Miagao Church

miagao-church

miagao-church-mapThe Miagao Church, also known as the Santo Tomas de Villanueva Parish Church, is a Roman Catholic church located in Miagao, Iloilo, Philippines. It was preceded by two other churches: the first near the Tumagbok River in Ubos; the second on the same site and built in 1747 by the parish priest. Unfortunately, both were burned and plundered by Muslim pirates, so the townsfolk decided to build something stronger, this time on the highest ground, where they could have a commanding view of the mouth of the Miagao river, the usual route how the pirates made their way into town.

4.7/5 out of 101 reviews on google maps

The blocks of stones used in the construction of the church were quarried at Sitio Tubog in nearby San Joaquin town and in the mountains of the town of Igbaras. The adobe used in building the church is made from silt and clay that can only be found in this part of Iloilo, giving the building a unique warm-yellowish glow. This ochre color is also attributed by the egg, coral and carbonaceous limestone used in its construction.

Facade-of-Miagao-Church

The overall style falls under Baroque Romanesque, but is also influenced by Medieval Spanish, Chinese, Muslim and local traditions and elements, giving the church façade unique characteristics. It was not built by real architects but rather by friars who came as missionaries from Acapulco. This absence of western architect gave the friars the artistic leeway to seek the guidance of native maestro de obras (master builders), who thought more practically in terms of the tropical climate, frequent earthquakes, typhoons, fire, and marauding pirates.

miagao-church-3

Like a few other churches of this period, it more or less acted as a military fortress with a fancy facade and interior. As stipulated under Royal Decree 111 of 1573 (Law of the Indies), the church’s foundation is 6 metres deep with massive stone walls 1.5 metres thick, reinforced with 4 metre thick flying buttresses, typical of the “earthquake baroque” design applied in Ilocos churches, particularly Panay Church and Vigan Cathedral.

miagao-church-2

The façade consists of an ornately decorated bas-relief in the middle of two huge watchtower belfries on each side. It includes a coconut tree depicting the tree of life held by St. Christopher, who is dressed in local and traditional clothing while carrying the Child Jesus on his back. The rest of the façade depicts the daily life of the locals during that time and includes native flora such as papaya, coconut and palm trees.

miagao-church-Image-of-St.-Henry-of-Bavaria

Belltower

The two huge belltowers attached to the main church served as watchtowers defending the town against invaders and have different sizes and designs because they were commissioned by two different priests.

Baptistery

The baptistery contains the image of the Birhen ng Barangay in limestone and traditional Filipino clothing recovered from the 1982 excavations.

miagao-church-Image-of-St-Thomas

Unfortunately, the church was to suffer a few more calamities, burned in the Spanish revolution of 1898, a fire in 1910, the Japanese occupation during the second World War, and an earthquake in 1948. This was the strongest ever to hit Panay, toppling the bell tower of Jaro, the old church of Oton and many other Spanish-built churches on the island. However, only a small portion of a concrete beam gave way in the Miagao Church, releasing some stone blocks loosened by the heavy tremors.

miagao-church-Pediment-featuring-St-Christopher

It underwent another period of restoration in 1960 by the National Historical Institute, completed two years later when it was declared a national shrine by Presidential Decree. Now, 206 years old, the church stood the test of time and is one of the few remaining ones in the country, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on December in 1993 under the collective title Baroque Churches of the Philippines, and described as the finest examples of a fortress baroque church.

miagao-church-altar

The Miagao Church is so well-known now that its pictures could be found in stamps, calendars, books and magazines. Its fame possibly helped by the former First Lady, Imelda Marcos when she attended the installation of Pope John Paul II, presenting him with a painting of this ancient church.

Getting there

Only 30-45 minutes away from Iloilo, you can catch any number of several bus companies (such as Manila-bound buses, Dimple Star Transport, Gasat/Valisno Transport, and Ceres Liner), passing by the Miagao municipality every day. Ceres Liner by Vallacar Transit passes by Miagao almost every 30 minutes on its way to Iloilo from Antique and vice versa.

Jeepneys run more frequently (every 10–20 minute) than buses, the town served mostly by Miagao-Iloilo City bound jeepneys, but also the San Joaquin-Iloilo City bound jeepneys also serve the area.

