Northern Mindanao Escapade Summary and Expenses

Northern Mindanao Escapade Summary and Expenses

A fisherman is fixing his nets in the morning. Before the sun sets, he will again brave the waves for the family’s dinner. If lucky enough, he would have more to sell for other necessities (Mambajao, Camiguin).

That 7-day adventure challenge has taught me to appreciate the rugged beauty of Mindanao, her lovely people, varied terrains, fine weather. I would compare this blessed land to an unpolished gem, the beauty is within, and only a keen traveler can see and find charm even in the most mundane of situations.

CDO – Camiguin – Iligan – Bukidnon

 

This particular trip is a practice, a glimpse of my big plan- 100 Days of Backpacking the Philippines, The Cheapest Way Possible.

Here I want to share with you how I pulled it off on a 500/day budget in chronological order. One will also learn about my itinerary, expenses and how I managed to save some pesos while on the road.

It could also be an itinerary for those who want to experience Mindanao, along with this are my tweets, blog posts, expenses (up to the last kwek-kwek I ate), and travel tips.

Day 1: Manila to CDO

Tweet(s):
-im nervous of my trip to mindanao later- not with security but with how i will manage to live within my scanty budget
-off to MNL to catch my late afternoon flight to CDO. another adventure in the making!
-greetings from rainy cdo. im in a jam-packed jeepney going to carmen,the town proper. paid P16 instead of P200 should i took a taxi.

Expenses (all in Philippine Peso):
16 Jeepney fare, CDO Airport to Carmen
43 Dinner
6 Jeepney fare, Carmen to Scions
10 Trike to friend’s house
—–
Php 75.00

Travel Tip(s):

I always ask staff form the airport if there is a public transportation to downtown, jeepney or tricycle. So instead of paying up to P200 for the taxi to downtown, I only paid P16.

I also stayed in my friends house, this would also become my hub as I go around Region 10, Northern Mindanao

 

Day 2: CDO- Camiguin Island

 

Tweet(s):
-surprising jeepney fares here, just P6. amused by “palihug” (please) that is used in almost all sentences. going to balingoan port now.
-greetings from camiguin island. i found a very cheap traveler’s inn, P100/night, mambajao. i will tour the island tomorrow.

Blog(s):

In Transit: CDO to Camiguin

Expenses:
6 Jeepney to Gaisano
6 Jeepney to Agora (Market City)
50 Bus to Balingoan
10 Internet rental
7 Tricycle, Balingoan bus terminal to Talisayan
5 Tricycle, Seafood Area to Talisayan public market
44 Lunch, 2 viands & 2 cups of rice
7 Tricycle, Talisayan to Pantalan
20 Bread, merienda
115 Roro fare, Ferry boat from Balingoan to Benoni Port, Camiguin
3 Terminal fee
23 Jeepney, Benoni port to Mambajao
100 Accommodation
30 Instant Coffee and C2
10 Bread
25 Grilled Tuna Fish from the Public market
10 Coffee
—–
Php 476.00

 

Travel Tip(s):

I took the non-AC bus from Agora to Balingoan, paid Php50 instead of Php80 should I take the AC bus.
I used my student ID to avail of the student fare on board a ferry, Saved me Php10.
I always buy bread if I’m hungry for merienda. In case of delays or no available cheap eateries, I can always rely on my bread.
If you have time, check out the public market for fresh food, its cheap and you get to see local life too.

Motorela at Camiguin. I think this is the hybrid of Tricycle and Jeepney, fits 10 people or even more.

Day 3: Camiguin Island Tour

 

Tweet(s):
-did some snorkling around sunken cemetery, nice soft corals below. now at the old gui-ob church ruins
-back in mambajao,camiguim. a bit disappointed bec i wasnt able to go to mantigue island, cant set up my hammock there.
-just came from ardent hotspring. it began to rain while im bathing, refreshing waters fr mt.hibok-hibok! gudnyt

 

Blog(s):
The Cheapest Camiguin Island Tour
Trail Running at “Via Dolorosa” & Old Volcano
Sunken Cemetery: From Top to Bottom
Cheap Accommodations in Camiguin Island

 

