Mantigue Island – What to Expect + Planning Tips

Off the coast of Camiguin, you’ll find one of the most beautiful islands in the country: Mantigue Island! 

With soft, white sand, a sprawling coral reef, and plenty of shade, Mantigue is easily one of the best spots in Camiguin. 

However, there are a few things you need to know before visiting, such as: 

• What makes the island special
• What to do in Mantigue
• Where it is and how to get there
• Opening hours and entrance fees
• Planning tips and what to bring
• Mantigue Island vs White Island

Then I’ll end by answering some FAQs about the island. 

Let’s hop in! 

Looking for tips for traveling Camiguin? Check out my travel guide! Or check out my tourist spot finder for more must-see places besides Mantigue!

All You Need to Know About Mantigue Island

3 things make Mantigue really special. 

These are:

#1. The Fine, White Sand

There are white sand beaches all over the country. 

But surprisingly, you won’t find any on the main Camiguin island. 

That’s because Camiguin is a volcanic island, so the beaches there are black and rocky. 

But in Mantigue? 

In Mantigue you can enjoy some of the softest, whitest sand you’ll ever step on!

#2. The Sprawling Coral Reef

It’s not every day that you find white sand and a coral reef in the same place. 

But what do you know, Mantigue has it! 

And this isn’t a small, ordinary coral reef either. It’s easily one of the best ones you’ll ever see. 

There are so many colorful fishes swimming all over the place. 

These aren’t all small fish either. You’ll come face to face with some bigger fish too. 

And if that’s not enough, Mantigue is also home to lots of big sea turtles swimming around! 

#3. The Lush Trees

Mantigue isn’t quite as popular as White Island. 

But to me, it’s better. 

One of the main reasons for this is because of the lush trees of the island, providing shade from the scorching sun. 

There are also plenty of cottages and tables and chairs that you can rent here. 

All of these make Mantigue much more relaxing. 

What to do on Mantigue Island

The main things to do in Mantigue are swimming, snorkeling, relaxing, walking around the whole island, and also letting your boat crew circle the island for photos. 

The waters around Mantigue are turquoise and super inviting, it’s criminal not to spend some time swimming! 

Plus, the reef is something super special. 

So bring your snorkels, or rent one, because you don’t wanna miss snorkeling! 

It’s a very underrated reef. In my opinion, it’s even better than plenty of the more popular reefs around the country. 

Then there’s relaxing, which you can do a lot of in Mantigue. 

With plenty of cottages and tables, you can sit down under the shade of the trees and just take things slow. 

Keep in mind though that your boat will come to pick you up in three hours, so unless you plan to, don’t relax too long! 

There’s also a fun little adventure you can take, and that’s walking around the whole island. 

It’s quite small, and will only take you about 15 minutes to make it around. 

But you’ll find a few interesting things, like this tire swing:

Finally, there’s a mini-tour around the whole island you can ask your boat to do. 

It’s pretty simple, all you do is go around the island, and your boatman can get pictures of you with the mountains of Camiguin behind. 

We paid php200 for this little tour. 

It’s very skippable, but it wasn’t expensive anyway so no regrets! 

How to Get to Mantigue Island

To get to Mantigue Island, you’ll first need to reach the Mantigue Island Departure Area in mainland Camiguin. From there, you hire a boat for php750 ($15) (good for four people) and pay an additional php75 ($1.5) per head. 

The departure area is in Mahinog, about 30 minutes away from Mambajao, but only 4 minutes away from Benoni Port. 

You can ask any tricycle or habal-habal (motorcycle taxi) to take you here. 

Or, if you’re driving your own motorbike (which is highly recommended in Camiguin) search for “Mantigue Island Departure Area” in Google Maps! 

In the departure area, you’ll find an office where you can hire a boat and pay your entrance fees. 

Again, each boat only fits four people. So if you’re more than four, you’ll need to hire two or more boats! 

The trip to Mantigue takes around 15 minutes. 

Mantigue Island Opening Hours and Fees

Here are the opening hour facts and fees! 

Mantigue Island Opening and Closing Time

Mantigue Island is open from 6 am to 5 pm, with the last trip to the island at 2 pm.  

Keep in mind that after 2 pm, there won’t be any trips to the island anymore, so plan accordingly! At 5 pm, all guests must leave the island.