Since it is so easy to get there we wont bother offering a tour guide for you, but can include this site for free on one of our other tours along this route. If you’d like to combine this with another tour…

button_book-here

Back to Tour Packages in Visayas
Other Tour Packages you can combine with in this area
Explore the Philippines

Travel Tour Packages to Campuestohan Highland Resort Theme/Water Park

package-tour-Campuestohan-Highland-Resort-gorilla

package-tour-Campuestohan-Highland-Resort-grounds-2

Campuestohan-Highland-Resort-Theme-Water-Park-mapOnly a one hour ferry ride from Iloilo, 250p each way, as opposed to the 4-5 hour bus ride from Dumaguete. If you are late to catch the fastcraft back to Iloilo, there is another slow ferry to Dumangas, but then you’ll need to catch a tricycle taxi from there to get you the rest of the way.

Shuttle vans or buses from Bacolod to Campuestohan Highland Resort are from 100p each to 3,000p two way trip for groups.

The cost of our guide is 1000p for the day, plus his transport costs and entrance fees, plus a $20 advance payment processing fee. You can combine with other tours, as will be explained in the booking process.

button_book-here

About the Campuestohan Highland Resort Theme/Water Park

Campuestohan Highland Resort
4.4/5 out of 1,350 reviews on google maps

If you got children or want to feel like one, this would be the perfect place for you to spend part of an afternoon. The property was bought by an aging couple who were planning their retirement, but when they finally came to see the property they had purchased, their plans changed once they saw the majestic, natural view before them.

Only about 30 minutes drive from Bacolod, the 5 hectare property overlooks Mount Makawili and now is home to a robust theme and water park. With its high position near the mountain, you can get a broad view of about half the island’s region of Negros Occidental (northwest half of the island) and some of Panay island, where Iloilo is located.

package-tour-Campuestohan-Highland-Resort-mountain-view

They have a special party for children, but once that is over, no worries regarding other things to do, such as the many swimming pools, King Kong, Children’s Playground, Ice Cream Parlor, Hanging, Heroes’ Hall, grand carousel, mini train, wave pool, several animal sculptures and much more.

package-tour-Campuestohan-Highland-Resort-robots

For the adults there is a 340m zipline, and a bike zipline as well, as well as hanging walkways for a better view of the grounds. There is a spa, rides, high-ropes course, an outdoor gym, and horseback riding is also offered. In plans are a giant chess board, giant Zodiac signs, and many others.

package-tour-Campuestohan-Highland-Resort-bike-zipline

Since it is up in the mountains, the temperature is cool, which can be a welcome relief during the windless, hot months in the valley below.

For those who want to stay overnight, it gets very quiet and peaceful, and the accommodation can be varied, such as Native American teepees which can accommodate up to 6 people. Or you can bring your own tent for 350p/person, although you can only set it up after 5pm and must take down by 6am. This rate would include the entrance fee and the use of their bathroom facilities.

package-tour-Campuestohan-Highland-Resort-teepees

Keep in mind that the weekends can get quite busy, as it is stormed by the locals, so best to consider a weekday visit.

It has a restaurant, but also a grilling and barbecue area if you want to bring your own food and have an outdoor picnic. So if you’re in the mood for a blast of Disney, c’mon down! The entrance fee is 150p (children 2 years old or younger are free) and includes free use of the swimming pools and children’s playground.

package-tour-Campuestohan-Highland-Resort-pool-2

Their prices in November, 2022

Campuestohan-prices-2

 

package-tour-Campuestohan-Highland-Resort-gorilla

Please note that all featured attractions require the use of sports/rubber shoes, which you can rent for 50p if you do not have any.

package-tour-Campuestohan-Highland-Resort-private-pool

package-tour-Campuestohan-Highland-Resort-superheroes

package-tour-Campuestohan-Highland-Resort-zipline

package-tour-Campuestohan-Highland-Resort-mushroom-hut

package-tour-Campuestohan-Highland-Resort-shoe-house

package-tour-Campuestohan-Highland-Resort-king-kong

package-tour-Campuestohan-Highland-Resort-dinasaurs

package-tour-Campuestohan-Highland-Resort-helicopter

So we went to check it out ourselves

What a great place for a family. Our son absolutely loved it. We had a slow lazy start from our airbnb in Bacolod and managed to only put in about half a day, but even during those four, active hours, we only managed to see about half of it! Fortunately their restaurant is also good and they have a lounge where I could enjoy my beloved beer.

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-wind-mill

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-teepee

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-swimming-pool

They have several pools there, all of them a knee depth and thus safe for even the smallest of critters.

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-space-suit

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-sitting-on-aligator

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-santas-reindeer

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-santas-dwarves

So many things to explore one can develop an eye sore from all the colours!

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-santa-claus

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-pretend-riding-train

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-panda-eggs

Endless photo opportunities.

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-panda-carriage

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-painted-old-cars

Tons of things to crawl over.

