TheLoneRider
a seeker in search of Easter Eggs
Traveling
Bathing with the Carabaos at Hagnaon Spring, Camotes Islands Feb 28, 2017

Bathing with the Carabaos at Hagnaon Spring, Camotes Islands

GPS waypoint: 10°40'38.55"N 124°27'29.3"E
Location Google Map: San Jose (barangay), Poro (municipality), Camotes Islands, Cebu (province), Philippines
Fee: free

Heard it through the Local Grapevine
After my dip at Capasanan Spring, I was stoked. Feeling lucky, I asked more locals for water springs. A name that kept popping up was Hagnaon Spring. But no one could fully give me directions except to say, "it's on the way to Cansabusab". Even on the map, they couldn't point it out. It was in the middle of nowhere with no landmarks.

In Search of...
It wasn't easy getting to Hagnaon Spring. From the main road, there was an obscure sign - that was it. It lead me to a dirt road, then off to a single-track through private property where I had to leave my bike. From there, it was a short downhill trek through single tracks again. I had to constantly ask for directions. Finally I saw the spring.

Bathing with the Carabaos at Hagnaon Spring, Camotes Islands
splish, splash, I was taking a bath!

Hagnaon Spring up Close
The spring has been developed and then neglected. There is a man-made small pool and a bigger pool that flows out to a stream. No tourists though...perhaps not in a very long time. The place is a water-hole for the carabaos and laundry area for the locals. The pools are not maintained. There were rotting dead leaves and small candy wrappers at the bottom.

Me, the Carabaos and the Locals doing Laundry
The carabaos came ahead of me and I had to extend polite courtesy to the locals doing their laundry. I wanted to take a dip but the small pool were occupied by the laundry people. The big pool was dirty and the carabaos were there. No choice, I had to squeeze myself to the small 1-meter space where the spring water comes out. At least I was upstream from everyone else. And yes, I drank as much water as I can, given the assurance from the locals that it was safe.

Ending Thoughts
Hagnaon Spring has potential but getting there is not easy - hard to find and hard to get through. Additionally, it needs some cleaning up for commercial tourism. But for now, I feel lucky to be enjoying this slice of paradise without the crowd and without the fees. Nice to be with carabaos for a change :)

--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
YOGA by Gigit Yoga by Gigit | Learn English Learn English | Travel like a Nomad Nomad Travel Buddy | Donation Bank Donation Bank for TheLoneRider

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Next stop: Yoga Calisthenics at Baywalk

this is the only sign I saw about Hagnaon Spring after the concrete road, I was on this dirt road chancing on locals making and selling tuba (coconut sap) this is how they transport tuba to their distributors part of the way was a steep climb after the dirt road came this single track I had to cross through this private property to get to the spring. This is where I had to leave my bike a steep climb down...the bike couldn't make it here finally at the spring...carabaos on the big pool, locals doing laundry on the small pool the big pool is really just for the carabaos - nobody cleans up the dead leaves or garbage a popular laundry place for locals between the big pool and the small pool is the partially hidden spring I drank plenty! nature's best drinking water is spring water one last look - the small pool, big pool, carabaos and the spring


