Thank you for joining me last time and as I promised, it won't take another month before you'll know what happened next during my second time in Camiguin.
If you haven't read Part 1 of my Camiguin trip, here's a quick review of how I was able to travel here. In August 2019, my employer gave us an all-expense paid incentive trip to Camiguin. Today, we'll explore the fiery island one more time before we move unto another solo backpacking diary of mine.
Sounds exciting, right?
Sunsets to end each day
I'm well aware that Paras Beach Resort is situated in the best spot to watch sunsets in Camiguin. Of course, as a sunset lover, I had to catch each day's sunset during our stay here. Here are some photos I took of Camiguin's sunset.
Early bird catches the worm
It was our 3rd day on the island and we were giddying to hop into a brand new day filled with surprises and fresh seafood! 😋 We were told the night prior to this trip that we have to wake up early to catch the majestic beauty of our first destination.
If you're a Filipino like me who've been around the country for sometime, it's not new to experience powdery white sand beaches wherever life takes you. The same applies to this tiny and naked island off the coast of Camiguin. Aside from the given, what attracts tourists to visit this island? Hmmm, I can think of two. First is its ever-dynamic shape that's totally dependent on the tide and second is the view of Camiguin Island from the sandbar.
There's a holding area where we waited for our turn to be taken into the island. It was still early in the morning but I spotted a number of tourists already; tourists who were equally excited as we were to see the island with our own pair of eyes.
True to its promise, the island was nothing compared to any island I've visited in the past. Its clear turquoise water was even made perfect with the white and surprisingly fine sand that covered the entire island. You couldn't see a single part of the island covered in soil, so its basically it's a sandbar.
What did I tell you earlier? Camiguin looked even more mesmerizing from White Island, right?
Here are some group photos I managed to save from this trip. 😁
As a solo backpacker, I've successfully cultivated my "I don't mind doing it alone!" mindset. I'm one independent, strong woman and I don't need anybody to make me happy. I know what makes me happy and I could do just that.
Incentive trips are great especially when they're free but I don't have a say of who I'll travel with as everything is pre-arranged by our HR. Some of my workmates during this trip were already satisfied by the mere fact that they landed on this island but I wanted to make the trip extra special. After group photos, I didn't waited for them. I mutated into my most adventurous self and played with the waves of White Island just like a child, unafraid of anything, excited for each opportunity that life throws.
Final pose before leaving the island! 🥰
The cold never bothered me anyway
I don't know how our tour operator decided which destinations will be grouped together in one day but if I may commend it, I love how we transitioned from one unique destination to another. In previous incentive trips, we allotted an entire day for island hopping alone. With this arrangement, sometimes you'll be bored exploring a number of islands on the same day. It's not that the islands we visited weren't beautiful or worthy of visiting, it's just that, one will find it difficult to draw a distinct line from each of the islands. That's why I could say that combining island and inland destinations in a single day ignited excitement within us.
Anyway, despite the early morning visit to White Island, the day's hotness was already too cruel when we left. In the Philippines, you could never be sure what weather you'll get. This travel was set in August and despite typhoon season being around the corner, you could still get a sunburn. This next destination we visited helped us cool down from White Sand's scorching heat.
Aside from volcanoes, Camiguin is known to be naturally gifted with a lineup of springs that are accessible to the public. The local government and some private individuals manage these springs; with a minimal entrance fee, you could spend a few relaxing hours in these springs.
In our case, we visited Sto. Niño Cold Spring in Catarman, Camiguin. It's a happy place to be both for kids and kids at heart. Here's the kid in me freely floating in one of the huge pools. I rented a floater for $1 to easily explore the vast pool; I did try swimming from end to end but it's too big I found myself tired after a few minutes of swimming without support. 😂
Sto. Niño Cold Spring is definitely true to its name. Its ice-cold spring water is something some people might not be able to tolerate. If ever you decide to add this to your future Camiguin itinerary, brace yourself for the coldness. The best tip I heard and I personally applied? Just stay in the water.. Your body will eventually adjust. It'll get colder if you swim and get out of the pool right away.
Our tour guide also prepared a feast for lunch here. Look at some of my workmates, they're covered in thick towels! Told you it gets cold whenever you're out of the water! 😂
Chill afternoon
The rest of the afternoon was spent heading back to our hotel and dropping by other must-visit destinations along the way. One of the attractions I found interesting was The Beehive, an exotic driftwood cafe fronting a stony beach in Catarman, Camiguin.
Unlike elegant cafes in the big cities in Cebu, this café is absolutely different in all the right aspects. It is stunningly unique because of how the owner or the designer was able to piece together each and every part of the café with hardwood and other natural and light materials. I even questioned myself how different each part of the café to the other yet if you look at the café as a whole, its coherence was overflowing.
We arrived right on time here as it was time for merienda and they offer a wild selection of drinks and snack items from coffee, cookie, and shake.
While everyone else was so busy buying souvenirs and ordering food, I explored the rest of the café. I later found out how enchanting this café is. It's nothing compared to other cafes I've been to before. It offered the finest of tranquility. There's a part of the café overlooking the beach; the perfect place to unwind and clear one's mind. If I may add, it will be an even lovelier afternoon if you bring a book to read here while you sip your drink of choice.
Our group photos at The Beehive! 🥰
Just passing by
We also passed by other famous spots in Camiguin that, most of the time, are always in default itineraries of tour operations.
Below are our photos at the Old Guiob Church Ruins at Bonbon, Catarman. A church used to be erected here but due to volcanic eruption, the church was destroyed and what remains of it are its ruins, now a tourist destination.
