Camiguin Lands in the New York Times' 52 Places to Go 2026

(SPOT.ph) "Thanks for dropping by! Camiguin!" This increasingly popular island destination lands on the New York Times' 52 Places to Go 2026.

Every year, The New York Times Travel drops its list of 52 destinations deemed “aspirational, newly intriguing, and perhaps threatened.” This year, the island born of fire—Camiguin—made the cut at No. 37.

In an entry by travel writer Patrick Scott, Camiguin is described as “a water lover’s paradise with sandbars and hot springs.” He highlights the island’s rich local cuisine and cultural landmarks, including its sunken cemetery, eco-farm tours, and the island-wide Lanzones Festival.

But what truly stood out to Scott was Camiguin’s deep connection to water. He points to its marine biodiversity—think “treasure-chest-size” neon clams and thriving sea turtle populations—alongside inland hot and cold springs and waterfalls made for bathing. In short, if you love the water, Camiguin more than delivers.

Camiguin joins 51 other destinations from all over the world in this list of "must-visit" spots. The list includes entire countries such as Vietnam and Iceland; cities such as Bangkok; provinces and prefectures such as Penang in Malaysia and Nagasaki and Okinawa in Japan; and specific spots such as the Dongseo Trail in South Korea.

The list is put together by the New York Times' travel team, which comprises desk editors, photographers, and an international network of journalists and travel writers who "debate, discuss, and argue" about places they feel deserve the spotlight and will inspire and motivate their readers to travel. "To make the cut, it is not enough for a place to be beautiful, amazing, and culturally significant. It also has to answer the question, why now? Why this place, this year?" says Amy Virshup, Travel editor of The New York Times, in a previous edition of the 52 Places list.

Change is also an important consideration to be included in the list, and wouldn't you know it Camiguin is undergoing just that. The local government has been rolling out improvements to make travel easier and more accessible for locals and foreigners visiting the island. This includes widening the 40-mile road encircling the island, the construction of the island's first boardwalk in Mambajao, among others.

In a statement to the press, the Department of Tourism has also emphasized that they are amping up efforts to push tourism in Camiguin to its highest potential. This includes strengthening the island's presence as a dive site through efforts like the Camiguin Dive Festival, and by hosting a slew of triathlons and swimming races within the area.

Camiguin is a volcanic island in Northern Mindanao. It is accessible to travelers via direct flights from Mactan Cebu International Airport with Cebu Pacific Air. Travelers flying from Manila must connect via Cebu.

Alternatively, you can also reach Camiguin by boat from Bohol, Cebu, and Cagayan de Oro.

Camiguin is one of the country's most underrated island destinations, and this latest nod from an international publication might just be the sign you need to add this spot to your bucket list. Here's to hoping more transportation options to this beautiful island paradise open up. Considering the government's latest push for more domestic travel, we hope that's sooner rather than later.

For more information, visit the Camiguin Tourism Office's Facebook page.

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10 Things to Do in Camiguin for the Solo Traveler