How To Get To Camiguin Island: Updated Schedule & Fare

Are you thinking of adding Camiguin Island to your Philippines itinerary, but don’t know how to get there?

This post will let you know how to get to Camiguin Island, from Manila, Cebu, Bohol, Cagayan de Oro, or Davao.

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Camiguin is known as the Island Born of Fire, for its majestic volcanos that dominate the landscape.

In recent years, Camiguin has been rapidly growing in popularity as a must-visit destination in the Philippines.

Visitors are left in awe of its steaming hot springs, pristine waterfalls, black-sand beaches, and abundant marine life.

However, this tiny island off the coast of Mindanao can be a little tricky to incorporate into your Philippines itinerary if you don’t know how to get there.

Fortunately, this unique volcanic island can be accessed from either the north or south pretty easily. There is therefore no excuse not to visit during your trip to the Philippines.

In this post, we will cover exactly how to reach Camiguin Island, from either Manila, Cebu, Bohol, Cagayan de Oro, or Davao.

Where is Camiguin Island located?

Known as the Island Born of Fire, Camiguin is a stunning volcanic island. It is located off the northern coast of Mindanao, in the Bohol Sea.

Despite being the second smallest province in the Philippines, Camiguin Island is home to many awe-inspiring natural wonders and unique things to do.

Camiguin can be reached from either Mindanao in the south or from Bohol/Cebu in the north.

If you are travelling to both Bohol and Camiguin on your Philippines itinerary, the easiest way to reach Camiguin Island is from Bohol.

What airport goes to Camiguin?

Camiguin Airport (CGM) is conveniently located in Mambajao.

This is the tourist hub of Camiguin where you will find most of the main accommodations, restaurants, and tourist spots.

Need somewhere to stay?

Check out the best accommodation here for every budget –

BORBON’S TREEHOUSE – best low-budget accommodation. Rustic bungalows located on a private black-sand beach.

TONGATOK CLIFF RESORT – medium-budget Camiguin accommodation overlooking the ocean and mountains.

BINTANA SA PARAISO – best luxury accommodation. Private balconies with infinity pool and seaview. Private butler service.

Where is the Camiguin ferry port?

There are two main ferry ports on Camiguin Island. Your starting destination will determine which port you dock at.

If you are coming from Bohol, then you will dock at Balbagon Port. This port is located in the north of Camiguin in the tourist hub Mambajao.

If you are coming from Mindanao, then you will dock at Benoni Port. Benoni Port is located on the east of the island in Mahinog, about 30 minutes from Mambajao.

As with most destinations in the Philippines, the WiFi in Camiguin can be a little patchy and unreliable. For a stress-free trip, I would suggest getting a data plan with an Airalo eSIM.

How to get from Manila to Camiguin

Many travelers fly into Manila when visiting the Philippines and it is the first stop on many itineraries.

Being the capital, knowing how to get to Camiguin Island from Manila can save you a lot of time. The most common way is to fly.

By plane

Sunlight Air is currently the only airline that offers direct flights from Manila to Camiguin.

There are two Manila to Camiguin direct flights per week at the following times –

Thursday 10:00 AM
Sunday 10:00 AM

This would be the quickest and easiest way to reach Camiguin Island from Manila.

The journey time to Camiguin from Manila by direct flight is 2 hours. Flights can cost anywhere between $56 – $110.

How to get to Camiguin from Manila with Cebu Pacific

If you do not choose to take a direct flight, your best option is to book a Manila to Camiguin flight with a change in Cebu. This is the most common option.

There are many flights to Camiguin from Manila via Cebu every day with Cebu Pacific.

The journey time can range anywhere between 3 – 17 hours, depending on the length of the transfer in Cebu.

Flights can cost anywhere between $50 – $150.

I would recommend using Skyscanner to compare the cheapest flight prices. However, always make sure to check prices with the airline directly too, as this can sometimes be cheaper.

Must Read: 13 Must-Visit Tourist Spots & Things To Do in Camiguin

By ferry

Getting from Manila to Camiguin by ferry without flying will take a very long time, but it is possible.

Step 1: Manila to Cebu by ferry

There are 3 ferries per week that travel directly to Cebu from Manila. Currently, the only company to offer this service is 12GO.

The direct ferry departs from Manila North Harbour Pier 4 to Cebu on the following days and times –

Monday at 9:30 AM – 26 hours
Sunday at 7 AM – 22 hours
Wednesday at 7 PM – 22 hours

For this journey from Manila to Cebu by ferry, you can expect to pay anywhere between $15 – $50. This depends on how far in advance you book.

The average price for this journey is about $26.

BOOK YOUR JOURNEY IN ADVANCE HERE

Step 2: Cebu to Camiguin by ferry

Once you’ve reached Cebu, you can follow the instructions below on how to reach Camiguin from Cebu.

You can skip to this here.

Note: Taking a ferry from Manila to Camiguin will take a couple of days and isn’t much cheaper than flying. If you are short on time and a fan of comfort, then I would not recommend this option.