Mantigue Island Entrance Fees

A boat good for 4 people costs php750 ($15), with an additional php75 ($1.5) per head. The boat will pick you up after 3 hours, but if you wish to stay longer, it’s an additional php100 ($2) per hour. 

All of these are paid on the mainland before your trip. 

Other fees include:

• Cottage rental – php150 ($3)
• Table rental – php100 ($2)
• Snorkeling gear rental – php100 ($2)
• Marine sanctuary fee – php50/head ($1)

You pay these fees on Mantigue Island. 

Finally, there’s the mini boat tour around the island I was talking about, which costs php200 ($4), paid directly to the boatman. 

Planning Tips for Mantigue Island (+ What to Bring

• Your boat isn’t going to wait for you in Mantigue! They’ll go back to the mainland to pick up more passengers. They’ll be back to pick you up after 3 hours, so if you want to leave earlier, make sure you make a deal with your boatman while he’s still around! 
  

• Most people visit White Island and Mantigue on the same day. If you’re doing this, it’s best to visit White Island first – as early as 5 am before the sun rises. Mantigue has plenty of shade, so you can enjoy it even during the hottest hours of the day.
  
• Bring snacks! There are no stores on Mantigue Island, and you’re staying for at least 3 hours so you can get quite hungry. There’s a store in the departure area where you can buy chips, drinks, and other snacks.
  
• Mantigue is halfway between Mambajao and the Giant Clam Sanctuary, so you might think that it’s a good idea to visit after. However, as of January 2023, the Giant Clam Sanctuary is still closed. I’ve been told that you can ask some Guinsiliban locals to show you the clams, but I haven’t tried it.
  
• Katunggan Park is only a few minutes away from the Mantigue departure area, so you could also visit that. However, keep in mind that Katunggan Park is skippable, so you might consider heading back to Mambajao instead.
  

Mantigue Island vs White Island

The main difference between Mantigue and White Island is that Mantigue has trees, while White Island is a sandbar. Mantigue is also slightly bigger and has a coral reef just a few meters into the water. 

White Island is more iconic. It’s Camiguin’s postcard destination. 

It’s also much closer to Camiguin’s other attractions like the Sunken Cemetery. 

However, I do like Mantigue better. 

There are more things to do in Mantigue. And it’s always nice to relax in the shade. 

Plus, the coral reef is VERY special too. 

All in all, there’s little point in comparing the two. A trip to Camiguin really wouldn’t be complete without visiting both anyway. 

Just make sure to visit White Island during sunrise. You can rent an umbrella on that island, but with no trees, it gets VERY hot – even under the umbrella!

Frequently Asked Questions About Mantigue Island

What is Mantigue Island Known For? 

Mantigue is known mostly for the large sea turtles swimming freely around the island. But it’s also known for its powdery white sand, lush trees, and sprawling coral reef!

It’s a favorite spot for snorkelers and freedivers, as well as people who enjoy chilling on the beach. 

Who Owns Mantigue Island?

Mantigue Island belongs to the provincial government of Camiguin, while the Mahinog LGU is the one that takes care of the island. 

Fun fact: most of the tourist spots in Camiguin are owned by the provincial government. That’s why you’ll find Clean Camiguin branding wherever you go. 

For tourists, it’s very convenient that everything is so regulated here. 

Can I Stay Overnight on Mantigue Island? 

No. Overnight camping is no longer allowed in Mantigue. 

Mantigue is a protected area, so all boats must leave at 5 pm. 

How Big is Mantigue Island? 

Mantigue Island is roughly 1 km in circumference and about .04 km² in size. 

It takes about 15 minutes to walk around the whole island. 

Where is Mantigue Island?

Mantigue is found 3.5km off the coast of Mahinog in Camiguin. 

Do You Need to Book a Tour to Visit Mantigue Island?

No! All you have to do is show up at the Mantigue Departure Area in Mahinog, and you can hire one of the many boats waiting for guests there. 

Conclusion: Should You Visit Mantigue Island?

That’s probably one of the easiest questions to answer 😂

Of course!!! 

Mantigue is one of the highlights of Camiguin. 

Heck, I’d even go back to Camiguin just to visit Mantigue again. 

That’s how good it is. 

So whatever you plan to do in Camiguin, DO NOT leave out Mantigue! 

Looking for more Camiguin tourist spots to add to your itinerary? Check out my tourist spots post! Or if you’re looking for more tips, see my travel guide!