Ardent Hot Springs

Volcanic hot spring pools in lush forest above Mambajao

Volcanic hot springs channelled into a series of pools in the hills above Mambajao — one of the most reliable signs that Camiguin's volcanoes are still very much alive underground. The water emerges at around 40°C and cools as it flows downstream through the terraced pools, so you can choose your temperature. The lower pools are the most popular; the upper pools closest to the source are the hottest and usually least crowded.

The setting makes it one of the better hot spring experiences in the Philippines: dense forest on the slopes above, the sound of the river below, cooler mountain air than the coast. Open day and night; the evening visit, when the air has cooled and the pools are lit, is the most atmospheric. A small entrance fee is charged. Tricycles from Mambajao reach the site.

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