Robert Tramp
White Island sandbar off Camiguin, Philippines.

Camiguin

Camiguin: White Island, hot springs, cold springs

By Robert Tramp· Published · Updated

Photo: Theglennpalacio, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The White Island boat costs about ₱550, shared by the group it carries, plus a ₱50 to 75 environmental fee per person; Ardent Hot Spring is around ₱30 and Sto. Niño Cold Spring around ₱75 per person (checked 12 October 2026). Camiguin’s sights sit close enough together that you can reach most of them from Mambajao in under 30 minutes: the White Island sandbar by boat, two springs, a waterfall and a second small island for snorkelling.

How the route connects

The routeMambajao White Island
  1. Mambajaobase
    Scooter or habal-habal
  2. White Island Ferry TerminalYumbing, near Mambajao
    Boat · 10-15 min
  3. White Islandthe sandbar
ManilaCebu
On the mapCamiguin

The boat time is from the White Island section below and the ride mode from where to stay in Camiguin.

White Island: the sandbar

A boat from the White Island Ferry Terminal in Yumbing, near Mambajao, crosses to a bare white sandbar in 10-15 minutes. No vegetation, no shade structures beyond what vendors bring, just sand and turquoise water.

  • Boat: about ₱550, shared among the group it carries (commonly up to 4-6 people). Team up with other travellers at the terminal if you’re solo or in a small group.
  • Environmental fee: ₱50-75 per person, paid at the terminal.
  • Booking: not usually needed in advance.

Source: Chris and Wren’s World, White Island Camiguin and The Froggy Adventures, White Island Camiguin, checked 12 October 2026.

Robert filmed this stretch of sand twice, calling it “real life Moana” both times:

Robert on a white sandbar off Camiguin, turquoise water behind him.Robert's first clip from Camiguin
Nothing is requested from YouTube until you press play.

In his words, comparing it to Boracay’s White Beach: “it is way more pretty… and Camiguin is not crowded at all.” See more of the island in Camiguin: springs, a jungle swim, and a white sandbar.

The two springs: Sto. Niño (cold) and Ardent (hot)

Camiguin has one easily visited cold spring and one hot spring, on opposite sides of the island.

Scroll across for the rest of the columns.

Spring Location Entrance fee Notes
Sto. Niño Cold Spring Catarman, west side ≈ ₱75 pp Spring-fed, cold year-round
Ardent Hot Spring Esperanza, Tagdo, near Mambajao ≈ ₱30 pp Volcanic-heated pools, popular in the evening

Sourced against current listings, checked 12 October 2026. Fees are paid on-site.

Katibawasan Falls

A roughly 250-foot waterfall a short drive from Mambajao, with a cold pool at the base.

  • Entrance: ≈ ₱75-80 per person, ₱60 with a student card.
  • Table rental: ≈ ₱100. Shed rental: ≈ ₱150.
  • Hours: daily, 8am-5pm.

Source: Jonny Melon, Katibawasan Falls, checked 12 October 2026.

Mantigue Island, if you have another morning

A small island off Camiguin’s east coast with a marine sanctuary, reached by boat from a jump-off on the opposite side of the island from White Island’s terminal.

  • Boat: ≈ ₱750 per group.
  • Entrance fee: ≈ ₱75 per person.
  • Snorkelling fee: ≈ ₱50 per person, if you want to snorkel the sanctuary.

Source: Jonny Melon, 15 Best Camiguin Tourist Spots, checked 12 October 2026.

Basing yourself for all of this

Mambajao puts you closest to the airport, Ardent Hot Spring and Katibawasan Falls. Guinsiliban and Mahinog sit nearest White Island’s jump-off and the Benoni ferry port. Catarman is quietest and closest to the cold spring. See the full breakdown in where to stay in Camiguin.

Map of places to stayFind a place to stay on CamiguinLive prices and availability for your dates.Show places to stay on the map

The rest of Camiguin

If you’d rather dive than snorkel Mantigue Island, see diving in Camiguin for House Reef and course prices. For how these sights split across a few days, see Camiguin in 3 days. Things to do in Camiguin beyond White Island and the springs covers the Catarman sights and Mount Hibok-Hibok, and Camiguin: best time to go and what a trip costs the full daily budget.

Before you go

A session with me is the fastest way to ask how Camiguin fits into a wider Mindanao or Visayas route. I’m also planning a small-group trip to Camiguin; the waitlist is free.

Questions people ask

How much does the White Island boat cost in Camiguin?

The boat itself is about ₱550, shared between the group it carries (commonly up to 4-6 people), plus a ₱50-75 per person environmental fee paid at the terminal. Team up with other travellers at the terminal in Yumbing, near Mambajao, to split the boat.

Do I need to book White Island in advance?

No. Boats leave from the White Island Ferry Terminal in Yumbing on demand, no advance booking is typical. The crossing itself takes 10-15 minutes.

What is the entrance fee for Sto. Niño Cold Spring?

Around ₱75 per person (checked 12 October 2026). It's in Catarman, on Camiguin's west side.

What is the entrance fee for Ardent Hot Spring?

Around ₱30 per person. Ardent is in Esperanza, Tagdo, closer to Mambajao than the cold spring is.

How much does Katibawasan Falls cost to visit?

Around ₱75-80 per person entrance, ₱60 with a student card. A picnic table rental is about ₱100, and a shed roughly ₱150. It's open daily, 8am-5pm.

What does a Mantigue Island day trip cost?

A boat for the group runs about ₱750, plus a ₱75 per person entrance fee and a ₱50 per person snorkelling fee if you want to snorkel its marine sanctuary.

Can I do White Island and the springs on the same day?

White Island's terminal in Yumbing, Ardent Hot Spring and Katibawasan Falls all sit near Mambajao. Mantigue Island needs its own boat from a jump-off on the opposite side of the island from White Island's terminal, so plan it for another morning.

Is Camiguin's White Island like Boracay?

Robert, who has filmed it, calls it "real life Moana" and says Camiguin "is way more pretty... and not crowded at all" compared with Boracay's White Beach, see his clip in the White Island section above.