Things do in Camiguin, the island born of fire

Camiguin is one of the most impressive and varied islands in the Philippines. The very fact that it is the place with the most volcanoes per square meter in the world can make you dream about its truly magical landscape. There is so much to see and do in Camiguin, which makes it an ideal island if you are active, if you’re not only looking for beaches on your trip around the Philippines and if you’re a nature lover. Plus, even today, it still retains the charm of being an island barely developed for tourism, so unless you visit on local holidays, it’s very likely you’ll have many of these places to see in Camiguin all to yourself.

Hiking among volcanoes, natural pools, huge waterfalls, diving, snorkeling… We’ve been visiting since 2010 (the last time for a full 2 weeks!) and we dream of going back, so we’re going to tell you all its secrets so you can enjoy it to the fullest. Keep reading and discover what to do in Camiguin, Philippines.

How many days to stay in Camiguin

If you keep reading, you’re going to be amazed by the number of places to see in Camiguin. Being such a fascinating island, with so many things to do, it would be a pity to stay less than 3 full days. When we talk about full days, we mean days that exclude the inbound and outbound transfers.

If you can, stay at least 4 or 5. We promise you’ll fall in love with Camiguin. As we told you, we stayed 2 full weeks last time and we assure you we didn’t have a single day to spare.

A good distribution of the trip around Camiguin would be something like this:

1. Motorbike loop: Katibawasan Falls, The Walkaway Old Volcano, Sunken Cemetery, and Ardent Hot Springs
2. Motorbike loop: Tuasan Falls, Bura Soda Water Swimming Pool, Sto. Niño Cold Spring, and Moro Tower
3. Mantigue Island + White Island

Even so, we advise splitting the visits to Mantigue and White Island into 2 days and taking it easy. Seriously, Camiguin is a beautiful island that doesn’t deserve to be rushed.

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Where is Camiguin

Little Camiguin is a province belonging to the Northern Mindanao region and lies 12 kilometers off the coast of this huge island. To give you an idea, it is 53 kilometers south of Bohol and 102 kilometers west of Siquijor. As you can read in great detail in How to get to Camiguin, it is easily accessible from Bohol and Mindanao (Balingoan) by boat and from Cebu by plane.

The island has 2 main ports, Benoni and Balbagon, as well as a small airport. We’ve marked them all on the map below.

If you’ve heard the word Mindanao and already got scared, don’t! Camiguin, just like Siargao (which geographically also belongs to the Mindanao area), is a completely safe island for travelers.

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Things to see and do in Camiguin

Like every island in the Philippines, Camiguin has its own peculiarities and attractions that make it very different from those around it. Something that truly stands out is its very mountainous orography. We are looking at a volcanic island made up of four stratovolcanoes, three of which have several domes. This, together with its lush nature, means that for many the island is a “little Hawaii” and that, beyond the things to do in Camiguin, the most interesting thing is to enjoy its landscapes as you go around, as well as its simplicity, lack of mass tourism and, of course, the contagious joy of its people.

1. Enjoy Camiguin’s beautiful waterfalls

With so many mountains and high volcanoes, it won’t sound strange if we tell you that Camiguin has several beautiful waterfalls where you can take a refreshing dip. Here we cover the most interesting ones and we advise you not to miss any.

Katibawasan Falls

The highest waterfall in Camiguin awaits with its 70‑meter drop and a beautiful setting, although it has now been slightly “developed” for tourism and you’ll find a few picnic tables. You can take a refreshing dip in its pool without any problem. The entrance fee is 75 pesos and you can get there easily by motorbike or tricycle. Open from 8am to 5pm.

A traveler‑to‑traveler tip: get up early and you’ll have these waterfalls to yourself. Even so, keep in mind that, being surrounded by lots of vegetation, the best time to see them with light is around midday. Your call!

