August 6, 2016February 3, 2022 by findingbackroads

Where we stayed: The Bellevue Bohol Resort

hotels, Reviews
Beach, Bellevue, Bohol, island, Personal, resort, Travels
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If you have read my previous travel posts, I am all about travelling for less. I believe you don’t have to be rich to be able to see places and we’re fine with budget travel: staying at basic accommodations, use public transport, simple meals and fly with budget airlines. However, there are times when a life celebrations call for a little bit of luxury, those out of this world experiences you must enjoy even for once in your lifetime.

This year, 2016 my parents are married for FORTY years and that day too, on my father’s 67th birthday. Now these folks, my parents…they have been raising six kids tirelessly and still continue to dote on their grandchildren. Oh and if I remember, they didn’t go for a honeymoon trip, either! I do think they deserve a much needed break and a taste of luxury so I took them to The Bellevue Bohol Resort in Panglao island!

Mama and Papa has not traveled much within their own country for pleasure, together. They are not used to traveling for pleasure (duh, who has the time and resources when you are raising six kids!) and are anxious with what comes with travel, in July in the Philippines when it’s rainy season, especially if it involves getting on a boat overnight, hopping to another island.

Can you imagine how much I prayed they’d say yes?

LOCATION

The Bellevue Bohol Resort is in Panglao island, located southwest of Bohol and east of Cebu. Just 15km from Tagbilaran, it works just fine as a base for exploring the rest of Bohol. We traveled from our hometown of Cagayan de Oro City aboard Trans Asia ship going to Tagbilaran, the capital city of Bohol. The ship left at 7 pm from Cagayan de Oro and we arrived at 4:30 am in Tagbilaran the following day. Sounds like a long trip? Nah, you can barely feel it since you’ll probably be sleeping through the whole 9+ hours sea journey.

Related post: Travel guide to Bohol island.

The resort is located at the opposite side of the already popular (read: sometimes noisy, chaotic and crowded) Alona Beach strip where night life is reportedly exciting. But this staycation was for my parents who are in their 60’s who never cared for night life even in their 20’s so the location of Bellevue Bohol Resort at a more secluded part of Panglao island meant more quiet time with family and more privacy.

CHECK IN

When we arrived at the resort, we could smell the sea once we stepped out of the van that picked us up from Tagbilaran port earlier. The reception area is not a typical hotel reception, it’s open air from the entrance…

…and onto the koi pond, beautifully manicured gardens, infinity pool and the beach!

The reception staff who greeted us when we arrived guided us to the elevator immediately. But wait, we are yet to check in, right? Yes – but you can do the check in process from the room! I love hotel/resort features like this. We just arrived at 4:30 am from an overnight boat journey and the bed wasn’t really comfortable so it’s a big plus to go straight to the room and fall face flat on the bed.

THE ROOM

First things first, we were upgraded to the Presidential Suite! Now, there are more than 150 rooms in the whole resort but only ONE Presidential Suite. My jaw dropped to the floor. I am so happy for all of us! And it wasn’t only my jaw that I had to pick up from the floor when we entered our newly assigned massive room! My parents too, and the kids and my brother, all of us! (Click on each photo to enlarge)

[envira-gallery id=”53468″]

The Presidential Suite is so well and functionally designed that anyone walking in or staying would think: I want my house to be designed like this! The interiors even have my favorite color of orange and teal (the colors of my blog!).

The Presidential Suite features two bedrooms with their own balconies and living areas. Furthermore, it has its own fully-functional kitchen and granite-topped bar. You can always request for cutlery set, pots and pans, if required. It’s perfect for families or group of friends. It was perfect for us: my parents in the main room with a king sized bed (they are still in shock with their luxurious room, bathroom and balcony) and me, the kids and my brother on the other room.

When we’re done with the check in process, it was sunrise and we all had to rush outside. We didn’t want to miss this view!

