Camiguin's Old Gui-Ob Church Ruins: Complete Guide 2025

Planning of checking out the Old Gui-Ob Church Ruins in Camiguin? This comprehensive 2025 guide offers essential insights into the site’s origin, its significance in the island’s cultural narrative, and practical information for visitors seeking a meaningful and well-informed experience.

Table of Contents

Old Gui-Ob Church Ruins Key Features & Activities
How to Get to the Old Gui-Ob Church Ruins
Old Gui-Ob Church Ruins Opening Hours & Fees
Old Gui-Ob Church Ruins: My Experience
Camiguin Island: 3D2N DIY Itinerary

Old Gui-Ob Church Ruins Key Features & Activities

Historic Coral-Stone Walls: The church was built in the 16th century. The walls are made of coral stones, with fossilized shapes still visible.
Massive Century-Old Trees: Huge trees are now growing around the ruins, adding a dramatic and serene atmosphere to the site.
Volcanic Backdrop: The ruins are the only structure remains today after the actual church was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vulcan in 1871, and the surrounding landscape still bears traces of the historic event.
Stone Facade: The remaining facade is hauntingly beautiful and photogenic.
Historical Exploration: Witness and learn about the Spanish-era church and the 1871 eruption that buried Catarman.
Photography: Capture shots of the ruins, coral walls, and the towering trees.

How to Get to the Old Gui-Ob Church Ruins

The church ruin is located in the town of Catarman, Camiguin, just right along the national highway.

It is a 15-minute drive from Playa Del Fuego in Mambajao. During your trip, you will pass by the Sunken Cemetery just before reaching the ruins, so it can be easily combined for your Camiguin itinerary.

Old Gui-Ob Church Ruins Opening Hours & Fees

The church ruin is open daily for viewing from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM. The entrance fee per person is ₱75 or $1.30.

The best time of the day to visit the ruins are:

Early Morning (8:00 AM to 10:00 AM): Fewer tourists, and cooler temperature. This time is great for wide-angle shots and peaceful reflection.
Late Afternoon (4:00 PM to 5:30 PM): Warm, dramatic lighting and long shadows which is ideal for storytelling visuals and silhouette shots near the bell tower of the ruins.

Old Gui-Ob Church Ruins: My Experience

Towering trees growing at the site of Old Gui-Ob church ruins in Camiguin

Girlfriend with a pink hat looking up at the trees of Old Gui-ob church ruins

Old Gui-ob church ruins information about what happened during 1871 eruption

Another pose of my girlfriend looking up at the towering trees while infront of Old Gui-Ob Church Ruin's coral walls

Joshua Goes Random taking a pose in one of Old Gui-Ob's Church Ruins spot in Camiguin Island

My girlfriend wearing a pink hat with her signature pose in Old Gui-ob Church Ruins in Camiguin

One of the coolest stops during our Camiguin trip was the old Gui-ob Church ruins in Catarman. Walking through what used to be a Spanish-era church, now just coral stone walls and towering trees, felt unreal.

It’s wild to think this place stood over 150 years ago before Mount Vulcan erupted and wiped it out. The vibe was eerie but beautiful, like stepping into a forgotten chapter of history.

As someone who geeks out over history, actually being there, inside, what’s left of a 150-year-old Spanish-era church was something else. The moment you step into the site, it’s like time slows down. You can almost picture the locals from way back when, walking those same paths before Mount Vulcan changed everything. It’s haunting, beautiful, and totally worth the stop.

What really blew my mind was the engineering from way back then. The coral stone walls of the Gui-Ob Church ruins are still standing strong after more than a century and that’s without modern tools or technology.

It’s wild how they built something so sturdy with what they had. Walking around those walls was seriously cool, like getting a glimpse of old-school craftsmanship that’s still holding its ground.

Camiguin Island: 3D2N DIY Itinerary

Ready for your Camiguin trip? Read my 3 Days 2 Nights DIY Camiguin 2025 Itinerary with the recent fee prices, what to do, and affordable beach front hotel recommendation!

About Me

Hello and welcome! I’m Joshua, a passionate Cebuano writer and storyteller. This blog is where I express myself and share with you the breathtaking beauty of the Philippines, from hidden gems to well-known wonders. Come along and join me on this journey.