Google Map Camotes Islands, Cebu, Philippines

tourist attractions in Camotes Island tourist attractions
  • Lake Danao Park in Camotes Island Lake Danao Park - inland twin lakes in San Francisco
  • Santiago Bay Beach in Camotes Island Santiago Bay Beach - stretch of fine white sand with a cluster of beach resorts
  • Buho Rock in Camotes Island Buho Rock - dive boards perched from a high rock outcropping, Poro
  • Tulang Diot in Camotes Island Tulang Diot - white sand beach on a tiny island just 10 minutes by boat from the main Camotes Island
  • Busay Falls in Camotes Island Busay Falls - groomed plunge pool, dirt trail walk with 2 stream crossings, Tudela
  • Capasanan Spring in Camotes Island Capasanan Spring - crystal clear open spring water source in San Jose, Poro. Free
  • Hagnaon Spring in Camotes Island Hagnaon Spring - clean drinking water coming out of the rocks, dipping pool you might share with carabaos in San Jose, Poro. Free
caves in Camotes Island caves
  • Timubo Cave in Camotes Island Timubo Cave - groomed trail inside cave with lights, swimming inside, limited penetration
  • Bukilat Cave in Camotes Island Bukilat Cave - cathedral-like caverns, top lighting from cave openings, high tide swimming
  • Holy Crystal Cave in Camotes Island Holy Crystal Cave - cave formation glitters, human bones, limited penetration
  • Paraiso Cave in Camotes Island Paraiso Cave
places in Camotes Island important spots
  • San Francisco San Francisco - town center, wet market, municipal hall, eateries, live music, bar, Baywalk
  • Poro Poro - town center of Poro Municipality, port to Cebu City and Danao
  • Tudela Tudela - town center of Tudela Municipality
  • Pilar Pilar - town center of Pilar in the island of Ponson Island
  • Consuelo Wharf Consuelo Wharf - port for Danao ships
  • Poro Port Poro Port - port for Danao and Cebu City ships
hotels in Camotes Island resort hotel

Camotes Island FYI / Tips

Camotes Island Cost Index

(US$1 = Php 49.82 as of Jan 15, 2017)
Cebu City to Camotes Island
  • via Poro - from Pier One in Cebu City, take the Ocean Jet for Poro, 2 hours, daily trip - 6am and 3pm (0936.823.8762 |0956.270.6610 | 0999.889.9999).
  • via Consuelo - from Cebu City, take the northbound bus passing through Danao and get off at the Danao Port. At the Port, take a Jomalia Shipping boat for Consuelo (San Francisco, Camotes), P220/pax, a/c, 2 hours, daily trip - 5:30am, 7:00am (special trip), 8:30am, 12:00 noon (express), 2:30pm, 5:30pm and 9:00pm (express, Fri/Sat/Sun only).

Camotes Islands to Cebu City

  1. Poro - Cebu City (fastest and most direct) - go to Poro and take the 8am or 5pm Ocean Jet to Pier One in Cebu City, P380/pax/aircon, 2 hours
  2. Consuelo - Danao - Cebu City - go to Consuelo (San Francisco) and take the Jomalia Shipping boat to Danao, P220/pax, a/c, 2 hours, daily trip - 5:30am, 7:00am (special trip), 8:30am, 12:00 noon (express), 2:30pm, 5:30pm and 9:00pm (express, Fri/Sat/Sun only). From Danao, take the Ceres Bus to Cebu City

Cebu City to Dumaguete, Negros Oriental by Boat

  • George and Peter Lines - Mon/Thur/Sat/Sun 10pm, (035)225.4337, 0922.557.1023
  • Oceanjet - via Tagbilaran, daily 6am, dumticketing@oceanjet.net, 0918.898.2188
  • Cokaliong - Mon/Tue/Wed/Thur/Fri/Sat 7pm, Sun 12pm, 6 hours, (035)225.3599
Danao to Camotes Island
  • via Consuelo - at the Danao Port, take a Jomalia Shipping boat for Consuelo (San Francisco, Camotes), P220/pax, a/c, 2 hours, daily trip - 5:30am, 7:00am (special trip), 8:30am, 12:00 noon (express), 2:30pm, 5:30pm and 9:00pm (express, Fri/Sat/Sun only).
  • via Poro - at the Danao Port, take the Super Shuttle Ferry for Poro (Camotes), P?/pax, 3 hours, daily trip - 9:00am and 5:00pm (0936.823.8762 |0956.270.6610 | 0999.889.9999).

