January 19, 2023

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Sto. Nino Cold Spring is one of the spots you CANNOT miss in Camiguin. 

It’s my personal favorite, and I’m sure you’ll love it too. 

In today’s post, I’m going to go over all that you need to know before visiting! Such as:

  • What makes Sto. Nino Cold Spring special
  • Opening hours and entrance fees
  • How to get here
  • Planning and itinerary tips around the spring
  • Some interesting FAQs about the spring

Then I’ll conclude by answering if it’s worth visiting or not (hint: of course it is!).

Let’s dive into it! 

If you’re visiting Camiguin soon, you might want to check out my travel guide for tips, or my tourist spots for 17 other cool spots besides this one! 

All You Need to Know About Camiguin’s Sto. Nino Cold Spring

sto nino cold spring

From the outside, the water seems green.

But when you jump in?

When you jump in you’ll be blown away by how BLUE the water really is! 

Person sitting underwater in sto nino cold spring

And you’ll also find that they weren’t lying when they named it “COLD spring.” 

Sto. Nino Cold Spring is quite large too. 

Most springs we have in the Philippines are relatively small. But this one is 25 x 40 meters wide, and in the middle reaches up to 8 feet deep. 

This means it isn’t just a spring for dipping and chilling, but also for swimming as well. 

The bottom of the spring is also very interesting. There aren’t any fish, but there are plenty of interesting rocks to see. 

What To Do in Sto. Nino Cold Spring

me diving in sto nino cold spring

The best thing to do here is to spend your time swimming!

And since it’s quite deep, you can even play around and try to dive to the bottom if you can reach it. 

Aside from that, there are several tables, chairs, and cottages all around the spring. 

You can buy snacks like chips and drinks outside the spring, bring them inside, and just chill and eat beside the spring. 

Kiping, flat casava with molasses

One local snack that you might want to try here is kiping – a flat, crunchy casava disk drizzled with molasses. 

If you have kids, there’s also a “kiddie spring” beside the main spring where they can play. 

sto nino cold spring kiddie area

All in all, Sto. Nino Cold Spring is a great place to swim, chill, and have a wonderful time with family and/or friends! 

Sto. Nino Cold Spring Opening Hours 

Sto. Nino Cold Spring is open from 11 am – 5 pm on Monday and Thursday, and from 8 am to 5 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 

Sto Nino Cold Spring Fees

The entrance fee is php75/head ($1.5), and you may rent a table for php150 ($3). 

There is no food inside the “resort” itself, but you can buy snacks outside! 

How to Get to Sto. Nino Cold Spring

The easiest way to get to Sto Nino Cold Spring is to rent a motorbike and drive here with the help of Google Maps! 

If you can’t drive, I’d highly recommend hiring a tricycle for a day. The public transportation in Camiguin is lacking, so having a private driver will make your life so much easier. 

Whole-day tricycle hires cost around php800 ($16). This isn’t a set price, so make sure you agree with your driver before heading out! 

Where is Sto. Nino Cold Spring Located? 

Map showing mambajao to sto nino cold spring

The spring is just a few minutes uphill from the main highway in Catarman. It’s about 45 minutes away from Camiguin’s main town Mambajao. 

Planning Itinerary Tips for Sto. Nino Cold Spring

Map showing all the tourist spots in Camiguin

Sto. Nino Cold Spring is found in Catarman, close to both Tuasan Falls and Bura Soda Water Park. 

Bunching all of these three spots into one trip can save you a lot of time, especially if you’re staying in Mambajao town (which is 45 minutes away). 

However!

This is just my opinion, but you might want to spend most of your time in Sto. Nino Cold Spring. 

For me, this is the best spot of the three. 

I’d even say that you can skip Bura Soda Water Park if you’re short on time! 

Bura Soda Water Park vs Sto Nino Cold Spring

Swimming area in Bura Soda Water Park

Sto Nino is special for its big swimming area and unbelievably blue water, while Bura Soda Water Park is known for its drinking fountains which are supposed to taste like soda. 

They’re both wonderful places to swim or spend time with your friends and family. 

Bura Soda Water Park is right beside Tuasan Falls, which makes those two very easy to visit together. While the Sto. Nino Cold Spring is about 15 minutes away from both of these. 

However, to me, Bura Soda Water feels a bit gimmicky. Which is why I say Sto Nino Cold Spring is better. 

The water doesn’t really taste like soda either (it tastes like spring water, which feels a bit “thicker” than normal). 

I’m not saying that you shouldn’t visit Bura Soda Water Park (you should, for the experience). 

But if you’re trying to balance your time, I’d spend more on Sto Nino Cold Spring! 

Other Attractions in Catarman

Side view of the sunken cemetery monument

About 25 minutes away, you’ll find another cluster of attractions – Sunken Cemetery, Guiob Old Church Ruins, and the Walkway to the Old Volcano. 

If you want to pack as many spots into your day as possible, you can visit those in the morning, then come down to Sto. Nino Cold Spring and its neighbors during the afternoon. 

Sunken Cemetery and those other attractions are in between Sto Nino and Mambajao town. So it makes sense to visit those first before coming here. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Camiguin’s Sto. Nino Cold Spring

Do You Need to Book a Tour to Visit Sto. Nino Cold Spring? 

No! Sto. Nino Cold Spring is open to everyone, and you can easily get here by renting a motorbike, or asking a tricycle driver to take you here! 

How Cold is Sto. Nino Cold Spring?

There are no exact measurements, but locals say the water is around 20 degrees Celsius. Quite cold for a tropical country! 

How Deep is Sto. Nino Cold Spring?

Sto. Nino Cold Spring reaches around 8ft deep in some areas. This makes it deep enough to have a proper swim, or even for you to try duck diving! 

How Big is Sto. Nino Cold Spring? 

Sto. Nino Cold Spring measures about 25×40 meters wide. 

Conclusion: Should You Visit Sto. Nino Cold Spring?

YES! 

A big, fat, juicy, YES. 

This was my favorite spot in the whole of Camiguin. 

Sure, it’s not super unique or otherworldly, but Sto. Nino Cold Spring is the type of place that will make you feel like a kid again. 

It’s the type of place where you’ll forget time as you splash and play around in the bluest waters you’ll ever see. 

That’s why I say, if you don’t visit, you’re missing out! 

Visiting Camiguin soon? Check out my Camiguin travel guide for tips, or my tourist spots post to discover 17 other cool spots to check out in Camiguin! 

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About the author 

Manoling Martinez

Hi! I'm Manoling, a 24-year-old backpacker from Cebu City. I'm on a mission to visit ALL 82 provinces of the Philippines. You can follow my adventures on my Instagram, or plan your trips here on my website!

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