Sa-ay Cold Spring is an off-the-beaten-path and completely free cold spring where you can go for a swim and hang out with locals. It’s a short ride from Mambajao and the first place we visited during our time in Camiguin. Sa-ay Cold Spring definitely gave us a good impression of the island as the locals there made us feel welcome.
Sa-ay Cold Spring Complete Guide
Sa-ay Cold Spring is a swimming area in Camiguin that is free to enter and explore.
The cold spring has two swimming pools: an upper pool that is deep, and a lower pool that is shallow. Both pools are fed by a nearby stream that flows adjacent to the pools, and the stream itself has little areas where you can sit in the flowing water and relax in the forest.
Along the road next to the cold spring, a few sari-sari stores sell snacks and refreshments if you get hungry.
When we visited Sa-ay Cold Spring, we were the only tourists there, and the locals seemed genuinely surprised to see us. We had an awesome time chatting with them and it quickly became clear that Sa-ay is more of a local hangout than a tourist hotspot.
How to Get to Sa-ay Cold Spring in Camiguin
The Sa-ay Cold Spring is located in the Mambajao area of Camiguin in the Philippines. It’s about a 15-minute motorbike ride from Mambajao, up through the lush forest.
IMPORTANT INFO ABOUT GETTING TO SA-AY COLD SPRING:
If you navigate directly to the Sa-ay Cold Spring location on Google Maps, it will take you up the wrong road.
To get to Sa-ay Cold Spring, use Google Maps to navigate to the location linked here, then continue up the road for about another kilometer. This route will take you directly to Sa-ay Cold Spring.
Sa-ay Cold Spring: Our Experience
We rode our motorbike through the forest to Sa-ay Cold Spring, and as we arrived, we were surprised to find it right there on the roadside—completely open and free to access. We parked nearby and walked over to the cold spring.
The upper pool of the spring is fed directly by a nearby stream, and its waters flow over a rock wall into a lower pool, creating a little waterfall between the two.
As we stepped into the water, a few locals gave us curious looks. The lower pool was full of kids splashing around, lost in their games. We struck up a conversation with a group of women who asked where we were from and were curious how we found this place. They shared that they don’t see many tourists in this part of the island and they were happy that we came to visit their village.
We spotted the stream behind the cold spring and decided to explore it. A few locals were relaxing in the water, where rocks had been arranged to create little natural sitting areas. They invited us to join them, so we took some time to sit in the stream, and just appreciate the peaceful forest surrounding us.
I wanted to capture the cold spring from above, so I launched my drone into the air. A few guys sitting nearby noticed and came over, curious about the drone. I showed them the aerial perspective of the spring on my remote controller, and they were fascinated. In true Filipino fashion, they offered me a shot of Tanduay rum as thanks! Experiences like this remind me why I love meeting locals in the Philippines—they’re always welcoming and generous, especially if you approach them with friendliness and respect.
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
