For this trip, we got the CDO-Dahilayan Bukidnon-Camiguin Island Tour package from Buhangin Travel and Tours. We paid around PHP 5,000 per pax for 6 people. Inclusive of the following:
- Airport Transfers
- Van transfer from CDO to Dahilayan Bukidnon and back
- Van transfer to and from Balingoan Port
- Multicab for our countryside tour in Camiguin
- White Island entrance fee and pump boat fee
- Mantigue Island with entrance fee and pump boat fee
- Dahilayan Forest Park with entrance fee
- White Water Rafting Lower Section (includes all rafting equipment)
- Jeepney transfer from hotel to rafting site and back
I’ll tell you about our Camiguin experience first.
We were picked up from our hotel in Cagayan De Oro early in the morning by a van and we traveled to Balingoan Port where we road the ferry to Camiguin. Travel time from hotel to airport was approximately 3 hours. Do take note that we left around 3:30am and there was no traffic at the time. I suggest you do the same to avoid the rush hour traffic in the city. We had to pay PHP 225 per person for the ferry ticket as this was not included in our tour fee.
The ferry ride was only an hour. The boat was quite big which was a relief because I am prone to sea sickness.
Once we arrived at the port, a multicab was waiting for us. There was no time to waste so we immediately started our tour. Here is a list of places we went to:
- Mantigue Island
- Soda Pool
- Sto Nino Cold Spring
- Tuasan Falls
- Sunken Cemetery
- Gui-Ob Old Church Ruins
- Ardent Hot Springs
- White Island Sand Bar
We went to everything but the White Island Sand Bar on the first day. We saved the sand bar for the next day as our hotel was quite near the place.
Mantigue Island was nothing much for us. Even though there were locals who were asking if we wanted to go snorkeling, we opted to just bask in the sun.
Because of the very warm weather, we chose to go to the cold springs next. Of all the places we went to that day, this was my favorite. This was also my first time in a cold spring. The water was freezing! It took time before I completely submerged myself in the water. When I finally succeeded, I found myself refreshed and completely woken up.
The pool was very deep but they have one step on the sides for people who prefer to just sit still rather than swim around. They offer “salbabida” rentals for PHP 20 which was very affordable, if you ask me. Luckily, there weren’t much people when we went. Imagine bumping from one salbabida to another when crowds were present, that would be horrible.
Next, we proceeded to Tuasan Falls. Unlike Sto Nino Cold Spring, the place was packed with locals. The area is quite small so there is only limited space for swimming.
For the Sunken Cemetery, I was the only one who wanted to go snorkeling and see the cemetery up close. Sadly, all my companions weren’t up for it because of the additional fees we would incur. There is a fee for the boat from land to the area near the cemetery, environmental fee and the snorkel rental fee. I think there is also a small fee for the tour guide. Above sea, only the cross of the cemetery can be seen. There are also vendors who sell souvenirs and local snacks. You can buy “pasalubongs” from here.
The church ruins is a good spot to take those “Instagrammable” photos. Just look for a corner to take your photo and you’re all set!
Next was the Soda Pool. When I first heard of this, I thought, “Soda? Really?” From the outside, it looked like a normal pool but there was a sweetness to it. Did I drink from the pool? Of course not! They have an area where guests can take a sip of the soda water. We also ate our lunch here. They have a lot of seafood on the menu so we had a sumptuous meal.
Our last stop was the Ardent Hot Springs. Before going in, we were warned that the water wasn’t as hot anymore due to a recent earthquake which moved the plates. We still proceeded but with less expectations because of their warning. I didn’t enjoy this stop as the water was lukewarm and dirty. We only spent less than 30 minutes here before going back to our hotel.
The next day, we went to the White Island Sand Bar. The place was jam-packed with people. Since the island had no trees, it was very open and there was no shade at all. There were locals who offered large parasols and mats for rent. We rented two for the whole group. Taking a good photo was challenging given the number of people present during the time we were there. Patience from both the subject and photographer is much needed. But hey, it’s worth the shot.
That’s it for our Camiguin tour!
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