Mantigue Island

Mantigue, also called Magsaysay Island, lies about three and a half kilometres off Camiguin's eastern coast - four hectares of forest with a strip of white sand and a shallow lagoon on the landward side, and on the other a wall where the reef drops sharply into deep water. That drop-off is the reason divers come; snorkellers get the shallow half, with coral and a good density of fish inside a marine sanctuary that has been protected long enough to show it. A short trail crosses the wooded interior and there are picnic huts and toilets; a fishing village once stood here, until the government moved residents off and declared the island a protected area and sea-turtle sanctuary, open in daytime only. It is one of the standard stops on a Camiguin itinerary, alongside the White Island sandbar, the Katibawasan and Tuasan falls, the sunken cemetery and the hot and cold springs - the province is small enough that all of it fits into two or three days.

What you'll find

• The white beach - the sand strip on the landward side.
• The reef wall - the drop-off on the seaward shore.
• The forest trail - the short path across the interior.
• The sanctuary shallows - coral and fish off the beach.

When to go

March to June for the calmest crossings and best visibility. Mornings before the wind; weekdays for space on a small island.

Good to know

Facilities are huts and toilets only - bring water and food. Boats are hired per vessel and crossings stop in rough weather. Swimming outside the marked areas is restricted by the sanctuary rules.

Nearby

White Island's sandbar, Katibawasan Falls and Camiguin's springs are all within half an hour on the main island.

Key facts