For people wishing to visit Camiguin Island in Northern Mindanao, one of Tutubi's favorite island destinations, herewith is updated information on "How to get to Camiguin" via CDO provided by a traveler-friend of Tutubi who had just arrived from the volcanic island. This is the same route Tutubi took when he visited the island six years ago except that he came from Cebu via Cebu Ferries to the port of Cagayan de Oro.

From Lumbia Airport (Cagayan de Oro Airport)

Take a taxi to take you to Agora Bus terminal then board a bus to Butuan, the bus will pass by Balingoan Bus terminal. Bus travel time is about 2 hours, Fare is PhP110.00

Cheaper alternative: from Lumbia airport, ride a jeep outside the airport and request the driver to transfer you to jeepneys plying the R2 route that will take you to Agora Bus Terminal.

From the new Laguindingan Airport

take the shuttle to the main road (minimum fare of PhP8.00), then wait for a bus to Cagayan de Oro


There are also vans for hire outside the airport or CDO pier that can take a group directly to Camiguin, more expensive but convenient.

Once you arrive at Balingoan Bus Terminal, you have to walk about 10 minutes to get to the Port of Balingoan (Pier) where Ferries to Camiguin, including Ro-ro ships, to take you to Port of Benoni on Camiguin Island.

Ferry to Camiguin:

Port of Balingoan, Misamis Oriental to Port of Benoni, Camiguin and vice versa via Superferry

Ferry to Camiguin Fare: PhP135.00
Balingoan Port Terminal Fee: PhP2.25
For more information on ferry schedules, visit Superferry's official website at http://www.superferry.com.ph; or give them a call at telephone number +63.2.528-7000; +63.917.889.2421 (mobile)

To return to Manila, you just have to retrace your steps and you'll be back in Manila, in not time.

You can also board a bus to Butuan for lovers of history or a bus to Bukidnon of Davao in Balingoan Bus Terminal.

Labels: Cagayan de Oro, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao

Recently, Tutubi was able to buy a box of pastel buns with filling, a reminder of his memorable and captivating island of Camiguin travel in northern Mindanao in May 2003.

Pastel is the pasalubong for Camiguin's visitors, much like every destination in the Philippines has one. (To Filipinos, bringing home something bought from a travel or vacation to family and friends is part of Filipino culture called pasalubong and is the reason why it's so easy to spot Filipinos in airports-- too much baggage mostly pasalubong stuff!)
Pastel is available in cheese, langka, macapuno, mango, Pineapple and made-to-order durian, guava, strawberry, chocolate, and special yema

Vjandep Pastel recipe ingredients(bun): Flour, eggs, milk, sugar, butter, shortening and yeast
Filling ingredients: milk, butter and eggs

VJANDEP Food Products
57 Plaridel St, Mabajao, Camiguin
Telephone No.: +63.88.387.0049

Branches:
078 Tiano St, Brgy 14
Cagayan de Oro
Telephone Number: +63.88.858.4027

Stall 17/18 Building 1, Angel Chavez Complex
Cagayan de Oro City
Telephone Number: +63.88.856.5404


a dozen pastels in a box

These pastrylicious pastels used to be not available in Manila but now can be bought at Shopwise Department stores and Market! Market in Taguig City. Have yet to see them in Greenhills and SM though.

What's your favorite pasalubong?

Related Posts:
Camiguin Travel Guide

Labels: Camiguin, Northern Mindanao, Pasalubong

Where to Stay in Camiguin:

List of Camiguin Beach resorts, hotels, inns and pension houses for your reference:

Abu Nature Camp

Ardent Springs
Telephone No: +63.88.387.0948

Bahay Bakasyunan sa Camiguin
Balbagon
Telephone Number: +63.88.387.1057
Fax: +63.88.387.0278