How to get from Cebu to Camiguin

Centrally located in the Philippines near all the main tourist destinations, you can reach many places very easily from Cebu.

To get to Camiguin from Cebu, you can either fly or take a ferry.

By plane

A Cebu to Camiguin flight is the easiest and quickest way to reach the island.

There is one direct flight flight per day at 2:10 PM.

Again, the only airline that operates this route is Cebu Pacific.

The journey time is about 1 hour and the fare is roughly $33.

By ferry

Reaching Camiguin from Cebu by ferry is actually not the easiest journey. It can also end up being more expensive than a flight as you will have to travel via Bohol.

I would highly recommend spending some time in Bohol and then heading to Camiguin after, to break the journey up.

Step 1: Cebu to Tagbilaran City Port (Bohol) by ferry

The Cebu to Tagbilaran ferry schedule is super regular. Ocean Jet operates this route every day at the following times –

6:00 AM
7:00 AM
8:20 AM
9:20 AM
10:40 AM
11:40 AM
1:00 PM
2:00 PM
3:20 PM
4:20 PM
5:40 PM

The journey time is 2 hours and costs about $17.

BOOK YOUR FERRY ONLINE IN ADVANCE HERE

Step 2: Tagbilaran City Port to Jagna Port by bus

The ferry from Bohol to Camiguin does not depart from Tagbilaran Port but from Jagna Port instead. You will have to take a bus across Bohol to reach it.

Firstly, from Tagbilaran City Port you will have to take a tricycle to the Dao Integrated Bus Terminal. This will take about 10 minutes and should cost no more than 100 PHP ($1.79).

From Dao Integrated Bus Terminal, you will need the bus heading to Jagna. Ceres Bus runs this route all day.

The bus journey to Jagna Port takes approximately 2 hours and costs 100 PHP ($1.79).

Step 3: Jagna to Balbagon Pier (Camiguin)

The last step is to take a ferry from Jagna Port to Balbagon Pier in Camiguin.

You can skip to the full instructions and the Jagna to Camiguin ferry schedule here.

In total, reaching Camiguin Island from Cebu can take anywhere between 8 – 12 hours. Including all of the buses and ferries, it will cost about $34.

Top Tip: If you are organised and book in advance, taking a flight is typically cheaper and significantly easier.

How to get from Bohol to Camiguin

Travelling to Camiguin from Bohol is pretty straightforward.

If you are planning to visit both of these islands on your Philippines itinerary, it makes sense to head to Bohol first and then travel to Camiguin after.

The ferry runs from Jagna Port in Bohol and docks at Balbagon Pier in Camiguin, conveniently located in the tourist hub Mambajao.

The Bohol to Camiguin ferry schedule is as follows –

Monday 1:00 PM
Wednesday 1:00 PM
Friday 1:00 PM

Note: this journey cannot be booked online and has to be booked directly at the port in Bohol. I would therefore recommend arriving at Jagna Port at least 30 minutes before departure to guarantee yourself a seat.

The journey time from Bohol to Camiguin is about 4 hours. You can expect to pay about $13.

How to get from Cagayan de Oro to Camiguin

Getting to Camiguin from Cagayan de Oro will involve taking one bus and one ferry.

Both the Cagayan de Oro to Camiguin ferry and bus schedules are super regular.

Step 1: Cagayan de Oro to Balingoan Port by bus

In Cagayan de Oro, you will have to take the bus from the Agora Bus Terminal heading to the Balingoan Bus Terminal.

This route is serviced by the RTMI (Rural Transit Mindanao Inc) and buses run every 20 minutes.

Top Tip: always tell the driver where you plan to get off and ask them to let you know when you arrive.

The journey from the Agora Bus Terminal in CDO to the Balingoan Bus Terminal takes about 2 hours.

The bus fare is 160 PHP ($3).

Step 2: Balingoan Terminal to Camiguin by ferry

Once you arrive at the Balingoan Bus Terminal, there is a short 5-minute walk to Balingoan Pier where you will take the ferry to Camiguin.

Things are very well-signposted but ask a local if you struggle to find it.

The Balingoan to Camiguin ferry schedule is very frequent and you will find ferries every 15 minutes – 1 hour.

The ferry takes about 45 minutes and costs 360 PHP ($6.50). You will dock at Benoni Port, located in the east of Camiguin.

How to get from Davao to Camiguin

Davao is located in southeastern Mindanao. You can reach Camiguin from Davao by either flight or ferry.

By plane

Unfortunately, there is no direct flight from Davao to Camiguin. As mentioned before, if you are hoping to fly, you will need to change in Cebu.

Again, I would recommend browsing Skyscanner for the best deal on flights, as well as checking with Cebu Pacific specifically.

The journey time can range anywhere between 3 – 16 hours, depending on the length of the transfer in Cebu.

Flights can cost anywhere between $50 – $150.

