Aside from the stunning landscape dotted with falls, streams and stretches of beaches, Camiguin is blessed with another bounty found under the waters surrounding the island. The Camiguin Action Geckos and Johnny’s are two of the established dive centers in the island. They can provide or assist you with scuba diving lessons, equipment rental and boat transfers.

Dive Centers in Camiguin

Camiguin Action Geckos Dive and Adventure Resort
Agoho, Mambajao
Telephone Number: +63(0)88-387-9146
Email: info@camiguin.ph

Johnny’s Dive and Fun
Agoho and Yumbing, Mambajao
Telephone Number: +63 88 387-9588
Email: info@johnnysdive.com

Aside from adventure tours and beach bumming, Camiguin is also a great place for avian fans. While trekking through its jungle interiors, you could catch glimpses of the Camiguin Hanging Parrot – a bird unique only to this island in the Southern Philippines.

This Camiguin parrot is distinguished through its mostly green color with splashes of red and blue on its head and thighs. What is also remarkable to this type of parrot is that both genders share the same physical traits, other parrots only have red fronts in males.

Photo by scienceblogs.com

The usual action and adventure attractions in the Philippines are Ziplines, similar to the ones at Subic and Tagaytay. However if you’d like to have more than the usual tour you could head over to Camiguin Island and with the help of Camiguin Action Geckoes, you could experience the awesome landscape of Camiguin through Canyoning.

Canyoning is a “catch-all” term to describe the activities involved in exploring canyons which include walking, climbing, scrambling, jumping and swimming. Although this term may have originated in the U.S. with its vast landscapes, Canyoning in Camiguin is an exhilarating activity nonetheless.

To book a tour with the Camiguin Action Geckoes, you could reach them through the phone number 387 1266.

[Photo by Camiguin Action Geckoes]

Beaches in the Philippines are as diverse as its people. While some are deserted island getaways and some have loud and noisy beachfronts, each beach has its own character. The list we compiled below is not confined to a specific set of criteria, such as the availability of modern amenities, accessibility, etc. Instead, by their own uniqueness.

1. White Beach, Boracay. The grand dame of the Philippine beaches and the unofficial summer capital of the Philippines.

2. Maira-ira Beach, Pagudpud. A great getaway up north complemented by Ilocano dishes.

3. Alona Beach, Panglao island. Has a status of playing second fiddle to Boracay.

4. Malapascua, Cebu. Great getaway for those seeking peace and tranquility.

5. Bantayan, Cebu. Another great beach in the premier province of the Visayas.

6. Siargao Island. A surfer’s paradise in the South.

7. Camiguin Island. Great beaches accompanied by extreme activities inland.

8. Miniloc Island, Palawan. Lime stone formations that rival those in Thailand and Vietnam.

9. Sogod Beach, Cebu. Nice beach with a well-serviced resort.

10. Potipot Island, Zambales. Easily gets crowded in the peak summer months. But a very good substitute to white sand beaches of the South without flying by plane.

Located in Mindanao, Philippines this volcanic island is off the beaten path, even for most local holiday-makers. But with its lush greenery, fine white sand and hot springs [tag]Camiguin Island[/tag] awards those who make the effort to visit.

How to go to Camiguin
One can head to Camiguin by land, sea and air. Roro (Roll-on, roll-off) services Camiguin through the Bohol-Camiguin route. By air, one can take a flight to Cebu, Bohol or Cagayan de Oro and take a ferry to Camiguin.

The best time to visit
Camiguin’s climate is almost the same with the rest of the country, which has the rainy season and dry season. Camiguin experiences monsoon rains from November to February but the rest of the year is relatively dry. Therefore best time to go without the hassle of cancellation of boat trips and flights would be the “summer” months that start at the middle of March until May.

Camiguin Activities
Being a volcanic island, Camiguin has unique rock formations good for trekking, climbing, canyoning and rappelling. Camiguin also features a sunken cemetery off-shore, submerged by a volcanic explosion a long time ago. The cemetery is now one of the popular dive sites in the island. Camiguin also has no busy nightlife, which is perfect for those who just want to lie down by the beach.

Off-shore, you can hire boatmen to take you to Camiguin’s White Island which is actually a sandbar in the middle of the sea.

Camiguin Lanzones Festival
Every October, to celebrate the island’s harvest of round citrus fruits called Lanzones, Camiguin holds the annual Lanzones Festival. It is during this period that the island sheds its laidback character to burst into party mode. The main streets are decorated with colorful buntings and decor. Schools and towns participate in the festive parade with dance numbers donning costumes in riotous colors.

Camiguin Map
Please click on the map below for its full-size.

Camiguin Hotels and Resorts

Enigmata
Contact number: 387 0273, 0918 2304184
A pensions house off the main town of Mambajao. Very cheap room rates. It also has a restaurant that serves pizza and Thai dishes.

Camiguin Highland Resort
Contact number: 387 0515
Located way up the mountain, living up to its name. The breathtaking views of this resort make up for its distance from the beach. The staff is friendly and professional and the rooms are tidy.

If you are heading down south of the Philippines, you better visit Camiguin. It will surely be a treat to adventure seekers and lovers of nature with all its sights and celebrations.

Photo credits
Sunset photo by Rob Trent
White Island photo by chriscab
Lanzones festival photo by randyblu
White Island sunset photo by Clever yet clueless

Technorati Tags: Mindanao, Philippines, Camiguin, sunken cemetery