CDO: Gateway to Bukidnon and Camiguin

Our flight departed at around 9:30 AM and arrived in CDO at around 11:00AM (Schedule is 9:25-11:00). The flight was made eventful by Mommy Anita who connected from a flight from LA to go home and fix some documents in her hometown in CDO. Fun to talk with and very hospitable, she even offered to take us to the town proper and have us stay on her home. We declined the offer of course, not just because there are actually 4 of us but because we don’t want to inconvenience her.

She even gave us some souvenirs from her flight.

Arriving at CDO, a number of cabs/private cars would offer to drive you to town for a fee of 200-300 PHP. We got ours for 200 PHP with the 4 of us sitting at the back of the car, and an additional passenger at the front seat.

It took us around 30 to 45 minutes to get to the New Dawn Pensionne.We got their Superior Room (1 double bed and a single bed) for 1080 PHP plus 200 for the additional person/bed (320 PHP/PAX). The hotel was fairly new and aside from the moldy and nasty smelling shower curtain, our room was clean and it has a flat screen TV.

Going to Bukidnon

No Motorella (CDO Tricycles-7PHP/PAX) can take us directly to the van station. We were dropped off near Limketkai where a  kind kuya directed us to the Agora bus station to take the bus to Bukidnon. Upon getting there though, we were advised to take the Jeepney to the Van Terminal that would go directly to Camp Phillips, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon in 1.5 to 2 hours. (60PHP/PAX/Way)

It was too late to go to Dahilayan by the time that we get there, so we proceeded to The Bungalow for their famous steak. The restaurant has a homey ambiance and empty, except for the residents, when we got there.

I ordered their sirloin steak cooked well done, which is a mistake because it’s a bit tiring to chew. Its very tasty though and could have been a lot better had I ordered it medium rare. The rest of their meal is okay. The dessert that came with the meal looked like blueberry cheesecake but feel and taste like blueberry ice cream cake (300PHP++).

After eating, we walked around the camp, which has a Baguio feel to it, and headed back to the van terminal (inside the Camp).

The van dropped us off at Limketkai mall. We then took the Motorola back to our hotel.

I was exhausted after the whole trip (I came from the graveyard shift the night before), but my friends went to CDO’s Friday Night Café.

Day 2: To Camiguin
We checked out and ate our breakfast at TAPSI TIME beside our hotel. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone, there are other places in the area that serves better food and is more sanitary.

We then took a motorella to the Agora bus terminal, but we are unable to go in as some of the locals surrounded us and strongly suggested that we took the van instead. The van was 100PHP/PAX from Agora to Balingoan Port.

After 1.45 to 2 hours drive, we got to the the port and rode the Super Ferry Shuttle to Camiguin (1 hour) (170PHP/PAX).

Upon arriving, there are a number of Multi Cabs in the area that would offer a whole day tour (8 hours) for 1500PHP (Normally there’s a 400PHP fee for the transfer from the port to your hotel, but you would save that if you take the tour from the port since it can drop you off at your hotel prior or after the tour.

To save time, we started our tour right away, starting from the sights closest to the port going to our hotel.

We had lunch at J and A Fishpen at the Tanguines Lagoon.

Then visited the sights…

Sto. Nino Cold Springs

 Soda Swimming Pool

 Catarman Church Ruins

 Sunken Cemetery. (You can take a banca to the cross for 20PHP/PAX.)

Walkway to the Old Volcano 

(I reached the 2nd station but turned back because I'm alone, I would have gone all the way though if it wasn't getting dark at the time.)

 Magnet souvenirs are priced from 10-35PHP, sando/shirts are from 180-350PHP.

We are unable to visit the Katibawasan falls because the area is no longer accessible at night.

We dropped off our bags at our resort-Paras Beach Resort . If you are on a budget though, a number of other fair looking lodgings are available in the same area. PARAS' rooms though are large and clean with a good working safe.

The hot spring is our last stop, the spring is crowded at the time but is relaxing all the same. Going back, We brought lechon manok on Chicka Loka outside of the Ardent Hot Spring Resort.

However, the PARAS kuya security won’t allow us in with the chicken (There was a small reminder at the gate that guests are not allowed to bring food inside) The security guard could have been a little nicer in telling us that the chicken cannot go in, but after a call to the front desk, we were allowed in with the condition that we don’t parade the lechon manok at their restaurant. So we ended up ordering room service. Sinigang na baboy+rice. (262.30PHP for 4).

Note: All of PARAS BEACH RESORT's published rate (on their food and service menu) does not include the VAT yet. So an additional 12% VAT would be added to your bill.