THE BEACH

What’s a resort life without checking out the beach? The beach front had powdery soft, white sand which is regularly maintained and cleaned. There are several chair lounges with umbrellas.

The water wasn’t too deep though and you can only swim through the shallow part as there are lots of sea grass at the deeper part. I know some won’t mind.

If you’re not into swimming, there are several water activities available like paddle boarding, kayaking and so much more. You just have to ask the diving center. Panglao island has several smaller island within its vicinity and the resort offers day trips to those island (Virgin island, Balicasag island or Pamilacan island) for dolphin watching! The motorized boats leave as early as 5 am.

THE POOL

We need to talk about this pool. I think I’ll never run out words to describe it. It’s easy so say this has been the best pool I’ve been to so far. The infinity pool style stretches out the view to the sprawling open sea. The depths are 2 feet, 4 feet and 12 feet. The 2 feet is for the kids and it’s very big, look!

The water is temperature controlled too so it was easy to convince my parents to dip in. I tell you, they are not pool people. But here, they swam till they were sore! My mama loved to just sit by the pool with the kids in the morning. Oh such precious moments.

We loved swimming in the late afternoon, when we’re promised the island’s glorious sunsets.

WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT BELLEVUE BOHOL RESORT (and why you should stay here!)

As if it’s not obvious how we loved everything about the resort from what I’ve written above, I’m not done yet. The food was excellent. The buffet breakfast is extensive with traditional Filipino, Asian as well as international food and the selection they have are satisfying. Thumbs up to the taste too!

* Lamian, the restaurant name means “tasty or delicious” in Visayan dialect and for sure they lived up to the name. The restaurant serves guests all day. We had buffet breakfast and lunch and though a bit pricey but it’s not everyday we get to celebrate something special and my parents’ smiles made it worth it. They’re very simple people who’s not into buffets but they loved the food at Lamian. It’s not a “just because” buffet. The quality of food is something else – thanks to locally sourced ingredients and chefs who take the renowned southern taste of food to the next level. My father who rarely eat pork loved the humba, an authentic Bisaya dish of stewed pork with sweet and tangy taste.

Other amenities in the resort include is the Game Room that is open until 8 pm. There’s a soft play area for kids, air hockey, Foosball, table tennis tables and an arcade basketball shooting machine FREE for all guests. There are also computers, PS3 setups complete with competitive games. They also have some books, DVD’s and even board games you can borrow.

Ah, the grandeur that is Bellevue Bohol. It was a great time in paradise. I could understand why so many families were there and staying for a stretch of days to a week. It’s a wonderful resort to stay with the kids (more about that in the next post). The only bad thing about it is that you would be sad when you leave.

Here, it’s not just the sea, sand and sun (and the infinity pool! and the food!), the truly warm hospitality natural to Boholanons (natives of Bohol) really shines through and made our experience much more special. Thank you, Bellevue Bohol Resort team for taking care of us. We will never forget our short but very relaxing and memorable stay at your property. Thank you for the surprise complimentary cake for my parents’ 40th wedding anniversary AND another one for my father’s 67th birthday.

Lastly…

Though I believe that it’s not required to splurge on important life celebrations (even my wedding was ultra simple), my parents deserve this little luxurious break. I am truly grateful for these two people who stood through thick and thin, in good times and mostly during bad times for me and my five other siblings. Where would we be without them?

Happy 40th wedding anniversary, mama and papa. I am happy to see you happy like this. I love you!

To learn more about The Bellevue Bohol Resort and their special offers, check out their main website as well as connect with them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

We were guests at The Bellevue Bohol Resort, however, there is no obligation to write a favourable review, all thoughts and opinions are mine.

