Exploring Camiguin

Tree at Katibawasan Falls.

For the day we hired a private multicab (jeepney) to take us around Camiguin. Our plan was to get a taste of the island visiting several cold springs, hot springs, waterfalls and beaches. I was excited to see the island that I’ve heard so much about.

Titan triggerfish. Looks scary above water and is scary underwater when they become territorial and chase you.

Seats to a local eatery.

Momo and Anna about to shoot Shaun.

Our driver first took us to Old Volcano which is one of the several dormant volcanoes on the island—there are seven volcanoes on the island where six are dormant. It was a beautiful view which reminded me of the coast of California. Around the Old Volcano we made a stop and a few people did a little souvenir shopping. Next we went to a sunken cemetery which was submerged underwater in the mid-late 1800s.

What sums up a lot of the Philippines. Pop culture and Catholicism are big cultural influences.

A giant cross marking the location of the sunken cemetary and old Camiguin capital.

A large cross marks the location of where the cemetery once was. The cemetery was part of Camiguin’s old capital which was buried by several volcanic eruptions from Mt. Vulcan. In the late 1800s, gravestones could still be seen during low tide until another eruption buried everything 20 feet underwater.

Ladder and old Spanish church wall.

A close up the wall made out of coral.

The next place we stopped at was an old Spanish church where the walls were made out of coral; not a good thing environmentally, but, they didn’t know. It was interesting to see a little bit more of the history of the place. Following the church, we visited several cold spring pools which were disappointingly just public swimming pools. After a couple swims, we went to Katibawasan Falls which was impressively tall. Lastly, we visited a hot spring which wasn’t as hot as I thought it would be.

One of the many cold springs we visited. Before arriving at the Soda springs, I joked it was sponsored by a soda company. Of course, the sign is sponsored by Coca-Cola.

Katibawasan Falls.

After a day of adventure, we were scheduled to leave Camiguin and take an overnight ferry back to Cebu. None of us were really looking forward to this because the ferry to Camiguin wasn’t comfortable. Last minute, Mike persuaded our company to have us stay one more night in Camiguin and take the fast ferries back to Cebu via Bohol. It was nice having one more night on the island.

- jason