Tuasan Falls

These are the waterfalls in Camiguin with the greatest flow and are perfect for a swim. They’ve been slightly urbanized, but they’ve remained fairly “natural” and they also work great if you’re touring the island’s interior (which we highly recommend). The entrance fee is 75 pesos. Open from 8am to 5pm.

Binanwagan Falls

Located north of Sagay, they’re also known as Hidden Falls, since they’re less visited than the previous ones, so it’s possible you’ll have them to yourself. The waterfall is by no means as impressive as the others we mention in this guide, but if you’re in the mood for a little adventure, this is your place.

Getting there can be a bit of an odyssey and you may not find them, but it’s worth trying. First you have to drive to this point, before reaching the bridge. Be very careful because it is a winding road with quite a slope, so you’ll have to pay even more attention on the way down, when your brakes will suffer. Once there, you’ll see some stairs on the left (there’s a turquoise sign) and, when you reach the water tank with pipes, you’ll have to turn left. There begins a kind of path through the forest that’s a bit slippery and it’s not unusual to come across the odd leech, so we recommend wearing proper footwear and long pants. In total it will take you about 45–60 minutes.

If you feel like going but are afraid of getting lost (we already said it’s easy to miss the path), you can also look for a guide at the Camiguin tourism office. Normally they charge about 600 pesos per group.

Update 2026: a reader tells us that in the final downhill stretch there has been a major rockfall and the path has disappeared, and that the falls have been partially covered with rocks from the landslide. In addition, the road down is super steep, so some travelers have even had accidents due to brake failure. Because of this, although we could have removed the falls from the guide, we’re noting it here so you don’t think we simply skipped them. We only prioritize your safety.

2. Island hopping: visit its neighboring islands, with idyllic white‑sand beaches

Although the beaches of Camiguin are not the most photogenic, as most of them are black sand, there are two neighboring islands that fully deserve an island‑hopping trip.

You can combine both islands if you organize yourself well. Thus, you can go to Mantigue and watch the sunset at White Island or do it the other way around: sunrise at White Island and a visit to Mantigue.

Read all about these excursions in Island hopping in Camiguin.

White Island

One of the must‑do things you have to do in Camiguin is visit White Island. This huge tongue of white sand will not only give you the chance to enjoy a great swim, but you’ll be able to contemplate the full panorama of Camiguin and, believe us, it’s breathtaking.

How to get to White Island? Head to Yumbing, where the boats depart. The full bangka (up to 4 people) costs 550 pesos (round trip) and you’ll have to pay 50 pesos per person in fees. You can stay as long as you want; you just have to tell them a time and they’ll come for you. If you can’t find more people, the most common thing is to arrive at the port and join a boat so it’s cheaper.

White Island is spectacular at any time; what you’ll need to keep in mind is the state of the tides on the island. It’s better to visit at low tide to see it in all its splendor.

Mantigue Island

This island will not only offer you beautiful beaches, but it also has a marine sanctuary full of life that will win you over, and for that reason we’ve selected it as one of the best places to snorkel in the Philippines. If you don’t bring your snorkel gear, you can rent it there for 150 pesos.

How to get to Mantigue Island? You have to go to the San Roque pier, from where boats leave for the island. They charge 750 pesos for the whole boat, up to 4 people. In addition, you’ll have to pay 75 pesos per person in environmental fees. You can stay on the island for 3 hours, but if you pay a little more, it can be extended.

If you plan to eat there, you’ll have to bring your own food. There used to be some small food stalls, but other travelers tell us they’ve disappeared.

3. Go hiking on its volcanoes

Camiguin has no fewer than 12 volcanoes. If you like trekking, you’ve got several options!

Walkaway to the Old Volcano and Stations of the Cross

Even if you’re not religious, the views from this trail are well worth it. It’s a route along the slopes of Mt. Vulcan that will lead you to enjoy a beautiful panorama of the island, its vegetation, and the Sunken Cemetery. As you climb, you’ll see 14 stations of the life of Jesus represented by very colorful sculptures.

