Live Your Best Lives
If there were an island that was both elegant and stylish, yet also down-to-earth, would you go? If there were an island where you could snorkel with whale sharks, see tons of sardines, and even come face to face with turtles and clownfish, would you go? If there were an island where you could cane-dive, jump from a platform, and get a fish spa under an old banyan tree, would you go? If there were an island where you could chase dolphins, pose in an infinity pool while enjoying the scenery, and even practice live-fire shooting, would you go? If I told you this island was not far away, with affordable flights, easy visas, and affordable travel, would you go right away?
This is Dumaguete.
Dumaguete, also known as the Little Maldives, is a small city with a strong scholarly and refreshing atmosphere. Its perfect blend of worldly comforts and secluded charm has attracted a large number of Western residents. Home to
extensive coral rainforests, it is a pristine island rarely seen in China. Within 10 meters of the water, you'll find shoals of tropical fish and whale sharks, making it the only diving destination in the world where you can get up close and personal with them. Dumaguete is also close to Apo Island, Sumilon Island, and Oslob, where you can "dive" with whale sharks. All accessible by boat, and with its airport, it has become a hub for island-hopping excursions.
The price of TuTu from the airport to the city hotel
is around 150 inside Dumaguete Airport. It will be much cheaper outside the airport, about 80p. But if it is very hot and you don’t want to walk, don’t mind paying more
.
There are ticket booths near various ferry terminals. Tickets for the next day must be purchased before 16:00 on the same day. In addition to purchasing the ferry ticket, there are also luggage tickets and taxes that need to be paid separately at the window next to the
ferry before boarding.
You can rent a car by paying a daily rental fee (about 300P-450P), and you are responsible for the fuel cost, which is about 90P per tank. It should be noted that you will be asked to see your driver's license when renting a car. You can bring it with you or take a photo of it on your mobile phone.
During the day, stroll along the long coastal promenade, enjoying the sea breeze and watching the sunset. Starting around 2:00 or 3:00 in the afternoon, the stone benches beneath the trees along the causeway fill with locals chatting, daydreaming, and sunbathing. It's truly relaxing to watch the sea with them. Occasionally, I'll join the young people and students playing beach volleyball on the shore.
Dumaguete's famous "I Love Dumaguete" colorful sign is also here. Taking a photo with this landmark adds a touch of freshness. At night, the coastal boulevard is brightly lit. Various restaurants, local food stalls, and small street vendors create a bustling atmosphere. At the end of the coastal boulevard is the Dumaguete Pier, where boats to Siquijor and Bohol depart. Silliman University is across from the pier.
Tips:
You can walk directly to the city center from the clock tower and Siliman University.
The Dumaguete Belfry is located on Perdices Street, right next to Rizal Park in front of the St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral. This majestic stone building certainly attracts the attention of many passers-by, making it a landmark and the most famous attraction in Dumaguete.
Built in 1811 (during the Spanish occupation), this bell tower is a typical bell tower built during this period. Its main function was to detect possible pirate invasions, so its appearance is more like a fortress.
The Silliman University Museum of Anthropology is a museum dedicated to anthropology in the Philippines. Learn about the region's ethnographic artifacts, many of which are thousands of years old. It's a renowned anthropology museum in the Philippines and internationally. Silliman University, a renowned university in the Philippines, exhibits numerous ancient human fossils, remains, and artifacts, and is a staunch supporter of the theory of evolution.
Tips: Silliman University Museum of Anthropology
address
Located within Silliman University
Ticket Information
Rack price: Starting from 50.0 pesos, Monday to Friday: 50 pesos for adults, 20 pesos for children under 15 or students, 40 pesos for seniors;
On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, the price is 100 pesos for adults, 50 pesos for children under 15 or students, and 80 pesos for senior citizens.
Opening hours
Monday-Friday 8:30-11:30, 14:30-17:00, Saturday, Sunday and holidays require reservations in advance.
The jeepney is a unique mode of transportation in the Philippines, serving as a form of public transportation. Most jeepneys are privately owned and typically cost around 20p. Manila's coolest and most common form of transportation is the dazzling jeepney (a type of jeep abandoned by American soldiers after World War II, Filipinos extend the bed, whimsically paint it, and then drive it through the streets to pick up passengers). These jeepneys are truly bizarre, each painted with a vibrant, colorful image—some with the Virgin Mary leading the way, others with Superman and Spider-Man flying atop. They also feature a variety of headlights and tires, most often featuring large Mercedes-Benz and BMW logos towing a clattering metal carriage. Each jeepney also bears a playful and whimsical name, such as "JAMINMANILA" (traffic stuck in Manila) and "FILIPINEPERI" (Filipino beauty). People often boast, "You'll never find two jeepneys alike in the Philippines." While drivers take great care in decorating their jeepneys, they pay less attention to their maintenance. They usually wear flip-flops, fill the five fingers of one hand with change, and call the driver to collect the money and give the change.
Recommended gameplay: Diving and dancing with whale sharks
I am a whale shark transformed into an island, drifting with passion: I wave to the sun and greet seagulls; I love the eagles soaring high in the sky, the algae beneath its belly, and I love being with you, witnessing the vast, eternal night sky.
Watching whale sharks in the small town of Tan-awan, Oslob, in southern Cebu, is a must-do for any visit to Cebu and Dumaguete. Despite their enormous size, whale sharks are gentle and not intimidating. Swimming and dancing with these "gentle giants of the ocean," nearly six meters long, is a romantic and surprising experience.