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-more-dinasaurs

Dinosaurs abound everywhere, and there is even a dinosaur museum shop.

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-michael-jordan

Practice some hoop with Michael Jordan.

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-little-drummer-boy

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-indian-village

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-heart-swings

Fun even for the old farts 😮

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-heart-bridge

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-hanging-shark

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-goofy-mohawk-slide

So many slides to explore. The old couple who started this park, do you think they are young at heart?

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-goofy-cowboys

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-friendly-dinasaur

A dinosaur would walk around with a professional photographer for photo ops. You could have the best printed right there, and they can send you the digital copies as well.

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-eaten-by-dinasaur-2

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-dinasaurs-try-to-eat-you

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-dinasaurs-in-jungle

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-dinasaurs-everywhere

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-dinasaur-lounging-in-water

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-climbing-cars

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-christmas-presents

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-bucket-mill

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-big-snowman

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-big-robots

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-big-octopus

campuestohan-highland-resort-theme-water-park-accommodation

They even have overnight accommodation for rent, such as these flintstones-like little cabins.

As you can tell we love to travel and look forward to exploring every worthwhile location in this beautiful country, which will expectedly be a daunting task considering it has more than 7,000 islands!

If you’re ever in the Palawan area, there are 52 islands alone just between El Nido and Coron, where we organize private, custom tours:

Palawan-boat-tours

Experience the thrill of island hopping in the Philippines

Back to Tour Packages in Visayas
Explore the Philippines

Travel Tour Packages to Suyac Island Mangrove Eco-park

Iloilo-City-Bacolod--Mangrove-Eco-park-Suyac Island-4

Suyac-Island-Mangrove-Eco-park-mapOnly a one hour ferry ride from Iloilo, 250p each way, as opposed to the 4-5 hour bus ride from Dumaguete. If you are late to catch the fastcraft back to Iloilo, there is another slow ferry to Dumangas, but then you’ll need to catch a tricycle taxi from there to get you the rest of the way.

Shuttle vans or buses from Bacolod to Sagay are for around 170p (takes about 2 hours), then 70p tricycle taxi to take you from Sagay to the old port. Prices to get to the island are listed below.

A van can also be rented for around 3,500p/day total, cutting down the trips by half.

The cost of our guide is 1000p for the day, plus his transport costs and entrance fees, plus a $20 advance payment processing fee. You can combine with other tours, as will be explained in the booking process.

button_book-here

About the Suyac Island Mangrove Eco-park

The Suyac Island Mangrove Eco-park is a community-based eco-tourism site just offshore from Sagay City, Negros. It is managed by Suyac Island Ecotourism Attendants Association in which all of the members are residents of the island. The park is home to one of the oldest and largest Sonneratia Alba mangrove on Negros Island, and includes other mangrove species.

It is located in the center of the 32,000-hectare Sagay Marine Reserve, the first of its kind in the country and established sometime in the 80s.  It is now recognized nationally and internationally as one of the most successful marine conservation programs in the Philippines and has won the prestigious Gawad Galing Pook award in 1997.

Iloilo-City-Bacolod--Mangrove-Eco-park-Suyac Island-7

The Mangro forest itself covers 500 hectares (100 hectares reforested), 33 species of true mangroves with 10 mangrove-associate species, 10 species of sea grass in around 3,000 hectares of sea grass beds, 78 species of Macro Benthic Algae, 60 Genera of hard, black & soft corals, 5 species of Giant Clams, more than 250 species of Reef & Pelagic fishes, 4 species of Marine Turtles and 5 species of endangered Dugong (sea cow). Giant Fruit Bats may be found in the mangrove areas (Suyac Island).

The local community in Sagay City have understood the importance of eco-tourism for their livelihood. On the 1.8 hectare large Suyac Island they built a bamboo boardwalk 800m long traversing the 4 hectare mangrove area, and are very diligent in preserving and maintaining it.

Iloilo-City-Bacolod--Mangrove-Eco-park-Suyac Island

The warm and gentle people welcome visitors with song and a Polynesian garland of flowers. The place is very serene and peaceful, and once you finish exploring it and wading in the soft submerged sand under the shady protection of the mangroves, the locals will feed you with fresh crabs, fish, clam soup, grilled pork, salad and fruits in one of their visitor huts and cottages. So far the forest is only available for day tours, but they are getting ready to build cottages for overnight stays. Development had been set back somewhat by typhoon Yolanda, but fortunately the forest, only 3km offshore from the city, helped protect it from the fierce storm – another reason why it should be preserved.

