Camiguin doesn't get the crowds that Boracay or El Nido do, which is exactly why a lot of Filipino travelers are adding it to their bucket list — volcanic hot springs, the White Island sandbar, and the Sunken Cemetery are all reachable without the peak-season chaos. But because it's a smaller island reached by ferry rather than a direct flight, the trip has more moving parts to budget for than a typical beach getaway. Here's a realistic, itemized breakdown of what a 3-day, 2-night Camiguin trip actually costs in 2026, from the Balingoan ferry crossing to island hopping and hotel rates.
A realistic 3-day, 2-night Camiguin trip costs around ₱8,000-₱14,000 per person including inter-island transport, hotel, food, and island hopping, not counting your flight into Cagayan de Oro or Cebu.
- A realistic 3-day, 2-night Camiguin budget for one person runs roughly ₱8,000-₱14,000 depending on hotel choice, excluding flights from outside Mindanao
- Most travelers fly into Laguindingan Airport (Cagayan de Oro) then take a 2.5-hour van ride to Balingoan Port, followed by a roughly 1-hour ferry crossing to Benoni, Camiguin
- The Balingoan-to-Benoni ferry costs approximately ₱300-₱359 per passenger plus small terminal fees, with crossings roughly every hour during the day
- A full-day island hopping tour covering White Island, Mantigue Island, and Sunken Cemetery runs about ₱800-₱900 per person when split across a group of 4
- Daily scooter rental for getting around the island independently costs around ₱400/day, cheaper than hiring a habal-habal or multicab for every trip
How to Get to Camiguin From Manila or Cebu
Camiguin has a small local airport, but it doesn't currently have regular commercial flights from Manila or Cebu, so almost all travelers fly into Laguindingan Airport (CGY) serving Cagayan de Oro instead. Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific both fly this route, with round-trip fares commonly found from around ₱3,100-₱7,000 depending on how early you book and the season. From Cebu, round-trip fares to Cagayan de Oro can be found from roughly ₱3,300.
From Laguindingan Airport, you'll need a van or shuttle transfer to Balingoan Port, about a 2.5-hour drive, which typically costs ₱250-₱400 per person for a shared van, or more for a private transfer.
Crossing the Balingoan-Benoni Ferry
From Balingoan Port in Misamis Oriental, ferries cross to Benoni Port in Camiguin in about an hour, run by operators including Super Shuttle Ferry and St. Benedict Ocean Shipping Lines. Passenger fares run approximately ₱300-₱359 depending on the operator, plus a small terminal fee of around ₱15-₱17 at Balingoan Port. Benoni is the more convenient port to arrive at if you're staying near Mambajao, Camiguin's capital town, since it's closer than the island's other ports. Arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled departure, since boarding gates close 30 minutes prior and ferries run roughly hourly during the day, not on a fixed 24-hour schedule.
Where to Stay: Hotel Budget Tiers
Camiguin's accommodation options range widely by budget. Budget guesthouses and basic beach cottages near Mambajao or Agoho run roughly ₱800-₱1,500 per night for a simple double room. Mid-range beachfront resorts, like Camiguin Volcan Beach Eco Retreat & Dive Resort, start around $39/night (roughly ₱2,200), while higher-end boutique stays such as Bintana Sa Paraiso run closer to $90/night (roughly ₱5,100). For a 3-day, 2-night trip, budgeting ₱1,600-₱4,400 total for accommodation covers most traveler comfort levels without going into luxury-resort pricing.
Getting Around the Island: Scooter vs. Habal-Habal
Camiguin is small enough to circle by road in about 2 hours, and most independent travelers rent a scooter for around ₱400/day (plus your own gas, typically another ₱150-₱250 for a full day of riding around). If you'd rather not drive, hiring a habal-habal (motorcycle taxi) or multicab for point-to-point trips costs less per single ride but adds up quickly over 3 days of sightseeing — a scooter rental usually works out cheaper if you're visiting more than 2-3 spots per day.
Island Hopping: White Island, Mantigue Island, and Sunken Cemetery
An 8-hour island hopping tour covering the major stops commonly costs around ₱3,500 for a boat fitting up to 4 people (about ₱875-₱900 per person split across a full group), plus small individual entrance fees: White Island charges a ₱50 entrance fee with a separate ₱550 boat rental fee (also typically split across your group), and the Sunken Cemetery charges ₱50 entrance plus ₱550 for a boat if you want to go out to the underwater cross marker, or free if you're just viewing it from the shore. Budget roughly ₱1,000-₱1,300 per person total for a full island-hopping day if you're traveling solo or in a pair, since boat costs don't scale down with fewer people.
Other Attractions: Hot Springs, Waterfalls, and Church Ruins
Beyond island hopping, Camiguin's land attractions are inexpensive: Ardent Hot Springs charges a small entrance fee typically under ₱100, Tuasan Falls and Katibawasan Falls both charge modest entrance fees in the ₱20-₱50 range, and the Gui-ob Church Ruins (also called the Old Spanish Church ruins) are free to view. Budgeting ₱200-₱300 total across your stay comfortably covers entrance fees to these additional sites on top of the island hopping tour.
