Come Again to "Camiguin"

On our way to Camiguin

One of the near tourist destinations from Davao City is the Camiguin Island. I have been attempting to visit the place for quite a very long time now, unfortunately, time and company were in question. But alas! Last May 19-22, I, together with bro Nots, Helen and Labsy, got  that chance of a lifetime, and did not miss it for all we care! :))

Our Camiguin escapade was finally realized. I prepared a 5-itinerary for bro to choose from. Plan A was a Camiguin-Cagayan adventure, Plan B was Camiguin-Iligan-Cagayan, Plan C was Camiguin-Iligan, Plan D was Camiguin only and Plan E was Siargao-Camiguin getaway. Out of 5, bro chose Plan D, he said, it's the only Plan that is not in a hurry. Well, he wanted more of a vacation, not a sight seeing adventure he said. Okay then, fine with the rest of us.

White Island take-off point

We planned to leave Davao City on May 18 at 10:00 PM, unfortunately, not all of us were prepared enough and Labsy wasn't feeling so good as well, so we decided to leave the following morning and catch the 4:00 AM trip. Consequently, instead of arriving early morning of May 19 and reaching Benoni Port of Camiguin through Paras Fastcraft by 10:30 AM, we opted for the Cagayan-Balingoan-Benoni Route.

Below is our revised (actual IT if you must know... :D)

May 19   (THU)      CAGAYAN-CAMIGUIN

                3:30        - Arrival at Ecoland Terminal

4:00        - Bus ride bound to Cagayan

                               - Php 500

12:00     - Arrival in Cagayan/Lunch @ Mang Inasal

14:00     - Bus Butuan Route, alight at Balingoan Terminal

                                - Php 143

15:30     - Arrival at Balingoan Terminal

- Tricycle bound to Balingoan Port

 - Php 7

16:15     - Shuttle Ferry (RoRo) to Benoni Port

- Php 170

18:30     - Check-in @ Paguia’s Cottages

- Php 1,200 good for four

- Php 400 for the multi-cab from the Port

18:30     - Dinner and Paras Beach Resort

- Php 150 entrance fee for non-stay-in (consumable)

White Island

The big part of our first day was basically the trip from Davao to our hotel/cottage in Camiguin, which we were lucky enough to find one room available. Camiguin has become more and more famous that many tourists are visiting the place and it's getting harder to find a place to stay that's not going to be a problem in the budget. 

Picnic breakfast at White Island

When we arrived at the Port, we rented a multi-cab for Php 400 from Benoni Port to Mambajao town to check the possible resorts or inns we may stay in. After a few turns and inquiries, we found a cottage/room at Paguia's Cottages, just walking distance from the take-off point going to the White Island.

Sto. Niño Cold Spring

Dinner came and we were so hungry and definitely glad that Paras Beach Resort was just around the corner. So we went in, paid for the entrance fee, found our table and ordered for dinner. The resort seemed to have prepared for only a few, we only saw two (2) crews taking and placing our orders.

Katibawasan Falls

The drinks came early, but the meal didn't. It took them more than an hour to deliver our orders, maybe they only have one cook too at the time being. And to add insult to injury, they delivered the wrong food, that instead of seafood termidoile (I'm not sure if I got the spelling right), they gave us a tenderloin steak. We asked how did this happen and what should they do about it, but they only left us to wait. We started eating yet didn't touch the steak. After a few minutes of waiting, we called and ask, what now how long will our real order be ready. And the crew just said that he did not place a replacement order or something. Like nothing's wrong. To our dismay, since they almost sounded the same, and we were too hungry to wait for another hour, so we dig in. Saddest part is, we never heard them say sorry... With good but heavy hearts, we let it pass....

J&A Fishpen

Before dinner, we went for a little stroll and was quite amazed with the resort, we considered transferring for the next night. They have amenities like swimming pool, billiard halls and others. So we thought of getting in touch with their receptionist/front desk officer after dinner. But because of what happened, we didn't even looked at their brochures anymore... :(

May 20   (FRI)        CAMIGUIN (TOUR)