Iloilo-City-Bacolod--Mangrove-Eco-park-Suyac Island-2

The best time to experience it is during high tides, when the sea level rises up in the forest so you can wade in the soft sand among the roots, shade and breeze. But they also offer boating and paddle tours (prices below).

Iloilo-City-Bacolod--Mangrove-Eco-park-Suyac Island-wading-water

Iloilo-City-Bacolod--Mangrove-Eco-park-Suyac Island-3

Suyac-Island-Mangrove-Eco-park

Fees and prices

  • Entrance Fee to Suyac Island 50p
  • Terminal Fee 10p
  • Cottage 500p
  • Corkage Fee: P150.00/group (for selected foods only)
  • Special meals can be prepared but need warning at least two days in advance.
  • Paddle Tour 300p (only possible during high tide – go deep into the forest and check out the bats and birds!)
  • Pre-wedding Photoshoot 500p

BOAT SERVICE

P500.00 – 1-10pax (Roundtrip)
– an additional of p40.00 for every excess person

Iloilo-City-Bacolod--Mangrove-Eco-park-Suyac Island-6

Rules

Since it is an eco-tourism site, responsible travel policies are being observed.
Some of the eco-park rules and regulations are as follows:

  • Iloilo-City-Bacolod--Mangrove-Eco-park-Suyac Island-garbage-outGarbage in – Garbage out policy
  • Bringing and drinking of liquor is prohibited
  • No smoking in almost all areas, a designated area is provided.
  • Two-piece bathing suit is not allowed
  • Overnight stay at the park is not yet allowed
  • Don’t use soap, detergent or shampoo that will damage the marine eco-system.
  • Take nothing but pictures, Leave nothing but footprints and Kill nothing but time

Iloilo-City-Bacolod--Mangrove-Eco-park-Suyac Island-11

Or, if you decide to check out Palawan, our small family operation organizes private custom boat tours through the Palawan area, voted the best island in the world, with its 52 pristine white sand beaches and some of the clearest waters in the world.

Palawan-boat-tours

Experience the thrill of island hopping in the Philippines

Travel Tour Packages to The Ruins, Taj Mahal of Negros

Iloilo-City-Bacolod-Taj-Mahal-Negros-tour-package-The_Ruins

The-Ruins-Taj-Mahal-of-NegrosOnly a one hour ferry ride from Iloilo, 250p each way, as opposed to the 4-5 hour bus ride from Dumaguete. If you are late to catch the fastcraft back to Iloilo, there is another slow ferry to Dumangas, but then you’ll need to catch a tricycle taxi from there to get you the rest of the way.

It is then about 30 minutes to get to The Ruins, but our guide can help you see several other good places for an action packed day (suggested in the booking process).

The cost of our guide is 1000p for the day, plus his transport costs and entrance fees, plus a $20 advance payment processing fee. You can combine with other tours, as will be explained in the booking process.

button_book-here

About The Ruins, Taj Mahal of Negros

Scored 4.4/5 out of 1,219 reviews on google maps.

Also known as the Taj Mahal of Talisay or the Taj Mahal of the Philippines, because the love story behind it is similar to that of the Taj Mahal in Uttar Pradesh in India: two rich men who built a fancy mansion out of love for their wives who died during childbirth.

It is located in Talisay City, about 30min from Bacolod. The farmland on which it was built was owned by a sugarcane baron by the name of Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson, who also loved to travel. On one of his frequent journeys to Hong Kong, he met a Portuguese woman by the name of Maria Braga, from Macau. Mariano fell instantly in love and it was not long before he approached her father for her hand in marriage, who consented as he thought they were a perfect match!

Iloilo-City-Bacolod-Taj-Mahal-Negros-tour-package-The_Ruins-3

The couple moved to the farmstead and got quickly busy building a family of ten lovely children. Unfortunately, during her eleventh pregnancy, Maria slipped in the bathroom and started bleeding profusely. The physician resided in the next town (where the present airport is located), but back then horse-drawn carriages were the mode of transport and the journey would require a full two days! However, Maria was in too much of a fragile condition to survive the journey, so he ordered his servants to quickly fetch the physician while he tended to her. Four days had passed, but by the time the physician arrived, it was too late and the two had already passed away.

So heartsick was Mariano that he decided to build a glorious mansion in her honour, and also to help alleviate his pain. He proposed the idea to his father-in-law, who even supported him with some funding. Since he was a ship captain, he also helped provide him with quality material from around the world, such as machuca tiles, chandeliers, china wares, construction workers from China, and a design based on Italianate architecture with neo-Romanesque columns closely resembling the facade of the Carnegie Hall in New York City. He even set his son to look over construction in order to achieve the greatest perfection.

