Camiguin Island : Volcanoes, waterfalls and serenity
One of the most serene islands we have been to in the Philippines is Camiguin. Home to at least 14 volcanoes where one is active- Mt. Hibok-Hibok, which can be hiked in a few hours. It is also a quiet province that is virtually crime-free, where the locals are gentle and hospitable. It is compact in size that it can be explored in a day. But if you have the time, why not stretch your planned activities in a few days and it is certainly more enjoyable.
Getting to Mantigue island, a must-see in Camiguin, is simple. A 30-minute boat ride is all it takes, although, everyone needs to pay for the fees and register which took a bit of time. It is home to a colorful marine sanctuary renowned for the turtle sightings. There were also a lot of sea urchins which the locals harvest, cut and sell fresh – a treat for visitors.
The full day excursion around the island was a delight. Visiting waterfalls, natural cold springs, volcano walkways and the iconic sunken cemetery where we got to see up close, the buried remnants of the old cemetery. A large sprawling wooden cross can still be found submerged in the shallow part of the open sea. Pity we did not have a water cam to film it. The rest of the ruins are covered with corals and mosses with a sign of a thriving marine life. But it felt eerie. All because of Mt. Hibok-Hibok’s major eruption which impacted the landscape of Camiguin in 1871.
As for Camiguin’s culinary gems, we got to try the Beehive, Guererra and La Dolce Vita. All delicious with very quaint surrounds. 