Expenses:
7 Jeepney, Mambajao to Caves Resort (jump-off to White Island)
7 Motorela, Caves Resort to Naasag
5 Entrance fee, Walkway to Old Volcano
83 Grande and Peanuts, chillin’ with the locals of Giant Cross
40 Lunch- La Paz Batchoy, egg and bread
12 Motorela, Catarman to Sagay
15 Motorela, Sagay to Guinsiliban
40 Habal-habal (motorcycle), Guinsiliban to Mahinog (jump-off to Mantigue Island)
20 Bread
100 Accommodation
47 Dinner
30 Entrance fee, Ardent hot spring
—–
Php 403.00

 

Travel Tip(s):
I managed to hitchhike while touring the island.
I met some local tourists from Mahinog, I befriended them and joined them to Ardent, saved transportation and met new friends.

Taking a deep breath, before going down the Giant Cross at Camiguin

 

Day 4: Camiguin to CDO

 

Tweet(s):
-eating camiguin’s pastel while waiting for the van to leave for benoni port. im going back to cdo. what’s next: iligan or bukidnon?
-on board a ferry vessel to balingoan port writing 10 things to do in camiguin island. i hope i can pitch this to a travel mag =)
-back at cdo..thankful to the very helpful people of camiguin! ang sarap ng pastel. night cafe & divisoria later.
-vicente de lara park in cdo is very sporty! some are jogging, a strip of chess players and a boxing ring is being set up.
-cdo’s divisoria is a mixture of baclaran and ukay-ukay plus hole-in-wall eateries. lovin’ the city vibe!
-cool party jeepney! loud sounds and bass, music videos on board, black light plus strobe lights. panalo! tugs tugs tugs!

 

Blog(s):

City Vibe: Murals, Hawker Stalls, Ukay-Ukay & Concerts

 

Expenses:
6 Motorela, Traveler’s Inn to Van terminal
60 6pcs Pastel, breakfast
30 Van, Mambajao to Benoni port
115 Ferry boat, Benoni to Balingoan
60 Bus, Balingoan to CDO
30 Lunch
6 Motorela, Agora to Gaisano
6 Jeepney, Gaisano to Scions
10 Kwek-kwek
71 Dinner, Chicken Inasal
—–
Php 394.00

 

Travel Tip(s):
If visiting CDO for the first time, try walking allong Velez St. from Vicente de Lara Park towards the Night Cafe and Divisoria (available only during Fridays and Saturdays). Its one hotchpotch of CDO city culture.

Agora (Market City). Agora is a Greek term for “market.”

 

Day 5: CDO to Iligan City

 

Tweet(s):
-on my way to iligan city passing thru the coastal towns of misamis or. the rural scene here is very relaxing. studentfare: P80
-amazed at the great twin falls- greetings from ma.cristina falls! the current is powerful,very powerful. parang ang sarap tumalon
-the best waterfalls i experienced so far- tinago falls. have a nice weekend, wow philippines in lanao del norte
-lovin’ the city of waterfalls! ma.cristina, tinago & mimbalot falls in one day. definitely one of the highlights of my north mindanao trip

 

Blog(s):
Ma. Cristina Waterfalls: A Dream Fulfilled!
Tinago Falls: Hidden Delight

 

Expenses:
6 Jeepney to Bulua, West bound bus terminal
15 Bread, breakfast part 1
80 Bus, CDO to Iligan (student fare)
6 Jeepney to Mercado (public market)
6 Cassava cake, breakfast part 2
40 Entrance fee to Ma.Cristina falls and shuttle fare
75 Lunch, lechon infront of Macaraeg-Macapagal Ancestral house
36 Jeepney, fare to Tinago falls
25 Habal-habal to Tinago falls
10 Entrance fee to Tinago falls
25 Habal-habal to Timoga falls
10 Entrance fee to Timoga falls
15 Internet rental
10 Barbecue
—–
Php 364.00

 

Travel Tip(s):
Try to haggle while transacting fares with the habal-habal driver.
I stayed with friends while in Iligan, saves you a lot.

The Refreshing Cascades, Tinago Falls, Iligan City

Day 6: Iligan City – CDO – Bukidnon – CDO

Tweet(s):
-treating myself with a nice view of kitanglad mountain ranges, towering pine trees & bottomless pineapple juice. hello fr delmonte golf club,bukidnon

 

Blog(s):
Zipline Crazy Philippines
What Does a Backpacker Do in a Golf Club?