Tips: How to get there?
From downtown to Oslob to watch whale sharks (prices subject to change): 1. Take a tuk-tuk from Duma for about 100 pesos to Sibulan Pier; 2. From Sibulan Pier, take a boat to Liloan Pier. There's a speedboat every hour, and you can buy one for 62 pesos per person in the waiting area; 3. From Liloan Pier, take a tuk-tuk to the whale shark pier for 120 pesos one way. (You can also take the yellow bus parked at the disembarkation pier. Just hop on and tell the conductor "watching whales." They'll recognize you and remind you to get off when you arrive. 30 pesos per person.)
Recommended activity: Wander around the island and enjoy the infinity pool
You said you've never seen a sea with gradient colors, you said you've never stayed at the only hotel on an island, you said you wanted to soak in the infinity pool or snorkel right outside, you said you wanted to take wedding photos facing the ocean on a white sand beach, so here I am, with Sumilon.
Sumilon Island (Sumilon), a breathtakingly beautiful island off Dumaguete, boasts a round white sand beach, a pier with crystal-clear waters where you can see coral reefs, a private beach, and every room facing the ocean. From the infinity pool, you can gaze directly at the azure sky and turquoise sea, and snorkel right outside.
If you're on your honeymoon, consider staying here for a night and enjoying a sweet moment together.
Tips: How to get there?
1. From Dumaguete, cross the sea (about half an hour) to Liloan Pier on the southern tip, then transfer to a tutu bus to the exclusive pier on Sumilon Island (about 20-30 minutes). 2. From the whale shark viewing area, take a direct tutu bus to Sumilon Pier for about 50p. 3. Return trip from Sumilon Pier to Liloan Pier: Tutu bus for 150p/vehicle, or wait for a passing yellow bus at the entrance; it will stop when you wave, 30p/person.
Recommended activity: Diving to see sardines
One of nature's strange things is that it always decides its gifts without consulting you. The Moalboal Sardines offer such a surprise and awe. To prevent the surprise from turning into a shock, be sure to cure your trypophobia before you set off.
Moalboal is a tiny fishing village west of Cebu City, confined to a single street. But the sardine rush, rarely seen elsewhere, is a truly remarkable destination.
It's said that these sardines originally swarmed near Pescardor Island and later migrated to the dive site near Panagsam Beach in Moalboal. However, about four years ago, the swarm mysteriously vanished, and no one knows where they went. Miraculously, they returned two years ago. So, nature's mysteries are truly remarkable.
Tips: How to get there?
Moalboal is a small fishing village on the west coast of Cebu City. From Dumaguete, take a tuk-tuk to Sibulan Pier. After purchasing your ferry ticket, take a ferry to Liloan Pier. From there, take a yellow bus or charter car to Moalboal.
Recommended gameplay: Diving with turtles and saying hi to clownfish
Apo Island hosts a feast in the ocean, inviting the vibrant corals to dance for the night, inviting the year-round sea turtles, playful clownfish, and a variety of fish to dine. They also invite you to swim with them and be among them.
Apo Island, located southeast of Negros, is renowned for its excellent diving in the Philippines and is considered one of the world's top ten diving destinations. Surrounding the island is a vast marine sanctuary, home to a vibrant underwater world. If you have the opportunity to follow a sea turtle, you'll find its adorable presence as it occasionally surfaces to breathe. But be careful not to touch them; it could harm them and result in a fine.
Tips: How to get there?
Duma to Apo Island: Tell the driver you want to go to Apo Island and they will take you to the corresponding pier. The TUTU ride there costs about 200p. From the pier, take a boat to the island, which takes about 30 minutes.
Recommended ways to play: Island circling, cane diving, high platform diving
When it comes to islands, I only have two requirements: For scenery, I want forests, lakes, ocean views, and sunsets; for fun, I want a ten-meter diving platform, vine diving, and vine swings; and for entertainment, I want island hopping, swimming, diving, and hanging baskets. My requirements aren't high (or even quite high, hahaha), and Siquijor Island is just right.
"For most Filipinos, Siquijor feels like a mysterious, unknown, magical world." Take a boat trip to Siquijor, marvel at the captivating seascape, enjoy its uncontested, otherworldly tranquility and pristine environment, and savor the truly low-key, relaxed rural life. It's not just about the joy of exploring the unknown, but also about the unfettered, carefree, and uninhibited feeling of freedom and abandon.
Let me tell you a secret: many foreigners who have traveled half the world stay here and stay. Several inns on the island are owned by them—have you felt the magic of Siquijor?
You can even rent flamingo inflatable boats on the island's beach. Just be careful to hold onto the ropes and don't let the wind blow you and your boat away.
Tips: How to get there?
1. There are multiple boats running between Dumaguete and Siquijor daily. We recommend Ocean Jet, a fast, air-conditioned boat for 200 pesos and a 45-minute journey. 2. Sumilon to Siquijor: A boat departs from Sumilon Pier at 10:00 AM for Larena Pier in Siquijor. The fare is 200 pesos and the journey takes about two hours. Be sure to allow time for your hotel transfer to the pier. Tutu-tu buses are available for this portion of the journey. Note: On windy days, strong waves can cause the boat to rock, so bring motion sickness medication as a precaution.
Adorable whale sharks, playful clownfish, proud sea turtles, as well as stunning schools of sardines, agile dolphins, and exciting diving, the highly anticipated Dumaguete City in the Philippines is waiting for you.
