Mindanao Adventure Day 2 Part 3: Camiguin Island Tour

Photo taken form the web

Camiguin is a trove of sight-seeing treasures indeed. Checking the map, one would need at least eight hours to needle through the different places on the island. Volcanoes, hot and cold springs and waterfalls abound the area, so one has to be swim-ready when taking the tour. That was our original plan, actually. However, Melizza and Midette insisted that we insert White Island in our itinerary, so we had to forego the other sites. And as you have seen in my previous post, we didn't have any regrets.

Coming back from White Island, we had a little time to freshen and dry ourselves up. But we hadn't eaten lunch yet, and all those photo shoots left all of us famished. The tour van arranged by Paras was ready for us. We were brought to Northern Lights for our lunch.

Photo from Northern Lights Facebook

Photo by AAMAruyama

This time, the meal ninangs were: Grace, Anesa, Tere, and Levi. 

Photo by AAMaruyama

First stop was Katibawasan Falls. Entrance fee was P20.00 each.

Photo by MMMina

Photo by CDRamos

You may be wondering what was that round thing-y some of us were holding (and biting!). It's called kiping--a local delicacy made from pounded cassava, dried, and fried like a thin wafer. Then, upon buying one for P10, they slather it up with latik. Yum!

Photo by CDRamos

Katibawasan Falls cascades from the top at 250 feet down to a pool of cool waters with lush vegetation surrounding it. 

Photo by MMMina

I thought the water was freezing cold when we dipped our feet in the pool.

Photo by EAPalanca

Photo by AAMaruyama 

Photo by EAPalanca

Photo by CDRamos

But that didn't stop some of us from braving the cold temperature and plunging in the water. Ang tatapang, parang wala pang mga rayuma!

Photo by ARValmores

Photo by MMMina

Next stop was the Guiob Church Ruins. When Mt. Vulcan erupted in 1871, it spewed lava for four years, devastating the town of Catarman. What was left to remind the people of the wrath of the volcano was the remains of the 1697 church in Barangay Bonbon--the belfry, convent and its adobe walls.

Photo by EAPalanca

Photo by EAPalanca

We saw Walkway to the Old Volcano and Stations of the Cross; and our driver asked if we wanted to go down. This place gets crowded during the Holy week as devotees go up the mountain to pray the Stations of the Cross. After finding out that it has more than 200 (?) or so steps, not to mention that it was already getting late, we decided to pass up. Maybe next time?

What we couldn't pass up was to view the White Cross at the Sunken Cemetery. It is a landmark in Camiguin to reminisce the hundreds of lives lost in the 1871-1875 eruption of Mt. Vulcan. The continuous lava swept the town and buried the cemetery in the sea. The White Cross was erected in 1982. 

We heard that we could actually hire a boat to go to the White Cross. Unfortunately, we were pressed for time, so we could only take pictures with it from a distance.

Photo by MMMina

Photo by MMMina

It was getting dark. Our bodies were aching from all that walking. The best way to cap our Camiguin tour was to soak in the hot springs of Ardent.

I couldn't believe that such a relaxing warm dip cost us only P30 each. 

Photo by MMMina

Photo by MMMina

Photo by MMMina

We didn't want to leave the steamy water, but our tummies were rumbling. Besides, a luau birthday banquet was waiting for us at Paras. 

To be continued...