Thursday, March 15, 2012

Cagayan De Oro- Camiguin- Iligan

Check-out our 4-day DIY CDO-Camiguin-CDO-Iligan-CDO Itinerary for 2


Day 1 - March 4 - CDO


345 am- Check-in NAIA 3




540 am- Arrival at Lumbia Airport



  • From airport exit, walk straight to exit sign, and ride a Jeep to Carmen Market
  • Ride another jeepney to the Cathedral
  • Walk to Park View Inn (right across BPI) 





615 am- Met friends at Park View Inn for Rafting
730am- Pick-up by Kagay guides for Rafting
9am - 12noon Beginner's Rafting


1pm- Wash up and check-in at Park View Inn
2pm- Lunch at Dear Manok






5pm- Tour the town plaza












Expenses:
Terminal Fee: 200
Jeep to Carmen Market: 17
Jeep to Cathedral: 7.50
Pandesal for breakfast: 10
Kagay Beginner's rafting: 700
Pictures 250 per CD plus 50 delivery to hostel- 300 for group of 6: 50/ head 
Paddle Souvenirs: 40 each
Park View Inn P595/2: 297.50
Lunch Dear Manok- Pancit 95 chicken meal 85
Bought bread and coke for the Camiguin trip- 97  




Day 2- March 5 - CAMIGUIN
530 am- Leave for Camiguin (left excess baggage at Park View Inn)

  • Ride Motorela from Inn to Agora Terminal (10mins)
  • Ride Butuan bus to Balingoan terminal (1.5 hours)
  • Walk straight to terminal exit then turn right, 1st corner on the left will be the Port
  • Pay terminal fee
  • Ride ferry to Benoni Port (1 hour)



9am Arrival Benoni Port Camiguin




Start of Camiguin Tour 


Katibawasan Falls. Since we travelled on a Monday, the Falls was under maintenance. We opted not to swim since there were carpenters watching. Define awkward! Hahaha. 
Entrance Fee: P15






Sto. Nino Cold Spring. The cold spring was great. There were only a few people that day so we had the pool to ourselves. You could also opt to buy their paluto and eat at the area since they have very affordable cottages available for rent.
Entrance Fee: P30
Cottage: P50/cottage






Soda Swimming Pool. The pool didn't taste like soda but the facade of the place was great. 
Entrance Fee: P20








Old Guiob Church Ruins. No entrance fee- Donation Box seen on the entrance.









Ardent Hot Spring. The water was very relaxing. This would be perfect after a long day. We chose to leave early to catch the sunset on white island.
Entrance Fee: P30










Sunken Cemetery. We only did a couple of shots and opted not to ride the boat to reach the cross. I've read that the sunken cemetery looks good on sunset though. 






White Island. We rode a boat to cross the island. The others were already leaving when we reached the island by past 4pm. We stayed until it was almost dark. The boatman asked if we could leave by 540pm. It was a relief actually cause I really wanted to leave before the waves get bigger.
Entrance Fee: P20
Boat P400 (6pax capacity)
Snorkeling gears P50









530pm Check-in Pabua
7pm Dinner 


Expenses:
Motorela to Agora- 7.50
Agora Terminal Fee- 2
Agora to Balingoan via Butuan Bus- 143
Government Fee Balingoan Port- 2
Ferry to Benoni Port- 150
Terminal Fee- 2.50
Camiguin Tour (2-6pax) P1500- 750/head
Entrance Fees- 115
Donation Ruins- 20
Half kilo chicken Adobo- 150
Half Kilo Pork Sinigan- 150
Half Kilo Rice- 40
Coke 1 liter - 40
Cottage P50/2- 25/head
Tshirt- 120
Boat to White Island 400/2 - 200/head
Snorkeling gears 1 set- 50
Rice, chips and ice- 40
Pabua Room 800- 400/head





DAY 3 - March 6 - Iligan
530am Motorela to Benoni Port Van Terminal
*You could find the famous Vjandep pastel bakeshop just beside the terminal.


7 am Motorela to Benoni Port
8am Boat to Balingoan Port
9am Van from Balingoan port to Gaisano CDO
11am JRJ lunch. Check-in Park View Inn
1130 am Ride Patag Jeep from Inn to Bulua terminal
12 nn Ride Bus to Iligan
2 pm Jeep to City proper then ride Jeep to Buru-an
230pm Ride habal-habal To Tinago Falls
240pm Tinago Falls











430pm Leave for CDO
730pm Arrival Bulua Terminal
8pm Wash-up and Dinner


Expenses:
Motorela to Van transfer- 20
*unfortunately it was not advisable to ride a Van that early. the van took long to be fully occupied. We then decided to take a motorela. Good thing another passenger to Benoni Port joined us.
Motorela from van transfer to Benoni Port 150- 50/head
Boat to Balingoan Port- 170
Van to Gaisano - 100
Motorela to Cathedral- 7.50
Jrj Lunch 4chickens plus 3 rice and achara- 117 for 2 pax
Jeep Patag to Bulua Terminal- 11
Bus to Iligan- 145
Jeep to city proper- 7.50
Jeep to Buru-an- 14
Habal-habal to Tinago- 30 each
Lifevest- 20
Raft - 10
Tip for guide- 20
Bus to Bulua Terminal -115
Jeep to Cathedral- 12
Jrj Dinner- 60 for 2 pax


DAY 4 CDO
10am Went to Limketkai Mall to try MIssy bonbon




1pm Check-out Park View Inn






230pm Went to Lumbia Airport
455pm Departure for Manila







Expenses:
Jeep to Limketkai- 7
Breakfast at Missy Bon Bon 400- 200/ head
Ride Jeep R2 to Inn- 7
Lunch @ Bulaluhan 104- 52/ head
Jeep to Carmen- 7
Carmen Market to Lumbia Terminal- 17
Terminal Fee- 30
Lanzones - 60/kilo




Contacts:
Kagay Rafting: 09061473660
Pabua (Camiguin): 09173210449
Kuya Multicab Camiguin: 09267991807




Travel Tips and feedback:
1. Pay exact change when riding Jeepneys or motorelas. Drivers tend to add the fare if they notice you are tourist.
2. Pack light if you plan to visit 3 cities in 3days. Mix and match clothes.
3. You could also opt to visit the white island on a separate from the Camiguin tour to give time to other sites in Camiguin and enjoy the white island for a longer time.
4. Our stay in Park View Inn was not so pleasant. Worst place I stayed in all my travels.

  • Ask for plates and they will ask you to get the utensils yourself at their employees pantry. 
  • We asked for ice at the reception and waited until the next day.. still no ice! good job!
  • The things we left while we were in Camiguin were just placed under the dining table in their pantry. Very unsecure.
  • We planned to check-in after arriving from Iligan. The receptionist insisted that we check-in before leaving as the room is already available. After paying,the woman informed us the room we wanted was not available and was offering other rooms. 
  • We planned to sit in their lobby after check-out and just wait for an hour before leaving for the airport. The employees turned-off the fan/aircon and we had no choice but to leave because of the heat. Super rude!
  • The rooms at the basement had no signal.