The entrance fee is 20 pesos per person. No guide is needed. Open from 7h30am to 5pm.

Trekking to Hibok‑Hibok

Hiking lovers visiting the Philippines have a good reason to go to Camiguin. Hibok‑Hibok is an active stratovolcano, but it can be visited without any problem. Although it isn’t the highest mountain on the island, it’s one of the fiercest, as its last eruption in the 1950s killed around 600 people.

Climbing to the summit of Hibok Hibok (at 1,330 meters above sea level) and enjoying the impressive views of White Island, Bohol, Siquijor and Mindanao and of the crater lagoon is one of the most incredible things to do in Camiguin. The route to the summit currently open (the Yumbing Trail) takes between 3 and 5 hours. If you’re in “average” physical shape, the full excursion will take about 8 hours, and we recommend starting at 5:30 in the morning to avoid the heat and have a better chance of a clear summit. Bring plenty of water! In addition, since there are quite a few leeches and mosquitoes, we strongly recommend wearing long pants and socks, repellent and, of course, mountain footwear.

To ascend you need a DENR permit, so you need to stop by their office in Mambajao to obtain it or have your guide handle it for you. It costs 500 pesos per person. Guides charge 1,500 pesos for 1 to 3 people.

Discover everything in our article about the Trekking to Hibok‑Hibok.

4. Explore Camiguin’s underwater world

Camiguin isn’t only beautiful above the sea; beneath the surface you’ll find plenty of marine life and incredible places to discover.

Diving in Camiguin

Although it’s less known than other places in the Philippines for diving, it’s worth spending at least a day scuba diving in Camiguin. The island has no fewer than 31 marine protected areas. There are several dive schools offering daily trips to Mantigue Island (we’ll tell you more soon), but we also recommend including Old Vocano and Sunken Cemetery.

A dive in Camiguin costs about 1,100 pesos, but you’ll need to add the sanctuary fees (around 150 pesos) and equipment rental (around 400 pesos per day).

Freediving in Camiguin

If you practice freediving or would like to, Camiguin is one of the best places in the Philippines for it. At Kurma Eco Beach Lodge, besides being a great place to stay in Camiguin, they have freediving professionals and also offer yoga classes every day.

Giant Clam Sanctuary

Located in the southeast of the island, in Cantaan, this is one of the most special spots to see in Camiguin. It’s a nursery of giant clams that you can visit. Although it may sound a little bland, believe us, the experience is worth it. You’ll learn a lot from the guides’ explanations and the snorkeling is great.

You’ll have to pay 75 pesos to enter, then 300 pesos to snorkel with a guide (mandatory) and 50 pesos if you bring your own gear. It’s about 50 pesos more if you need to rent it. The fee system is a bit confusing.

As a curiosity, the beach at the Giant Clams Sanctuary (Kabila White Beach) is the only one of Camiguin’s beaches (those on the island itself, not counting White Island or Mantigue) that has blonde sand. To us it’s the prettiest of them all.

Update 2026: at the moment, unfortunately, the sanctuary is closed due to permit issues. If you want to see giant clams, you can see some at Sunken Cemetery and at Cabuan Community Village.

Blue Lagoon

In Lawigan you’ll find this snorkeling area with plenty of marine life, perhaps the best on the island. In fact, it’s not unusual to come across a turtle or two. You’ll need to pay a 100‑peso fee to snorkel and you can hire a guide for 250, although it isn’t mandatory.

It used to be a well‑equipped spot to spend a few hours, as there were huts for shade and so on. However, on our last visit we saw that almost everything had been ruined. Therefore, it’s almost better to jump straight in and swim in the port area and ignore any path. The best part of the snorkeling is still the small bay.

Mantigue Island

Don’t forget your snorkel mask when you go to Mantigue Island because its marine sanctuary will wow you with its marine life and coral. Plus, it’s not very rare to run into a turtle! It’s true they’re easier to see when diving, but it’s common to spot one or two—much easier if you hire a guide.

