Are you looking for a new destination to explore—besides Boracay, Palawan, and Cebu—for your next vacation to the Philippines? You may want to visit the campus city of Dumaguete in Negros Oriental, Central Visayas. Just because it’s known for its universities doesn’t mean the City of Gentle People is purely for academics. Originally named Dananguet in the 16th century, Dumaguete has a wealth of experiences to offer travelers. It’s also a backpacker-friendly location with many hostels and easy commuting options for those on a budget. Plus, it has easy access via ferry to southern Cebu and Siquijor.
Keep reading for our list of top 10 things to do when in Dumaguete:
1. Tour Silliman University (SU).
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While Silliman University’s academic credentials are nothing to scoff at, tourists will also appreciate the ambiance of this seaside school. SU’s roads are lined with giant acacia trees, and its buildings showcase early 20th century American architecture.
Stroll through the campus, making stops to view the historic Silliman Hall or say a prayer at the university church. You may also make appointments for guided tours of the Silliman University Anthropology Museum, the Rodolfo B. Gonzales Museum of Natural History, the Center for Tropical Conservation Studies, and the Ariniego Art Gallery. For more information, check out the Museums page on the SU website.
2. Take a stroll and go on a food trip along Rizal Boulevard.
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Named after Philippine National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal, this quarter-mile stretch of seaside boulevard offers a scenic respite from the bustle of the city. The old-fashioned street lamps lining the walkway hearken you back to yesteryears and remind you that this boulevard was constructed in 1916.
Opposite the boulevard, you’ll find the street features some of Dumaguete’s top restaurants. These include Sans Rival Bistro (with its famous silvanas), Gabby’s Bistro, Le Chalet Swiss Restaurant at Why Not?, Casablanca Restaurant, and more. The promenade is also a great place to grab some street food, including balut and fishballs.
3. Say a prayer at St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral and visit the Belfry Clock Tower.
Many city tours start out at the Dumaguete Belfry, or Campanario de Dumaguete, one of the iconic and oldest landmarks in the city. Apart from calling parishioners to mass at the neighboring cathedral, this structure served as a watchtower against raiding pirates in the early 19th century. While here, devotees may want to climb to the grotto with the statue of Mother Mary.
Right next to the Belfry is the Dumaguete Cathedral, also known as the St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral. It’s a historical landmark, being the oldest stone church on the entire island of Negros. Its original construction was completed in 1776, with reconstruction in 1885, and an extension of the façade just before World War II.
As these are along Rizal Boulevard, it will be an easy commute from anywhere in the city. We recommend timing your visit to catch the sunset over the Belfry.
4. Watch for dolphins and visit the Manjuyod Sand Bar via Bais Bay.
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Just an hour north of Dumaguete lies Bais, which is one of the, if not the most popular dolphin watching jump-off point in the country. Tañon Strait, the body of water between the islands of Negros and Cebu, is considered the dolphin and whale watching highway of the Philippines. Home to at least 15 species of dolphins and whales, this strait is also on the migratory routes of other cetaceans. The calm waters make for ideal dolphin watching, as on a clear day the water can appear almost glasslike.
The best time for dolphin and whale spotting is just after sunrise, so you’ll want to make an early start of it. While there are several boat rental/tour businesses that can be found online or through your chosen Dumaguete accommodation, you may want to check with the Bais Tourism Office for recommendations on accredited tour operators.
5. Snorkel with sea turtles and around the reefs at Apo Island.
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Ocean lovers absolutely must take a trip out to Apo Island for snorkeling or scuba diving. The entire island is surrounded by a marine reserve and offers scenic underwater vistas. It’s also famously home and feeding grounds for sea turtles (pawikan), many of whom seem unbothered by snorkelers and will come very close to shore. Plus, if you’re from the US, the marine life around Apo Island is what the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago based their Wild Reef exhibit on—so if you’ve seen it, you’ll have to compare it to the real thing!
To get to Apo Island, you can take the 30-minute drive or commute from Dumaguete to Malatapay port in Dauin, where you can arrange for a boat tour for a day or half a day. You can book the boat privately or wait for other small tourist groups to double or triple up and save money.