Iloilo-City-Bacolod-Taj-Mahal-Negros-tour-package-The_Ruins-5

The structure was magnificent, where you can see their initials, M&M, engraved on every post. He instructed his children that they could live in it as long as they remain unmarried. The girls took the second floor while the boys the ground floor, which made it more unlikely that their sisters would marry because any courter would first need to cross them! In fact, it is said that three of the daughters never married.

Tragedy was to befall them again, this time in the form of World War II. The family fled elsewhere to safety, leaving the mansion intact with all its grandiose furnishings. But the Americans, fearing that the Japanese might turn this mighty fortress into a garrison, ordered the local guerrillas they had under hire to burn it completely to the ground.

Iloilo-City-Bacolod-Taj-Mahal-Negros-tour-package-The_Ruins-8

But the structure was of such magnificent quality, 3 years in the making during the early part of the 1900s, using A-grade concrete and oversized twisted bars contributed much to the strength of the skeletal structure. The finishing touches on the walls and posts were a mixture of pure concrete with egg whites, resulting in a marble-like finish which can be seen and felt even to this day.

The masterpiece burned ablaze for three solid days, consuming all of its roof, ceiling, floors, doors and windows – all of which were made of hard wood like tindalo, narra, and kamagong. By the time the flames reduced to embers, the mansion’s pillars, the grand staircase and parts of the two-inch wooden floors on the second story were all that remained.

Iloilo-City-Bacolod-Taj-Mahal-Negros-tour-package-The_Ruins-4

It is now in the private ownership of the great-grandchildren of Mariano. Raymund Javellana, one of them, resolved to pay tribute to this great love and his great-grandfather by refurbishing the structure and opening it to the public for a modest fee (100p/adult, 50p for students and 20p for children). He also wanted it to serve as a reminder of the province’s glorious past.

It has a beautifully refurbished exterior, housing a restaurant on the ground floor serving Mediterranean and authentic Negros dishes. It has a well-maintained, landscaped garden of lilies, a four-tiered fountain and collections of the finest furniture, chinaware and decorative items from the owner’s travels across Europe and Asia. It even has an 18-hole mini golf course!

Iloilo-City-Bacolod-Taj-Mahal-Negros-tour-package-The_Ruins-9

The Ruins, as it is now called, with 800 visitors a day, has become one of the top tourist destinations in Negros Occidental. It is one of the most famous heritage landmarks in the country, ranked 12th place among the world’s fascinating ruins and listed in www.oddee.com, a website featuring odd, strange and bizarre things of the world.

This historical landmark has become one of the favorite venues for photo shoots, special events, weddings, conferences and parties, not to mention a popular valentines destination. Perhaps the best time to visit is around 4 PM, before the sunset when it’s no longer too hot and the light is just right for taking photos.

Iloilo-City-Bacolod-Taj-Mahal-Negros-tour-package-The_Ruins-10

Iloilo-City-Bacolod-Taj-Mahal-Negros-tour-package-The_Ruins-2

Back to Tour Packages in Visayas
Other Tour Packages you can combine with in this area
Explore the Philippines

Travel Tour Packages to Carbin Reef, Sagay Marine Reserve

Iloilo-City-Bacolod-Sagay-Marine-Reserve-carbin-reef-2

carbin-reef-sagay-marine-reserveOnly a one hour ferry ride from Iloilo, 250p each way, as opposed to the 4-5 hour bus ride from Dumaguete. If you are late to catch the fastcraft back to Iloilo, there is another slow ferry to Dumangas, but then you’ll need to catch a tricycle taxi from there to get you the rest of the way.

Shuttle vans or buses from Bacolod to Sagay are for around 170p (takes about 2 hours), then 70p tricycle taxi to take you from Sagay to the old port. Prices to get to the island are listed below.

A van can also be rented for around 3,500p/day total, cutting down the trips by half.

The cost of our guide is 1000p for the day, plus his transport costs and entrance fees, plus a $20 advance payment processing fee. You can combine with other tours, as will be explained in the booking process.

button_book-here

About Carbin Reef, Sagay Marine Reserve

Scored 4.4/5 of 63 votes on google maps. As explained in the booking process, this reef is good to combine with Lakawon and Suyac Island, as they are all fairly close to one another and can possibly be seen all in the same day.