Sunken Cemetery

Located in the barangay of Bonbon, Catarman, this is one of the best snorkeling and diving spots in Camiguin. It’s an old cemetery that sank due to volcanic eruptions between 1870 and 1948.

Although it might seem a bit eerie and although you can hardly see any graves now (they were buried by sand and coral grew over them), it does have a lot of marine life (including lots of giant clams), and it’s possible to see a statue and a couple of crosses. We liked it a lot. The entrance fee is 100 pesos per person, but you’re required to go with a guide who charges 150 pesos. Don’t forget your mask and snorkel! Otherwise, you can rent them there. If you see there’s a strong current, our advice is to rent fins as well (25 pesos).

We advise against going at the very lowest tide, as the corals are very shallow and it will be more uncomfortable.

By the way, Sunken Cemetery is one of our favorite places to enjoy the sunset in Camiguin. It’s super photogenic!

5. Relax in Camiguin’s natural hot springs

Did you think there weren’t any more things to do in Camiguin? Well, there are also several cool natural pools where you can take a dip and savor that local vibe we love so much on the island.

Santo Niño Cold Spring

They’re not our favorite pools in Camiguin, but they’re a fun place for a swim and to spend some time enjoying the islanders, as it’s usually quite busy. As the name suggests, the water is cold (VERY cold). They’re very urbanized, there are umbrellas and even a restaurant.

Entrance costs 75 pesos per person.

Sa‑ay Cold Spring

For a much more private experience, one of the excursions you can do in Camiguin is a visit to these natural pools at the foot of Mt. Hibok Hibok, in Quipasa. Getting there by motorbike is easy and entrance is free.

Hibok Hibok Ardent Hot Springs

These natural pools are perfect for ending a day’s route around Camiguin, since the water comes from Mt. Hibok Hibok and, therefore, it’s warm! Entrance costs 50 pesos and you can try all the pools, which have water at different temperatures. Even so, note that these depend on volcanic activity, so sometimes they’re not as hot as you’d expect.

They’re open until 10pm and you can buy something to drink at the shop, so it’s the ideal plan to relax.

Bura Soda swimming pool

They’re very similar to those at Santo Niño (urbanized), but with the peculiarity that here the water is cold and fizzy. Yes, soda! The water is completely drinkable, so if you like this drink, you can refill your bottle at one of its fountains.

Entrance also costs 75 pesos per person. Open from 8am to 5pm.

6. Tour Camiguin by motorbike at your own pace

We love everything above, but what we undoubtedly like most to do in Camiguin is to tour it by motorbike. The landscapes are impressive. Rice fields, palm groves, rivers, mountains, volcanic‑sand beaches, charming colorful towns, welcoming people… The best thing you can do in Camiguin is simply live it.

The roads are in good condition and there isn’t much traffic. However, always drive carefully and, if you don’t have much experience with motorcycles, you can always opt to take a tricycle. Motorbike rental in Camiguin is around 400 pesos per day, a little less if you’re going to use it for several days.

If you want a contact to get bikes for 300–350 pesos (what a bargain!), leave us a comment and we’ll give you all the info.

If you’ve never ridden a motorbike, please don’t start in the Philippines. For that, we can give you the contact of a very nice, trustworthy tricycle driver as well as a car rental.

Here’s a little secret: the roads that cross the island through the interior are spectacular—don’t stick only to the road that circles the island! Itum Road has epic views of Camiguin’s volcanoes, passes by the Hibok‑Hibok Observatory (where you can get information about eruptions) and also has some mind‑blowing viewpoints like the one at Utopia Café (recently opened). Plus, it takes you to the entrance to Tuasan Falls and you can continue toward the Bura Soda Pools and The BeeHive Driftwood Cafe, a super curious place to watch the sunset.

