Camiguin Island Philippines: The Island Born of Fire
Known for its clear blue waters and diverse wildlife, the island draws in visitors from all over the world who are looking for an alternative to the more fast-paced vacations islands in the Philippines.

The island province of Camiguin, known as the island born of fire, is a popular tourist destination in the south region of the Philippines.

blog: Thank You, Camiguin! @Traveloka
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Camiguin is the perfect place to get away and lose yourself, a more chilled and laid back type of island that still has plenty of activities for those who crave a bit of adventure.

Camiguin is the second smallest Philippine province after Batanes (link Batanes) in the north and is home to a population of roughly around 89,000 people. A large expat community also calls the island home.

Camiguin itself is a volcanic island with 7 dormant volcanos and 15 marine sanctuaries. The fertile soil is ideal for planting and the local Lanzones are renowned and sought after all throughout the Philippines. (Lanzones are a type of tropical tree which fruit tastes like a combination of grapes and grapefruit.)

Mount Hibok-Hibok has been designated as an ASEAN (Association Of South East Asian Nations) Heritage Park and the surrounding area is home to a number of waterfalls and natural springs.

Mantigue Island

A small white sand island about 4 kilometers from Camiguin, Mantigue has a small jungle and picnic areas for guests.

The island is considered a marine sanctuary and also has a number of snorkeling areas for fish and sea turtle watching.

Traffic to and from Mantigue is highly regulated so the island doesn’t get too crowded. (Make sure to arrive early.)

There is a small canteen in the interior of the island that sells snacks and water. You can also bring your own food and have it prepared there for a fee.

Try having a Filipino boodle fight, it’s the best way to enjoy lunch on a beautiful beach.

You can also take the very short but scenic nature hike through the interior of the island.


White Island

A hotspot for locals and tourists, White Island is a large sandbar located 1.4 kilometers north of Mambajao.
The island itself isnt very large so visitors are allotted only a couple of hours to explore.

We arrived early and the island was pretty busy. One look at the place though, and you can see why.

The most northern tip of the island was the least busy, and the best place for relaxing or taking awesome pictures.


Giant Clam Sanctuary

The Giant Clam Sanctuary was one of our favorite spots. It was cool to get to see these gargantuan mollusks up close. For a modest fee of only ₱150 (add ₱50 for entrance and environmental fees), you can get up close to the clams and observe them in some of the breeding tanks.

Our young guides were the best part of the tour, and we were surprised as to how knowledgeable they were.

For example, the kids explained that out of the five known species of giant clam, four are indigenous to the Philippines.

You can also go snorkeling from Cantaan Kabila Beach for an additionalv200 (for snorkel and fins). A guide will lead you to the Clams conservation area where you can see them in their natural habitat.

Guiob Old Spanish Church Ruins

The old church ruins are overlooking a steep cliff into the ocean and are a nice place to take photos or hang out with the family.

Considered a historical sight, the ruins are maintained by the local government and can be found in the town of Catarman.

The Sunken Cemetery
cov2Located in Barrio Bonbon, Catarman, the Sunken Cemetery is probably Camiguin’s most notable landmark and a sort of icon of the island.

The cross, a major tourist spot, was erected in 1982 as a marker for the cemetery that was submerged during the formation of Mt Volcan in 1871-1876 and boasts the best sunset on the island.


Souvenirs

Treasures Camiguin

A local NGO that upcycles sea glass and transforms them into beautiful works of wearable art.

The project started in 2015 to help bring livelihood to the women of the Brgy Bug-Ong and Agoho communities. Treasures Camiguin acts as the retail outlet for the Komunidad sa Baibai Foundation.

For more about Treasures Camiguin check out their Facebook here @seaglasspacificjewelry

The showroom is set up so you can actually see how the glass is sorted and then made into jewelry.


The jewelry prices range from ₱250 – ₱5,000 plus depending on the rarity of glass and if it’s made using silver.

Pasalubong sa Camiguin

The best spot to buy Pasalubong (souvenirs) is at Pasalubong sa Camiguin. You can find all sorts of snacks and trinkets.

Vjandep Back Shop
Located right beside Samuels Hotel And Restaurant in Mambajao. The Vjandep Bakeshop’s flagship store is a perfect place to buy Camiguin’s renowned Pastels.

The pastels can be found almost everywhere on the island, but be warned, supplies are limited as these things seem to always be out of stock.

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