Cabua-an Beach Resort
Mambajao
Telephone Number: +63.88.387.2103

Camiguin Beach Club
Yumbing
Telephone Number: +63.88.387.9028

Camiguin Highlands Resort
Sorosoro

Camiguin Seaside Lodge
Agoho
Telephone Number: +63.88.3879031

Casa Grande
Mambajao
Telephone Number: +63.88.387.0077

Caves Dive Resort
Agoho
Telephone Number: +63.88.3871044,
Fax: +63.88.387.0077

Dayon Cabu-an Beach Resort

Eagle’s Nest Guest House
Benoni
Telephone Number: +63.88.387.4020

Enigmata Treehouse (Tarzan’s Nest Resort),
Balbagon:
Telephone Number: +63.88.387.0273

GV Pensione House
Mambajao
Telephone Number: +63.88.387.1041

Islet Beach Resort
Mahinog
Telephone Number: +63.88.3874005

J & A Fishpen and Resort
Benoni
Telephone Number: +63.88.387.4008

Jasmin by the Sea Beach Resort
Bug-ong,
Telephone Number: +63.88.387.9015

Mambajao Beach Resort,
Mambajao
Telephone Number: +63.88.387.1059

Paras Beach Resort
Yumbing
Telephone Number: +63.88.387.9008

R.J. Pension House
Mambajao
Telephone Number: +63.88.387.0089

Secret Cove Beach Resort
Yumbing
Telephone Number: +63.88.387.9084

Shoreline Cottages
Tapon

SRJ - Balhon Beach Resort
Catarman,
Telephone Number: +63.88.387.7026

Tia’s Beach Cottages
Tapon
Telephone Number: +63.88.387.1045

Tia’s Pension House
Mambajao
Telephone Number: +63.88.387.1045

Turtle’s Nest Beach Cottages
Kuguita
Telephone Number: +63.88.3879056,
Fax: +63.88.387.1009

Pictures/photos to follow once available. Reviews and recommended resorts hotels, inns, pension house, homestay, and other lodging and accommodations on the island to follow. Please leave comments about the places mentioned also as well as official websites if any.

UPDATED: May 13, 2008

Related Posts:

Camiguin Tour
Vjandep Pastel

Labels: Accommodations, Boracay Resorts, Camiguin, Hotels and Resorts, Northern Mindanao

Camiguin is a volcanic island paradise off the coast of Mindanao in Bohol Sea with seven volcanoes outnumbering the islands five towns. We were able to reach Camiguin from Cebu via a Cebu Ferry overnight trip to Cagayan de Oro (CDO) where a van waited for us and took us to Balingoan port in Misamis Oriental after breakfast at Jollibee Limketkai.

With our van boarding a boat at Balingoan Roll on – Roll Off (RORO) port, ride to the beautiful island was over in 45minutes. We saw adjacent island of before reaching port of Benoni.

Proceeding to our would be home in Albagon, and after a brief photo op in front of the branch of Land Bank where Camiguin is prominently displayed (a similar moment was done at the gate of Camiguin Beach Club later), we checked it at our destination that no cheap hotel or resort in Camiguin can match the price of our since it was offered to us free by a family friend of one of my co-travelers.

Going about our restless pursuits, we hit the road immediately and again interrupted by a picture taking at a road side of Bonbon with Mt.Hibok-hibok, an active volcano that last exploded in 1951, in the background.

Passing by numerous old ancestral houses surrounded with flowers, we got off our van and walked to the site of the sunken cemetery where a large cross marks a cemetery swept under the sea by the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vulcan Daan in 1871. (I wonder how snorkeling there feels like with tombstones and graves visited by fishes and other sea creatures.)

A pilgrimage to the ruins of San Roque Church was made and picture taking ensued. It was here that Rolan drove all of us out of his camera frame to take a solo shot of himself.

A stall near the place sells lanzones but it’s sour maybe because it’s out of season. Lanzones season is around September and October.

A dip into the cold waters of Sto. Nino Cold Spring in Catarman town washed down our tired souls further refreshed by the refreshing water of Katibawasan Falls, a magnificent waterfall with a drop of about 70 meters.