Here are some extra points of interest (in addition to those we recommended in the list) that you can see with your motorbike:

Guiob Church (Old Spanish Church Ruins) and the watchtower (Moro Watchtower)

With so much volcanic activity, there are few historical remains to see in Camiguin. One of the few places of interest is the ruins of an old 16th‑century Spanish church, Guiob Church. Although little remains of what it once was, if you’re near the Bonbon neighborhood, stop by to admire this piece of history, which now has a newly built chapel inside. Next to it also lie the ruins of an old convent. The entrance fee is 75 pesos per person. Open from 8am to 5h30pm.

Another Spanish vestige is the Moro Watchtower, which was used to watch the island for possible attacks by the Moros of Mindanao. To get there, you’ll have to go through a school, so don’t be surprised if you become the kids’ attraction! Entrance is free.

Lovers secret bridge

Also known as Katunggan Park, this bridge crosses beautiful mangroves next to Benoni port. If you have time, it’s a pleasant walk to enjoy these mangroves, spot birds and see the odd little crab. The entrance fee is 50 pesos per person and it’s open from 8am to 5pm.

Ancestral Houses of Camiguin

On our last visit to Camiguin, we were amazed by the number of ancestral houses on the island. These are mansions that mainly belonged to Chinese immigrants and their descendants and therefore date from the late 19th or early 20th century. On many of their facades you can find inscriptions showing their construction date and the owner’s name. Unfortunately, many of them are neglected and maintenance is non‑existent, but even so, it’s worth stopping to take a look.

We found most of them on the route from Mambajao to the Mantigue pier: here, here, opposite the Chinese cemetery and here (this last one is our favorite and the one in the photo below). But you can also find another example in the Yumbing area, right here. You can see them all on the map at the end of this article.

7. Celebrate with the people of Camiguin at the Lanzones Festival

Filipinos are known for their fiestas, and one of the best is Camiguin’s big festival, the Lanzones Festival. The lanzón is a delicious fruit typical of the island, and its harvest is the reason for a huge party featuring colorful parades and dances.

It’s usually held during the third week of October. So if you plan to visit Camiguin on those dates, book accommodation as soon as possible! You can find the program of activities here.

If you feel like discovering the archipelago’s more cultural side, don’t miss our article on the Festivals of the Philippines.

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More tips about Camiguin

We’ve covered the main points, but Camiguin is an island that offers so much more. So here are a few more things to do in Camiguin and tips to enjoy it:

• Although most of Camiguin’s beaches are black sand and therefore far from the picture‑perfect tropical beach we have in mind, they also have their appeal. In our opinion, the prettiest are Turtle Beach, Chill’s Beach (a great sunset spot), the town beach in Yumbing, the beach by the Giant Clams Sanctuary (you can visit it even if the sanctuary is closed) and the one at Sunken Cementery.
• The sunsets from Sunken Cementery are spectacular, but they’re also fabulous from the Beehive.
• Camiguin has some beautiful rice fields with the volcanoes as a backdrop. We love getting lost and exploring, but we’ll tell you that the prettiest are those in Sagay (roughly here) and the ones before reaching Mahinog on the way to the Mantigue pier if you’re coming from Mambajao.
• Near the departure port for boats to Mantigue, there’s a lagoon with a zipline, some giant floaties and a couple of restaurants that aren’t bad at all. If you have time to spare to get to know Camiguin, we recommend it! It’s called Taguines Lagoon.
• If you want to splash out, there are scenic flights by light aircraft over Camiguin. You can choose between flying over the sand bars or the volcanoes. Prices range between 16,000 and 25,000 pesos. The company is called Camiguin Aviation.
• The restaurant scene in Camiguin is getting bigger and better—check our favorites in Where to eat in Camiguin.
• Camiguin’s weather is a bit peculiar. Although theoretically it’s an ideal island to visit between July and September, the driest time is usually between March and May (our summer). The camiguingnons told us it tends to rain more between September and November. We’d say it’s always a good time to visit Camiguin.
• As in the rest of the Philippines, tap water in Camiguin isn’t drinkable. Filipinos don’t drink it either, so restaurants and hotels usually have tanks where you can refill your bottle to generate less plastic.
• There are several ATMs in Camiguin. Although Euronet ones are everywhere, we always try to avoid them because they try to trick you with the exchange rate. Therefore, we always withdraw from the PNB ATM in Mambajao. Remember that 99% of ATMs in the Philippines charge a 250‑peso fee. To avoid racking up fees, the best thing is to bring cash to exchange, withdraw at HSBC ATMs in Cebu and Manila with a card that helps you avoid paying more, or use Remitly and send money to one of the pawnshops around the island (especially in Mambajao). In Money in the Philippines and in Remitly with €10 free we tell you everything.
• Hospitals in Camiguin aren’t very well equipped, so in case you need significant medical assistance, you’ll have to be transferred to Cebu or Manila. Please don’t travel without travel insurance, which is also a mandatory requirement to enter the country now. We’ve been using IATI’s for more than 10 years and we’re very happy with their service. Here you have a 5% discount for your policy.