Day 3: White Island
We inquired about the Resort’s white island tour the night before and we were told that the service is on a first come first serve basis for 450PHP (We found out later that it’s 500PHP because they already increased their rate that month). My suggestion is just to get it outside the resort for 400PHP, since the Island’s point of entry is just beside the resort.

It was a sand bar (So don’t forget your Sun Block) filled with people. Think miniature crowded Boracay (though the sand is not as fine). I don’t think the place would be as fun though without the crowd.

We went back to our hotel after an hour.

My potato omelet breakfast could use a bit of salt or garlic and onion. But my watermelon shake was good-very smooth. (95PHP + 12% VAT)

We just relaxed that day, walked around the resort and tried some more shake at the bar, mango banana shake for me (65PHP + 12% Vat) and banofee for Kinno. (Banana+ 85PHP+12% VAT) Their shakes are good.

We also walked at the side of PARAS where a number of souvenirs are available (5PHP-300PHP). It rained so while I’m waiting for Kuya Rico to finish writing names on my key chains we were able to chat a bit. He mentioned the treasure hunting folks who would buy land in Camiguin and would just dig around then leave the area. Same goes for the graves on the underwater cemetery.

Kuya Rico also mentioned  that you can buy a kilo of lanzones for 5-10PHP- free if its out of the stalk- during their Lanzones Festival in the month of October.

For Dinner...
It's lasagna and salted eggs for dinner. A bit pricey but we're too tired to go out and search for a restaurant.


Day 3: Back to CDO-First Rafting Adventure
The following day is our White water rafting day. We rode a multicab back to the port (450PHP), the super shuttle ferry back to Balingoan, and the non aircon bus back to CDO (84.00PHP) since its too early and no van is available yet.

We checked back in at the New Dawn Pensionne, ate Chicken Barbecue at Fiesta sa Balsa Sugbahan for lunch (The chicken serving was good), then head back to our Hotel where Ate Joan (with Manong Driver and Kuya Dennis-the picture guy) of the 1st Rafting Adventure  picked us up at around 12:45 PM. It was Sunny that morning but the weather took a turn by the time that we are on our way to the airport to pick the group of 3 people that would be joining our raft.

It was raining really hard by the time that we reach the starting point for the Advance 1 Rafting Course and the guides are already in a hurry to have us started since the water is getting bigger and the current stronger. To top that, the water's color is brown, so we cant see the rocks under the rapids. After a quick safety and rafting instruction run through, we were off.

The course would pass 21 rapids (not including the bonus rapids). I was nervous at first but our (2) guides (Ate Joan being one of them) who are comfortably chatting behind us despite the strong rapids put me at ease.

We had fun traversing the rapids, and spotting kuya Dennis along the way to pose for pictures (250PHP/CD-you would be too busy paddling to take pictures yourself), We even had a baby snake hitched a ride on our raft.

We finished the normally 4 hours course in just 2.5 hours because the current is stronger and we don't have to paddle as much.

The drop off point of the course was infront of the Cabula River Grill. We showered (20PHP/pax) and ate our snack (pork barbecue, rice and 8ml coke) which is included in the package. (Rafting adventure 1000Php/pax for the Advance 1 Course)

We were then dropped off back to our hotel. We requested for 2 more extra towels because some of us were not able to shower at the grill. The lady at the front desk said they would check if there is available (towels should always be available), they gave us towels-yes-but both have a hole on it.

With a bit of energy left, we headed to Slers Ham and Cafe to try their famous ham before crashing back to our hotel.

I was up at 4:30AM the following morning. I slipped out of our hotel room, grabbed a cafe mocha at the vendo (hotel Lobby) for 40 PHP (additional 20PHP from the normal price because it was placed in a china cup), sat on one of the tables and started people watching. When I went up, Kinno was already up, so we went for a walk on the town center before heading back to the airport for our flight home.

Recommendations:
If you are following a 4 days/3 nights schedule and got a flight similar to ours (and you are not coming from a night shift), it is best to have your Water Rafting Adventure tour on the first day. Have them pick you up at the Airport, then they would drop you off at your hotel after the activity. Do your Camiguin Trip the next morning. Leave as early as possible to avoid the afternoon sun on your Roro ride, then proceed with your Camiguin tour when you get there so you can save on the service going to your hotel. Go to the White Island early the following morning then have the rest of the day to relax and enjoy your resort. Take the earliest ferry back to Balingoan and go to Bukidnon for the steak and the Zip Line.

Another Option is to go back to CDO after your white Island Trip, have the rest of the day off and go to Bukidnon the following day.

Have Fun!