A Perfect 3 Days Dumaguete Itinerary

A Perfect 3 Days Dumaguete Itinerary

Dumaguete the capital of Negros Oriental there were so many surprises and things to do in Dumaguete. We loved Dumaguete City since there are a few local places to eat there and you can visit the market and enjoy its beaches. We will go in detail in our 3 Days Dumaguete itinerary.

What we liked the best in Dumaguete is it’s convenience when traveling to nearby provinces like Siquijor, Apo Island and Oslob, which is a must when visiting South Cebu.

Read here our Apo Island Travel Guide, where to stay in Dumaguete and the best restaurants in Dumaguete!

SIM CARD AT MANILA AIRPORT

I wouldn’t recommend you to buy a sim card at Manila airport. If you wish comfort you can buy eSim online and if you aren’t in a hurry just go around phone shops in the city and compare prices to buy the cheapest sim card in Manila. Read here Philippines sim card for tourist and best Philippines eSim

WHERE TO STAY IN THE PHILIPPINES

You can get accommodation starting from 800-1000 PHP (less than $20 USD) for a room in a guesthouse. Can you imagine if you are two of you traveling in the Philippines, it will be $10 USD each.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATION WITH BOOKING AND AGODA!

BOOK YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE

You can read Heymondo Vs Safetwing cheapest travel Insurance. You can get for $135 USD your Heymondo Travel Insurance with Heymondo discount code valid for 90 days. Read our full Heymondo Travel Insurance Review

You can get Safetywing Travel Insurance for Digital Nomads valid for 28 days Safetywing for $50 USD per month with kids until 10 years old included

HOW TO GET TO DUMAGUETE

GETTING TO DUMAGUETE BY LAND FROM CEBU

If you’re getting to Dumaguete from Cebu. From Mactan International Airport you can get a taxi, Grab or take public transportation to South Bus Terminal. You can take a direct bus from Cebu City South Bus Terminal in Cebu (located close to Elizabeth Mall) to Bato.

Prices of the buses 270 PHP plus 70 PHP for the ferry to Tampi which is 40 Minutes by ferry. One more hour by bus to Dumaguete City from Tampi port. The schedule of the buses going direct from Cebu to Bato port are from 5 am to 6 pm daily buses and the travel time is around 6 hours.

Read here full blog post how to get from Cebu to Dumaguete!

And travel for several hours to Lilo-an. From Lilo-an, you can take a bus to Sibulan. This bus will ride on the RoRo (a vehicle vessel ship) to reach Negros Oriental. The ride on the ferry from Lilo-an to Sibulan lasted 20-40 minutes. The bus ride costs around 230 PHP for a non-air-conditioned bus.

From Sibulan you can then reach Dumaguete in around 20 minutes. From Sibulan port to Dumaguete City there are multicabs around 15 PHP  for 15 minutes ride. And there are also tricycles going to the city for around 100 PHP and you can join 3-4 people depending how much luggage you are bringing.

GETTING TO DUMAGUETE FROM CEBU BY BOAT

If you don’t want to ride the bus and you are getting to Dumaguete on a ferry from Cebu City that goes straight to Dumaguete, you can go on a fast ferry that is available daily in the city’s main port terminal.

A tourist class ferry ride costs 1,600 PHP while a business class ticket costs 1,910 PHP. Boats depart from Cebu City around AM. This ferry ride takes 4 hours and has a stopover at Tagbilaran City.

Click here to book your ferry ticket Cebu to Dumaguete!

DAILY BUDGET FOR DUMAGUETE

Even as a thriving city in Visayas, the cost of living in Dumaguete is still relatively low, especially for those carrying Western money like euros, dollars and pounds on their wallets. For example, as previously mentioned, transportation only costs as low as 20 PHP for a tricycle, while the flat rate for a cab is 60 PHP.

You can get a decent and delicious meal from a local restaurant for as low as 100-200 PHP. If you want to go even lower, Perdice Street has carinderias (local canteens or eateries) that have 35 PHP home-cooked meals. Other eateries serve a wide variation of food from 30-100 PHP.  

