The Moro Tower is a spot in Camiguin that’s often overlooked by most tourists. The tower was built hundreds of years ago, and it served as a lookout to warn villagers of Moro pirates who would raid and kidnap from the local communities.
Today, the Moro Tower is tucked away in the village of Guinsiliban, and finding it was a bit of an adventure.
In this guide, we’ll share everything you need to know about visiting the Moro Tower, including tips on how to find it (it’s not the easiest place to locate!) and what you can expect once you get there.
Moro Tower Complete Guide
The Moro Watch Tower gets its name from its purpose rather than its location. It was built as a lookout to spot the Moro pirates, who were infamous for raiding the island and abducting women and children. To protect their community, the locals constructed the tower to keep an eye out for the Moros.
The village of Guinsiliban derives its name from the Moro Tower. Guinsiliban translates to “to look out for pirates from a watchtower,” a direct reference to the Moro Watch Tower.
While the tower itself has survived, it was once part of a larger fort. Much of the fort was demolished to make way for the school that now occupies the area.
How to Get to Moro Tower
The Moro Watch Tower is located far from most of Camiguin’s other tourist spots. It’s in the village of Guinsiliban, on the opposite side of the island from Mambajao.
Getting to the Moro Tower from Mambajao takes about 45 minutes by motorbike, though the ride may take longer depending on traffic and your speed.
The map marker below for the Moro Tower is accurate, so you can rely on it to navigate along the correct roads. However, finding the actual entrance to the tower can be tricky. It’s tucked away in a narrow alley between Guinsiliban Elementary School and a nearby house. We had some trouble locating it ourselves until a friendly local pointed us in the right direction.
Moro Tower: Our Experience
Our adventure to the Moro Tower took us along the Camiguin Circumferential Road, following the coastline all the way to the village of Guinsiliban.
The Moro Tower is quite far from Mambajao and with no other tourist spots nearby, it’s easy to see why its not a popular destination. But we had some free time one afternoon after returning from Mantigue Island, so we decided to check it out.
When we arrived at the marked location, I was confused—where was the tower? We rode up and down the road, looking for the tower, but saw nothing.
Just as we were about to give up, a local came up to us and showed us the way to the tower. The entrance is a narrow alleyway tucked behind the school. It’s so easy to miss, and I’m thankful he was there to help us find it.
We parked our motorbike and walked down the narrow alley. When we reached the Moro Tower, I was surprised by how inconspicuous it was, hidden in the middle of the village. On one side of the tower is a school, while houses surround its other sides. Given how short the tower is, it’s no wonder we had such a hard time finding it.
The Moro Watch Tower is white, with parts of it made from coral stone. I wondered if it was the same type of coral used in the Old Church Ruins.
We spent a moment looking at the exterior of the tower before heading through its gate. The tower has a triangular shape, and inside, a narrow staircase goes up along the wall. I climbed up the steps and looked out over the wall, looking out at the sea just as the locals did centuries ago while keeping watch for pirates.
While the tower is a neat piece of history, I wouldn’t recommend going out of your way to visit it. There’s not much to do there, and its remote location makes it difficult to include in most itineraries. It’s interesting if you happen to be nearby, but otherwise, it’s probably not worth the trip.
Where to Stay in Camiguin
Most accommodations in Camiguin are located on the north side of the island near Mambajao. This is convenient because Mambajao is the biggest town in Camiguin and has the island’s only airport, making getting to and from Camiguin much easier.
Here’s where we would stay if we visited Camiguin again. It’s a place called Nypa Style Resort. We actually found this place because we had dinner at their restaurant one night, and their staff was kind enough to give us a tour of some of their vacant rooms. This place is set near Mambajao with beautifully kept grounds and immaculately clean rooms.
If you prefer to find your own place to stay, you can visit Booking.com to explore all your accommodation options in Camiguin.
What to Pack for Camiguin
Here are some of our must-have items you might not have thought of when packing for a trip to Camiguin.
- Crocs: During our time in Camiguin, I was so glad to have Crocs to protect my feet when exploring rocky terrain and chasing waterfalls. They are the ultimate shoe in the Philippines for a reason – many Filipinos wear them too!
- Snorkel: With all the amazing snorkeling spots in Camiguin, it helps to have your own snorkel set like this one if you plan to do some underwater activities! Plus, you won’t need to worry about renting a snorkel, which may be of… questionable quality.
- Sunscreen: For some reason, sunscreen is expensive in the Philippines and I’ve even encountered places selling fake sunscreen that doesn’t work! So I recommend bringing your own sunscreen to Camiguin.
- Dry Bag: With all the sand, salt, and water flying everywhere during our adventures, I was so glad to have a dry bag to keep all my things safe from the elements!
- Travel Towel: In my opinion, a travel towel like this one is super necessary for a trip to Camiguin! It packs down nicely and was there for me anytime I went swimming, or just needed to brush sand or dirt off.
Our Camiguin Google Maps Locations
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Are You Following Our Camiguin Blog Series?
We spent 8 days in Camiguin and found so many things to do there—from waterfalls to beaches, cold springs, and coral reefs. To help fellow adventurers, we’ve put together guides to the best places we found. You can check them out by clicking the links below.
- Start planning your trip here: Camiguin Travel Guide
- Our Ultimate Guide to Camiguin: 16 Awesome Things to Do in Camiguin
- How to plan your Camiguin trip: 3 Days in Camiguin: The Perfect Camiguin Itinerary
- Our favorite place to snorkel in Camiguin is The Sunken Cemetery
- Our favorite day trip in Camiguin is Mantigue Island which is just a short boat ride away
- Camiguin’s best beach is at White Island
- Our favorite waterfall in Camiguin is Tuasan Falls
- If you want to walk through the mangroves on a web of boardwalks check out Katunggan Park
- How to rent a motorbike in the Philippines
I hope you enjoyed our guide to the Moro Tower in Camiguin. Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions! 🐸