By ferry

To reach Camiguin from Davao without a flight will involve two buses and a ferry. This will be via Cagayan de Oro.

Step 1: Davao Bus Terminal to Cagayan de Oro Bus Terminal by bus

The Davao to Cagayan de Oro bus schedule is super regular.

The buses depart from the Ecoland Bus Terminal (Davao City Overland Transport Terminal) and head to the Agora Bus Terminal in Cagayan de Oro.

Rural Transit services this route every two hours at the following times –

1:00 AM
3:00 AM
5:00 AM
7:00 AM
9:00 AM
11:00 AM
1:00 PM
3:00 PM
5:00 PM
7:00 PM
9:00 PM

The journey time is about 5 hours 20 minutes. As this is a longer journey, I would opt for the premium non-stop aircon bus, which costs about $19.

GUARANTEE YOUR SEAT IN ADVANCE HERE

Step 2: Cagayan de Oro to Camiguin by bus and ferry

Once you have reached Cagayan de Oro Agora Bus Terminal, you will need to take a bus to Balingoan Port. From Balingoan port, you will then take a ferry to Camiguin.

The full steps to reach Camiguin from Cagayan de Oro are written in detail above. You can jump back here.

Philippines Essentials Packing List

Where to stay in Camiguin

When visiting Camiguin, the majority of travelers tend to stay in the tourist hub Mambajao.

From here, you will be perfectly located near all of the main Camiguin tourist spots and restaurants.

Borbon’s Treehouse By The Sea

Our favourite accommodation in the Philippines and a great option for travellers on a budget.

These cozy bamboo beachfront cottages are located in the heart of the tourist hub Mambajao but feel worlds away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

With its own black sand private beach, you are just steps away from the ocean. You can enjoy sunrise and sunset each day in this slice of tropical paradise.

These beautiful private cottages have a rustic feel and each is equipped with a spacious room and a private balcony area.

The owners are digital nomads, so all of the cottages boast super-fast wifi. There is also a fully-equipped shared kitchen.

Prices start at about $27.00 per night.

CHECK PRICES

Tongatok Cliff Resort

A great Camiguin accommodation for couples or groups with a medium budget.

Nestled perfectly on the cliff’s edge, this Camiguin accommodation offers breathtaking panoramic views of the sea and nearby mountains. It is one of the best spots to catch sunset.

Each room has a private terrace, some with hammocks. The resort also boasts its own private beach area, a locally sourced restaurant, and a bar.

Prices start from about $60 per night.

CHECK PRICES

Bintana Sa Paraiso

The best place to stay in Camiguin for luxury travelers.

Located in Mambajao at the foot of Mt. Hibok Hibok, this accommodation offers one of the most jaw-dropping views in Camiguin.

Each room has a balcony area and a private infinity pool overlooking the sea. The modern and spacious rooms also come with a 24-hour personal butler service.

This resort also offers meditation, yoga, and massage services, as well as a delicious restaurant elevated above the beach.

Prices start from about $100 per night.

CHECK PRICES

Is Camiguin Island worth visiting?

A small but mighty island in the Philippines, Camiguin is most definitely worth visiting.

Camiguin is one of the most unique places to visit in the Philippines. If you’re looking for a change of scenery and a true topical island feel, then Camiguin is the place for you.

Whether you’re interested in hiking volcanos, relaxing in hot springs, marveling at waterfalls, or exploring vibrant coral reefs and marine life, there are so many unique and fascinating things to do in Camiguin.

Full Post: Katibawasan Falls Camiguin: EVERYTHING You Need To Know

How many days do you need in Camiguin?

Camiguin is a very small island and you can visit most of the main tourist spots in a couple of days.

I would recommend 3 days in Camiguin to visit all of the highlights. You cannot miss White Island, Ardent Hot Springs, Katibawasan Falls, and the Sunken Cemetery.

However, if you are hoping to take advantage of this laid-back island to relax and unwind, then 5 – 7 days would be ideal.

You can read my Camiguin Travel Guide with a recommended 3-day itinerary here.

Camiguin tour packages

If you’re short on time or simply prefer to have things booked in advance, below are the most popular Camiguin tour packages –

CAMIGUIN: 3 DAYS, 2 NIGHTS (hassle-free) – includes all main Camiguin highlights, as well as two nights’ accommodation, breakfast, and lunch.

FULL-DAY CAMIGUIN TOUR WITH WHITE ISLAND – includes all main Camiguin highlights, plus White Island.

CAMIGUIN DAY TOUR (best value) – main Camiguin highlights.

ISLAND HOPPING CAMIGUIN – White Island & Mantigue Island.

When is the best time to visit Camiguin?

The best time to visit Camiguin coincides with the best time to visit the Philippines in general.

This would be in the dry season, from March – October.

However, in general, Camiguin boasts a tropical climate and is generally hot all year round. We visited in March and had great weather.

I would recommend visiting for the annual Lazones Festival in October, a sweet tropical fruit Camiguin is famous for.

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