Camiguin is blessed with diverse, scenic attractions ranging from waterfalls, hot and cold springs,and white sand beaches, making it a perfect destination for a relaxing weekend getaway. White Island, which is situated approximately 2 kilometers from the coast of Mambajao, is probably Camiguin’s most popular tourists attraction. The island is also popular for producing the sweetest lanzones in the Philippines.

HOW TO GET TO CAMIGUIN:

From Manila. Total travel time: Two hours. As of writing, there is no direct flights from Manila to Camiguin. The fastest and most convenient way to get to Camiguin from Manila is to take a flight to Cebu ( one hour and 15 minutes) and then fly directly to Camiguin from Cebu (45 minutes) through Cebu Pacific Air. Please note however that Cebu Pacific flights from Cebu to Camiguin is scheduled every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday only. The flight departs from Cebu at 6:45 a.m. and arrives in Camiguin at 7:25 a.m. The return flight from Camiguin departs at 7:45 a.m. and arrives in Cebu at 8:25 a.m.

From Cagayan de Oro to Camiguin. This used to be the fastest way to get to Camiguin, before Cebu Pacific Air began flying directly to Camiguin from Cebu on April 15, 2013. From Cagayan de Oro, there are two options to get to Camiguin:

Option 1. Via Macabalan Pier. Faster but more expensive. Travel time: About 2 hours.

1. From the airport, ride a van or taxi to Macabalan Pier. You may also ride a jeepney from the town proper to get to Macabalan Pier. Look for passenger jeeps with the “Pier” board sign. Fare is about Php8.00.

2. At the port, take the Ocean Jet ferry which departs at 8.00AM and arrives in Benoni Port in Camiguin at 10AM. It leaves Benoni port at 4PM and arrives at Macabalan pier at 6PM. Click here for the latest fare. For additional information, you may reach Ocean Jet thru the following contact numbers:

Cagayan de Oro Office
Pier Area Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines
+63(32)255 7560
+63(32)255 0115
customerservice@oceanjet.net

Benoni,Camiguin Office
Benoni Port, Camiguin, Philippines
+63(32)255 7560
+63(32)255 0115

Option 2. Via Balingoan Port (Misamis Oriental.) Travel time: Approximately 5 hours.

1. In Cagayan de Oro, take a taxi or a motorela and tell the driver to bring you to Agora Market Terminal. Look for a bus going to Balingoan (Port/Bus terminal.) The first trip leaves at 4:00AM. Buses bound for Butuan City usually make a stop over at Balingoan bus terminal. Travel time is approximately 2 to 3 hours. Fare is Php70 for non-aircon, and Php140 for air-con buses.

2. From Balingoan Bus Terminal, it’s a short walk to the port (about 150 meters.) Regular boat fare is Php 175. Travel time from Balingoan to Benoni port is approximately 1-2 hours. For the ferry/boat schedule, earliest trip from Balingoan, Misamis Oriental to Benoni, Camiguin port leaves at 5:45am. Earliest trip from Benoni, Camiguin port to Balingoan port, Misamis Oriental leaves at 4:00am.

From Bohol to Camiguin. Travel time: 2.5-4 hours.

1. In Tagbilaran, go to Dao Integrated Bus Terminal located just across the Island City Mall. Look for a bus bound to Jagna, usually Dory Transit or Saint Jude Transit. Travel time is approximately 2 to 2.5 hours. Fare is about Php80. Another option is to ride an air-conditioned van. It is usually faster ( about an hour) but a little more expensive at Php100 per passenger, more or less.

2. In Jagna port, you have two options: you may either ride a Super Shuttle Ferry that will take you to Balbagon port in Camiguin or the Paras Sea Cat Fast Ferry that sails directly from Jagna port, Bohol to Benoni port in Camiguin. Either way is fine as both ports are near Mambajao town center. The Super Shuttle Ferry departs from Jagna port, Bohol to Balbagon port, Camiguin at 1:00pm and leaves Balbagon port at 8am the following day. On the other hand, Paras Sea Cat Fast Ferry departs from Jagna port, Bohol to Benoni port at 1:30pm. Fare is the same at Php500. Travel time from Jagna, Bohol to Camiguin for both ferries is approximately two hours. For more information,you may reach them thru the following contact numbers:

Paras Sea Cat Fast Ferry Contact numbers:
Telephone: +63-038-238-2661 or +63-088-857-2727
E-mail: paras.seacat@gmail.com

Super Shuttle Ferry Contact numbers:
#38 Gorordo Avenue, Cebu City 6000
Telephone: (032) 232-3150, (032) 231-0639, (032) 234-4121, (032) 345-5581
Fax: (032) 233-5733, (032) 345-5583

From Cebu to Camiguin: There are two options. One is more complicated but faster. The other is easier but longer.

Option 1. Via Super Super Shuttle Ferry. Travel time: Approximately 12 hours. From Cebu, take a cab and tell the driver to bring you to Pier 8. The ferry leaves Pier 8 in Cebu at 8:00pm on Fridays only and arrives at Balbagon port the next morning. The ferry sails back to Cebu from Camiguin at 8PM on Sundays only. This was the route we took. Click here to read my story.

Option 2. Cebu to Camiguin via Bohol. Approximately 6.5 to 8 hours. From Cebu, hire a taxi and get to Pier 3. Earliest trip from Cebu to Tubigon port in Bohol is 5:30am. Click here for ferry schedules from Cebu to Tubigon, Bohol. The trip takes approximately an hour. Fare is about Php200. From Tubigon port, ride a tricycle to Tubigon bus terminal. At the bus terminal, look for a bus or van(faster) servicing the Tubigon-Tagbilaran-Jagna route. Travel time is approximately 3.5 to 5 hours. Fare is about Php150-Php200. At Jagna port, ride a ferry bound for either Benoni or Balbagon port in Camiguin. (Please refer to the information written above.)

From Davao to Camiguin Via Cagayan de Oro:

You can get to Camiguin from Davao by taking a flight or riding a bus to Cagayan de Oro. Bus fare from Davao to Cagayan de Oro is around Php500-Php600. Travel time from Davao to Cagayan de Oro is approximately 6 hours.

Getting Around Camiguin.

Tricycle is the primary mode of transportation in Camiguin, marked with either a “West Bound” or “East Bound” sign. If you’re visiting White Island and you’re coming from Mambajao town center, you can simply ride an east-bound tricycle and tell the driver to drop you off at the jump off point in Agoho.

The best way to visit all the tourist spots in the island is by hiring a habal-habal (motorcycle) or a multi-cab and let the driver take you the different destinations in the island. There’s no need to haggle as they are following a standard rate: Php800 a day for habal-habal with a driver (Php500 without the driver), Php1,200 – Php1,500 for multicab.

For a one-day or two-day Camiguin tour itinerary, you might want to check out my blog post here.