                5:30        - Walk to White Island take-off point

                6:00        - Arriving at White Island thru Paguia’s own boat

- Php 400.00 for two way

                7:30        - Breakfast at White Island

                9:00        - Back to the Hotel to change

                9:30        - Off to the tour via multi-cab

                               - Php 1,500

                10:00     - Katibawasan Falls

                12:30     - Sto. Niño Cold Spring

                                - Lunch

                14:30     - Old Church Ruins

16:00     - Ardent Hot Spring

15:20     - Sunken Cemetery

15:35     - Walkway

16:30     - Ardent Hot Spring

18:00     - Back to the Hotel

8:30        - Dinner at Luna Ristorante

Helen & Nots @ Old Church Ruins

The second day was amazing, we enjoyed too much picture taking and hanging out, especially at the Old Church Ruins, the place was quite picturesque. The day was almost perfect except for a little concerning stop-over at Ardent Hot Spring. We arrived there at around 4:00 PM and stayed there for only about an hour. Why too soon? Because we were bitten by the mosquitoes. I have quite a few bite marks on my feet, face and back. And the saddest part is, they went into my eyes too, thrice! We could have stayed longer, but I just couldn't tolerate those mosquitoes. Thanks to Helen, we now call her "the mosquito slayer", she was into mosquito haunt on me... (LOL)

Sunken Cemetery

We started our tour day with a swim at White Island with breakfast by the beach, (picnic style), and ended it with dinner at Luna Ristorante, where wifi was available. While dining, bro said, if we dined there a night before, we could have had a better dinner. But I told him, if we went to Luna Ristorante a night before, this night would have been at Paras, it might have ended differently, but, it just might still. There's nothing we can do, since that kind of detail on Paras didn't came up during my research. :( But anyways, the most important thing is, the 2nd day was a blast!
              

May 21 (SAT)        CAMIGUIN-CAGAYAN

                7:30        - Check-out got a multi-cab

- Php 400 (from hotel to Vjandep to Mantigue Island take off point)

8:00       - Breakfast at Vjandep

9:30       - Going to Mantigue Island

              - Php 500 (two way)

              - http://www.silent-gardens.com/camiguin-mantigue.php

10:00     - Arriving at Mantigue Island

14:30     - Lunch at J & A Fishpen

18:30     - Shuttle Ferry back to Balingoan

              - Php 170

20:00     - Bus back to Cagayan

22:00     - Check-in at Louise Inn

22:30     - Dinner at Chowking

Walkway to the Station of the Cross

Third day came and it was snorkeling day! Not many tourists included going to Mantigue Island, but we did. We checked out early, went to Vjandep for some breakfast, bought a few pastel boxes, went straight to Mantigue Island take off point, and looked forward for a more fascinating day with the ocean ahead.

Ardent Hot Spring

We brought snorkeling gears with us so that saved us, Php 50 each for the rent. Before snorkeling, a tourist guide went with us to stroll the island and check out some trees and big bats along the way.




Unfortunately, it wasn't a season for the turtles egg laying/hatching, so we weren't able to check that out, our guide mentioned it's around August. After the island tour, he showed us the way to the nicest underwater place in the island. I particularly like the what they call the table-coral and the blue star fish. Finally, we ended our Camiguin adventure with a nice, fresh and very full meal at J & A Fishpen.

Vjandep

May 22 (SUN)        CAGAYAN-DAVAO

                8:00        - Breakfast at Jollibee

                9:00        - Bus back to Davao

                               - Php 500

                17:00     - Home sweet home

Mantigue Island

Our 4:00PM from Benoni Port to Cagayan Port was cancelled, so we bought tickets for the 6:15PM Benoni-Balingoan trip instead. Since there was a change of schedule, we arrived in Cagayan around 9:30 PM. The last air-conditioned bus trip to Davao leaves at 10:00 PM, so we did not board that trip since we were still very exhausted and haven't had dinner yet, so we were kind-of hungry as well.

Bats at Mantigue Island

We looked for a place to stay for the night, unfortunately, there was going to be a some sort of exam, so most of the hotels and inns were fully booked. Our last hope that was suggested by one of the inns we went to, King Louie's Inn for Php 350.00 per room. It was okay for the night and we were too hungry to find another, so we hop in.

We freshen up a bit and went out to take dinner at Chowking, Divisoria branch. That branch of Chowking was one memorable place for me and my officemates, way back 2006, so we dined in and I told that super funny story and left bro, Helen and Labsy having stomach cramps for laughing.

We strolled a bit, went back to the inn and retired for the night. We were definitely too tired to stay out longer, but we had a great time hanging out with some lauriat with it. We woke up the following day, went for a full Jollibee breakfast and started our way back home...

It's nice to know that a place pretty amazing to us is not too far from home, thus we should, and we have, taken the chance to explore the beauty of nature and life...


And as we do this, we may encounter a not-so-good adventure side effects, but that we can let go, since we have not only added another good place in our hearts, but another memory to cherish with our loved ones... :) Happy Living!