Iloilo-City-Bacolod-Sagay-Marine-Reserve-carbin-reef-area

Carbin Reef is a huge white sandbar nestled in a 200-hectare marine sanctuary, located in the center of the 32,000-hectare Sagay Marine Reserve, the first of its kind in the country and established sometime in the 80s.  It is now recognized nationally and internationally as one of the most successful marine conservation programs in the Philippines and has won the prestigious Gawad Galing Pook award in 1997.

The reserve has 500 hectares of mangroves (100 hectares reforested), 33 species of true mangroves with 10 mangrove-associate species, 10 species of sea grass in around 3,000 hectares of sea grass beds, 78 species of Macro Benthic Algae, 60 Genera of hard, black & soft corals, 5 species of Giant Clams, more than 250 species of Reef & Pelagic fishes, 4 species of Marine Turtles and 5 species of endangered Dugong (sea cow). Giant Fruit Bats may be found in the mangrove areas (Suyac Island).

Iloilo-City-Bacolod-Sagay-Marine-Reserve-carbin-reef-turtles

The nearby town of Sagay has recognised the importance of preserving its nature, in which case it is very strict about garbage (so make sure to bring some extra plastic bags for garbage – what you bring must be taken out).

The water is too shallow for diving but excellent for snorkeling in its clear, pristine water, although a guide is required (250p for two people) for supervision because the currents can get rather strong. The reef has a maximum capacity of 100 people during low tide – 70 for reservations and 30 for last minute, which is why it is recommended to reserve in advance (we would handle all that for you). Only 15 are allowed to snorkel at any time. It also has some basic facilities for picnic gatherings.

Iloilo-City-Bacolod-Sagay-Marine-Reserve-carbin-reef

Definitely an ideal place for some relax.

  • Entrance Fee – 100p for adults, 40p for children aged 12 or under
  • Kayak – 100p

A reservation with the local tourist bureau is suggested and visitors might be allowed on the island only from 3 to 4pm, depending on currents. You can rent tents for shade, a two-storey tower or some small cottages from between 300-600p, but you cannot sleep overnight. The peaks season is from March to September (although the best time to visit is from March to May) and the low season from October to February, depending on the weather.

Iloilo-City-Bacolod-Sagay-Marine-Reserve-carbin-reef-whale-2

Boat rates from the Sagay Tourism Office (roughly a 20 minute ride):

  • 1-5 pax – 1,000p
  • 6-10 pax – 1,200p
  • 10-15 pax – 1,500p
  • 15-20 pax – 1,700p

What to bring

There are no stores on the island, so make sure you are prepared. There are several banks and ATMs in Sagay City.

There are only a few tents in the area, so best to make sure you have enough sunblock with you. Waterproof your electronics as the ride can get wet.

Collected rainwater in the tower is good for rinsing but not for drinking, so make sure you have enough of that.

If you don’t have your own snorkel gear, you can rent them in Sagay for 250p from the Buhay Dagat Snorkeling Guides of Sagay Association.

Iloilo-City-Bacolod-Sagay-Marine-Reserve-carbin-reef-corals

Iloilo-City-Bacolod-Sagay-Marine-Reserve-carbin-reef-corals

Iloilo-City-Bacolod-Sagay-Marine-Reserve-carbin-reef-corals-3

When in Sagay City

One popular suggestion is the Museo Sang Bata sa Negros, a hands-on interactive museum for kids near Sagay Port.

Museo-Sang-Bata-sa-Negros-Sagay-City

Or, if you decide to check out Palawan, our small family operation organizes private custom boat tours through the Palawan area, voted the best island in the world, with its 52 pristine white sand beaches and some of the clearest waters in the world.

Palawan-boat-tours

Experience the thrill of island hopping in the Philippines

Travel Tour Packages to Lakawon Island Resort and Spa

Iloilo-City-Bacolod-Lakawon-Island-Resort-Spalakawon-island-resort

lakawon-island-resort-and-spa-mapOnly a one hour ferry ride from Iloilo, 250p each way, as opposed to the 4-5 hour bus ride from Dumaguete. If you are late to catch the fastcraft back to Iloilo, there is another slow ferry to Dumangas, but then you’ll need to catch a tricycle taxi from there to get you the rest of the way.

Then there is a bus to Lakawon Island for around 105p each (takes about 2 hours), followed by the island resort’s own boat for 310p each (includes the island’s entry fee).

A van can also be rented for around 3,500p/day total, cutting down the trips by half.

The cost of our guide is 1000p for the day, plus his transport costs and entrance fees, plus a $20 advance payment processing fee. You can combine with other tours, as will be explained in the booking process.

button_book-here

About Lakawon Island Resort and Spa

The Lakawon Island Resort and Spa, rated 4.4/5 out of 33 reviews on google maps, used to be a cheaper option for those wanting to go to Borocay, and has similar sandy beaches, but has been further developed by a family-run operation, although it still is peaceful and relaxing. It has great creamy sand and clear azure blue water.