July 30, 2016February 3, 2022 by findingbackroads

A Travel Guide to Bohol Island, Philippines

Philippines, Travels
Beach, Bellevue, Bohol, hotel. travel guide, island, Philippines, resort, Travels
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After our trip to Camiguin island last year, my siblings and I vowed, we would explore the other islands of the Philippines, one at a time or at least one island every time we meet up for homecoming, each year. We are six siblings, with FIVE living abroad and having different vacation times as per our work schedules. It’s difficult for all of us to be home at the same time so we make the most of it and whoever is home, go together for out of town trips.

The Philippines is an archipelago of 7,100+ islands – we’ll never run out of islands to go! This year, we picked Bohol island.

WHERE IS BOHOL?

Bohol, is a province of the Philippines, in the country’s Central Visayas region, comprising Bohol Island and 70-plus smaller surrounding islands.

HOW TO GET THERE

There are no international flights to going directly to Bohol’s capital city of Tagbilaran. However, there’s Mactan International Airport in Cebu, an island west of Bohol. You can fly to Cebu and take a fast craft to Tagbilaran port (below photo is taken at Tagbilaran port showing a fast craft going to the direction of Cebu, that land mass silhouette you can see in the horizon). There are also flights from Manila to Tagbilaran.

Super Cat and Ocean Jet are two fast crafts servicing between Cebu and Tagbilaran and the ferry ride lasts for only two hours, one way. We used Trans Asia Shipping Lines from Cagayan de Oro City in Mindanao island to Tagbilaran. The ship left at 7 pm from Cagayan de Oro and arrived at 4 am the next day in Tagbilaran.

We could have opted to take a plane to Cebu and then transfer to a fast craft to Tagbilaran but it was too much of a hassle since the airport is far from where we live. Plus, I kind of missed taking an overnight ferry trip…

Click here for more information regarding ferry services, schedules and ticketing outlets.

There are two basic classes in Philippines’ inter-island ferries. There’s economy class which is an open air deck (very hot and humid before the ship departs!) and then there’s the “Tourist” class, an air-conditioned section which is cleaner and more comfortable. However, if you’re a bit claustrophobic, you might feel a little uncomfortable, especially when the weather is not too good.

The kids took their very first long distance ferry ride and were amazing. Pristine didn’t say anything bad about it (except that, she didn’t like the creepy crawlies that occasionally appear LOL). Benjamin slept from around 9 pm to the time we arrived at Tagbilaran port at dawn the next day.

Though the weather was good when we left Cagayan de Oro City and our journey was uneventful like the ferry was cruising through butter (that smooth), our trip going back home was the opposite. Monsoon season made its presence felt and wanted to cap our perfect vacation with a little slap of tropical country reality. Four hours after leaving Tagbilaran port, when we were midway between Bohol and Mindanao island, I was awakened with big waves slapping the left side of the ship and the ship would shake. It was cloudy outside.The rocking motion made me feel nauseous lying down.

TIP: If you’re travelling during the rainy season/monsoon, take an anti-nausea drug before your voyage. In the Philippines, the most popular brand is Bonamine (also available for kids in chewable form) and available over the counter.

GETTING AROUND AND TOURING BOHOL

The resort where we will be staying in Panglao, The Bellevue Bohol Resort had arranged someone to pick us from Tagbilaran port which we really appreciated since we arrived before sunrise. Most resorts and hotels in Bohol will have pick up services available so be sure to arrange that before your arrival. Otherwise, there are private pick up services just outside the port – unfortunately I cannot vouch for the safety of these services. If you don’t know anyone from Bohol, friends or family to pick you up at the port, you can contact the Bohol Tourism office through their website or email them at inquire@boholtourismph.com for viable options. I am sure they can recommend a pick up service that’s legit and safe.

If you want to take a tour on Panglao island or the Bohol countryside tour (eco tourism tours also available), there are several travel tours and companies you can find when you do a search online. However, I wanted to book a tour company that’s trusted and with a good reputation – we used Travel Village and Tours, as recommended by the Bohol Tourism office. (More about them in the next post about our Bohol Countryside Tour).

