Things to Do in Camiguin: Volcanoes, Springs and the Lanzones Festival
Camiguin is a small volcanic island off the north coast of Mindanao, and it has more volcanoes per square kilometre than anywhere else in the Philippines — seven of them on an island you can drive around in about two hours. That geology is the whole appeal: hot springs and cold springs within a few kilometres of each other, black sand and white sandbars, and a landscape that feels far larger than the island actually is.
It is also one of the easiest island trips in the country, reached from Cagayan de Oro in a morning.
The island, roughly clockwise
- White Island — an uninhabited white sandbar off Mambajao, with no shade whatsoever and a straight view back to Mount Hibok-Hibok. Boats leave from Agoho. Go at sunrise; by mid-morning it is fully exposed and very hot.
- Sunken Cemetery — the town cemetery of the old capital, submerged when Mount Vulcan erupted in the 1870s. A large cross marks it, and you can snorkel or dive over the graves. Genuinely eerie and the island's defining image.
- Katibawasan Falls — a single 70-metre drop into a cold pool. Easy access, cold water.
- Tuasan Falls, more rugged and less visited.
- Ardent Hibok-Hibok Hot Springs — volcanic hot pools on the slopes, best in the evening.
- Sto. Niño Cold Spring and Bura Soda Water Park — the counterpoint: naturally carbonated cold springs. Bura's water is genuinely fizzy.
- Old Church Ruins in Bonbon, another remnant of the 1870s eruption.
- Mount Hibok-Hibok — an active volcano and a serious guided day climb requiring a permit. Check the current PHIVOLCS alert level.
- Mantigue Island, a small forested island with a good snorkelling drop-off.
The Lanzones Festival
Lanzones — a small, sweet, translucent fruit that grows exceptionally well in Camiguin's volcanic soil — gets its own festival every October, usually in the third or fourth week.
It is a harvest thanksgiving with street dancing, participants costumed in lanzones-inspired dress, a parade through Mambajao, and a great deal of fruit. The island fills for it, so book accommodation well ahead if you are timing a visit around it.
Lanzones season runs roughly August to November; outside it you will not find much fruit.
Getting there
| Route | Rough time |
|---|---|
| Cagayan de Oro → Balingoan port (bus/van) | ~2 hrs |
| Balingoan → Benoni, Camiguin (RoRo ferry) | ~1 hr |
| Direct flights into Camiguin (Mambajao) | Limited, small aircraft |
The overland-and-ferry route via Cagayan de Oro is what most people use, and ferries run frequently through the day. There is also a fast craft from Jagna, Bohol, which makes a Bohol–Camiguin combination viable.
Practical notes
- Rent a motorbike or hire a multicab. The circumferential road is good and about 65km round the island — this is the standard way to see it and there is no realistic alternative.
- Base yourself in Mambajao, the capital, or along the Agoho/Yumbing beach strip nearby, where most accommodation sits.
- Bring cash. ATMs are few and can run dry.
- Environmental and entrance fees apply at most sites, in small amounts, paid on arrival.
- Two to three days covers the island comfortably; three if you want Mantigue and a slow pace.
- When to go — the dry months, roughly February to June, for the calmest crossings. October for the festival and lanzones.
FAQ
How do I get to Camiguin? Usually Cagayan de Oro to Balingoan by road (about two hours), then a one-hour ferry to Benoni. Limited flights also serve Mambajao.
What is the Sunken Cemetery? The cemetery of the old capital, submerged by an eruption in the 1870s and now marked by a large cross. You can snorkel or dive over it.
When is the Lanzones Festival? October, usually the third or fourth week, in Mambajao.
Can I climb Hibok-Hibok? Yes, as a guided day climb with a permit, subject to the current PHIVOLCS alert level.
How do I get around the island? Rent a motorbike or hire a multicab. The circumferential road is about 65km.
How many days do I need? Two to three.
Is there an ATM? Few, and they run dry. Bring cash.
Last verified: August 2026. Ferry schedules, site fees and volcano alert levels change — confirm locally before travelling.
More: things to do in Cagayan de Oro, the Philippine festivals calendar, or what is on now.