I should’ve listened when they said, “Go the extra mile.”
The last time I was in Negros Occidental, I burned many of my time in Bacolod and went as far south as the municipality of Cauayan. I was a travel newbie then and was only interested in the apparent and popular. At the time, I had heard of Sipalay City. Locals kept discussing it, urging us to make time for it. “You’re already in Cauayan, you might as well check out Sipalay.” but because it didn’t sound any proverbial bell, I swept it under the rug, where I keep anything I find outside of my comfort zone.
It’s been six years because that trip. Sipalay City, the jewel that sparks a lot of pride in the heart of the locals, stays an obscure dot on the tourism map of the Philippines. I still felt like I knew nothing about it. So when the soles of my feet touched Negros Island once again, I knew I was in for a surprise. It was time to finally go that extra mile. and that extra mile was so extra! Sipalay is phenomenal.
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Understanding Sipalay City
When to check out Sipalay
How to get to SipalayFrom Bacolod Airport
From Dumaguete Airport
Where to stay in Sipalay City
Best hotels and Resorts in Sipalay CityJamont hotel (Sipalay City Center)
Sipalay jewel guest house (City Center)
Easy Diving and beach resort (South, Punta Ballo)
Sugar beach House
Driftwood village (Sugar Beach)Search for more: Sipalay Hotels
Places to check out in SipalayTinagong Dagat
Perth Paradise Resort
Punta Ballo
Sugar Beach
Poblacion Beach
Other things to perform in Sipalay City
Sample Sipalay schedule & budget BreakdownOption A: Sipalay + Danjugan Island
Option B: Sipalay only (Budget)
Other suggestions for the poor Traveler
More suggestions on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️Related Posts:
Understanding Sipalay City
Sipalay City is one of the twelve component cities in Negros Occidental. but before you conjure up images of skyscrapers, know that it is far from being highly urbanized. In numerous ways, it still feels much more like a small town than an urban center. The atmosphere stays pretty laid-back and rustic, with the city center composed of just a few blocks lined by typically empty streets. Don’t expect fast food stores, malls, or supermarkets.
Sipalay’s economy was fueled mostly by sugar and mines, but it is slowly shifting to one that is driven by tourism. budget and upscale resorts are sprouting in every nook and cranny of its splendidly crumpled landscape. lots of small rainforest-carpeted hills guard its coast, hiding a stretch of white and golden sand in between. visitors are here for the beaches, and in Sipalay, there is no running out of them.
Here are some much more facts you might want to know:
Language: Hiligaynon (Ilonggo). English is widely understood.
Currency: Philippine peso (PhP). PhP100 = USD2, EUR 1.65, KRW 22000, JPY218
Mode of payment: Cash. We found one ATM (Landbank). If you’re coming from Bacolod and you need to withdraw, do so in Bacolod. A few resorts accept credit report card, but cash is still preferred.
Electricity: The conventional voltage is 220V. conventional socket is type A (two pins).
When to check out Sipalay
Weather-wise, the best time to check out is between December to May, with February to April being the most ideal.
However, keep in mind that December and the March-May periods are also top seasons so expect the crowd to balloon. June is the start of the rainy season. Thankfully, Sipalay is out of the typical typhoon path and it is rarely gets direct hits.
How to get to Sipalay
The Bacolod-Silay airport is the gateway to Negros Occidental, which Sipalay is part of. From Bacolod, the capital, it’s just 5-6 hours away. However, Dumaguete airport in twin province Negros Oriental is actually a tad closer. The difference isn’t much though, so you can just pick whichever is less expensive or better suited to your itinerary.
From Bacolod Airport
At the airport, you may take a shuttle/van (P150) but it will terminate at SM City Bacolod. If you’re not traveling alone or carrying heavy baggage, the most practical way is to just take a taxi or GrabTaxi directly to South Ceres Bus terminal and split the cost. Fare: around P250 (if meter is used).
At the South Ceres Bus Terminal, hop into the bus going to Hinoba-an or Sipalay. There’s one practically every hour. travel time: 5 hours. Fare: P209 (non-aircon bus), P253 (aircon bus).
Tell the chauffeur to drop you off in Sipalay (if you take the Hinoba-an bus).