Camotes Island to Danao

  • via Consuelo - go to Consuelo (San Francisco) and take the Jomalia Shipping boat to Danao, P220/pax, a/c, 2 hours, daily trip - 5:30am, 7:00am (special trip), 8:30am, 12:00 noon (express), 2:30pm, 5:30pm and 9:00pm (express, Fri/Sat/Sun only).
  • via Poro - take the Super Shuttle Ferry in Poro (Camotes) for the Danao Port, P?/pax, 3 hours, daily trip - 5:00am and 1:00pm (0936.823.8762 |0956.270.6610 | 0999.889.9999).
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Camotes Islands Blogs by TheLoneRider

  1. Daghang Salamat (Many Thanks) Camotes Islands, Goodbye Apr 6, 2017
  2. A Culture of Noise Apr 5, 2017
  3. Exploring Tulang Diot (Little Island) Apr 2, 2017
  4. In Search of the Hidden Beach Apr 1, 2017
  5. Pizza-Making Party in Camotes Islands Mar 25, 2017
  6. Zesto and Exploited Child Labor Mar 20, 2017
  7. The Bayot (Gay) Construction Worker Mar 20, 2017
  8. Yoga Calisthenics in Camotes Islands Mar 3, 2017
  9. Bathing with the Carabaos at Hagnaon Spring, Camotes Islands Feb 28, 2017
  10. Taking a Dip at Capasanan Spring, Camotes Islands Feb 28, 2017
  11. Exploring Bukilat Cave, Camotes Islands Feb 28, 2017
  12. Exploring Tudela and Busay Falls, Camotes Islands Feb 21, 2017
  13. Settling Down in Camotes Islands Feb 19, 2017
  14. Clam Chowder Pizza from Scratch on a Rice Cooker Feb 15, 2017
  15. Exploring Timubo Cave of Camotes Islands Feb 9, 2017
  16. Exploring Holy Crystal Cave of Camotes Islands Feb 9, 2017
  17. Exploring Camotes Islands of Cebu Jan 13-14, 2017
Waterfalls / Spring Blogs
  1. Lagaan Falls Mar 9, 2023
  2. Tibhong Spring Water Source Mar 8, 2023
  3. Bolo-Bolo Natural Spring Mar 2, 2023
  4. Camagung-Ong Natural Spring Feb 28, 2023
  5. Locong Falls Feb 9, 2023
  6. In Search of Tubod Cold Spring Jan 27, 2023
  7. Capilay Spring Jan 17, 2023
  8. Freediving Canawa Cold Spring of Candijay, Bohol June 30, 2017
  9. Splashing at Can-umantad Falls, Candijay, Bohol June 30, 2017
  10. Bathing with the Carabaos at Hagnaon Spring, Camotes Islands Feb 28, 2017
  11. Taking a Dip at Capasanan Spring, Camotes Islands Feb 28, 2017
  12. Exploring Tudela and Busay Falls, Camotes Islands Feb 21, 2017
  13. In Search of Guiwanon Cold Spring Jan 12, 2017
  14. Hurom-Hurom Cold Springs Immersion Dec 11, 2016
  15. Dipping at Bungan-Bungan Spring in Libertad Dec 9, 2016
  16. Exploring Malumpati Spring of Pandan Dec 4-6, 2016
  17. Visiting Igpasungaw Waterfalls Dec 3-4, 2016
  18. Exploring Bugtong Bato Waterfalls, Tibiao Nov 24, 2016
  19. Splashing at Magkawas Falls in Lanuza, Surigao del Sur May 16, 2013
  20. Visiting Lubcon Falls, Surigao del Sur May 13, 2013
  21. Visiting Maria Cristina Falls, Iligan Apr 24, 2013
  22. Exploring Santander, Samboan and Badian, Cebu (Aguinid Falls and Kawasan Falls) Oct 30-31, 2011
  23. Pulangbato Falls and Hot Spring Jul 16, 2011
  24. Splashing in Pulangbato Falls with Cuernos de Negros Jun 5, 2011
  25. Hike to the Japanese Shrine and Casaroro Falls Apr 25, 2010
  26. Island Tour of Siquijor Apr 22, 2010
  27. Tinago Falls of Iligan City Mar 16, 2009
  28. Camiguin (Katibawasan Waterfalls) Mar 9 - 14, 2009
  29. Hike to Bomod-ok Falls November 3, 2006


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