Camiguin Rush: Mt. Hibok-Hibok and Mt. Timpoong back-to-back Day hike
Camiguin is the second smallest island in the Philippines in both area and population. Located approximately 93 nautical miles off the northern coast of Mindanao, the island is a major tourism destination with natural wonders such as pristine beaches, waterfalls and numerous mountains. Due to its volcanic origin, Camiguin is dubbed as the "island born of fire".
Camiguin island has been one of my dream travel destinations ever since a friend told me about how she used to lived there. I don’t remember what she told me about the island but I was captivated at the thought of travelling somewhere in Mindanao. Living in the island region of Luzon, Mindanao for me seemed a remote and foreign place, even a hostile one because of the problems on peace and order incessantly broadcasted by the media. (I have come to know that these events are isolated incidents and is not widespread on whole island region)
I grabbed the opportunity to travel to island as I was on assignment at Cagayan de Oro. My plan was to hike Mt. Hibok-Hibok and obtain a geo referenced photo of the Crater Lake which my Office needs, and also hike Mt. Timpoong to complete the Mt. Timpoong Hibok-Hibok Natural Monument hike.
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Mt. Timpoong Hibok-Hibok Natural Monument covers the Timpoong mountain and the Hibok-Hibok volcano. The site is a protected area under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS). At the same time it is a Key Biodiversity Area, Important Bird Area, and is an ASEAN Heritage Park, attesting to the colourful variety of flora and fauna that can only be found in Camiguin. It is also an important watershed, supplying the island with potable water, and is the headwater for the famous Ardent Spring Resort and the various waterfalls within the island.
Day 1- Mt. Hibok-Hibok
Mt. Hibok-Hibok from the trail of Mt. Timpoong
Mt. Hibok-Hibok is a well known hiking destination at Camiguin. It features a caldera that has been transformed into a crater lake. Rimmed by dense vegetation, the caldera-lake becomes even more picturesque when viewed at the summit which rises at 1200 meters above sea level. If there is a clearing at the peak, White Island- a sandbar frequented by tourists- can be seen artfully smeared in the cerulean sea.
There two trails going to the summit: one starts from the Ardent Resort and the other at Brgy. Yumbing. One can opt for a traverse in going down or do a back-trail hike.
It took us around five hours to reach the summit via the Yumbing trail. Going there we passed first through a privately owned land interspersed with coconut plantations and small lanzones farms. From the protected area zone up until the Crater Lake is a lush forest where lots of different birds can be heard singing and flitting from tree to tree. The trail is very well established and though not technical, patience is needed for the long hike up.
Coconut plantations en route
The forest of Mt. Hibok-Hibok
After the Crater Lake with overgrown talahib grasses, the trail narrows down and become more rugged and challenging. A swath of volcanic rocks mark the assault to the summit which itself is composed of boulders.
The Crater Lake as viewed from the summit
My crazy itinerary
0100H Ride the bus going to Balingoan (Non-aircon: P90)
0300H ETA Balingoan
0430H Ride the ferry to Benoni Port (P175)
0530H ETA Benoni Port
0600H Meet-up with guide
0700H DENR PENRO Camiguin (Registration: P200)
0730H ETA Brgy. Yumbing
0740H Start Trek
1100H ETA Crater Lake
1200H ETA Summit
1530H End of Hike
NOTE: Guide fee is P1,200
A huge thank you to DENR-PENRO Camiguin, especially Ms. Yvonne who helped me with all the logistics and the accommodation. As a solo hiker, I will not be able to do this without her assistance. For the guide, you may contact Kuya Ronald Rabile at 09269469660.
