Mount Hibok-Hibok (Catarman Volcano)

1,332 m (4,370 ft)

It takes about 6-8 hours to complete this trek from start to finish, depending on your pace. The trail is 10.6 km (6 mi) one way.

This trek is considered one of the most difficult trails in Camiguin. It makes its way through the jungle, over the inside of the crater of the volcano and up onto the crater rim.

The trail starts off in a grove of tall coconut trees on fairly even terrain.  After a while, the coconut trees give way to ferns and other low vegetation. The terrain starts to get steeper and you enter the jungle. 

The trail is consistently at an incline for this section of the hike. There are places where you’ll have to grab onto roots and branches around you to help climb up the steep trail, sometimes having to climb over large fallen trees or under branches across the trail.

About 2 hours into the trek you’ll come to a small flat clearing that can be used to rest. From here, there is a nice view of White Island (a small sandbar in the ocean below). 

Not long after this, the terrain starts to descend indicating that you have reached the outer lip of the crater and will now traverse the inside of the crater to get to the summit. The vegetation turns to mossy forest. 

Once you’ve made it into the crater, you’ll be surrounded by ferns and other low vegetation again, as well as the verdant walls of the crater. You may come across a shallow lake depending on your specific route and the season. The water in this lake is not safe for drinking.

As is typical in the Philippines, the weather in this region is warm and very humid (80%) year-round with a monsoon season. The Island falls within a tropical rainforest climate. 

Temperatures usually range between 25°C and 31°C (77°F and 88°F) throughout the year. In general, temperatures tend not to go below 24°C (75°F) or above 32°C (90°F).

The best time to plan a climb would be between mid-January and late March when there is the best combination of less rain and moderate temperatures before the monsoon season.

It’s important to have decent hiking boots and sun protection for this trek. The inner crater traverse is not shaded and can get very hot. Some other essentials are water, a light waterproof windbreaker, moisture-wicking clothing, and insect repellent.

There are no man-made facilities, food or potable water along this trail. You may find stagnant water in the shallow lake, but this water is not safe to drink.

A guide is required. Porters are unnecessary since it is not an overnight trek. 

You can hire a guide from the DENR office in Mambajao. You’ll also need to purchase a permit to climb from here.

Mount Hibok-Hibok is located on Camiguin Island, Northern Mindanao, Philippines. This is roughly 8 hours southeast of Cebu City.  

The most convenient way to get to Camiguan Island would be to fly into Laguindingan International Airport in Cagayan de Oro. From there you can either take a boat directly to Camiguin or take a bus to Balingoan and then catch a ferry to the Island from there. 

To get to the starting point you’ll need to use public transport, such as a jeepney or multi-cab.

There are no specific risks to climbing this mountain. Be sure to go with a guide and preferably a group, as it is always better to have help available if needed in the jungle.