From Sipalay bus station, take a tricycle to your hotel or resort. If your hotel is in the city center, you can go on foot. If it’s on a beach outside the city, take a tricycle. Fare: P150 per person.
From Dumaguete Airport
From the airport, take a tricycle to Dumaguete Ceres Terminal. Fare: P100-P300, depending upon your nego skills. You may also get out of the airport vicinity and ride a multicab to the city center.
At Dumaguete Ceres Terminal, board the bus going to Sipalay. Fare: around P290. If there are no direct buses to Sipalay, you may take a bus to Hinoba-an and transfer to another bus to Sipalay. Either way, the journey will take 4-5 hours.
From Sipalay bus station, take a tricycle to your hotel or resort. If your hotel is in the city center, you can go on foot. If it’s on a beach outside the city, take a tricycle. Fare: P150 per person.
Where to stay in Sipalay City
There are three main areas where you can stay, each with their pros and cons.
Sipalay’s southern coast
Sipalay City Center. the most practical option. low-cost lodging and dining options can be found here. As the center of commerce and transportation of the city, you are very likely to find yourself in this area anyway, even if you choose to stay elsewhere. Cellular reception (signal) is good here.
Güney kıyısı. The beaches south of the city center harbor several resorts, numerous of which are a bit upscale. This tough stretch conceals Tinagong Dagat, Punta Ballo, and even Perth beach resort in its corners. If you want some peace of mind and you plan on staying at the resort many of the time, this may be a good choice. However, know that numerous of these resorts are a bit on the expensive side. It is also far from the city center, with bit transpo options unless you ask the resort to charter a tricycle for you. The resorts are typically tucked far from the main road. The jagged terrain also makes getting to your room a test of stamina. Some resorts are not senior-friendly at all. For example, in the case of easy Diving resort and Perth Paradise Resort, the spaces and facilities are linked by steep stairways. Cellular reception here is spotty at best, and data connection is non-existent in some areas. but some resorts like easy Diving offer their own mobile Internet device to their guests free-of-charge.
Sugar Beach. Sipalay’s many popular beach. This is a terrific choice if you’re on a budget but you want to stay somewhere beachfront. lots of inexpensive resorts and restaurants fringe the powder strip. Affordable, relative to those in the south. The downside, it’s pretty secluded so if you want to also explore the southern beaches, it will require a boat and tricycle transfers. Resorts here include Taka Tuka, Driftwood Village, and Sulu Sunset Resort.
Of the three, we recommend staying in the city center if you plan on seeing the most of Sipalay. just check out Sugar beach and the other coves on a day tour. This will save you time, effort, and money. If you also plan on going to Danjugan Island in neighboring municipality of Cauayan, the city center is the ideal base.
Best hotels and Resorts in Sipalay City
Here are the top-rated properties in Sipalay, as scored by Traveloka users. We picked one home in the south, one in Sugar Beach, and two properties in the city center.
Jamont hotel (Sipalay City Center)
Jamont hotel is your best bet in the city center, which implies transportation won’t be a problem. This is the top rated Sipalay home in poblacion.
Check rates & Availability
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Sipalay jewel guest house (City Center)
If you’re not maselan and you’re alright with just the bare basics, Sipalay jewel guest house may have a bed for you. note though that the bedrooms are not air-conditioned and bathrooms are shared. It’s dirt low-cost though, with beds somewhere between P200 and P400.
Check rates & Availability
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Easy Diving and beach resort (South, Punta Ballo)
If Traveloka and TripAdvisor evaluations are to be trusted, this is the best resort in Sipalay. It’s a bit on the expensive end of the spectrum, at P2000 per night when we stayed here (with breakfast). but the spaces are well-maintained and the restaurant serves good food. but again, it’s located not close to the city center. and it’s also perched on a hillside, so prepare to get your lifetime dose of stairs. but if you don’t mind the daily exercise and you’re here for the peace and quiet or to learn diving, this is ideal for you.