For something a bit fancy, a three-course meal for two people at a mid-range restaurant in Dumaguete can go for 450-700 PHP. That’s still only $9-14 USD for a dinner for two, though! Finally, beer can be bought for 50-70 PHP in Dumaguete.

Dorms, lodges, hostels and budget hotels in Dumaguete charge around 400-1000 PHP. On the other hand, mid-range hotels cost 1,200-2000 PHP and luxury rooms go for 2,200-5,000 PHP.

To get the most amazing room deals, you can book a place in Dumaguete before you travels with Booking and Agoda.

Click here if you want to get your discount booking activities in Dumaguete with Klook!

3 DAYS DUMAGUETE ITINERARY

Dumaguete isn´t really big but we recommend 3 Days in your itinerary in Dumaguete. Since there are a few things to do in Dumaguete and also a few Dumaguete tourist spots that you cant miss:

Day 1 Dumaguete Itinerary

For your first-day Dumaguete itinerary we recommend you to visit historical sites, churches, the University. Dumaguete Belfry, Aquino Freedom Park and walking around Rizal Boulevard. It’s great to try local food and the most popular are Sylvanas which are so delicious.

DUMAGUETE CITY TOUR ITINERARY

Gwyn, a local, and his wife showed us around Dumaguete. They brought us to the most touristic places and also introduced us to local food like the best halo-halo in town shown above. They gave us so many tips in traveling to Dumaguete and Siquijor, our next stops on our long journey.

We visited Silliman University, a campus that has existed since 1901. We also went to  Rizal Boulevard and got the famous and super delicious silvanas from Sans Rival Bakery. You’ll recognize the goodies from Sans Rival Bakery with their signature blue box.

Click here to get a discount booking a half day heritage tour in Dumaguete with Klook!

RIZAL BOULEVARD

Image from Flickr

Another bustling destination and one of the best places to visit in Dumaguete is Rizal Boulevard. The street is easily seen from the port to Dumaguete and is only 15 minutes away from Sibulan Airport so it’s impossible to miss.

Rizal Boulevard is lined with accommodations and restaurants that locals and tourists love. This is also one of the best spots for local street food. Rizal Boulevard is a nice play to meet friends and maybe even make some new ones.

AQUINO FREEDOM PARK

Image from PH Geoview

Named after Ninoy Aquino, a national hero, this green park in the heart of Dumaguete City is a perfect place to chill and unwind after days of sightseeing. It is a family-friendly park that’s both quiet and safe. This spacious park is also where Dumaguete’s Buglasan Festival is held.

DUMAGUETE BELFRY

Image from Flickr

Another famous landmark in the city is Campanario De Dumaguete, or Dumaguete Belfry. It was built in 1811 and was used as a watch tower to save Dumaguete’s residents from pirate attacks. There is a grotto of Our Lady of Perpetual Help at the bottom of the tower where visitors can light candles and say their prayers.

VISITING THE MARKET AND TRYING LOCAL FOOD

Visiting the market is a must if you want to have a taste of delicious local food. We visited during the night and it was quite busy. We tried the best halo-halo ever that can be eaten inside a coconut. We ate this delicious food at Jo’s Chicken Inato.

Click here to get a discount booking a half day heritage tour in Dumaguete with Klook!

EAT SILVANAS AND SANS RIVAL

Image from Flickr

Dumaguete is known to be “The City of Gentle People.” However, even sweeter than its residents are the two desserts that the city is known for. Silvanas are frozen cookies made from buttercream and cashew-meringue wafers that are covered with cookie crumbs.

The creaminess melts in your mouth whenever you take a bite of this heavenly snack. On the other hand, Sans Rival (literally “without rival”) is a cake made from the same ingredients and has also won the hearts and tummies of many.

These two are the perfect pasalubong (souvenir) from a trip to Dumaguete City. The best ones can be bought from a shop called Sans Rival Cakes & Pastries that are found in Dumaguete and all over Negros Oriental.

