Places to visit in Negros Occidental

I’ve said this time and again. The good thing about living in an archipelago, with over 7,000 islands at that, is that the beach can be just a few kilometers away. But the hot season can often be gruelling in this side of the globe. The Philippines is in the tropics and the sun is almost out for the entire year, except when there are typhoons. The good thing about my province, Negros Occidental, is that it is located in the Visayas part, where most of the islands are found.

With that, I didn’t even have to leave my province to enjoy paradise. Instead, the past weeks we had visitors coming in wanting to take a look at the lovely attractions in our area. The first part was when the Negros Occidental Provincial Tourism office took us, bloggers and media, for a Panaad fam trip. Then, I played host to my friends when they came to enjoy the province for a short vacation.

If you only have a few days, here’s a shortlist of places you can visit while in town.

Sipalay City

• Tinagong Dagat – go island-hopping and delight on the floating hills of Sipalay.
• Punta Ballo Beach – enjoy the sun, sea and sand in this stretch of off-white beach lined with resorts.
• Sugar Beach – spend an afternoon on this quiet beach with sugary sand, thus, the name.
• Campomanes Bay – swim, snorkel or dive and see the magnificent underwater life in this area.

Cauayan

• Danjugan Island – get close to nature in this marine sanctuary and wildlife reserve.
• Punta Ballo – stroll by the serene white sand beach with the view of the islands at the horizon.

Sagay City

• Carbin Reef – have a cozy day in this breathtaking sandbar, where you can enjoy the sea or snorkel in the coral reefs.
• Suyac Island – swim under the shade of the mangrove trees and have fun surrounded by greens.

Murcia

• Mambukal – this mountain resort is a place that blends nature and history, where you can soak in the warm pools for a relaxing day.

Don Salvador Benedicto

• Rapha Valley – breathe in the beauty of the mountains and delight in healthy delectable organic food.
• Balokon Spring Resort – cool off in the cold spring surrounded by mountains.

Bacolod-Talisay-Silay

• Negros Museum – familiarize yourself with Negrense history in the Negros Museum.
• Silay Heritage Houses – step into the past and see how the Negrenses lived in days of old.
• The Ruins – get to know the story behind the remains of this old mansion.
• Campuestohan – it’s a fun place in the mountains where you can have photos with life-size heroes, swim in the pools and face your fears with some extreme activities.
• May’s Garden – know more about organic farming and relax in its recreation area in a garden that is near the city center.
• Panaad Park – visit the pavilions of all the cities and towns of Negros Occidental in this park.
• Negros Occidental Capitol and Lagoon – stroll through the provincial lagoon and sit by the steps by the heritage building of the provincial capitol building.

Here are several itineraries you can choose from.

Option 1: Bacolod-Talisay-Silay only – check my post here.

Option 2: South to East

Option 3: North

I admit that there’s many more to discover. Let me update it in my future blog posts.