Food Budget for 3 Days
Local carinderias (small eateries) and beachside food stalls in Camiguin serve full meals for ₱80-₱150, while sit-down restaurants catering to tourists run ₱200-₱400 per meal. Budgeting around ₱600-₱900 per day for three meals plus snacks (₱1,800-₱2,700 for the full 3-day trip) covers a comfortable mix of local eateries and the occasional nicer restaurant meal, without needing to eat exclusively at the cheapest carinderia every time.
Sample 3-Day, 2-Night Camiguin Budget (Per Person)
Putting it together for a solo or paired traveler already in Mindanao (excluding flights from Manila/Cebu to Cagayan de Oro, which vary widely by booking date): van transfer to Balingoan (₱300), ferry crossing (₱360), scooter rental for 2 days (₱800 plus ₱400 gas), accommodation for 2 nights (₱1,600-₱4,400 depending on tier), island hopping tour (₱1,000-₱1,300), other attraction entrance fees (₱250), and food for 3 days (₱1,800-₱2,700) — totaling roughly ₱6,500-₱10,500 per person for the on-island portion of the trip. Add your round-trip flight to Cagayan de Oro (₱3,100-₱7,000) and the full trip lands around ₱9,600-₱17,500 depending on flight timing and hotel choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fly from Manila to Laguindingan Airport (CGY) serving Cagayan de Oro, which takes about 1.5-2 hours and costs roughly ₱3,100-₱7,000 round trip on Philippine Airlines or Cebu Pacific depending on booking timing. From there, take a van transfer (about 2.5 hours) to Balingoan Port, then a roughly 1-hour ferry crossing to Benoni Port in Camiguin.
Passenger ferry fares from Balingoan Port to Benoni Port in Camiguin run approximately ₱300-₱359 depending on the ferry operator (Super Shuttle Ferry or St. Benedict Ocean Shipping Lines Corp being the main options), plus small terminal fees of around ₱15-₱17 at Balingoan Port. The crossing itself takes roughly 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes depending on the vessel.
Yes, 3 days is enough to comfortably cover Camiguin's main highlights — a full-day island hopping tour to White Island, Mantigue Island, and Sunken Cemetery, plus a separate day for land attractions like Ardent Hot Springs, Tuasan Falls, and the Gui-ob Church Ruins, with time left over to relax. Travelers wanting a slower pace or planning to dive at the island's known dive sites might prefer 4-5 days instead.
A full-day island hopping tour covering White Island, Mantigue Island, and the Sunken Cemetery typically costs around ₱3,500 for a boat accommodating up to 4 people, which works out to roughly ₱875-₱900 per person when the group is full. Solo or paired travelers should budget closer to ₱1,000-₱1,300 per person since boat rental costs don't decrease proportionally with fewer passengers, and small entrance fees (₱50 each for White Island and Sunken Cemetery) apply separately.
Most scooter rental shops in Camiguin will ask to see a valid driver's license, and some may accept an international driving permit for foreign tourists, but requirements vary by rental shop, so it's worth calling ahead to confirm if you don't have a Philippine license. Daily rental typically costs around ₱400 plus your own gas, which usually works out cheaper than repeatedly hiring habal-habal rides if you're visiting multiple spots per day.
Renting a scooter for around ₱400/day and visiting land attractions independently (hot springs, waterfalls, church ruins, all with entrance fees under ₱100 each) is cheaper than booking a full private tour package. For island hopping specifically, joining or forming a group of 4 to split the ₱3,500 boat rental fee is the most cost-effective way to see White Island, Mantigue Island, and the Sunken Cemetery.
The dry season from roughly March to May offers the calmest seas for island hopping and ferry crossings, along with the least chance of trip disruptions from rough weather. The Philippines' typhoon season, roughly June to November, can occasionally affect ferry schedules and sea conditions, so if traveling during those months, build a flexible buffer day into your itinerary in case of weather delays.
Ferries run roughly hourly during the day, and tickets are commonly available for walk-up passengers at the port, so advance booking usually isn't required for foot passengers during regular weekdays. During peak travel periods like Holy Week or long weekends, arriving early and having a backup plan is wise since demand can be higher and delays or fully booked sailings become more likely.
Conclusion
Camiguin rewards travelers willing to deal with a ferry crossing instead of a direct flight — the payoff is a quieter island with volcanic hot springs, a genuine sandbar at White Island, and prices that stay reasonable even during peak months. Budget around ₱6,500-₱10,500 per person for the on-island portion of a 3-day trip, plus your flight into Cagayan de Oro, and you'll have enough room to cover island hopping, a decent hotel, and meals without over-packing your itinerary. Book your ferry crossing time around your flight schedule, and you'll comfortably make it to Camiguin the same day you land in Cagayan de Oro.