Day 2 Itinerary in Dumaguete

We recommend you do a day trip for your second day Dumaguete itinerary to Apo Island where you can spot turtles. We went in an organized tour but you can go on your own to spend the day snorkeling or diving with the turtles. If you wish and you have time you stay overnight in Apo Island.

EXPLORING APO ISLAND

Visiting Apo Island is a must if you are traveling to Dumaguete. We teamed up with Orientwind Travel for this tour. They picked us up from our hotel in Dumaguete and they drove us in a van for an hour. Then we took a small boat and had a 20-minute trip to Apo Island. In the day trip we had, another couple joined us. They are also Instagram-ers and Bloggers- Jacob and Kally. Check them out!

Apo Island is famous because of the turtles swimming around the beach. There were many of them and we spent more than an hour snorkeling. We got really nice shots and who enjoyed the most was our little one, Han, because it was his first time seeing and swimming with turtles.

We visited a very beautiful beach in Apo Island and took stunning shots of the aerial view with the drone. The day was really awesome. You can even stay in the island for overnight camping. There are restaurants around but there is no electricity in the island. It was such a cool adventure!

Day 3 Dumaguete Itinerary

You can do an island hopping that includes dolphin watching and the visit to Manjuyod Sandbar one of the most beautiful in the Philippines. Make sure you check about the tide before going to the Sandbar to enjoy the best views there.

Manjuyod Sandbar

You can rent a boat for 4000 PHP good enough for 15 people island hopping going to Manjuyod Sandbar . Apart from the sand bar you can visit the Bird Sanctuary, Mangrove Forest and dolphin watching. Make sure you go there with the low tide to enjoy the sandbar. Click here to check the low tide before your trip to Manjuyod Sandbar.

Click here to get a discount booking Manjuyod Sandbar tour with Klook!

DOLPHIN WATCHING

Image from Shoestring

This exciting trip starts with a boat ride along Bais Bay to Tañon Strait where bottlenose, long snouted spinner, and pantropical spotted dolphins abound. This is also home to several melon-headed whales, pygmy sperm whales, pygmy killer whales and many more.

After visiting the strait, tours usually head to Manjuyod White Sandbar for some lunch, swimming, snorkeling and other water activities.

Click here to get a discount booking your dolphin watching tour with Klook!

More Days Dumaguete Itinerary

If you are planning to stay longer than 3 Days in your itinerary in Dumaguete there are more things to do and places to visit. Since Twin Lakes and beautiful waterfalls like Casaroro and Pulangbato to day trip to Siquijor Island one of our favorite Philippine Islands.

You can also visit Talabong Mangrove Park and visit the volcano’s crater at Mt. Kanlaon. And outside Dumaguete in Cebu you can go for a day tour to swim with the whale sharks in Oslob.

Twin Lakes Dumaguete

If you want to get to Twin Lakes: Lake Balinsasayao and Lake Danao from Dumaguete you have to get a jeepney going to Amlan 15 PHP per person and getting off in San Jose. From here you can go by habal-habal 400 PHP return good enough for two people. If you prefer you can rent a motorcycle in Dumaguete 400-500 PHP for the whole day.

Once in the lake the entrance fee is 100 PHP for foreigners and 25 PHP if you are a local like Rachel. It’s a great place to spend your day. Check below if you prefer joining to an organize tour.

Click here to get a discount booking Twin Lakes tour with Klook!

Day Trip to Siquijor Island

You can go for a day trip to Siquijor Island where you can enjoy amazing beaches like San Juan and Paliton Beach. Have a great snorkeling in Tubud Sanctuary and the beautiful waterfalls of Cambugahay and Lugnason. You can read here Siquijor Travel Guide!

Click here to get a discount booking your tour around Siquijor with Klook!

TALABONG MANGROVE PARK

Image from Flickr

If you want to see more of nature in Negros Oriental, you can take a trip to Talabong Mangrove Park in Bais City, only 45 kms away from Dumaguete. It is a 400-hectare green space that protects mangroves, birds and other wildlife and serves as a tourist destination for nature lovers. You can rent a boat to enjoy this protected area and take lots of pictures around the park.