It also has the Taw Hai Floating Bar, dubbed as the largest floating bar in Asia, where you can also try the human launcher for free (throw you high and into the water, like cliff diving), but with 250p entrance fee.

Iloilo-City-Bacolod-Lakawon-Island-Resort-SpaTawHai-floating-bar

It is open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM for day trippers, where you can also rent an open cottage or hut:

Iloilo-City-Bacolod-Lakawon-Island-Resort-SpaLakawon_island-day-huts

The resort’s boat service

We offer roundtrip boat transfers to our guests (about 30min each way). Regular boat fare is P310, and already includes the Island Entrance Fee.

Their Boat policy:

Regular boat fare requires a minimum of 12 passengers per trip. If you wish to charter a boat for just your group (below 12 passengers) or would like to do so beyond the cut-off, which is 5PM, our special trip fares apply:
Up to 5:00 PM: Php500.00

Night Fares (after 5:00 PM): Php1,000.00

Iloilo-City-Bacolod-Lakawon-Island-Resort-SpaLakawon_island-2

Some of the services offered by the resort

  • Can rent a kayak for 600p/hr for 2 people.
  • Ride a banana boat.
  • Free beach volleyball and beach football.
  • Beach grill barbecue for 50p/person (bring your own food).
  • Pitch a tent on the beach for 300p/person.
  • Kiteboarding and lessons.
  • Rent snorkeling gear for 150p/2 hours.
  • Paddleboard 500p/hour
  • Jet skiis
  • Massages

Iloilo-City-Bacolod-Lakawon-Island-Resort-Spalakawon-island-resort-prices

Iloilo-City-Bacolod-Lakawon-Island-Resort-SpaLakawon_island-5

Iloilo-City-Bacolod-Lakawon-Island-Resort-SpaLakawon_island-3

Or, if you decide to check out Palawan, our small family operation organizes private custom boat tours through the Palawan area, voted the best island in the world, with its 52 pristine white sand beaches and some of the clearest waters in the world.

Palawan-boat-tours

Experience the thrill of island hopping in the Philippines

Travel Tour Packages to Kanlaon Natural Park

iloilo-city-to-bacolod-mambukal-resort-waterfalls-mount-kanlaon-natural-park

kanlaon-natural-park-mapOnly a one hour ferry ride from Iloilo, 250p each way, as opposed to the 4-5 hour bus ride from Dumaguete. Then you can take a 70p local bus taking another hour to the falls. If you are late to catch the fastcraft back to Iloilo, there is another slow ferry from Dumangas, but then you’ll need to catch a tricycle taxi from there to get you the rest of the way.

Once you get to the falls there is an entrance fee of 50p, with the option to hire a local guide, donation voluntary.

A van can also be rented for around 3,500p/day total, cutting down the trips by half.

The cost of our guide is 1000p for the day, plus his transport costs and entrance fees, plus a $20 advance payment processing fee. You can combine with other tours, as will be explained in the booking process.

button_book-here

About Kanlaon Natural Park

iloilo-city-to-bacolod-mambukal-resort-waterfalls-20180810_150018

Mt Kanlaon Natural Park is 24,388 hectares of cool, dense rainforest surrounding a towering active volcano with a deep crater. The park is home to diverse wildlife, including wild boar, civet cat, leopard cat, spotted deer, hornbill, hawk eagle, bleeding-heart pigeon and some far out fauna:

iloilo-city-to-bacolod-mambukal-resort-waterfalls-rafflesia-bloom

There are established trails to the summit for fit hikers.

There is also a Balete tree more than 1,300 years old:

iloilo-city-to-bacolod-mambukal-resort-waterfalls-balete-tree

The walk there among the eucalyptus trees is also quite nice, as you walk through the farm area, it serving as the vegetable basket of Negros and some surrounding islands.

iloilo-city-to-bacolod-mambukal-resort-waterfalls-eucalyptus

Back to Tour Packages in Visayas
Other Tour Packages you can combine with in this area
Explore the Philippines

Travel Tour Packages to Mambukal Resort Waterfalls

iloilo-city-to-bacolod-mambukal-resort-waterfalls-20180810_145507

mambukal-resort-waterfalls-mapOnly a one hour ferry ride from Iloilo, 250p each way, as opposed to the 4-5 hour bus ride from Dumaguete. Then you can take a 70p local bus taking another hour to the falls. If you are late to catch the fastcraft back to Iloilo, there is another slow ferry from Dumangas, but then you’ll need to catch a tricycle taxi from there to get you the rest of the way.

