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

Itinerary Rundown

DestinationsDetails
Day 1
  • Bacolod
  • Iloilo to Bacolod Ferry
  • Bacolod to Dumaguete Bus
Day 2
  • Apo Island
  • Dumaguete Hotel Check-in
  • Apo Island Tour
Day 3
  • Dumaguete
  • Casaroro Falls
  • Dumaguete Hostel Check-in
  • Casaroro Falls Tour
  • In and Around Dumaguete
Day 4
  • Dumaguete
  • Dumaguete to Bacolod to Iloilo

Trip Date — May 2012

Route Map


Itinerary Notes & Tips

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.