took two hours to get there. At Dahilayan, we took a tricycle to the Dahilayan Gardens and Resort, where we inquired about an overnight stay. We decided to go camping instead of having a private room. They provided a tent and also sleeping bags. It is in the hills, and we were fortunate to have brought warm clothes. On the day of arrival, we walked around the area and had dinner at a local restaurant.
8th Day – Dahilayan Adventure Park
On the second day, we went early in the morning to the Dahilayan Adventure Park. There, we had breakfast and did the Zipline activity, promoted to the longest in Asia! This park has many more activities and is very welcoming for children.
04 PM, we took the van back to the Magnus Express Terminal in the city. There, we transferred to the airport bus. Late in the evening, we checked in at the AGD Inn close to the airport. From this accommodation, it’s just a two-minute drive to the departure area at the airport. We chose this place to catch our early flight at 06 AM back to Manila on the next day.
9th Day – Departure
We got up at 04 AM, and the hotel staff provided an airport drop included in the overnight stay. Around 08 AM, we were back in Manila.
Some Expenses in US-Dollars
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Return Flight Manila to Cagayan de Oro (1 Pax) $80
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Boat from Camiguin to White Island (up to 4 Pax) $5.30
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Entrance Fee Tuasan Waterfalls (1 Pax) $2.70
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Entrance Hot Springs (1 Pax) $1.80
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Three Nights with Breakfast at Metro Hotel (2 Pax) $75
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Bugsay River Rafting (1 Pax) $26
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One-way Van Magnus Express to Dahalayan (1 Pax) $4.50
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One-way Bus Magnus Express to Laguindingan Airport (1 Pax) $3.50
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Zipline Adventure at Dahalayan Adventure Park (1 Pax) $11
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One Night at AGD Inn near Laguindingan Airport (2 Pax) $14
Conclusion
Camiguin Island is great to visit as a family or/with friends. It has a few activities that can be done in a few days. There are also great resorts to relax and enjoy the scenery. I had the impression it was not overpopulated by mass tourism. Many tourists don’t even know this island, so they choose more famous spots like Boracay and Palawan.
A five-star experience to relax at white beaches and enjoy stunning scenery.
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