The Old Church Ruins are a reminder that our planet’s landscape is constantly reshaping itself. In 1871, Mount Vulcan rose out of the ground, spewing lava that buried the town of Cotta Bato and destroyed the Guiob Church. What remains today is the skeleton of what we now call the Old Spanish Church Ruins, or Guiob Church Ruins.
We visited the Old Church Ruins in Camiguin and put this guide together to explain everything you need to know about visiting, including how to get there and what to expect when you arrive.
Old Church Ruins Complete Guide
Visiting the Old Church Ruins is one of the top tourist activities in Camiguin and gives you a sense of the island’s history. The ruins are easily accessible, and you’ll find souvenir and snack shops just outside the entrance, making it a convenient stop on your tour around Camiguin.
The Old Church Ruins were once known as Guiob Church. But in 1871, the eruption of Mount Hibok-Hibok created Mount Vulcan, a volcanic fissure that spewed out lava, destroying the church and leaving behind the ruins that you can visit today.
A few structures remain at the Old Church Ruins: the church, the convent, and the base of the bell tower. The pillars and blocks that form the ruins are made of coral, and if you look closely, you’ll notice small fossilized shapes embedded in the stone.
- Old Church Ruins Entrance Fee: 50 pesos per person
How to Get to the Old Church Ruins
The Old Church Ruins are easily accessible, located along the Camiguin Circumferential Road in Catarman. You’ll likely pass right by them if you’re exploring the island.
If you’re traveling from Mambajao, you’ll find the Old Church Ruins right after the Sunken Cemetery, making it easy to visit both spots in one day.
The location of the Old Church Ruins on the map below is accurate and can be used to navigate there. There is plenty of free parking along the road next to the entrance of the ruins.
Old Church Ruins: Our Experience
We stopped by the Old Church Ruins one evening, just before closing. We paid our entrance fee and went through the gate into the ruins.
My first thought is that the ruins were quite large for what was a church. It brought me back to the idea that this area was once the population center for Camiguin, so the existence of a big church here made sense.
We walked around the ruins and explored its old coral walls. Above the ruins are these massive trees that tower over them. The trees were likely planted after the eruption, so they are at most about 150 years old.
Behind the main church building are the old bell tower base and convent ruins. The place is kind of like a small complex and we spent a while exploring the area.
Next to the convent ruins, we found this massive tree along the cliffside. Seeing the tree made me think about how much time has passed since the church was destroyed in 1871, and also made me wonder what the landscape looked like before the volcanic eruption.
It blows my mind that this area was once Camiguin’s population center, and the church was likely the largest and most significant church on the island before its destruction. It’s crazy to imagine how nature changes everything over time.
Old Church Ruins History
Before the eruption of Mount Hibok-Hibok in 1871, Camiguin’s geographical and political landscape was much different. Mount Vulcan did not exist. Cotta Bato was Camiguin’s largest town. The island’s administrative center was located in Cotta Bato—not Mambajao.
So why did everything change?
In 1871, Mount Hibok-Hibok erupted, creating a volcanic fissure now called Mount Vulcan. Lava poured out of the fissure, destroying most of Cotta Bato. The eruption caused the land underneath the San Roque Cemetery to subside, resulting in the creation of the Sunken Cemetery. Ultimately, the Guiob Church was destroyed and left in ruins. Today, the Guiob Church is known as the Old Church Ruins.
In the days leading up to the eruption in 1871, most of the locals fled the area after feeling earthquakes. Because of this, there were fewer deaths associated with the 1871 eruption compared to other eruptions of Hibok-Hibok. However, the 1871 eruption continued for four years until 1875 and left a significant imprint on the landscape of Camiguin.
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 Old Church Ruins in Camiguin! Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions! 🐸