 

Expenses:
6 Jeepney to bus terminal, going back to CDO
100 Bus, Super Five (regular fare, AC)
25 Breakfast, pandesal and pancit
6 Jeepney to Agora
30 Bus, Agora (Market City) to Alae, Bukidnon
15 Jeepney, Alae to Camp Phillips
6 Multicab, Camp Phillips to Coop
45 Lunch
10 Jeepney, Coop to Del Monte Golf Club
20 Bottomless Pineapple juice
10 Jeepney, Golf Club to Phillips
5 Multicab, Phillips to Coop
50 Van, Coop to CDO downtown
30 Medicine, I’m already sick here.
27 Goto, dinner
6 Gaisano to Scions
—–
Php 397.00

 

Travel Tip(s):
That bottomless pineapple juice drink sure helped me while I was feverish.
If the place where I am going is just a kilometer or less away, I would just walk it.
Instead of eating in the fine dining restaurants, I try to look for carinderia where the food is very cheap. Carinderias and food stalls in the province are clean and serves good food.

Trying to Hitchhike at Del Monte Coop, Bukidnon (but not successful)

 

Day 7: CDO Whitewater Rafting and Back to Manila

 

Tweet(s):
-capping the 1week escapade with advance white water rafting! adrenaline rush talaga.. ganda ng mindanao!
-touchdown manila! total expenses during my 1week north mindanao escapade: P3,187 (455/day) covering 4 provinces, misamis orienal, camiguin, lanao del norte & bukidnon

Blog(s):
Whitewater Rafting: The Ride of my Year

Expenses:
6 Jeepney, Scions to Carmen
15 Graham crackers
1000 Whitewater rafting fee, advance course 1
20 Shower fee at the end point
5 Peanuts
20 Chips
2 Ice
5 Hot water
30 Terminal Fee
—–
Php 1103.00

 

Travel Tip(s):
You would always see that I buy bread, its my main source of carbohydrates aside from the rice I eat. Peanuts are my source of protein.
I still have some instant coffee with me so while waiting for my flight, I bought a cup of hot water, coffee to kill time.
Straight from the rafting adventure, I asked the driver to take me to the airport as it is just on the way. Of course, I already brought all my stuff with me.
If you arrived too early at the airport, you can ask the check-in agent for an earlier flight. Usually they allow passengers to take the earlier flight as most seats are not yet taken.

CDO Whitewater Rafting Advance Course 1

— — — — —

Total Expenses: Php 3,212

Day 1- Php 75

Day 2- Php 476

Day 3- Php 403

Day 4- Php 394

Day 5- Php 364

Day 6- Php 397

Day 7- Php 1,103

Php 3,212.00/7days = Php 458.86/day = SUCCESSFUL!

— — — — —

I have a similar account when I did my Php250/day backpacking challenge around Western Visayas.

I hope this would be of great help to solo travelers and those who want to travel but with limited budget. Better yet, share or retweet this to friends to encourage them to experience a once in a lifetime adventure.

If you have question on itineraries, travel tips, or anything about backpacking in the Philippines, just contact me and I will try my best to help you out. Or maybe if you are lucky, I can tour you anywhere in the Philippines, I can be your travel buddy (but there’s a catch). Until the next challenge?!!!

______ ______ ______

NORTHERN MINDANAO ESCAPADE. A series born out of my adventures in Region X last January 19-25, 2011 where challenged myself to live within Php500 or less/day budget (food, transportation, accommodation, etc.) as I am preparing for my “The Cheapest 100 Days of Backpacking around the Philippines.”

Bukidnon- What Does a Backpacker Do In A Golf Course? / Zipline Crazy Philippines?

Camiguin- Cheapest Island Tour / Sunken Cemetery: From Top to Bottom Down / In Transit: CDO to Camiguin / Cheap Accommodations

CDO- The Ride of my Year / Murals, Hawker Stalls, Ukay-Ukay etc.

Iligan City- Ma.Cristina Falls: A Dream Fulfilled / Tinago Falls: Hidden Delight