Check rates & Availability
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Sugar beach House
Check rates & Availability
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Driftwood village (Sugar Beach)
Another inexpensive option (but isn’t on Traveloka listing) is Driftwood Village. It’s extremely popular among backpackers for its low rates and amazing ambience. here are their rates:
Rooms w/ private restroom (as of November 2017)
Good for 2 pax: P900-1200
Good for 4 pax: P1500
Good for 6 pax: P1800-2000
Extra person: 300 per head
Native-style room (Fan Only, shared bathroom)
Good for 2 pax: P450-650
Dorm bed: P250 per person
Photos above were offered by the resorts through Traveloka.
Search for more: Sipalay Hotels
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Places to check out in Sipalay
The streets that comprise the city center are paved, so getting around the poblacion area or going to any point along the highway is comfortable. but it’s a different story getting to the beaches, which can be accessed through narrow, rough dirt roads. expect a bumpy ride.
For non-divers, the beaches and coves are the highlight of any stay in Sipalay. Thankfully, many of them can be went to in one day, if you decide not to stay long. You can hop from one attraction to another in two ways:
By tricycle. The tricycle is the main mode of transportation in the city. but they are not as common as you might think. In areas outside poblacion, it’s rarely to find a passing tricycle. You will have to ask a hotel or resort staff to charter one for you. From the city center to anywhere outside, prepare P150-P200 per person. Sometimes, the chauffeur agrees to P250-P350 per 2 pax. Hence, it’s best to hire a tricycle for an entire day. A whole-day Tricycle trip of the city costs P1500 (max. 4 pax).
Tekneyle. From Poblacion Beach, you can charter a boat to take you to the same areas as the tricycle tour. cost is the same: P1500. I’m pretty sure many resorts offer island hopping trips too, but they might cost a bit more.
Whatever you take, you will be able to check out the following destinations:
Tinagong Dagat
This is a small, private cove peppered with rocky islets, with some linked by wooden bridges. The area is handled by a resort that is easily available from the main road. cross the long bridge and skirt around the islet on the far end and you’ll find the base of a concrete staircase (of around 100 steps). Climb to the park atop to get a fantastic view of the surrounding paradise.
Entrance fee: P30
Perth Paradise Resort
This is where you’ll find this swimming pool with that renowned view. The resort occupies an isolated hillside, with the pool crowning one. To get to the pool, you will have to climb another staired path. We actually spent one night here (P2500), but you can also check out on a day tour. Actually, I recommend this only for a short visit. There’s not much to do. It’s instagrammable and the view is glorious, but that’s just about it.
Entrance Fee: P80 for adults, P50 for kids.
Pool use: P100 per person
Punta Ballo
Another stretch of golden sand. This is where much more upscale resorts, such as easy Diving, Robinson Cruse beach Resort, and artistic Dive Center, are located.
Sugar Beach
Sipalay’s many popular beach. It’s a long strip of, uhm, sugary sand cut in half by a stream estuary. Sugar beach many typically refers to the half north of the river, cloistered from the rest of Sipalay. directions to this beach can be quite overwhelming at first.
If you’re on a boat tour, no problem; you will be taken directly to the beach.
If you’re on a tricycle tour, the tricycle is going to take you to the jump-off point near the mouth of the stream (far from the highway). From here, you will have to ride a boat to the other side of the stream (Boat fare: P50) then walk to the resort area. You can also charter a boat to take you directly to the resort area (Fare: P300).
Poblacion Beach
The beach fronting Sipalay City Center. Make sure you end your trip here for two reasons. First, it faces west, making it a wonderful spot to view the sunset. We did it on two consecutive nights and it was stunning both times. Such a unwinding sight!
Second, running parallel this beach is Sipalay Food Park, which is composed of several inasal and barbeque places and small food kiosks. have your dinner here!
Other things to perform in Sipalay City
Visit Danjugan Island. It’s a marvelous piece of paradise in Cauayan, the town next to Sipalay. The island has five lagoons, in two of which you can kayak. and you can snorkel to see its dynamic marine life including huge clams and enormous corals. It’s not to be missed in this part of Negros Occidental. Day trips from P1950 (including food and boat transfers). much more info here: Danjugan Island
Tüplü dalış. Sipalay is a fantastic diving destination. many beachfront properties south of the city center are also dive resorts, including easy Diving and artistic Dive Center. If you don’t know how yet, they offer beginner courses.
Sample Sipalay schedule & budget Breakdown
Below are two sample Sipalay itineraries. This schedule assumes you