Mount Hibok-Hibok

Hibok-Hibok is the only one of Camiguin's several volcanoes still classed as active, and its last major eruption, in December 1951, after three years of activity, destroyed nearly nineteen square kilometres around Mambajao, and Camiguin's population fell from about 69,000 to 34,000 as people left; it led to the founding of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology - the country's volcano monitoring agency exists in part because of what happened on this mountain. Climbing it takes a hard day: about thirteen hundred metres of ascent from near sea level, steep and largely unshaded on the upper sections, through forest and then over old lava and ash to a crater rim with a small lake in the caldera and a view that takes in the whole island, the sea, and Bohol and Mindanao on clear days. Guides are required and registration is handled through Mambajao's tourism office. The Ardent hot springs on the lower slopes are heated by the same system and are where most climbers end the day.

What's there

• The crater rim - the summit edge and its small lake.
• The lava ground - old flows and ash on the upper slopes.
• The island view - Camiguin's volcanoes from above.
• The hot springs - Ardent's heated water at the base.

When to go

March to June for the driest, clearest conditions. Start before dawn - the upper mountain is brutal in midday sun and cloud usually closes in by late morning.

Before you go

This is a steep, long climb with loose ground, not a walk. Guides and registration are mandatory. The volcano is active and monitored - check status before planning. Carry all your water.

Nearby

Ardent hot springs, Katibawasan Falls and the sunken cemetery are all on the same side of the island.

Key facts