Mantigue Island

Mantigue is a small island a short crossing 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, giant clams 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, there are picnic huts and toilets, and a small fishing settlement occupies part of the island. 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 actually see

• 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 clams 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.

Honest expectations

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.