Camiguin, the captivating island “born of fire”

Map of Camiguin (photo from the web)

Part of  Northern Mindanao region (region X), Camiguin is the second smallest province in the country with five municipalities. The municipality of Mambajao is the largest and the provincial capital of Camiguin. The captivating island of Camiguin is of volcanic origin wherein seven active volcanoes can be found in this tiny island, earning the lovely name of island “born of fire”.

 

The island’s natural and charming attractions draw a growing number of visitors like the Old Catarman Church Ruins where century-old tree and a set of columns and walls covered in plants and moss give a nostalgic feeling of what remains of the old church. The ruins is also overlooking the iconic Sunken Cemetery marked with a huge cross to memorialize the subsided cemetery of the old town of Catarman during the eruption of Mt. Vulcan in the late 1800s. 

 

  

This pearl-shaped island has islets namely White Island, a sandbar and Mantigue Island, a smaller island off the shores of Camiguin, which are both great for water activities like swimming, snorkeling, and diving. More so, Katibawasan Falls offers misty cascades down to the pool with cool, refreshing waters amid trees, ferns, and boulders. An invigorating dip on the pool is popular especially on warmer days. 

 

Just as revitalizing is a dip in the Santo Niño Cold Spring with ice cold spring water sprouting from the sandy bottom or in the Bura Natural Soda Water Swimming Pool, where volcanic springs of Bura fill two pools with fresh, clear soda water. To soothe aching muscles, the Ardent Hot Spring in contrast offers mineral pool heated by Mt. Hibok-Hibok, one of the seven and an active volcano of Camiguin. 

 

 

Another point of interest in Camiguin is the Enigmata Treehouse Ecolodge, also an Art Camp that offers unique experience to its visitors. According to its website, Enigmata literally means “to open your eyes” and “enter the journey inwards the creative circles of the mind".

Visiting the island “born of fire” Camiguin is easy with the direct scheduled flights coming from Cebu or Manila to Camiguin Airport. There are also scheduled ferries from the port of Balingoan, in Misamis Oriental to Camiguin.