If you are on a budget, you can also go short distances around Bohol aboard these pedicabs – a small carriage that could carry two passengers in the sidecar and one behind the driver. There’s no air conditioning system, you travel al fresco. There are no meters in these vehicles, you negotiate with the driver, explaining your journey and agree on a price.

We used this a couple of times, to the delight of the kids (although Benjamin isn’t showing his joy much in this photo…he is just camera shy!).

WHAT’S IN BOHOL?

In one short sentence: The vastness of nature.

From shades of green, to shades of blue real quick.

Bohol is also home to the Philippine Tarsier, one of the world’s smallest primate. The Philippine tarsier, as its name suggests, is endemic to the Philippine archipelago. This nocturnal, shy and solitary animal is considered endangered.

According to our guide who is a native Boholanon (people born and raised in Bohol), there are absolutely no factories in the entire island of Bohol. The quality of air can attest to that!

Aside from pristine beaches, blue skies, rich flora and fauna, Bohol is also home to some of the country’s oldest churches, falls and underground caves.

WHERE TO STAY IN BOHOL

Bohol has a large number of hotels, resorts, and other facilities for tourists. Most of these are concentrated in Tagbilaran and around Alona Beach, with a few more scattered around the island. Travelers and tourists stay at more affordable hotels in Tagbilaran if they want to focus on the countryside tour of the main island rather than spend time at pricier resorts in Panglao island. (Panglao island tour and spending time at a public beach in Panglao can be easily included in your itinerary even if you stay at a hotel in Tagbilaran City.)

We stayed first at The Bellevue Bohol Resort in Panglao island to celebrate my parents’ 40th wedding anniversary together with my father’s 67th birthday. The resort is located on the other side of the more popular section of the island’s Alona beach stretch which meant it was more quiet, clean and unspoiled!

There infinity pool facing the open sea is something out of a vacationer’s dream.

I’ll be writing a very detailed review of our unforgettable stay soon!

After spending two glorious days at the resort in Panglao, we moved to Tagbilaran City and stayed at a new-ish boutique hotel called 717 Cesar Place, near the city center. The hotel is basic, with clean rooms and there’s a restaurant that wasn’t too expensive and served well. Access to the city center is easy as it is located in the main road.

Booking your Bohol accommodations through the above affiliate links will cost you nothing extra and helps support this website. Thank you!

*****

Bohol is just one of the many, many paradise islands in the Philippines. Have you heard of it? Maybe you have heard of Boracay or Palawan and Cebu but Bohol (along with Camiguin which we visited last year) deserves appreciation and recognition, too. If you’re a nature lover, you will absolutely love it and if you live in the desert (hello, Dubai friends!), why don’t you go and inhale some unadulterated air and marvel at the vast green spaces in Bohol?

January 10, 2016February 3, 2022 by findingbackroads

Things to see in Camiguin island, Philippines (Part 2)

Philippines
Camiguin, Family, island, Philippines, summer, Travels, vacation
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This is Part 2 of our travel experience in Camiguin island in the Philippines. You can read about Part 1 here.

We left our accommodation at Villa Paraiso in Mambajao and moved closer to the pick up point where boats depart for White Island. We did not have any prior reservations for our next inn for the night but there are lots of smaller inns around the area as well as Camiguin’s major one – Paras Beach Resort.

Additional read: Travel Guide to Camiguin Island, Philippines

We found a single detached bungalow type of room at Pabua’s cottages. One room was enough to accommodate all of us: 4 adults and 2 children. We paid PHP1,400 (US$30) for one night.

What was the main purpose of settling in this part of town, away from the center? White Island! Yes, that famous sandbar a few meters aware from the shore of Camiguin.

This.

Two kilometers off the coast of Agoho, Mambajao is Camiguin’s popular uninhabited island called White Island. Sometimes it is in the shape of the letter C, sometimes the letter I, depending on the ocean tide. It has a picturesque Mt. Hibok Hibok and Old Vulcan as its backdrop.