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How to get around Camiguin

As we mentioned above, the motorbike is the best option to tick off all these things to do in Camiguin. Most of the roads are paved and there isn’t much traffic, but of course, if you’ve never ridden a motorbike, we advise you not to start here. You wouldn’t be the first to have a serious accident.

If you don’t dare to ride one, don’t worry, you have tricycles, motorelas and multicabs (small jeepneys) that you can hire depending on the number of travelers you are. If you’re going to spend a whole day exploring, you can negotiate prices with them. In addition, although there isn’t a huge supply, there are a few places to rent cars.

For point‑to‑point journeys, the best thing is to rely on the motorelas. These are a cross between a tricycle and something bigger. Basically, they have 2 routes: “West bound” and “East Bound”, that is, westbound or eastbound from Mambajao. If you stay in Yumbing and that area, it’s normal to use the “West Bound”.

The motorelas have a fixed price, which appears inside them on a list. The journeys you’ll most likely take are:

• Mambajao (Poblacion) to Balbagon (port): 12 pesos.
• Mambajao to Agoho: 13 pesos.
• Mambajao to Yumbing: 13 pesos.

So, for example, if you go from the port to Yumbing, you’ll have to pay 12 + 13 pesos. The motorelas stop at the Mambajao market.

If you’re in a hurry or have a lot of luggage, you’ll have to pay what’s known as the “special rate”. A fair price between Balbagon port and Yumbing is, for example, 150–170 pesos. From Yumbing to the airport, it would be a little less than 200 pesos. Remember to always negotiate respectfully.

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How to get to Camiguin

Since it’s a less touristy island than others in the area, it’s a bit difficult to find information on transportation. In our article on how to get to Camiguin we tell you how to do it from Bohol, Cebu and other places in the Philippines, but we’ll already tell you that you can get there by ferry from Bohol and by plane from Cebu. These are the most direct ways to reach the island.

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Where to stay in Camiguin

Accommodation in Camiguin is getting better and better, ranging from charming hotels to places where you can watch incredible sunsets—here are our recommendations:

• • For great value for money: Mountain View Cottages. You can read all about our stay in Sleeping at Mountain View Cottages, Camiguin.

• For something TOP: SomeWhere Else Boutique Resort.
• For something cheap: Shey’s Travellers Inn.

Find the best hotels where to stay in Camiguin and the most recommended areas to enjoy your stay without having to spend all day on the road.

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Camiguin map

Plan your route around Camiguin with this map we’ve prepared:

Camiguin video

With lots of love, here’s our video about the island:

If you have any questions, doubts or suggestions about what to do in Camiguin, we’ll be happy to hear from you in the comments!