Restaurant hopping and island hopping are two mainstream tourism activities in the country especially on provinces that offer local gastronomy or blessed with numerous islands. How about spring hopping? Why not! You can have it in Camiguin. And when we say spring hopping, we mean different types of springs from soda water, cold to hot springs.
These springs are all included in the west tour of the province. First stop is the Bura Soda Water Spring with a pool filled with natural streaming soda water. If you’re wondering if the soda pool being mentioned here is literally filled with your favorite soft drink, you’re wrong but somehow close.
Soda water, or commonly known as carbonated water, is water into which carbon dioxide gas under pressure has been dissolved. Some of these have additives such as sodium. For people who enjoy drinking soft drinks, carbonated water can provide a calorie and sugar-free substitute (as per my friend Wiki).
Entrance fee in Bura Soda Water Spring is Php 30. The pool was divided into two areas, obviously for the swimmers and non-swimmers. You already know where I stayed, on the non-swimmers side. When I arrived, two kids were playing and swimming in the pool. With this, I thought the pool is shallow so I jumped right away after I settled all my things on the side.
I was shocked that the water is really deep that I searched for the pool’s ridge immediately to save myself from drowning. I was laughing as I got out of the water. More visitors got inside and I was teased to take a second dip.
Time to hop to the next spring, the Cold Springs of Sto.Ñino still located in the town of Catarman. Still, you need to settle an entrance fee of Php 30. Compared to Bura Soda, there were many people here with almost all of the cottages occupied. It has a main pool from 4 to 7 feet deep that flows to the small basin for kids.
When they say cold, they’re exactly telling you to prepare for a freezing dip. Water is clear that you can actually see tiny fishes swimming while nibbling your skin. Non-swimmer visitors can also rent life buoys they can use to float anywhere in the pool.
Last spring for that day was Ardent Hot Spring in Mambajao, entrance fee is also at Php 30. It is usually the last stop of the inland tour in Camiguin as it is the place where you can soothe those worn-out muscles. Because of the standard set by everyone, as well as the locals, I expected a better experience, more than my Irosin and Maquinit Hot Springs experiences.
However, I was disheartened when I found out that cold water is actually being added to the natural water to balance its temperature. The disadvantage, the water is not that hot enough to relieve your tired muscles. We asked a staff for the basin with the highest temperature. He directed us to the ones located at the bottom. It was hot, but again, not the temperature I expected.
Overall, it was a great activity to hop from one spring to another especially when you know that these spots offer different type of spring experience. Camiguin, known as the Island Born of Fire because of its seven volcanoes, indeed is lucky to be blessed with these natural attractions.