Unfortunately, a strong tropical typhoon was entering the Philippine area of responsibility and intensified monsoon windds. The sea became a little rough and since typhoon paths sometimes become unpredictable, all boat operations to White island were halted.

We can’t believe that we’re actually in Camiguin and cannot go to White island! It’s like going to New York without ever seeing the Statue of Liberty! So what do we do now? We just stood there looking out at sea and we took jump shots.

I love my travel companions, they didn’t ever let one negative situation ruin anything on the trip. We all made the best of what we had at that moment and decided to rent a multicab instead for PHP1,400 (US$30) which included driver services and fuel cost. The driver promised to take us to 7 tourist spots for the whole day, with random history lessons thrown in. We never bothered to haggle; it was a good bargain for us and these drivers I bet are tired for tourists who haggle even if they can pay the meager amount. Here’s the list of places the driver/local guide took us:

1. Cliffside

I call this “almost Hawaii”, no explanations needed. I wish you could also feel what I felt while I was standing here, with the sea breeze on my face. I regret not bringing my proper SLR camera with wide angle that day.

~ with 2, out of 4 brothers Jay and Michael who accompanied me and the kids on this trip ~

Sorry, we’re a family of jump shot fanatics.

2. Walkway to the Old Volcano and stations of the cross

The walkway is an 8 kilometer path with 14 human-sized station situated at Mr. Vulcan in Barangay Bonbon, Catarman. The spot is actually one of the famous tourist destination in the island especially during the Lenten season as it serves as a pilgrimage site to Roman Catholic devotees.

While there, we bought the island’s most famous produce: the lanzones! It wasn’t the season for it yet so it was a little expensive at PHP80 per kilo. We finished it like we’re eating peanuts!

We did not climb up the stairs to the top because we wanted to save our time and energy. Our guide said it would take at least 2 hours to go up and then go down again.

3. The Sunken Cemetery

The Sunken Cemetery of Camiguin island marks the swept remains of the island’s rested locals. The entire town cemetery was driven underwater when Mt. Vulcan Daan erupted in 1870’s and the large cross has served the town’s people, as well as tourists, a scenic spot to memorialize the departed buried here.

Years ago, gravestones were visible during low tide. There are small wooden boats that take tourists up to that cross but we did not opt as the weather forecast said the seas might get rough and during monsoon season, weather changes very fast so we did not risk.

4. Old Church ruins of Bonbon, Catarman

The old church ruins of Bonbon or the Guiob church ruins is one of the oldest and unique structures of the island. Old because it was built sometime in the 16th century and unique because it is made from coral stones. It was later turned to ruins by the 1871 Mt. Vulcan eruption.

~ in the above photo, Pristine and Benjamin are facing the main altar of the church or what remained of it ~

When the volcano erupted, earthquake shook the town mercilessly until houses and other structures were down to rubble. But that was not the end of it. That evening, Mr. Vulcan unleashed its most devastating power and destroyed what was left of the town.

The old Guiob church ruins was one of the structures that remained standing after the disastrous eruption. Although the church has lost its roof, its sturdy walls and columns still stand today.

~ Pristine and Benjamin with Uncle Jay ~

We went around the area to the back, on the cliff side. The sea is getting rougher by now as the typhoon nears. The wind was strong and it felt so refreshing.

5. Sto. Nino Cold Springs

Located in Catarman, the Sto. Nino Cold Spring has a pool measuring 25 meters by 40 meters, It is 2 meters deep of cold spring water sprouting from the sandy bottom. Judging from Pristine’s screams and the look on my brother’s face, the water was very, very cold!

The area has a restaurant, native cottages, cookout facilities and restrooms for visitors. Outside, several local vendors offer order-to-cook services for chicken, pork or fish dishes. We ordered 1 kilo of pork (roasted), 1 kilo of fish (vinaigrette) and 1 kilo of free range, organic chicken (soup), 1 kilo of boiled rice and coconuts! What a sumptuous lunch that costed us very less. Ah, I love life in the province!