Once you get to the falls there is an entrance fee of 50p, with the option to hire a local guide, donation voluntary.

A van can also be rented for around 3,500p/day total, cutting down the trips by half.

The cost of our guide is 1000p for the day, plus his transport costs and entrance fees, plus a $20 advance payment processing fee. You can combine with other tours, as will be explained in the booking process.

button_book-here

About the waterfalls

There are actually seven and getting to the top one can be quite the workout. We only made it to the third one because it was rainy and slippery that day (the steps are stone), and my friend was too tired, but I’ll make it back there on my own later.

Here is a video of the second falls where we played some traditional Filipino song:

Here is a picture of what the steps look like:

iloilo-city-to-bacolod-mambukal-resort-waterfalls-20180810_133209

In some sections along the trail they have ladders which can take you up into the trees, where there is a hanging walkway so that you could see what the forest looks like up top:

iloilo-city-to-bacolod-mambukal-resort-waterfalls-20180810_132718

iloilo-city-to-bacolod-mambukal-resort-waterfalls-20180810_132918

iloilo-city-to-bacolod-mambukal-resort-waterfalls-20180810_133051

iloilo-city-to-bacolod-mambukal-resort-waterfalls-20180810_132953

The falls make their way up an active volcano:

iloilo-city-to-bacolod-mambukal-resort-waterfalls-20180810_150018

Back at the bottom, the resort (government owned, so you are free to wander) is also a nice stroll, and even has a hotspring.

iloilo-city-to-bacolod-mambukal-resort-waterfalls-20180810_130741

iloilo-city-to-bacolod-mambukal-resort-waterfalls-20180810_145451

iloilo-city-to-bacolod-mambukal-resort-waterfalls-20180810_145526

iloilo-city-to-bacolod-mambukal-resort-waterfalls-20180810_145559

iloilo-city-to-bacolod-mambukal-resort-waterfalls-20180810_145838

About Mambukal Resort

At 1,200 metres above sea level, Mambukal Resort serves as a gateway to the vast and verdant Mt. Kanlaon National Park. It is one of the most popular mountain resorts in the country. The resort’s hotspring is referred to as the Warm Sulfur Dipping Pool and costs around 50p to get in. The hotspring is surrounded by big trees to give you a cozy jungle feel:

iloilo-city-to-bacolod-mambukal-resort-waterfalls-hotspring

The jungle feeling is further enhanced by the perpetual sound of birds chirping and large bats flying up above:

iloilo-city-to-bacolod-mambukal-resort-waterfalls-waterfall-bats

But don’t worry about them, because they are fruit bats.

You can also rent kayaks and canoes of various sizes to cruise around the boating lagoon:

iloilo-city-to-bacolod-mambukal-resort-waterfalls-boating-lagoon

Then there is the butterfly garden:

iloilo-city-to-bacolod-mambukal-resort-waterfalls-butterfly-garden

iloilo-city-to-bacolod-mambukal-resort-waterfalls-butterfly-garden-2

There are many live ones too:

iloilo-city-to-bacolod-mambukal-resort-waterfalls-butterfly-garden-3

For a bit of adrenaline, you can also check out the zipline, taking you on a cruise through the jungle:

iloilo-city-to-bacolod-mambukal-resort-waterfalls-zipline

There is also a climbing wall:

iloilo-city-to-bacolod-mambukal-resort-waterfalls-climbing-wall

For those on a budget, there is also a camping area (you can bring your own or rent theirs):

iloilo-city-to-bacolod-mambukal-resort-waterfalls-camping

The camping area:

iloilo-city-to-bacolod-mambukal-resort-waterfalls-camping-area

You can also go for a private bath at the Ishiwata Bath House. Built in 1927 by Japanese architect Kokichi Ishiwata, the Roman-and-Greek inspired bathhouse is one of the oldest structures in the resort, which was actually built around the bathhouse.

iloilo-city-to-bacolod-mambukal-resort-waterfalls-bath-house

There are five bath cubicles through which naturally heated sulfur water flows.

Picnic cottages speckle the resort grounds:

iloilo-city-to-bacolod-mambukal-resort-waterfalls-picnic-cottages

Since it is government owned, their prices are quite reasonable:

iloilo-city-to-bacolod-mambukal-resort-waterfalls-prices

Back to Tour Packages in Visayas
Other Tour Packages you can combine with in this area
Explore the Philippines

Exit mobile version