Four days in Negros Oriental, Philippines: Apo Island, Dumaguete City, and Casaroro Waterfall (Valencia).

Day 1

Iloilo to Bacolod

• 4:45pm – Arrival at Iloilo-Bacolod Fastcraft Ferry Terminal, Muelle Loney St., City Proper, Iloilo City

• Buy “Iloilo-Bacolod” fastcraft ferry ticket via Oceanjet – P410 (round trip)

• 5:30pm – Departure from Iloilo City
• 5:30pm to 6:45pm – Ferry ride from Iloilo to Bacolod (1 hour and 15 minutes)
• 6:45pm – Arrival in Bacolod City

• Dinner at Manukan Country
  • Grilled chicken (pecho), rice, fried garlic toppings, mountain dew – P70+

• Coffee at Kuppa while waiting for 12mn Iloilo-Dumaguete bus departure
  • Hot cappuccino – P100

• 11:00pm – Taxi ride to Ceres North Bound Bus Terminal, Libertad Market, Bacolod City – P50

• Buy “Bacolod to Dumaguete, Oriental Negros” aircon bus ticket for 12mn trip via Ceres Liner – P420 (one-way)

Bacolod to Dumaguete

• 12:30pm – Departure from Bacolod City
• 5:30pm – Arrival in Dumaguete City. Drop-off at Dumaguete Pier.

Day 2

Dumaguete Hotel check-in

• Ride tricycle to Harold’s Mansion- P10 per person
  • Harold’s was fully booked. Walk to Idesefa Suites Inn (approx 200m away).
• Check-in at Idesefa Suites Inn
  • Aircon double room (twin beds; private TB) – P750 per night

• Sunrise walk along the bay

• Breakfast at Ideselfa
  • Longganisa with rice and egg (Longsilog) + 2 cups of coffee – P80

Apo Island day tour

• 7:35am – Tricycle ride to Dumaguete Bus Terminal (5 minutes) – P10

• Board Zamboanguita-bound non-aircon Ceres bus
• 7:50am – Departure from Dumaguete City
• Dumaguete to Malatapay (“Wednesday flea market”), Zamboanguita bus ride – P25 per passenger

• 8:20am – Arrival at Malatapay, Zamboanguita. Drop-off at the highway intersection.
• Walk to the pumpboat terminal for Apo Island-bound ferries (3 minutes)

• 9:00am – Departure from Malatapay coast
• Ride chartered pumpboat from Malatapay to Apo Island (30 minutes) – P2,000 round trip for whole day pumpboat charter.

• 9:30am – Arrival in Apo Island
• Tourist registration at the beachfront
  • General admission fee in Apo Island – P100 per person (non-resident)
  • Snorkelling gear rental
    • Life vest – P100 per item for the whole day
    • Mask with snorkel – P100 per item for the whole day
    • Aqua shoes – P100  per item for the whole day
  • Snorkeling (local) guide – P300 for the whole day

• Apo Island Snorkel Tour
  • Snorkelling at turtle point (in front of the village)
  • Snorkelling at the Sanctuary (back of the village)
  • Baloarte / Apo Island Resort beach cove

• Lunch at Apo Island. Requested the locals to buy and prepare food for us.
  • 1kg grilled pork, 1 plate rice, 1-litre coke – P300 to P400 (forgot how much it was exactly but it was way more than the two of us can eat).

• 2:30pm – Depart Apo Island
• Pumpoat ride back to Malatapay
• 3:00pm – Arrival in Malatapay

• Walk to highway (3 minutes)
• Ride non-aircon Ceres bus to Dumaguete City (30 minutes) – P25

• Arrival at the bus terminal in Dumaguete City
• Tricycle ride to Idesefa Suites Inn (5 minutes) – P10 fare per passenger

• 7:00pm – Dinner at carinderia (local eatery) near Idesefa – P85

• Ride tricycle to Robinsons Place Dumaguete – P10
• Ride tricycle back to Idesefa – P10

Day 3

• Walk to Harold’s Mansion

• Check-in at Harold’s Mansion
  • Dormitory fan room (free breakfast, WIFI, and all-day coffee) – P250 per night per bed.

• Lunch at Harold’s – P150+

Casaroro Falls day trip

• Ride tricycle to Valencia jeepney terminal – P9

• Dumaguete City to Valencia, Oriental Negros jeepney ride – P12 fare

• Arrive in Valencia
• Talk to habal-habal (single motorcycle) driver. Agreed offer for P200 roundtrip ride to Casaroro Falls.

• Valencia town proper to Casaroro Falls jump-off point (30 minutes)
• Hike from jump-off point to Casaroro Falls (30 minutes with lots of photo stops)

• Casaroro Falls sightseeing

• Hike to jump-off point and habal2x ride back to Valencia town proper

• Jeepney ride to Dumaguete – P12

• Arrive in Dumaguete

Dumaguete City sightseeing

• Tricycle ride to Dumaguete Boulevard – P9
• Dumaguete Boulevard

• Tricycle ride back to Harold’s – P9

• Dinner at Jo’s inato.

Day 4

• Free breakfast at the coffee shop (2nd floor). Toast, jam, coffee.

• Check-out at Harold’s

Dumaguete to Bacolod to Iloilo

• Ride tricycle ton Ceres bus terminal

• Board “Bacolod” Ceres liner bus.
• Bacolod to Kabankalan bus ride – P250+
• Drop-off at Kabankalan
• Board “Bacolod” Ceres liner (2-stop) aircon bus.
• Kabankalan to Bacolod – P150+

• Arrive at Bacolod southbound Ceres bus terminal at Libertad, downtown Bacolod City.
• Taxi ride from bus terminal to BREDCO port – P70+

• Check-in at Oceanjet terminal

• Ocjeanjet fastcraft ferry ride from Bacolod to Iloilo (1 hour and 30 minutes)

• Arrival at Muelle Loney fastcraft terminal in Iloilo City Proper.