6. Visit the Twin Lakes Nature Park.
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Nature lovers will enjoy a day out at the Twin Lakes, with travel time from Dumaguete at about an hour and a half. The “twins” are Lake Balinsasayao and Lake Danao, two small but deep fresh-water lakes in Sibulan, northwest of Dumaguete proper. The area offers tourists activities like going on picnics, camping, trekking and hiking, boat riding, kayaking, fishing, and of course swimming. The view is said to be fairytale-like, especially on days when mist hangs over the mountains. For those who would rather not bring their own food, there is a restaurant with a viewing deck over the water.
To get to the park, you’ll need to drive or take a bus to the junction to Twin Lakes near the Sibulan township. From there, you can drive up the mountain or take a habal-habal or motorbike to the lakes.
7. Shop at the Negros Oriental Arts and Heritage (NOAH) center.
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If you’re planning to bring home pasalubong (souvenirs) showcasing Negros Oriental arts and crafts, one place you’ll want to visit is the NOAH store in the Poblacion area of Bacong, just south of Dumaguete City proper. You’ll be able to look at and buy all sorts of souvenirs (or maybe even make your own) from materials like local stone, wood, shells, gemstones, and more.
For more pasalubong shopping within the city, you can also just visit the Dumaguete branch of Islands Souvenirs, conveniently located at the ground floor of Robinsons Place Dumaguete.
8. Take in the views at Café Alicia in Pamplona.
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This Instagram-perfect café sits atop a mountain in San Isidro, Pamplona, Negros Oriental. But Café Alicia doesn’t just offer you breathtaking views of the hills and valleys all around it while you nom your heart out on food from their restaurant and bakery (or cool off with their fruit shakes), although those are reason enough to visit. The grounds showcase picture-perfect landscaping, and you can catch great views and thrills walking across their hanging bridge. For quiet contemplation, there’s also an elegant chapel with arching glass walls. Although Café Alicia is a bit of a drive out of the city, you can easily get there with Google Map directions.
9. Go caving in Mabinay.
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While the town of Mabinay is about 2.5 to three hours from Dumaguete by bus or car, this is a must-visit for adventurous souls. The town is perhaps best known for its extensive network of caves. Seven caves are open to visitors—with three open to beginners, while four are better suited for more experienced spelunkers. The easiest caves to access are the Bulwang Caves—the Panligawan (Courting) Cave, Pandalihan (Marriage) Cave, and Crystal or Honeymoon Cave. Tip: While in this town, you may also want to take a side trip and take a dip in the Mabinay Spring.
10. Chase waterfalls.
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Like its neighboring provinces, Negros Oriental boasts several waterfalls tourists will enjoy trekking to. Closest to Dumaguete are Valencia’s Pulangbato (Red Rock) Falls and Hot Spring and the 30-meter drop of Casaroro Falls in the same town. Further north is the Maaslum Twin Falls in Ayungon, about two hours from Dumaguete. Another grand show of thundering water can be found at Niludhan Falls, a 25-meter-wide curtain waterfall in Mabinay, Bayawan City. This is about a three-hour commute or drive from Dumaguete.
How to get to Dumaguete
Dumaguete is an easily accessible city. The Dumaguete-Sibulan airport lies just north of Dumaguete proper, in the municipality of Sibulan. The flight from Manila to Dumaguete is about an hour and a half.
If you prefer to take a ferry for budgeting purposes or because you’re coming from a nearby province, this is easy enough to do, too. A fast ferry trip from Cebu City takes around four hours. From southern Cebu, you can take the half-hour RORO (roll-on-roll-off), a ferry ride from Liloan Port in Santander, Cebu, to Sibulan Port, then commute to Dumaguete proper. The ferry from Tagbilaran in Bohol to Dumaguete takes about three hours, while the one from Siquijor takes about 60 to 90 minutes, depending on the boat. There are also regular trips from Dapitan in Zamboanga del Norte, if you’re coming from Mindanao; these take about 3.5 hours.
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Getting around Negros Oriental
Most, if not all, locations mentioned above are easily accessible if you’d like to commute through a combination of buses, tricycles, and habal-habals (motorbikes). However, getting a car or van with a driver may be the most comfortable option, especially if you come during the summertime and don’t want to worry about parking. You may want to inquire through your hotel or resort.
More adventurous travelers may also want to rent out motorbikes for a few days to explore on their own, as this gives you the most flexibility in scheduling (and should be fairly light on the wallet).
Going on a tour of Central Visayas? Don’t forget to check our lists of things to do in Metro Cebu, southern Cebu, and northern Cebu, not to mention our list of must-eats for a Cebuano food trip (although many of the items on this list can also be enjoyed in Negros).