Nearby Katibawasan Falls is Ardent Hot Springs where we shifted to the healing properties of sulfur-laden hot water visited even by Koreans for its therapeutic power.

Hurrying back to our “hotel” for dinner, can’t help but notice Camiguins rural charm-- people here burn coconut husks on the street to light up the place in the absence of electric light posts.

After dinner and restful sleep, we boarded a rented boat to White Island, so called due to its white sand but actually a sand bar. The sandbar is surrounded by clear water ideal for snorkeling.

We left the island afterwards, packed our bags, and bought Camiguin’s famous pasalubong,Vjandep’s pastel, before boarding the boat back to Balingoan port to go to our next destination: Bukidnon Province!

How to get to Camiguin:

The paradise island of Camiguin can be reached via ferry ride (RORO-equipped) at Balingoan Pier in Balingoan, Misamis Oriental with 6 daily trips starting at 7am to 4pm. Return trips at 430am to 3pm (for confirmation, call Super Shuttle Ferry at (088) 3873587; (088)3874034 or (088)387 7009)

Balingoan can be reached by 2 hour bus ride from Cagayan De Oro’s Agora Market. Ferry schedule at Balingoan starts at 6am to 5pm.

Flights to CDO from Manila and other key cities of the country are available.

SeaAir flies to Camiguin, check their website for the schedules and booking.

The island can be toured via available jeepneys and tricycles on the island.

Where to Stay in Camiguin:

Camiguin Resorts and Hotels

Other Camiguin Information:

To add spice to yout Camiguin itinerary, try these things, try visiting during Holy Week and participate in the Panaad where devotees walk the entire length of the cimcumferential road, all 64 kilometers of it, then do the stations of the cross visible on the highway. A trek up the mountains and volcanoes is also an exciting experience particularly mt. Hibok-hibok. During the third week of October, there's the annual lanzones festival for weeklong festivities.

Camiguin towns: Catarman, Guinsiliban, Mahinog, Mambajao, Sagay

Camiguin volcanoes: Mt. Vulcan, Mt. Mambajao (center of Camiguin), Mt. Ginsiliban, Mt. Uhay. There are also domes and cones at Campana Hill, Minokol Hill, Tres Marias Hill, Mt. Carling, Mt. Tibane, and Piyakong Hill (volcano crater trek and hiking needs permit from DENR office in Mambajao)

Hot Springs of Mt. Hibok-hibok: Ardent Spring, Tangob, Bugong, Tagdo, Naasag, Kiyab

UPDATED: March 26, 2008

Labels: Camiguin, Northern Mindanao

An Amazing Race that lasted nine days that started in Manila from May 18-27, 2003 that took us to various islands in the Visayas and Mindanao in a low-cost, independent travel "package tour."

Itinerary with stories (Please click on the links for pictures and other details)


May 17, Saturday, 5:30 p.m.
Let the race begin!
Starting Line: NAIA Terminal 3 (Centennial), Manila

7:15 p.m.
Detour: Cebu-Mactan International Airport, Mactan Island

Welcome to Cebu, the Queen City of the South!
It was raining then and thank God, our local guide-cum-driver fetched us right on time.

8:00 p.m.
First Pit Stop: Cebu City
We dined at one of Cebu City’s fairly patronized grillery – the Tsibog’s.

After a hefty dinner, we move on to our first stop accommodation (just for a night cap) – the Verbena Pension House on G. Garcia Street.

May 18, Sunday, 7:00 a.m.
Detour: Basilica Minore del Santo Nino, Cebu City

Alongside’s the Basilica is the “depressing” presence of Magellan’s Cross. The cross is Ferdinand’s Catholic legacy, a large wooden cross, is housed in a stone rotunda (built in 1841) across from Cebu City Hall.


10:30 a.m.
Second Pit Stop: Badian, Cebu
It took us about three hours to reach the southern part of the island. We headed to the famous yet untouched waterfall landscapes of Kawasan Falls.