If you like freediving and have the luxury of time, it's best you don't just visit the Sunken Cemetery of Camiguin, it's best you freedive here and explore the world underwater. In our case tho, we spent less than 20 minutes here.
We passed by Sea Glass Museum and Art Gallery, too. It was my first time visiting a Sea glass museum; I was left in utter amazement of how Mother Nature was able to transform glass to wonder pieces of art, if they're telling the truth! 🤣
We reached our hotel with nothing but bliss and gratefulness in our glowing faces and blazing hearts. The following day we went home with our stories to tell everyone else.
That's it for my short but sweet second trip to Camiguin Island. Before I forget, don't forget to try lanzones whenever you visit Camiguin in the future! 😁
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It sounds amazing and the photos back it up! I was lucky enough to visit many islands in South East Asia in the past, and have great memories of those times, your photos and post brings me back to those happy times, so thanks for that.
Backpacking around and meeting new people and experiencing new things is a great thing to do, enjoy every moment, it sure looks like you are anyway, especially those shots playing in the waves 👌
Hey @ablaze which country/countries did you visit? Where you able to visit PH?
Hey, I travelled all around Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Laos. We never made it to PH unfortunately. Some day...
Hope you can visit PH soon! Let me know, I can help you with the itinerary and give you some travel tips. :)
Beautiful water color
Thank you, beaches here in the Philippines are to die for 🥰
yeah, noticed. will search more for it. tks
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What an amazing adventure.
So great to read and see the tour guide did change things up and combined the beach… island and inland in one trip.
That’s what I do when traveling. Change of view and explore inland, away from the well known things.
Beautiful trip and great captures.
Thanks for sharing @patsitivity 👋🏻😊 have a great end of the week!
Ganda ng beach 😍😍.. Sana makapunta rin ako jan someday ☺️
Oh gosh, all expense paid? In this paradise? Why I'm so jealous 😭🤩, but kidding aside, the view in there is spectacular. I think just walking in the surrounding, you can find s lot in there. And it is more fun coz you are with lots of people, doing activity and all 🤩
Yes @ruffatotmeee, all expense paid. Incentive trip for supervisors and officers handling teams in our company. It's always nice every time.
I bet people working in your company was so hard working, especislly they can have a sweet reward like this later ฅ^•ﻌ•^ฅ
Hello @patsitivity I heard a lot of good things about that Place. From what I see in your post, it's really good. And because of that it became one of my list to go someday.
Visit the place soon @chuch! If you want to avoid the crowd, February or June is a good time to visit.
Soon I will and thanks for the info . Have a great day 🥰🥰🥰
That 360 camera did you a lot of good. I was looking at the range it covered and it's really amazing. I don't know, your device must've been waterproof, because I saw a lot of water splash on that camera.
Truly the colour of the water is amazing, the place is surprisingly so neat and the whiteness of the Sand is unbelievable.
Hey @josediccus, if you have the chance to visit PH, I'll take you here. How are you buddy, hope all is well with you! Thank you for dropping by. :)
Of course, I'll definitely visit some day. This sight is unimaginable. Yeah, I'm doing well, a few illness here and there, but I'm alive. I see you're truly enjoying your job.
This takes time
How I wish I am brave enough to also do the same. The place is a paradise. This adventure is surely one of the experiences you will always look back.😊
You can always go out of your comfort zone @netswriting. It's just a matter of filling your heart with the thoughts that people are innately kind and generous they'll help you survive the days when you are traveling solo.
Thank you for this advice miss @patsitivity 😊 I just need that one braver step to embrace traveling solo.🥰
That crystal clear water made me dream to go Camiguin Island. It is such a paradise.
Go na dayon Ms. @missleray 💪❤️
Gosh Pat, it's never a dull moment when I open your posts. You really are such a waterbaby and those coastlines are to die for. The sunsets too. You seem to pack a lot into a very short space of time.
I had no idea there was a sea glass museum, that is so cool. I used to collect sea glass along the beaches here but there seems to be less and less of it these days.
So glad you had a wonderful time, sounds like that hotel knows how to take care of their guests.
@emma-h2 you do collect sea glass? That's cool! When I visited Camiguin it was the first time I heard about sea glass. I was amazed what mother nature could do. At some point, I even thought they just fabricated those colorful and polished sea glass. 🤣
You can make sea glass in a tumbling machine, but where's the fun in that? The authentic stuff is the best. With glass being overtaken by plastic these days though, you don't find sea glass on the shore line as much anymore, so it's even more special now.
Historical ruins and Sunken Cemetery. Lanzones delight. Your solo spirit shines through exploration. Unforgettable journey.
We had a bad experience about their lanzones but I left out that part. The entire trip was too memorable to be ruined by a single disappointment. ❤️
Adding camiguin to the list of places i want to visit. Thanks for sharing.
Glad you added this place to your list. It's a piece of heaven on earth.
OMG What an amazing place!! The title of your post is the perfect match with the pictures!!
Heya @belug! Glad you find it pleasing. There are more places like this in PH but Camiguin is rarely on foreign tourists list.
That's some beautiful sunsets you've got to enjoy in Camiguin! Even though it has a lot more to offer than that, getting to see nice sunrises and sunsets it's always a plus ❤️
Definitely a plus @gabrielatravels, do you also love sunsets and sunrises?
When I'm at home I seldom wake up early not a morning person at all but when traveling I always see to it that I don't miss sunrise and sunset 🥰
Absolutely! I'm not a morning person either but if I get to see a sunrise it changes my mood positively even if I feel asleep for the rest of the day, haha
Loved your Camiguin adventure! Your solo exploration, beach moments, and café discoveries were truly inspiring. Excited for your next journey
Thank you @rebet for dropping by. 😋
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