Camiguin Island in the Philippines: Tourist Attractions to Visit

The beautiful White Island in Camiguin with its blue water.

Philippines is blessed with great beautiful islands with unchanging old charm and attraction.  If you are planning for a travel vacation or for a holiday destination, don’t hesitate to visit this country.  When you are in the place, you will get fascinated by the perfect beaches, magnificent volcanoes and mountains, great events and festivals, and hospitable people.  The island that features all of these is Camiguin. 

Camiguin is Northern Mindanao’s tourism capital.    While it is the 2^nd smallest province in the Philippines, Camiguin boasts about its huge tourist destinations.  Tourists from different countries can select from a variety of beautiful spots from hot springs, majestic volcanoes, white beaches, waterfalls, to amazing rock formations and coral reefs. 

From the place of Cagayan de Oro, the island of Camiguin can be touched through a small plane or boat.  The area is typically for an economy of agriculture.  The Camiguingon people depend highly on fishing and farming as their means of livelihood.   Tourist visitors are always received with friendly smiles showing the visitors the spirit of cosiness and relaxation. 

Here is the guide for travel to some of the world’s great attractions found only in Camiguin, known for its “born of fire” island.

Mount Hibok-Hibok

This mountain is a very popular natural attraction.  It is a volcano, the only active one out of the 7 volcanoes in this island.  Mount Hinok-Hibok measures 1,553 meters in height. For the local and international hikers, this mountain is very famous for them.  Scaling the peak part is quiet difficult.  For mountaineers, they have first to be challenged with boulders and rocks before getting rewarded—a magnificent spectacular view of the whole island and Bohol.       

White Island

This is another place mostly visited by foreign visitors.  The white sandbar, popularly known as the Medan Island, gives a perfect view of Mount Vulcan and Mount Hibok-Hibok.   White Island makes the best site for snorkelling, swimming, collecting seashells, and sunbathing.  Vacation rentals and motor-powered boats from the close resorts take the visitors to this naturally beautiful place. 

The Katibawasan Falls

Never leave Camiguin without dipping into its waters that are crystal clear in Katibawasan Falls.   This attractive nature treasure has the height of 250 ft. high. The green environment and cool water always come as a cooling relief during humid and hot months.  Ground orchids as well as giant ferns serve as additional visual attractions to travelling visitors.  

Sunken Cemetery

Many people can consider Sunken Cemetery as another tourist spot.  To the local people and many travellers, this is a landmark which is very alluring and astonishing.  This cemetery lying twenty feet below water can be used in sightseeing through scuba diving and snorkelling.  The huge cross is the marker of the location for those remains of the tsunami that engulfed the whole community following the volcanic tremor in 1871.

The Lanzonez Festival

When it comes to fruit, Camiguin has the natural attraction to guests when they observe their annual Lanzonez Festival.  This occasion is celebrated on the third week of the month of October celebrating a fruitful harvest of lanzonez—one of the tropical fruits and the major source of people’s livelihood.  This festival is celebrated with street dancing and colourful parade. 

Swimming with Whale Sharks in Donsol, Philippines

Beholding the beautiful creatures within their deep wide habitat will make everyone feel the wonder of the Mother Nature. This becomes more real once you personally witness whale sharks.  You can see them in the Philippines in Donsol, from Sorsogon province.    

Donsol is an old-fashioned coastal town for fishing at around 600 km away from the city of Manila—Philippines’ capital country.  Donsol is situated in Luzon Island at the southwest coast.  The place has been the natural habitat for years by whale sharks or “Butanding,” as what people most commonly call them. 

The town has kept this in secret for a long time until a team of divers from other countries introduced it to the public for awareness.  Sadly, the people of doubtful intentions have taken advantage of the place.  Rustlers began to go to the place after hearing the news of the migration of Butanding.  Thankfully, the government has taken the necessary action to give protection and preserve the whale sharks, saying publicly that those are protected species. 

What exactly the place offers to the sharks making them special after all?  Sea waters in Donsol province are perfect for the right water temperature for Butandings during their migrations from the months of February to June.  In addition to the satisfying temperature, these whales can feed on the plentiful species of fish food.  The rich planktons give the whales more than sufficient food to sustain their lives and live long in the place. 

Each time these marine creatures begin to come, Donsol transforms itself into an occupied site fully-packed with both foreign and local tourists.  People from across the world arrive to witness the wonderful living creatures roam and play under the water.  For this year, it has been noted that there are about 168 Butandings at the sea’s costal water areas.  Some of these whales can even swim as near as twenty meters away from the shore.  With this natural scene of excitement, it is not a surprise that bigger numbers of tourists flock around the town each year.