3:00 p.m.
Third Pit Stop: Panagsama Beach, Balas-daku, Moalboal
The group headed to Cebu’s best diving and snorkeling town, Moalboal. About 90 km. from Cebu City, Moalboal is on the main road, with the lively tourist-haunt of Panagsama Beach.


5:30 p.m.
Detour: White Beach, Moalboal
A stripped of white sand shoreline on the northern coast of Panagsama Beach.


May 19, Monday, 6:00 a.m.
Detour: Pescador Island, Moalboal


2:00 p.m.
Road Block: Plantation Bay, Mactan Island
Plantation Bay is Mactan’s one of the best inland-resort landscaped with man-made lagoons, swimming pools and water falls. Our walked-in trip here is considered a memorable one. Who can forget the famous Polynesian Chicken Salad served to my delight, for free at the resort’s Kilimanjaro Restaurant (Café)


May 19, 3:00 p.m.
Detour: Lapu-Lapu Monument, Mactan Island


4:30 p.m.
Detour: Cebu Port, Cebu City
Riding the ferry boat knowned as “Supercat” seemed to be a luxurious transport accommodation when you plan to visit the nearby island of Bohol.


5:10 p.m.
Next Pit Stop: Tagbilaran City, Bohol
Tagbilaran City is the port capital of Bohol.


7:30 p.m.
Pit Stop: Alona Beach, Panglao Island
Alona Beach has become a thriving tourism community, where Bohol Diver’s Lodge (our home for two nights) is located.


May 20

8:00 a.m.
The day tour begins here: At the reception area of Bohol’s Divers Lodge.

9:00 a.m
Next Pit Stop: Man-made Forest, Bilar (Loboc-Bilar Man-made Forest)
A heavily cultivated man-made forest is one of the highlighted tourist attractions of Bohol’s modern times.

10:30 a.m.
Next Pit Stop: Chocolate Hills, Carmen
We opted to visit the farthermost attraction, the Chocolate Hills located in the heart of Bohol, the town of Carmen.

The Chocolate Hills of Bohol, 1268 limestone hills turn brown during summer, thus the name

10:45 a.m.
Road Block: Loboc’s Hanging Bridge
A short stop as the known hanging bridge. About 5 meters high from the river surface, and 15 meters long from end to end.



11:30 a.m.
Next Pit Stop: Loboc River, Loboc
The town of Loboc is equally famous as Bohol.

At Petboy’s a local souvenir shop along the river, entertains their visitors by allowing them to take pictures with the smallest monkey in the world (that can only be found in the island), the tarsiers.

On the opposite side of the road, adjacent to the river is the Loboc Church, a Spanish era stone architecture, attached is the Loboc’s Museum. The bell tower is located at the opposite side of the main road.


2:00 p.m.
Next Pit Stop: Baclayon Church, Baclayon

2:30 p.m.
Next pit Stop: Hinagdanan Cave, Bingag

3:00 p.m.
Next pit Stop: the Blood Compact Monument

3:30 p.m.
Next Pit Stop: Dauis Church, Dauis, Panglao Island

May 21, Wednesday, 6:00 a.m.
Next Pit Stop: Pamilacan Island Coast
We left Alona Beach for about an hour of rough wave sailing to the coast of Pamilacan Island.



8:00 a.m.
Next Pit Stop: Balicasag Island
About 6km south-west of Panglao, Balicasag is a magnificent diving spot.

9:00 a.m.
Next Pit Stop: Balicasag Island Dive Resort.
The only resort available to the island is the government maintained quality cottages. It’s a 45-minute boat ride from Alona Beach to Balicasag’s main drop-off spoty, Duljio Point.

May 22, Thursday
9:00 a.m.
Off to Alona Beach, Panglao Island.


10:45 a.m.
Detour: Mag-aso Falls, Antequera
We have to navigate the zigzag stairway down to the bottom of the mountain in order to view the spectacular, isolated Mag-aso falls.