ADVENTURE IN MT. KANLAON

If you’d like to have a slightly thrilling adventure, go to Mt. Kanlaon. This is the highest mountain in the Visayas region of the Philippines and is also the largest active volcano here. There are beautiful waterfalls and lagoons to visit and lush forests to explore.

There’s also a campsite and a resort in the area from which you can take tours to the volcano’s crater. Mt. Kanlaon is one of the best places to visit in Dumaguete as it is only 170 km from the city.

VISIT PULANGBATO FALLS

Image from Wikipedia

Named after the natural redness of the rocks in the falls, Pulangbato is a refreshing and relaxing space in Valencia, only one 30-minute jeepney ride away from Dumaguete. There are several waterfalls to swim in and it is a very picturesque place for families and couples to enjoy.

The area is not as commercialized as other tourist spots and it is very well-maintained and peaceful.

CASARORO FALLS

Image from Flickr

Another beautiful waterfalls in Valencia is Casaroro Falls, a real treasure and adventure spot for locals and tourists to enjoy. Casaroro is special because it is 100 feet tall and uniquely narrow for a waterfall.

You need to take a short hike to get to the falls, but the concrete stairs make the site easier to access than before. The cool waters and beautiful scenery once you reach Casaroro Falls are worth it, for sure.

SWIMMING WITH THE WHALE SHARKS IN OSLOB

While I am aware that some people aren’t in favor of watching whales sharks, I choose not to discuss the issue here and just keep my opinions to myself.

Click here to get a discount booking your tour in Oslob with Klook!

You will ride a small boat for one minute and then you’ll see the whale sharks up close. It was really impressive! We were snorkeling for about 30 minutes around the whale sharks.

The three of us were so impressed with the huge whale shark and we tried our best to take nice shots. Needless to say, we really enjoyed the experience!

Rates are at 1000 PHP for foreigners and 500 PHP for Filipinos, and comes with the snorkeling gear. If you don´t go down from the boat, the price is cheaper. In my own opinion, the tour’s pricing for this one is so expensive, to think that it was a shared boat for just a 30-minute trip. With the same price on some other tours, you get a whole day package, lunch included.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATION IN DUMAGUETE BEFORE YOUR TRIP!

WHERE TO STAY IN DUMAGUETE

During our trip to Dumaguete, we stayed at Victorias´s Haven. It was a super beautiful and quiet place. There are green areas around and all the comfort that you need will be provided.

It´s located 10 minute away to the city center and 5 minutes away from the port. We loved the style of the colonial house and the breakfast was also really good. There are common areas for playing pool and walking around.

Click here to know prices and availability!

CHEAP ACCOMMODATION IN DUMAGUETE: ESE HOUSE

Rated for the best value in Dumaguete, ESE house is also close to Dumaguete Belfry and Dumaguete Public Market. Every room has its own wardrobe and a seating area but the bathroom is shared. Other rooms also offer a balcony for a view. The place is also good for couples. A night only costs for about 10 USD.

ESE House is located at ESE House, House No. 18, Larena Drive, Motong, Dumaguete. Click here to book with Booking.

LUXURY ACCOMMODATION IN DUMAGUETE: ATMOSPHERE RESORTS & SPA

A private beach, daily housekeeping and a free airport service, you get it all at Atmosphere Resorts & Spa. That’s what you would expect for being a 2018 top Agoda’s traveler choice. They are popular for their relaxing spa and swimming pool. Each room has air-conditioning unit, bathrobes,closet, TV, mini-bar and many more.

It is only 20 km away from Sibulan Airport. The place is also near Dauin that is excellent for scuba diving. A night costs for about 200 USD, pretty worth it as tourists recommend this place a lot.

Atmosphere Resorts & Spa is at Maayong Tubig, Dauin, Dumaguete. Click here to book with Agoda.

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Happy Travels!