Things to Do in Camiguin, Philippines: My Island Bucket List
Camiguin calls itself the Island Born of Fire, and after a week there I understand why. This small tear-drop of an island in the northern Philippines has more volcanoes, hot springs, and waterfalls per square mile than anywhere I have ever been. It is quiet, green, and full of small wonders, and it rewarded me in a way the flashier destinations never did. Here is everything I loved doing there.
Circle the Island Slowly
My first advice is to rent a motorbike or hire a tricycle and simply drive the loop around the coast. Camiguin is small enough to circle in a day, and every bend throws up something new, a beach, a church, a fruit stall, a hidden viewpoint. I drove with the sea on one side and volcano views on the other, stopping whenever a sign or a smell caught me. There is no better way to get your bearings on this island.
Soak in the Springs, Hot and Cold
The springs are Camiguin’s signature, and no two feel alike. Cold ones like the public pools of Santo Rosario pour glacial mountain water straight into natural baths, and after an hour riding in the heat I practically dove in fully clothed. Then there is Ardent Hot Springs, where warm mineral water steams at the base of Mount Hibok-Hibok. I went at night when the pools were nearly empty, watched the stars through the steam, and felt a whole week of tension melt away. Do both, in any order your body prefers.
Stand at the Sunken Cemetery
One of the most photographed spots in the Philippines is a white cross rising from the sea. It marks an old cemetery that sank when a volcano erupted in 1871, a haunting and strangely beautiful sight. I walked out along the reef at low tide to stand beside the cross in a few inches of water, and the quiet power of the place stayed with me for days. Go during a clear afternoon and the light on the water makes it unforgettable.
Climb a Volcano or Just Admire Them
Camiguin has seven volcanoes, one of them, Hibok-Hibok, still active. I chose the gentler Mt. Timpoong and Mt. Hibok-Hibok protected area for a long hike through the forest, rewarded with misty ridgelines and cloud views over the whole island. If you are not a hiker, catch a postcard from the White Island sandbar, a dazzling strip of white sand offshore that appears and disappears with the tide, with an unbeatable view of the volcano behind you.
Waterfalls Worth the Walk
Katibawasan Falls drops sixty feet into a cold plunge pool framed by mossy cliffs, and I had the whole place to myself on a weekday morning. A little further, Tuasan Falls offers a smaller, swimmable pool hidden along a short trail. Both reward a bit of effort with swimming holes that feel like secrets. I visited each early to dodge the few tour groups that trickle in by lunch.
Eat Like a Local
Camiguin serves some of the most honest food I had in the Philippines. The local lanzones, a small sweet fruit the island is famous for, were so good I bought them from roadside stalls every single day. Seafood came straight from the boats, and a simple grilled fish with rice and vinegar dipped in calamansi beat any restaurant I could name. Do not skip the chocolate and the coconut products either, farm stalls sell both, and both are excellent.
My Practical Tips
Give Camiguin three to four days and do not rush it, this is an island for drifting. Bring cash, because ATMs are limited, and pastries disappear early. Water shoes make every spring visit easier. And treat the island gently, take your litter, respect the springs, and stay on the marked paths around the volcanoes. If you follow that recipe, Camiguin will give you the slow, wild, generous welcome that made me fall for it completely.
