The Budget Travel Guide To Camiguin, Bukidnon & CDO

I've been to Mindanao twice not just because I want to experience it again but because I've missed something that I want to try. And yes, it's RAFTING! The first time I went here was right after Typhoon Sendong, last January 2012. We weren't able to try it due to some changes of Cagayan de Oro River-scape because the water level rose up to 20ft. Nonetheless, I wasn't that disappointed since I knew I'll be back in a couple of months and besides, SAFETY always comes first. :) 

Every time I travel, I always get excited of what to see in my next destination. Traveling to Cagayan de Oro is a 1 1/2 hour plane ride. My first stop when I step my foot on the City of Friendship, CDO,  is to go straight to the Island Born of Fire, Camiguin. It is known as that since it has seven volcanoes and several volcanic domes. Camiguin is a pear-shaped island on the Northern tip of Mindanao. It's just a small island with so many tourist attractions. Some of the interesting spots here is the Sunken Cemetery and Old Catarman Church Ruins. Kuya Teddy, our tour guide and his multicab, welcomed us in the port of Camiguin. We checked-in at Paguia's Cottages wherein our contact person is Kuya Roel Paguia, the son of the owner of Paguia's Cottages. He offered us a package which seems just right for its price. What I like most about Camiguin is that their food, entrance/environmental fees & transportation rates are cheap and they really have standard rates which means locals do not take advantage of tourists.

DAY 1 CAMIGUIN 

0415 ETD Manila
0540 ETA CGY
0550 Airport to Agora Market Terminal
0620 ETA Agora Market
0630 Van to Balingoan Port (2.5-3hrs)
0930 Arrival @ Bolingoan Port
0945 Ferry to Benoni Port (2hrs)
1145 Arrival @ Camiguin
1200 Check-in @ Paguia's Cottages Camiguin
1300 Start of Camiguin Tour via Multicab 
2100 End of Tour

You can get a room good for 5pax for only 1500php ain't bad right? 

there are life size statues depicting the stations of the cross if you reach the top

Gui-ob Church was destroyed and partly submerged by volcanic debris during the eruption and formation of Mt. Vulcan from 1871 to 1875.

Katibawasan Falls-it's so cold that I can't even dip long

Ardent Hot Springs- refreshing!

Sunken Cemetery- you can go diving here and check what's under..creepy!:)

Sto. Nino Cold Spring- COLD

We had our early dinner at Sto. Nino Cold Spring. You can rent a cottage for only 50php. Before you enter this place, there are ladies who'll approach you and give you a list of short menu wherein they'll cook it for you. They offer chicken, fish, pork which can either be cooked as fried, grilled or even adobo. Price ranges from 280php-300php/kilo. They would serve it inside Sto. Nino Cold Spring so you can have a picnic under your picnic huts.

DAY 2 BUKIDNON

0530 Wake-up
0545 Leave for White Island
0600 Arrival @ White Island
0630 Leave Island
0645 back @ Hotel/ Breakfast
0830 Check-out/ Leave for Benoni Port
0845 Ferry to Balingoan Port
1015 ETA @ Balingoan Port
1030 Van Pick-up to Dahilayan Adventure Park
1230 ETA Dahilayan Adventure Park, Bukidnon
1600 Leave for CDO
1800 Arrival @ CDO, Check-in @ Traveler's Pod
1830 Dinner/ Free time

Before leaving Camiguin, you shouldn't miss White Island. Make sure you go there early, since its popular sand bar is only seen during low tide. They say that the island can be a letter C or letter I depending on its ocean tide. Next is Bukidnon. Bukidnon is known for its Dahilayan Adventure Park which has the longest dual zipline in Asia with 840m Ziplines with a drop of 100 meter. You would also get to see Del Monte's Pineapple Farm.

Premier Pod 2700php good for 5pax

Travelers Pod

with the waves of white island

A rainbow sets on White Island

Horseback riding around Dahilayan Park

Del Monte's Pineapple Farm

 The Biggest Pineapple :)

We checked-in @ Traveler's Pod in CDO. It is accessible, cozy and very comfortable. It's really great for Travelers. One thing that we didn't like was that we had a reservation on their premiere pod good for 5 but their aircon was not functioning well. So they had to transfer us in 2 rooms (good for 3pax & 2pax). I just hope that they would check their rooms first and repair things that needs to be repaired before accommodating their guests. But overall, we enjoyed our stay, I liked their choice of bed sheets, the room is very clean & its really relaxing :)

DAY 3 CDO

As early as 8am, the staffs of Red Rafts will be picking you up at your hotel. You would see their jeepney loaded with boats on top of it that would make you even more excited. When we got this package, we had other guest with us. One by one, they picked us up at our hotels. Before proceeding to rafting, we had a short tour to Macahambus Cave. In rafting, we had a choice of getting the short course or long course. Since we were just new, we wanted to only take the short course, but before hopping in to our boats our guide convinced us to get the long course instead since it is more exciting because of the longer rapids, powerful waves and strong currents. it's longer, more exhausting yet more adventurous! We just had to add 300php/each so we said OK! Let's get it on! :)

0700 Wake up/ Breakfast
0800 Pick up @ Hotel
0825 Arrival @ Macahambus Cave
0840 Leave for White Water Rafting
0900 Start of adventure
1200 End of course
1300 Lunch
1400 Jeepney transfer to Lumbia Airport
1555 ETD CGY
1720 ETA Manila

There's our jeepney! :)

a stolen shot in Macahambus Cave

All I did here was scream!! Waaah

Non-stop HI-5!!!

SOAR!! HI 5 to RAFTING!! :))

I would suggest that you do rafting on your last day cos this would be tiring. Tiring yet fulfilling and such a fun-filled experience. This 3-day Mindanao escape was such a blast. Overall, this is one extreme vacation! :) #ONLYINMINDANAO #ONLYINTHEPHILIPPINES

Where/ What to EAT:
*Camiguin

Native Chicken Adobo & Kilawin @ Sto. Nino Cold Spring

Lazones-30-35php/kilo during their Lazones Festival

Only @ White Island. :)

*CDO

Shrimp Sinigang, Laing, Calamares, BBQ @ Golden Cowrie Native Restaurant

Vjandep Pastel

*Bukidnon

Del Monte Farm Clubhouse
Cawayanon, Barangay San Miguel, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon

Pinutos sa Kanto
Barangay San Miguel, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon

TRAVEL BREAKDOWN EXPENSE:

CONTACT PERSON

Kuya Teddy (Multicab): 0939-244-0521
Kuya Roel Paguia: 0917-310-7085
Paguia's Cottages: (088)- 387-9018
Travelers Pod:  (088) 851-8988/ 0917-717-6910
The Red Rafts White Water Rafting: 0917-855-6983 / 0922-897-3175

HAPPY TRAVELING! :)