Enjoy the distinctly old hometown ambience of Dumaguete as you tour around the city. First to visit is the Silliman University Campus, the largest Protestant university in the Philippines founded American Presbyterian missionaries who came to Dumaguete in 1901. The campus houses an exhibit of excavated artifacts and an ethnographic collection from various minority tribes in the country. Proceed to its Marine Laboratory and Center for Tropical Studies. Drive through the busy streets of the city, passing by the Provincial Capitol, public market, and Rizal Boulevard, then make a brief stop at an ice cream parlor to savor a famous local delicacy, the fried ice cream.
Visit the city's famous architectural landmark, the Bell Tower which was erected in 1776. Carry on to Negros Oriental Arts & Heritage, a handicraft store and factory that specializes in items made of corals & stones. Close by is a small abacca-weaving center run by a local cooperative, and Bacong Church, a centuries-old coral church.
Set off for a 30-minute drive to Malatapay, Zamboangita. In Malatapay, take a motorized outrigger boat for almost an hour trip to Apo Island. The island known for its diverse marine life, it is mostly visited by avid divers and snorkellers. The Apo Marine Sanctuary is one of Asia's successful community-managed marine reserve. Lunch will be served at Apo Island Beach Resort. Mid-afternoon departure from Apo Island.
Itinerary:
Apo Island
Apo Island Beach Resort
Apo Island
Visit interesting sites of Dumaguete city and its neighboring towns, namely, Bacong & Valencia. Bacong is the 1st town south of the Dumaguete where Negros Oriental Arts & Heritage (NOAH), a small abacca-weaving center run by a local cooperative and Bacong Church, a centuries-old coral church, are located.
The town of Valencia is considered the province's mountain resort just as Baguio is to Luzon. While Baguio is cooler, Valencia is moderate but compared to the rest of the province, it is relatively cooler. In Valencia, visit Kata-al War Museum then proceed to Forest Camp for lunch. Forest Camp is a camping area and resort offering a communion with nature. The camp has uneven terrain, vibrant with trees and coconuts. There is a creek running through it, feeding a man-made swimming pools.
Enjoy nature at its best by visiting Casaroro Falls and Forest Camp, both are located in the municipality of Valencia, 13 kilometers from Dumaguete.
En route to Valencia, visit Kata-al World War II Museum. Casaroro is an enchanting waterfalls estimated to be 80 to 100 feet high with an inviting pool at its base.
Lunch will be served at Forest Camp. After lunch, spend a relaxing afternoon at the Camp.
Enjoy an hour drive from Dumaguete to Bais seeing the beautiful countryside of Negros Oriental , its small towns and sugarcane plantations.
At Bais Wharf, take a motorized pumpboat to cruise along Tanon Strait and have a great experience by watching dolphins cavorting in its natural habitat, the open sea. Picnic lunch and swimming on the whitesand bar.