I only dipped my ankles in the cold water and firmly decided never to get in! Benjamin won’t be able to bear the cold, I imagined and Pristine was feeling so cold and got out of the water. I think this place would be so good during the scorching summer months in the Philippines, from March-May.

6. Tuasan Falls

I was amazed at its high drop and the flash of white against the dark green of the forest made it more beautiful to look at. Unlike Katibawasan falls, the first water falls we visited, the drop is more forceful and the water is colder too.

Our guide said it was difficult to reach Tuasan falls before the concrete roads were built. Tuasan wasn’t very much visited because it was far and involved an hour long trek with a steep uphill climb back.

7. Ardent hot springs

It was starting to rain when we left Tuasan falls. We still have another tourist stop: Ardent hot springs. The driver also took us to the soda water pool but because it was raining so hard and we were still shivering from the cold swim at Sto, Nino Cold springs, we opted to go straight to the hot springs. I could use a soak on a natural hot spring and was pretty excited!

The local hot spa is a natural pool of about 40 degrees centigrade springing from the depths of Mt. Hibok Hibok.

The rain continued to pour that afternoon and had no plans of stopping. It was a unique experience – the feel of the cold rain on our faces while our bodies were soaked in the subtly warm (volcanic) hot spring water. The hot spring water temperature dropped because of the cold rain. I would have enjoyed it more if it were warmer.

Ardent hot spring has picnic huts, cookout facilities and restrooms for visitors.It is ideal for night swimming, a place to rejuvenate both mind and body.

Entrance fee is P30.

It was becoming difficult as monsoon rains continued to shower us. Benjamin felt very uneasy with the pouring rain on his face. We didn’t want to get out from soaking in the hot spring as it got so cold once we’re out! But we had to as our driver was waiting and soon the sun will set.

We stayed for the night at the cottage we rented and slept very early. The monsoon winds have now become stronger so we didn’t venture out for dinner and instead had pizza we bought on our way home. We slept at 8pm from exhaustion from our day trip and food coma from pizza flour ingestion. Evil gluten!

Around 11 pm, I woke up from the loud noises of things flying outside, some onto our glass panel windows. The typhoon was miles and miles away north but it felt like it was above us! Imagine if a typhoon actually hit the island!

The next morning, we called the port and learned that ferry operations back to Mindanao island has stopped operating until further notice. We have ran out of clean clothes to wear! My brother and his wife brought less clothes than I did so they had to buy shirts and shorts from the nearby souvenir shops at Paras Beach Resort.

We took our breakfast at Paras Beach Resort and called the port again by 9:30 am. Luckily, we were told that a ferry will depart Benoni port to Balingoan at 1pm. We packed our bags and got on our friend’s car. Chris was so kind to offer to take us to the port!

The weather was clearing up so I sent photos to my mother who was very worried back in Cagayan de Oro. The ferry departed at around 1:30 pm and everything was ok, or so I thought..midway, the waves and winds became stronger. Mind you it is a very short ferry ride, less than 2 hours but I prayed so hard we’ll arrive safely.

Never travel again by sea during the monsoon season! The shore might be calm but it’s a different story in the middle of the ocean. I was so scared. But did that make me swear not to visit Camiguin again? Of course not! Maybe just not in July or August!

Our trip to Camiguin island was epic, despite the typhoon scare, not being able to go to White Island and risk of being stranded for another day or two in the island. I am still glad we made that trip (although I am not sure how many prayers my mother made until we appeared at the front door!)

It was also extra memorable as it was the first the time I travelled with my siblings, as adults. I’ve been separated from them for years when I left to study in Japan. They were only grade school children that time and though I would visit every year or two, I feel that I am not too familiar with them at all, especially now as adults. And you know what I found out? They are awesome siblings, a great support for me and my kids especially my husband was not with us during this trip and…they are great travel buddies.

