Friday, February 11, 2011

Camiguin Island Location Map and Directions

There are three ports operating in the province of Camiguin. The main port of entry is in Benoni, with minor ports at Balbagon and Guinsiliban. Balbagon Port links Cagayan de Oro and Cebu, Benoni Port links with Balingoan and Cagayan de Oro, and Guinsiliban Port which also has a roro landing facility links with Balingoan and Cagayan de Oro.

How to get there

Camiguin can be reached either by ferryboat or small aircraft. The fastest way to get to the island from Manila is to take any of the commercial flights to Cagayan de Oro City. In Cagayan de Oro, one can either hire a taxi right outside the airport terminal or take the bus in the city center to Balingoan Port in Misamis Oriental. The bus terminal is located at Agora, Lapasan.

Depending on the weather condition, it takes about one hour and a half to two hours by land to reach Balingoan Port, which is 84 kilometers from Cagayan de Oro. This port is the nearest jump-off point to Camiguin. The ferryboat ride to Benoni Port in the Municipality of Mahinog takes about one hour. This port is 17 kilometers from Mambajao, the capital of Camiguin Province which can be reached by jeepneys.

For those who would like to take their own vehicles to Camiguin, some of the ferryboats at Balingoan Port can transport cars, pick-ups, vans, and even large trucks to the Benoni Port at Camiguin. It must be noted however that a number of fees have to be paid to transport these vehicles. These includes wharfage, barangay taxes, and miscellaneous other fees that are imposed when going in either direction and these fees get to be quite a substantial amount.

Some vehicle owners avoid paying for these fees by leaving their vehicles at Balingoan and just avail of public transportation when in the Island of Camiguin. The advantage of bringing along one's vehicle to Camiguin is the convenience of having one's own ride in moving about the island. It does get to be uncomfortable riding in overloaded jeepneys and motorelas when in Camiguin Island since there are no taxi cabs or rental vehicles available. Portrayed below are three photographs of the Benoni Port in Camiguin.

4 comments:

  1. Hi.. notice this was just posted recently...
    My friends and I will be going to CDO then Camiguin this weekend. This info will help us.
    I just have one question. do you think its best to book a hotel online or to just go there and look for vacant rooms??
    Thanks!

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  2. Hello Beth,

    I would just come and look for a vacant room, most hotels have rooms available. The only time you really need to book in advance is Holy Week.

    Cheers,
    Tom

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  3. This is nice. I also would be visiting Camiguin probably next week and then to Cagayan de Oro. Thanks for your post. Somehow it gives me idea on what to do then.

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  4. Hello Joyee,

    Your welcome, if your going from Camiguin to CDO there is a fast craft ferry that goes directly to CDO and also ferry service from the benoni port to balingoan. The fare is now 170 pesos and then take the aircon bus to CDO for 143 pesos. If you decide to take the fast craft it cost 500 pesos.

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