10 THINGS TO DO WHEN VISITING SIPALAY CITY
Dubbed as the Jewel of the Sugar Island, Sipalay is poised to be considered as a premier tourist destination in Negros Occidental. Located in the southwestern part of Negros Island, the cities of Bacolod and Dumaguete are its entry points.
While Sipalay also claimed to have numerous caves and falls, most of these though are not yet made accessible to the public pending upon the proper assessment of these places. But I guess Sipalay’s beaches and abundant marine life is more than enough for any tourist to feel in love with the area. A haven for divers, Sipalay boasts of its forty-two (42) dive sites including the shipwreck of S/S Panay that sunk during World War II.
To help you in planning your future trip to the place, Top On My List, outlined the top 10 Things To Do When Visiting Sipalay City.
- SCUBA DIVING | SNORKELING
Sipalay is known for scuba diving having a fantastic 42 diving spots. Several Diving Companies are found in the resorts for your diving equipment needs.
- SUGAR BEACH
You need to travel a 15-minute boat ride from the city proper to reach the Sugar Beach. The beach has a fine dirty brown sand which resembles sugar from afar. Various resorts lined the beachfront of Sugar Beach. The place offers an excellent place for swimming and multiple activities. I guess his location is ideal also for having some teambuilding because it’s not that crowded.
Please click here to read A story about the sugar beach.
- TINAGONG DAGAT
Another beach in Sipalay which you should visit is the Tinagong Dagat. As the name implies, it ’s a hidden sea sprinkled with a dozen islets covered with lush vegetation. The sea bottom is covered with patches of seagrass beds, with the shoreline lined by old-growth mangroves.
Punta Ballo
- PUNTA BALLO
Very close to Tinagong Dagat is the Punta Ballo Beach. This beautiful white sandy beach is more than a kilometer stretch. It’s the nearest jump off point towards the sea is ideal for snorkeling & diving due to the vibrant marine life. The Punta Ballo Beach is lined by several resorts offering various types of services according to your budget and preference.
- CAMPOMANES BAY
If you go beach hopping, you can reach the Campomanes Bay for more or less 10 minutes. The bay is the perfect spot for diving, jet skiing, kayaking, and all sorts of water sports. It has an existing port that caters to medium-sized sea craft. The enclosed shape of the bay and the islets in its opening provide calm waters even in harsh weather conditions. Entrance to the harbor is a vast expanse of coral garden with various species of corals and fish. Campomanes Bay, however, doesn’t have any resorts, which can accommodate guests.
- Snorkeling OR SWIMMING
The coastline of Sipalay Beaches has excellent areas for snorkeling. If you want to explore Sipalay’s underwater, go snorkeling. Most resorts offer some snorkeling gadgets for rent.
- BOATING/ ISLAND HOPPING
You will appreciate and see more of what Sipalay can offer if you go boating or Island Hopping. Most Resorts in Sipalay have motorized pump boats which are available for rent for a very reasonable rate. You can save more if you are a group and you can share the boat rentals amongst yourselves.
- SIPALAY FOOD PARK
Beachfront in Sipalay are perfect spots wherein you can have some drinks and fun during nighttime. But if you are staying in the Poblacion Area. They have this place which they called the Sipalay Food Park or the Baywalk, ” .sometimes they also called this place the ” Mano.” This place is located right in front of the Poblacion beach. Late in the afternoon, you will see the dining establishment setting tables outside which are intended for their customers who would be eating at the place for dinner or to have some beer.
- PASAWAY FESTIVAL
Pasaway sa Sipalay is the City’s main festival. Held every December, the festival is characterized by street and arena dance competition with the costumed dancers inspired or with semblance to the copper mineral abundant in the place.
- FEAST ON THE FRESH CATCH OF THE DAY
At the beach front, you can see late in the afternoon fisherfolks arriving from their fishing activity. You can buy the fresh catch from these fisherfolks and ask your hotel to cook them for you. Better ask first your resort if they allow this. Otherwise, ask the nearby resort or any local to do the cooking for you and just enjoy this outside the resort or at the beachfront.
HOW TO GET THERE:
Bacolod and Dumaguete Cities are gateways to Sipalay City. By Public transport, Sipalay can be reached at approximately 4-5 hours and 3-4 hours drive by private car.
For visitors coming from other countries, you can fly to Silay-Bacolod Airport from the various international airports in the country such as Manila, Cebu, and Davao. Bacolod Can also be reached by sea from Manila and Iloilo.
WHERE TO STAY:
Sipalay City has a wide array of Resorts, Hotels, and Inns to cater to you according to your budget and need. Please click here for the list of places to stay when visiting Sipalay City.
#Advertising Me and my family already went here. And we really enjoyed the moment that we spent here.
The beautiful Sipalay. A piece of paradise and definitely the Jewel of the Sugar Land.