We promised to go back to Camiguin again and I can’t wait for that to happen. Soon!

September 7, 2015February 3, 2022 by findingbackroads

A travel guide to Camiguin island, Philippines

Philippines, Travels
Camiguin, Family, holiday, island, Philippines, summer, Travels, vacation
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One of the highlights of my recent vacation to the Philippines is finally stepping on Camiguin island! I finally decided I should go to Camiguin because I would want to look at pics of this wonderful island in Google images and blogs of the lucky people who had been there and point, “I’ve been there too!”

Plus, it’s really a bit shameful that I’ve been to the Maldives but never been to that little island worthy to be called “paradise” on the tip of Northern Mindanao, just a ‘few’ hours from where I live in the Philippines.

WHERE IS CAMIGUIN ISLAND?

Camiguin is an island province located in northern Mindanao. It is situated 10 km north of Misamis Oriental and 54 km southeast of Bohol.

Barely 240 square kilometers in land area, Camiguin is the second smallest island of the Philippines in both area and population. It is just 23 kilometers at its longest and just a bit more than 14 kilometers at its widest. Within this small area lie seven volcanoes. Because of this, little Camiguin is the island “born of fire.”

HOW TO GET THERE

There is an airport in Mambajao, the capital of Camiguin province but the flights are limited and only from major cities in the Philippines like Manila or Cebu.

Otherwise, take a flight to Cagayan de Oro City. From Cagayan de Oro, take a bus from Agora Bus Terminal going to Balingoan. Buses going to Butuan will pass by Balingoan. Bus fare (airconditioned bus) was PHP140 for adults. Travel from Agora bus terminal to Balingoan is about 2-3 hours, depending on traffic in Cagayan de Oro. Our travel time was about 2 hours and 20 minutes.

TIP: If you are prone to motion sickness, you should take medication just to be on the safe side. The road to Balingoan wasn’t rough or winding. But about 10 minutes before reaching Balingoan, the road tends to be bendy and my 3 year old son threw up. He was ok after that but I wish I was more cautious and gave him something before boarding the bus.

From Balingoan Bus Terminal, you can either walk to Balingoan port or take pedicabs if you have luggage. We took a pedicab because we were in a hurry to get into the 9am ferry. Fare was PHP10 each.

We arrived at Balingoan port after a short pedicab ride but the 9am ferry was already closed for boarding though there was still a few minutes left before its departure time. We didn’t have a choice but wait for another hour for the next ferry.

~ at the waiting area for ferry passengers ~

From Balingoan Port, buy ferry tickets from the stands just outside the port entrance. Regular ferry fare is PHP170 and for children is half fare at PHP85.

* Daily ferry schedules from Balingoan Port leaves every hour from 5 am. Unfortunately, I could not find any website with reliable and accurate ferry schedules.

* There is a ferry called Ocean Jet from Cagayan de Oro to Benoni Port in Camiguin but more expensive, like double the fare than the bus + ferry combined.

The ferry ride was a smooth one with minor waves. Camiguin isn’t very far from the mainland of Mindanao. We can actually see the island from Balingoan port! The kids slept through the trip which lasted about an hour and a half. (We did not travel with my husband this time but thankfully, I have two brothers with me who helped me take care of the kiddos!)

GETTING AROUND AND TOURING CAMIGUIN

We arrived in Camiguin around noon. A friend of ours was there to pick us up at Benoni port! We were lucky even if our trip was short notice, our friend accommodated us in his schedule! Camiguin is a small island and the you can tour it by:

1. Using your own car

If you have a car you want to take to the island, that’s possible by paying extra on your ferry ride from Balingoan port. The ferries are ro-ro type (Roll on/ roll off). Ro-ro ships are specially types of ships that are designed to carry cars, trains, and even smaller ships. Your car will be “rolled on” the vessel at the port of loading and “rolled off” the vessel at the destination.

