A day in Siquijor: Places to visit
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Siquijor is an island province located at the Central Visayas
Region of the Philippines. Often dubbed as, the Isla del Fuego which means “Island of Fire”. It is the third smallest province in the country,
in terms of population as well as land area.
For
most Filipinos, the speculation about Siquijor is a
mysterious place of other-world witchcraft, sorcery and the unknown. However, the
truth behind those assumptions are the friendly, kind and smiling faces among
locals. It is a dwelling place where you can indulge yourself to the rewarding
tourists’ spots such
as the pristine beaches, amazing waterfalls, lush hiking trails and old stone
churches. Indeed, it was quite amazing how this place offers a lot of fascinating
view.
Truth is, this place is a bliss.
Truth is, this place is a bliss.
How we spent a day to the Island of Fire- Siquijor:
It
was around 8 am when we left Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental. (From Dumaguete Port you can see a lot of
ferries en route to Siquijor and it will only take you an hour to reach the
place.)
We purchased our ticket at the ticketing booth for only Php 130 per head and Php 15 for the terminal fee.
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| Ticketing booth |
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| Waiting area! |
The sky was clear, clear—light blue painted through the horizon and a slight breeze in the air when we went to Siquijor. Definitely a perfect day to enjoy!
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| Hello! Siquijor! |
There
are a lot of alternatives in exploring the island; you can rent a motorcycle
(P350 exclusion of gasoline) or a tricycle, so you don’t have to worry! We
opted to hire a tricycle for only P1, 000 a day since we can’t beat the blazing
heat of the sun.
It was past 9 in the morning when we started our exploits. Indeed, it was welcoming seeing the signage “Welcome to Siquijor” in front of St. Francis of Assisi Church. Fears and doubts were gone when we began our quick but unforgetable getaway. I love the vibe of the place, the locals and of course my companion (Hi ga!) LOL
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Places to visit in SiquijorCapilay Spring Park
This
natural, open-to-the-public swimming pool is right in the middle of the town
plaza where everyone is free to take a plunge into its refreshing spring
waters.
No entrance fee needed. We
only took some pictures and sat there for a while. It was not so crowded so you
can really relax and have some fresh air. Nothing much to see in this place, so
we only stayed there for 30 minutes.
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The inner kid in me!Old Enchanted Balete Tree
We passed along the humid
streets of Siquijor and we disembarked into an enormous Balete Tree also called as the “Old Enchanted Balete Tree”. It is said to be around 400 to
500 years old located in Barangay Campalanas in the
town of Lazi and has become a tourist spot for curious tourists who are
visiting Siquijor province. It also became a favorite setting for Pinoy horror
movies because of this old, scary looking balete tree.
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| Tourist also took some pictures with the Balete Tree! |
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| It's so creepy to stand here alone. tbh! |
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| The enormous Old Enchanted Balete Tree |
Not only looking at this
mysterious Balete tree, we also enjoyed ourselves relieving our tired and calloused feet at
the shallow swimming pool beside it.
The fish spa experience rejuvenated our weary feet and relaxed our senses. Surprisingly, a growing number of local and foreign visitors have also made their way to the try this good fish spa experience.
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Souvenir shops nearby!San Isidro Convent Convent in Lazi
Time quickly passed as our tricycle roared off to San Isidro
Labrador Parish in Lazi. The San Isidro Labrador
Church, and Lazi Convent at Siquijor stood at an open lawn of Acacia spreading
its flora. There were
some relics to show and it speaks for the time it has been there.
Unfortunately, when we have gotten to the church, there was a
funeral ceremony going. We payed respect for the bereavement of the family and we didn’t bother to stay long, just enough to look around, and say our prayers.
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Outside the Church of San Isidro Convent Convent in LaziCambugahay Falls
After visiting San Isidro Convent in Lazi, we went directly to Cambugahay
Falls which is situated just two kilometers outside the town of Lazi. Cambugahay falls is a
must-visit when you’re in Siquijor. Walking down the 135 steps, you
get to see the falls through the trees and you just have to stop and appreciate
the breathtaking view! Just be careful because some paths are mossy and
slippery.
 We ended up getting to the falls at about noon and we were surprised that we only needed to pay for parking for Php 20.  
The waterfall consists of multi-layered cascading falls with
clean and warm water originating from natural springs. Water from the
Cambugahay Falls flows down about three kilometers downstream making numerous
wonderful swimming lagoons before it discharges into the Lazi Bay.
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The view was awe-inspiring; one can take a swim. The Tarzan rope was also a must try. If you're an adrenaline junky like us, there's a rope swing and the top of the falls to jump from!
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| Trying this tarzan rope! |
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| A must try! |
Salagdoong Beach Resort:
Salagdoong
Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Siquijor and it’s the ideal tropical getaway. It can be
found in the town of Maria, Siquijor. It is nestled on the eastern part of the
island.
The beach has become a favorite destination for both locals
and tourists because of its crystal clear water and fine white sand.
To our excitement we hadn’t taken that much photos because we
enjoyed the scenery and forgot to document the picture-perfect view. Sorry!
I still conquered the highest feet ledge. So I challenged
my boyfriend to do it!
I couldn’t forget how he unleashed his inner
daredevil side when he jumped the highest diving platform. Whew! (If you’re
reading this: I’m so proud of you! I know it’s not your cup of tea but you
still made it! (Let’s just keep it a secret how long you’ve made it okay?
Haha).
It was great way to end our adventure with an adrenaline and heart stopping cliff dive experience. Siquijor is definitely a paradise; Not a place for us to be afraid of.
How to Get to Siquijor Island From Cebu:
From Cebu City, take a bus bound for Liloan at South Bus Terminal. Travel period 3-4 hours. Fare is Php162 for ordinary bus and Php200 for air-conditioned bus.
At Liloan Port, pay the terminal fee and ferry ticket going to Sibulan (Negros Oriental) for only Php62. Travel time is less than 25 minutes.
From Sibulan Port, ride a jeepney or a tricycle to Dumaguete City for only Php11.
From Dumaguete Port take a ferry going to Siquijor for only Php130
Day tour Itinerary:
8:00AM - Dumaguete Port to Siquijor
9:20AM – Start Siquijor Island Tour
10:20AM – Capilay Spring
11:00AM - Old Enchanted Balete Tree (Fish Spa)
11:40AM – San Isidro Labrador Church and Lazi Convent
12:00PM AM – Cambugahay Falls
1:30 PM– Salagdoong Beach
3:30PM – Siquijor to Dumaguete Port
Expenses:
Dumaguete Ferry to Siquijor and terminal fee (Php145x2= Php290)
Siquijor Day Tour (Tricycle fee good for 2 = Php1000)
Old Enchanted Balete Tree (Php5x2 =10 entrance fee each)
Cambugahay Falls (Php20 parking fee)
Salagdoong Beach (Php25x2=50 entrance fee)
Lunch (Php 200)
Siquijor Ferry to Dumaguete (Php130x2 =260 )
Note that all ferries will leave around 4pm and 6 pm from Siquijor.
Hope this help!
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Rothessa Jane Gonzaga
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