4:50 p.m.
Detour: Tubigon Port, Tubigon
There’s no available schedule trip from Tagbilaran to Cagayan de Oro, thus we opted to travel to the town of Tubigon.

5:30 p.m.
Detour: Pier 4, Port of Cebu City
Boarding Cebu Ferry’s Our Lady of Good Voyage. The trip is a 10-hour sail to one of Mindanao’s main port – Cagayan de Oro City.

May 23, Friday, 6:00 a.m.
Detour: Port of Cagayan de Oro City

7:00 a.m.
Road Block: Jollibee-Cagayan de Oro Branch
For a quick breakfast, we passed by another Jollibee food chain at the heart of the city.


7:30 a.m.
Detour: Balingoan, Misamis Oriental
From the city, we traverse the main highway to the northern town of Balingoan. The town has the main port from and to the island of Camiguin, our next pit stop.


10:00 a.m.
Pit Stop: Benoni, Camiguin Island
We arrived at the island from a 45-minute roll on-roll off ferry ride from the pier of Balingoan. Benoni, being the busiest port is the door to the island’s mystical attributes.



10:15 a.m.
Detour: Benoni to Albagon
Traversing the main road of Mambajao, the island’s capital, we headed to our next pit stop, a private resthouse owned by the family friend of Josie.


We passed by Mambajao branch of Landbank for the “kodakan.”

11:30 a.m.
Pit Stop: Resthouse at Albagon

1:00 p.m.
Detour: Bonbon
At the highway leading to the town of Bonbon, you can view the most adored mountain volcano of the island, Mt. Hibok-Hibok. The volcano last erupted in 1951.


2:30 p.m.
Detour: Catarman town
We headed to the northern town of the island, about 10km further along the island road from Bonbon is the famous Sto. Nino Cold Spring, a terrific huge pool, 40m long, filled by the spring.


3:30p.m.
Detour: Katibawasan falls
This is a beautiful clear stream of water dropping about 70m to a plunge pool.


5:00p.m.
Detour: Ardent Hot Spring
Near Katibawasan is another island’s hot landscape, the Ardent Hot Springs which temperature is about 40 degrees Celsius.


May 24, 6:00a.m.
Net Pit Stop: White Island
A 30-minute bumpy boat ride will bring you to the best island spot, the so-called White Island.

10:30 a.m.
Detour: Benoni, Camiguin to Balingoan, Misamis Oriental


1:00 p.m.
Detour: Cagayan de Oro city to Bukidnon


3:00 p.m.
Road Block: Impalutao, Bukidnon
For great hikes in one of the only untouched forests in the area, go to the Impalutao reforestation center about 40 minutes north of Malaybalay (between Kisolon and Malaybalay).

5:00 p.m.
Road Block: Kaamulan, Malaybalay City
The small city is the capital of Bukidnon province. It is the mountains above Cagayan de Oro and can be cool at night.

Driving up to Malaybalay from Cagayan de Oro, you’ll see in the distance the impressive 3000m Mt. Katanglad, one of the highest mountains in the Philippines and still a habitat of the Philippine eagle.


6:30 p.m.
Passing By: Valencia, Bukidnon


7:30 p.m.
Pit Stop: Quezon, Bukidnon
The last pit stop of the leg of the adventure is at the haven of the Baguio family, the ancestral house of Josie.

May 25, 7:30 a.m.
Detour: Luan-Luan, Quezon
Our last hooray plunge is the cold pool of Luan-Luan.

9:00 a.m.
Road Block: San Jose Monastery, Valencia
Just north of Valencia (south of Malaybalay) off the highway is the Monastery of the Transfiguration.


11:00 a.m.
Road Block: Bukidnon Carabao Dairy Farm (Philippine Carabao Center, Musuan, Mindanao)

3:30 p.m.
Detour: Cagayan de Oro Airport

5:00 p.m.
Finish: NAIA Airport, Manila

Labels: Bohol, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro, Camiguin, Cebu, Central Visayas, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao