Camiguin Island

Northern Mindanao: DAY 2 & 3 (Camiguin Island)

November 27, 2014
8am

As soon as I woke up, I immediately turned on the TV and watched the local news to get updates on Typhoon Queenie. Unfortunately, Signal #1 is still up and Coast Guard still won't allow any kind of motorboat to cross CDO to Camiguin.

Since we had  nothing to do, we just kept ourselves busy by foodtripping, watching tv, sleeping, walking outside the hotel, chitchatting with the locals and asking them if they have contacts to the port terminal or coast guards or any source where we can get information on the schedule of Roro going to Camiguin.

Photo credit: www.tripadvisor.com

Photo credit: www.booking.com

Photo credit: www.priceline.com

Photo credit: commons.wikimedia.org

Note that WinMin Inn is a budget traveller's inn that offers basic amenities. They have a very accommodating staff, they will try their best to help you get updates on what you need such as shuttle services and airport transfers. 780Php for 24hour AC private room, LCD cabled-tv and matrimonial bed. It's location is very convenient since it's right above the bus terminal to any point of Northern Mindanao. Below it are food stalls, Savemore, pasalubong centers, shuttle services going to the Airport and ATMs. The only disadvantage I can see is that you can hear the busy buses going in and out of the terminal, but really, it's not that annoying.

By the time we're supposed to eat lunch, I called the coast guard’s phone number that was given to us by one of the kargadors. Luckily, the girl on the phone informed us that they were back to business.

Instead of eating lunch, we hurriedly packed our things, checked-out from the hotel and went to the nearest shuttle van going to Port Balingoan, the gateway to Camiguin Island. The van needed to be filled with 15 passengers and it was already past 1pm and we're still lacking 4. Thank God there was this couple who bought a 32inch TV set... and paid for all 4 remaining slots.

It was one hell of heart pounding ride.

Don't get me wrong.

The roads were clear and smooth, the van was ok.

Heartpounding because we we're hoping and wishing and praying to get to the port on time for the last trip, which is 4:30pm.

It was past-4 in the afternoon when we arrived Port Balingoan. We could not contain our happiness when the guy handed us our ticket. Plus the bonus dolphins appearance when we were halfway the passage crossing the channel to Camiguin Island.  Nuff said.

It was few minutes after an hour when we reached Port Benoni in Camiguin Island. Jok and I were so happy having our first footstep on the soil of Camiguin Island. After all the hugerstrike from  the 3-hour van ride and mindstress that we may not be able to catch the Roro, DEEEEYM!!!!, it was all worth it.

During the Roro ride, we met Kuya #21. I forgot his name and I can only remember the number on his shirt. He offered us his motorbike. It’s 500pesos for 24hours. This is the most convenient, cheapest and fastest way you can go around Camiguin Island and visit all tourist spots if you're travelling solo or with a partner. But if you're travelling as a group, you can either rent a multicab or a tricycle. I just don't have any idea how much it will cost you.

Getting around Camiguin Island with our rented motorbike

We reached Camiguin Action Geckos Inn, our home in Camiguin Is., around 8pm. The place is really quiet and so relaxing, we can smell the fresh food they're cooking since the restaurant is also their reception or receiving area. We were the only Filipino guest during that night. After settling our bags and some freshing up, we decided to explore the island using our rented motorbike. We first went to this small carinderia and had our first meal in Camiguin. It’s a small ordinary house right in front of the church and park.

900 per day at Camiguin Action Geckos

Beachfront view outside our room

We had Adobong sitaw, fried chicken na tanghalian pa ata niluto, and barbecue. We picked the table that is outside the carinderia since there were group of boys having their inuman session and videoke-ing inside the place.

I don't know if the food is good or we are just hungry. But yeah, Jok and I agreed that the barbecue is the main highlight of our dinner since it’s the only ulam we enjoyed.

After we had dinner, we looked for some place to chill since we still don't want to end this day yet. There, we found this place called "Checkpoint". It's 10mins away from Action Geckos, a 2storey building with stalls on the 1st floor and  a restaurant/bar on the 2nd floor. We stayed there for an hour, had 2 bottles of Redhorse.

Ang dilim ba? hihi. Jok is no photographer, just like me.

We're so haggard na with all the gutom and the byahe... pero all smiles pa din for a #celfie

After which, we decided to head back to the hotel, get rest and sleep since we still have lots of activities for tomorrow. 

The following day, November 28, 2014,  we woke up 6am to start our White Island tour >>>>

Things to do in White Island:

1. Relax.... Listen to the calming waves... Feel the soft-white sand...

2. Sea Urchin eating challenge

first time ko 'to!

3. Frisbee-ing

4.take lots of PICTURES! Need I say more???

Mt. Hibuk Hibuk as our scenic background

Our rented bangka. 600Php for a roundtrip

Jumpshot

and more Jumpshots!!!

After White Island... We had lunch at,,,,, hmmmm... I forgot the name of the restaurant,

 then we tour the rest of the island.

1. Ardent Hot Spring - 30Php/head Entrance

2. Katibawasan Falls - 30Php/head Entrance

View from the top

Sobrang uhaw sya

3. The famous Sunken Cemetery - No Entrance Fee

There are still more tousrist spots in the Island (Church Ruins, Station of the Cross, Soda Pool, Cold Spring, etc.) but we don't have enough time since we had to go back to CDO the next day for our water rafting sesh. Sayang lang kasi nakapag deposit na kami sa water rafting kaya kinailangan na talaga naming bumalik. Nevertheless, Camiguin is surely a place worth visiting again. 

EXPENSES:

186 Breakfast

120*2 = 240 Van to camiguin

175*2 = 350 Ferry

20 = Chicharon sa ferry

500 = Motor

100 = Gas

125 = Dinner

75 = Yosi

180 = Redhorse

15 = Piatos

92 = Pharmary/Grocery
Coffee 40
Sea Urchin 3pcs for 50
Rented Mat 50
Noodles 70
Hard-boiled egg
Ardent Entrance 30/head = 60
Shirt and magnet 260
Katibawasan Falls Entrance - 30/head = 60
Gas 50
Parking 10
Geckos 1030
Pizza 180
White Island bangka 600
Van going back to Agora CDO 110/head = 220