White Island Camiguin is the pride and joy of this island province, an adventure seeker’s haven between Bohol and mainland Mindanao in Southern Philippines. This ever changing sand bar is one of the only patches of white sand on the entire island, since most of the beaches are black and rocky thanks to its volcanic past (and present).
Growing up on Camiguin, White Island was always one of Zowie’s favourite places to visit, obviously for the sun and sand, but also for the incredible view looking back at Camiguin. The beauty of White Island deserves to be shared with everyone, which is why we’ve created this ultimate guide to White Island Camiguin for anyone planning on visiting.
Best time to visit White Island Camiguin
Since there’s absolutely no shade on the island, unless you rent an umbrella, it can get extremely hot. For this reason, we encourage you to go as late or as early as possible – sunrise or sunset. You don’t have to worry much about the tides. Unlike a lot of sandbars, there’s still plenty of White Island to enjoy during high tide. The shape of the island will change depending on Amihan or Habagat season.
How to get to White Island Camiguin
The port to White Island is in the town of Yumbing, around 15 minutes out of the main town of Mambajao. A lot of visitors will stay in the popular resort towns of Yumbing and Agoho, so if you’re staying nearby you’re in luck. The port is right next to Paras Beach Resort, and a lot of resorts in the area have tours that will take you to White Island. From the port in Yumbing, it’s only 10 minutes by pump boat to White Island, and your boat captain can either wait for you if you don’t plan on staying too long, or you can set a time for him to return.
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Up until just recently pump boat was the only way to access White Island, but if you’ve got some cash to splash, Nouveau Resort – the newest 5-star resort on Camiguin – offers speed boat packages to White Island and Mantigue Island. It’s a stunning, scenic 30-minute speed boat journey between the two islands.
What to bring to White Island Camiguin
Prepare for your trip to White Island Camiguin with our must-have travel essentials.
Waterproof backpack & phone case: Earth Pak 35L or 55L Heavy Duty Backpack, IPX8 Waterproof Phone Case Included (click for price)
Snorkel, mask & fins: Cressi Adjustable Mask, Fin & Snorkel Set with Carry Bag (click for price)
Quick-dry microfiber travel towel: Wise Owl Outfitters Camping Travel Towel (click for price)
Insulated water bottle: Hydro Flask Vacuum Insulated Water Bottle (click for price)
Hiking Sandals: Teva Women’s Hurricane Hiking Sandals (click for price), Teva Men’s Hurricane Hiking Sandals (click for price)
If you’re interested in photography and/or videography this is the gear we can’t live without:
Professional camera: Sony a7iv (click for price)
Action camera: GoPro HERO10 Black (click for price)
Drone: DJI Air 2s (click for price)
Entrance fee for White Island Camiguin
A trip to white island will set you back around $9 for a boat of 4 people plus a $1 environmental fee per person. Before setting sail, you can rent or buy snorkelling gear at the souvenir kiosks by the port. Once out on White Island, you can rent beach umbrellas for $3, which we recommend if you want to avoid the killer sun on the island.
What to expect at White Island Camiguin
Pulling up in the boat at White Island is like stepping into literal paradise. The water surrounding the sandbar is almost too blue to be true, the sand powdery soft and bright white. You’ll definitely want to wear your sunglasses here, and don’t forget your sunscreen.
In terms of activities on White Island Camiguin, there isn’t a whole lot to do other than swim, sunbathe and take stunning photos. You can rent an umbrella (we recommend it) or some snorkelling gear, however there isn’t a reef around the island. This is the place you come to relax and enjoy the incredible view.
We’ve always been pretty lucky when it comes to timing our visits to White Island Camiguin when it’s quiet, but our biggest advice is to anyone trying to avoid throngs of tourists is to never visit on a weekend, public holiday and never ever Holy Week.
Not sure what else to do on the island? Check out our ultimate Camiguin Island travel guide for all the inspo you need.
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