Most of Donsol’s hotels organize some activities for visitors like arranging transportation.  Sometimes an additional fee is required besides the normal price. One area of the place that shouldn’t be missed by tourists is the PADI Dive Resort at Giddy’s Place.  The resort provides a variety of fun-filled activities like kayaking and diving.  

And to mingle with welcoming sharks, you can register yourself at the Visitor’s Centre situated at Dancalan Barangay.  They will show you a video clip on how to interact with whale sharks then you can take the exotic tricycle to guide you to the boat station. Tourists and watchers of the whale sharks will be assigned to an expert officer to assist them.  For security purposes, set of policies are strictly implemented to be followed by everyone.  Furthermore, Visitor’s Centre also gives tour boats together with the assigned officer. Many resorts also provide tour pre-booking at a cheap service price.  A single boat can accommodate as many as six people. 

Here are the existing rules and regulations visitors can see on Visitor Centre’s walls.  Rules are restated during the short video showing.

1. No riding or touching on Butanding.
2. Don’t control the whale shark’s movement or block its way.
3. Standard distance: 3-meter away from the body and the head; 4-meter away from its tail.
4. No flash picture taking allowed.
5. No scooter, scuba, jet-ski, and any sort of motorized underwater driving force.
6. Only one boat allowed per shark with maximum 6 swimmers only.

Donsol is one of the most popular tourist destinations because of the great swimming Butanding.  Donsol has now laid claim to the designation as the “world’s whale capital.”

Favorite Tourist Spots in the Philippines

The world’s famous Mt. Mayon of Albay.

Everybody has favorites and no one can ever deny that.  When it comes to tourist spots around the world, people have different views on the various spots.  The world has thousands of tourist destinations that boast of several features.  However, there can be no other country that can match the number of tourist spots that you can see in the Philippines. 

You already know that the Philippines is made of more than 7,000 islands.  Most of these islands boast their different spots that really attract tourists.  However, there are some tourists who have not heard of the wonders that are found in the different islands.  This article will show you the favorite tourist spots all around the archipelago.

The Rice Terraces at Banawe

Considered as the eighth wonder of the world, the Banawe Rice Terraces was and still is a favorite spot of tourists. The serene mountains in the province of the Ifugao’s have been proven to attract several local tourists as well as foreign visitors. The beauty of the terraces has undeniably caught and will always catch the attention of its spectators.

The Beaches of Boracay

The beaches of Boracay have surely enticed everybody to pay them a visit. It has long been known that the sand and the water surrounding the island are world-class. In fact, some foreign tourists will even say that Boracay has the best beaches in the world. No wonder it is one of the favorite tourist spots in the entire country.

Mount Mayon

The Philippines is filled with dormant volcanoes. However, the most active volcano has become a great spot for tourists to visit.  Mt. Mayon at Albay is one enormous volcano. It has damaged villages in the previous years but still its beauty lures the affection of tourists. The reason is because it offers a wonderful view from afar.

Have the thrill of a lifetime by experiencing the White Water Rafting Adventure of Cagayan de Oro.

The White Waters of Cagayan de Oro

For those thrill-seekers out there, the white waters of Cagayan de Oro will definitely be a place that you should visit. Cagayan de Oro is known for the great rafting adventures that it offers to its visitors.  You can either take the short trip or you can try the long one. It’s up to you really. Thus, if you want to experience the rifts of the Cagayan River, don’t forget to try their rafting adventure.

 

Palawan

Another popular island in the Philippines is the island of Palawan. Experts suggest that there is no specific place in Palawan that can be considered as the best because almost everything on the island, as well as around it, is awesome. The coral reefs and the various diving spots are the most notable spots that every tourist wants to see.

Baguio City

This may somehow be a rare inclusion but the place is worth the mention. Baguio City is a place in the province which showcases the different views and climate of the Philippines. Once you arrive at the city, you will somehow feel that you are not in the Philippines because of the climate. The place is about 6 to 7 hours away from the city of Manila.  Judging from that fact, one can surely say that it’s a far place.

These are the various tourist spots that every tourist should see. Remember, when you travel to the Philippines, put on your sexiest summer look to maximize your stay there. Enjoy!

Why is Boracay a Favorite Tourist Destination in the Philippines?

Each year, people are looking for different spots to spend a vacation at.  Often times, these people are looking at the various beaches that the world has to offer. There are several beaches around the world that can be considered as beautiful.  However, none is more beautiful than the island of Boracay found in the Philippines. 