2. Hiring

There are several vans and multicabs that can accommodate large groups available just outside the port. Price depends on your negotiation skills. Your accommodation can also arrange for tours around the island as they have vans for hire. You can hire a single motorcycle, a motorela or a multicab within the city.

We hired a multicab with driver promising to take us to 7 tourist spots for PHP1400. I know people would usually negoticate but it was already cheap and I found out that the price of gasoline in Camiguin is at least PHP10 more expensive than in Cagayan de Oro City so we paid what the driver initially asked for!

Camiguin island’s main road is a beach side circumferential road so you get the view of the sea when you tour the island from the main road. If that instantly make you feel you’re in paradise, I don’t know what will!

WHAT’S IN CAMIGUIN?

In a nutshell, 7 active volcanoes! That means very diverse natural attractions like cold springs, hot springs, hike trails, falls, soda water spring, ruins from the last volcanic eruption and of course the beautiful beaches.

The wonderful places we went to around the island needs to have a post of its own, so stay tuned!

WHERE TO STAY IN CAMIGUIN

Unless you’ll be staying with friends or family in Camiguin, you will need a place to stay. There are a few hotels/inns you can find at hotel booking sites and you might want to book ahead before going, to be safe, especially when you go on peak season. But, there are several smaller and more affordable accommodation options which are not advertised online!

We booked our first night at Villa Paraiso Resort and Apartelle, located in Mambajao, a 20 minute car ride away from Benoni port. “Paraiso” means “paradise” and look at the sky! Don’t you think they aptly named this apartelle? There are rooms in the main building (look at their website for details) and there are also rooms at the back of the main building, in lined up cottage style. We stayed here.

A word in booking for accommodation: we did not book days ahead. Actually, I called Villa Paraiso while our bus was leaving Cagayan de Oro at 7 am. July is not peak season at all so that’s why this is possible however, during peak season, it might be safer to book days before you arrive.

My brother and his wife stayed in one room and me and another brother + my 2 kids stayed in another. We paid PHP2,400 total for two rooms inclusive of breakfast. There is a restaurant inside Villa Paraiso that offered good food at reasonable price, however, service was slow. Our stay was ok. The rooms were basic but there was no hot water and the way to this inn was an uphill ride from the main street. We heard no pedicab would climb up and with the lack of taxis in Camiguin, we were lucky that our friend who lives on the island picked us up at the port in his trusty 4×4 and brought us here.

The next day, we wanted to stay near the beach, so we ventured out to the other side of Mambajao. We did not have reservation anywhere but we do know there are a lot of smaller inns owned by locals. Nearby is also the very famous Paras Beach Resort, one of Camiguin’s first fancy accommodation options.

We opted to stay at Pabua’s Cottages for our second and final night at Camiguin. We negotiated for PHP1,200 for one cottage that could accommodate all of us (4 adults + 2 kids). I say that’s a real bargain from our previous one at Villa Paraiso. However, the room rate did not include breakfast. We took our breakfast at the restaurant inside Paras Beach Resort which was just across the street. Not a big deal.

We had a great time in Camiguin. It was an impromptu getaway with two of my siblings and my kids. Unlike my previous travels where I get OCD with planning and preparation, we had the “just swing it” travel style and it was ok. Next up: checking out this mystical island and an unexpected storm that sent me in semi-panic mode.

If you are living in the Philippines and have not been to Camiguin island, I highly recommend you pay a visit. It’s one of the Philippines’ less touristy, less hyped up places you can relax and just soak in life, as it happens, in slow motion. I love life in the rural areas.

And if you are a foreigner reading this, you can still visit the Philippines’ most popular spots like Cebu, Boracay or Palawan but Camiguin is a must see too and you’ll thank me later.

Finding Backroads

Get out of the tourist trail

Tag / island