CAMIGUIN -- Camiguin may be best known for its tropical white sand beaches and sunken cemetery, but soon its volcanoes and mountains may take center stage.

The Provincial Government of Camiguin in cooperation with the Department of Tourism Region 10 recently launched "Climb Camiguin," a campaign to promote mountain tourism in the country.

Previously known as only having seven volcanoes, local officials have now identified 14 volcanoes and counting within the island. This includes Mt. Hibok Hibok, Mt. Timpoong, Old Vulcan, Mt. Uhay, Mt. Ilihan, Mt. Guinsiliban, Mt. Mambajao and Mt. Tres Marias.

The most well-known, Mt. Hibok-Hibok, has long been a favorite of local mountaineers. The volcano gained popularity in the mid-1980s with the established trail starting off in Brgy. Yumbing via Ardent Springs.

In an exclusive event before the trail’s formal opening, mountaineers, travelers and bloggers including Dr. Gideon Lasco of Pinoy Mountaineer, Carina Dayondon, the first Filipina to climb the Seven Summits (the highest mountain peaks in each of the seven continents) and international vloggers Fighter Boys led by local favorite Kyle “Kulas” Jennerman of Becoming Filipino hiked up the newly established trail to kick off the campaign.

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The challenging but rewarding hike through the new Itum Trail starting at Sitio Itum, Barangay Baylao was established by expedition leader Nilo Lazarito. The base camp is located in the Timpoong and Hibok-Hibok Natural Monument, which was recently declared by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Center for Biodiversity as an ASEAN Heritage Park.

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The mountain range is among the few protected areas in the country, hosting important watersheds and serving as a sanctuary for endemic birds such as the Camiguin hanging parrot and Camiguin hawk-owl and rodents such as the Camiguin forest mouse.

The trail involves an increasingly steady ascent passing through lots of rattan, deciduous to mossy forests, pygmy forests with wildflowers and endemic pitcher plants. The summit is the crown of Mt. Hibok Hibok which provides panoramic views of the ocean and white island in the distance at 1,332 meters above sea level.

The tourism department is in the process of crafting legislation to protect the mountains in their area prior to its formal opening to the public.