As you know, the Philippines is composed of 7,107 islands.  In fact, there are several islands in the Philippines that offer tremendous beaches. This has become one of the greatest assets of the Philippines in recent years.

As of this moment, the island of Boracay is considered to be the best tourist destination in the Philippines. There are several reasons behind critics’ decision of branding Boracay as the best place to have a vacation.

The beautiful shores of the island of Boracay.

The Beach

A world-class beach will always entice people.  Fortunately, Boracay is blessed with such beaches. In fact, when it was first developed, it immediately attracted tourists because of the various amenities it offered. But the most attractive sites were their beaches. To date, their local government with the aid of the national government, are continuously doing everything they can to preserve as well as improve their beach.

The Mountains

Aside from their spectacular beaches, the views from their mountains are also sublime. You could just imagine standing on top of the hill, looking down on the most beautiful creations. Now that can be a wonderful nature experience especially to foreign visitors.

Restaurants

When you visit Boracay, you will notice that it is filled with top-notch restaurants. You can choose from an array of specialties in the different restaurants.  If you would like fine dining then they have it.  In contrast, if you are more of a burger person then you can choose from the different burger stations situated at the heart of the island. It’s purely amazing.

The beach of Boracay (a view from atop).

Souvenirs

People will always look for souvenir items when they visit a place. At Boracay, you will surely love their souvenir items because some of them can only be found in the Philippines. In other words, nowhere in the world can you find other souvenirs which are better than the ones offered at the island of Boracay.

The beach of Boracay (a view from atop).

The Bars and the Parties

Lastly, but this is certainly not the least, tourists love the island for their bars. There are hosts of bars at Boracay that you can spend an hour or two at. This is why everyone wants to go to Boracay. The bars that they have are simply outstanding.  In fact, there are a lot of foreigners that suggest that their bars can be likened to the top bars in the world.

The parties that they throw at the island are also considered to be the ones that attract the attention of tourists. It would be best if you would visit during the summertime because every day parties are held throughout the island.

There you have it. Surely you are now thinking about visiting the Philippines because of the island of Boracay. Don’t forget to spend a week or two at their hotels so that you may maximize your stay in the Philippines.

Why Choose Philippines to be Your Next Tourist Destination?

Philippine tourism offers a variety of travel and sightseeing activities. This is one of the countries to visit where you can touch the Eastern and Western cultures.  Philippines has been led by some countries before like Japanese, Americans and Spanish.  As a result, Philippines became famous in many structures like towers, churches, museums, etc. 

Mayon Volcano in Albay

Sightseeing is very common in the Philippines.  Every province offers something new to tourists. Majority of the beautiful spots are natural picturesque scenery.  Some have been nominated to serve as one of the world’s wonders.  These tourist destinations include Mayon Volcano, Chocolate Hills, Tubbataha Reef, and Subterranean River.  Few ruins like watchtowers and churches can be seen in Cebu, Albay, and Manila.   

Philippines is known for the term “Mabuhay!” which means a warm “welcome.”  And in this country, everyone, whether tourist or not, is truly welcome.  On Philippines’ tourist guide, you will get current travel details to tour around the country.

Philippines is beyond what is common. It has Batad considered as the country’s heavenly place.  It is a genuine wonder of the earth. People sculpt their lives abounding in beautiful landscapes the world has to offer.  During harvest time, sun smiles delightfully on people and places.

Adventurists and thrill seekers love Philippines because of scuba diving and snorkelling.  These are well-known outdoor activities because the nation has much of the marine treasures. In the past, Philippines was included in the top 10 of the world’s dive destinations.  It was awarded for the “must-visit” diving destinations worldwide.  

Coron Palawan

Also, there are other destinations like Siargao Island,  Mindoro, and Sorsogon for diving.  Some have few creatures like white whale sharks.  Going to Coron Palawan, your eyes will be captivated by marine creatures not found in any place of the world. From the same region, you may explore different caves around.  Tourists get amazed with the stalactites and stalagmites shaped like religious images.  

While some regions are being revolutionized, more places are still good for eco-tourism activities. Lavish mountains are waiting for more nature lovers. Trekking and hiking are common in the mountain areas of Romblon, Mount Makiling, and Mount Mayon (known for its perfect cone-shaped mountain).

Philippines offers more than these.  It has bunches of fiestas and festivals.  Most towns have their own way to celebrate festivals. The hospitality of Filipinos is legendary.  It has been proven that Filipinos’ hospitality makes tourists genuinely happy in visiting the tourist destinations of the country.