Camiguin is known as the "island of volcanoes" because of the seven volcanoes dotting this tropical paradise. The most popular is Mt. Hibok-Hibok, believed to be the only active volcano on the island today, with the rest being classified as inactive. In 1871, Mt. Vulcan Daan erupted and sank nearby areas, including the now-famous "Sunken Cemetery". Camiguin is an island that almost, if not entirely, matches one's expectation of what an ideal island setting should be.
Beer, Chill and Urchins at White Island | Camiguin
Not far from the Camiguin mainland, a dreamland of a sandbar can be found, and it could not be named more appropriately: White Island.
The Shifting Sands
White Island is a circling sandbar whose shape transforms depending on the tides of the sea, located near the coast of Agojo, Mambajao in Camiguin. One can easily reach this island by taking a ten-minute boat ride. Approaching the island from afar, you can already see the blinding white sand forming a letter "C" and sometimes the letter "I," depending entirely on the tidal conditions of the day. The island itself completely submerges underwater by late afternoon when the tide gets high. That makes early morning to mid-afternoon the best time to visit.
There are no trees or man-made structures on White Island. It is as bare as any uninhabited island could be. When we arrived, we saw only a few people on the island. Most of them were local fishermen who docked their small boats to take a brief rest, while some awaited visitors to offer and sell fresh sea urchins harvested straight from the surrounding shallows.
After picking out a spot to drop our things down, we sat and conversed while downing a few cold Red Horse beers. After a while, we figured there was no holding us back from jumping into the crystalline waters of White Island.
Snorkeling the Reefs
The waters surrounding the island are an ideal spot for snorkeling. One does not need 20/20 vision to see the corals and other fish darting beneath the surface. After swimming for half an hour, I explored further and walked toward the other end of the island, where I was met by a flock of sea birds who flew over me every time I inched close to them. It wasn't a surprise to see a party of birds choosing this remote sandbar as their chill-out place after flying all over Camiguin Island.
However, as I write this recounting my visit to White Island, I can't help but feel profoundly grateful for the chance to go there. Traveling to such pristine places really brings comfort to my mind; regardless of what life throws at me, I still feel like I'm winning. There's always a time and place that resets everything back to its rightful balance.
After much frolicking on the beach, we consumed a few more bottles of Red Horse. On any other occasion, I'd run away from Red Horse, but during that moment, it didn't matter. The raw natural setting we were in sure beat getting drunk in some crowded bar in the big city. I lost the slippers I was wearing, as I really can't remember where I left them, but it's alright—I gained another unforgettable nomadic experience. This time, it was during my birthday weekend, accompanied by great friends. Hands down, it goes right up there with my top three birthday celebrations.
A thought crossed my mind while walking back to our spot from the other side of the island. My dog Jack would probably enjoy running around White Island. Then it occurred to me that everyone surely would: animals, humans, and who knows, maybe even Martians. The feeling of the sun shining on your back, your bare feet kissing the millions of specks of white sand leaving sets of footprints, and the sea wind billowing against your face. Ultimately, the experience becomes so satisfying it leaves a lasting image permanently etched in your mind.
This is nature at its absolute best. I really do hope that places like White Island continue to amaze visitors, and that people do their share in making sure that the nature around us won't be abused and neglected in exchange for rapid development—so that the next generations can enjoy it just as much as I did.
This travel log forms part of my 2010 Birthday trip collection in Mindanao. Explore more regional updates below:
