Summary of our 5-Day Western Visayas Tour:
Day 1
My friends’ expected arrival in Iloilo is around 5am, and after giving them instructions on what to tell the driver of the shuttle service, we finally met at Jollibee in SM Jaro. I was supposed to treat them to a hot delicious breakfast of batchoy at Ted’s La Paz Batchoy (Jaro branch), but unfortunately, it was closed as it was still too early. Instead, we had breakfast at Red’s 24H Restaurant, which is also located near Jaro Plaza.
It was raining while we had breakfast of batchoy, arroz caldo and pancit, but lucky for us, it stopped just before we finished eating. We hailed a Jaro CPU jeepney which took us to Plaza Libertad. From there, we walked towards the SuperCat ferry terminal in Muelle Loney.
We slept the entire one-hour trip from Iloilo to Bacolod. And from there, we rented a tricycle. The driver recommended Sweet City Captel based on our simple preference for an accommodation.
On Day 1, we were able to roam around the cities of Bacolod, Silay, and Talisay. Here are the sites that we visited on our first day in Negros Occidental:
II. Old Pala-Pala
IV. Balay Negrense
V. The Ruins
entrance tickets to the Negros Museum
Balay Negrense or the Victor Fernandez Gaston Ancestral House
The Ruins in Talisay City
The Ruins at night
Day 2
We woke up starving since we didn’t have dinner the day before. We were dead tired after travelling from Iloilo to Bacolod, and exploring three cities in Negros Occidental, that a quick nap turned into deep sleep.
We went to the Old Pala-Pala for our brunch, checked out at the hotel, and proceeded to Libertad terminal, where we were instructed to take the mini-bus which will transport us to Mambukal Mountain Resort in Murcia.
Here's what happened on our second day in Negros Occidental:
II. Seven Falls
III. Hot Spring
Day 3
We can’t get enough of the therapeutic Hot Spring that we went back right after breakfast. Check out time is 12noon, so we made sure that we get to explore the other facilities of the resort some more:
I. Hot Spring
II. Kayak
III. Zipline
Kayaking in the lagoon at Mambukal Mountain Resort
Final swim before our check out at the resort
The terminal for the mini-buses going to Bacolod City is located just outside the resort. The driver informed us that the bus will leave in 10 minutes so we immediately bought pork barbecue and a big bottle of soft drinks in a nearby carinderia. Our barbecue was still being grilled when we were informed that the bus is going. We had no choice but to bring our food and soft drinks with us in the bus. Good thing the carinderia owner provided us with a plate (for loan, and will be returned by the driver) and some plastic cups.
In the bus, we got to talk to a fellow passenger who plays guitar for his band. They have a gig in Robinson’s Bacolod that night, and since he sings too, he gamely played his guitar and sang some songs during our travel. Here’s a picture:
The guitairs/singer who gamely supplied the road music on our way back to Bacolod City.
When we arrived in Iloilo City, it is NEVER advisable to take a taxi inside the terminal of ferry boats. I told the taxi driver that we will pay according to the taxi meter, he helped us with our baggages, but when we got inside the taxi, he told us that we pay 300pesos in going to a nearby hotel. It was horrible actually. First, he suggested a pricey hotel (despite the fact that we told him we want an economical one), and second, his suggested fare price is just absurd. It was a slap in my face; I am an Ilonggo.
Nevertheless, we just paid him 150pesos, and he brought us to our "researched" econo-hotel, City Corporate Inn. We paid 995pesos for a Deluxe room good for 3 persons.
Day 4
We woke up late since we went for a night-out at Smallville Complex. Since our hotel is located near Ortiz Wharf (walking distance), we immediately went there after lunch.
After a brief 15-20 minutes ferry ride, we finally arrived in Guimaras:
After a brief 15-20 minutes ferry ride, we finally arrived in Guimaras:
waiting for our turn to take a look at the lighthouse
Finally, the Guisi Point Lighthouse!
at the peaceful Trappist Monastery
Don't forget to pass by the gift shop before you leave Trappist Monastery.
We hired a multicab for a half-day tour, and on our way back to Jordan Wharf, we were able to buy Guimaras’ famous mangoes as pasalubongs to our families.
We had dinner at Roberto’s Restaurant before deciding to go back to the hotel and rest. A little past midnight, we decided again to go to Smallville Complex.
Day 5
It was raining heavily on the fifth and last day of my friends’ Western Visayas tour. We were supposed to explore Iloilo City, but we cancelled the whole plan because of the heavy downpour. Instead, we headed to SM City, left our baggage in their Traveler’s Lounge, and had lunch at Ted’s Lapaz batchoy inside the mall. In order to kill time, we watched The Healing. The movie ended just in time for the one-hour-before-the-departure rule of airline companies. The terminal for the shuttle services going to the airport is beside SM City, so transport was not a problem.
Expenses:
Day 1
100 - breakfast at Red’s 24H Restaurant
520 - roundtrip (Iloilo-Bacolod-Iloilo) via SuperCat ferry
234 - room at Sweet City Captel (700pesos/3pax)
167 - lunch at Old Pala-Pala (est. 500pesos/3pax)
50 - entrance fee at the Negros Museum
50 - entrance fee at Balay Negrense
50 - entrance fee at The Ruins
50 - tip to a staff at The Ruins (150pesos/3pax)
67 - hired multicab to The Ruins and back to Sweet City Captel (200pesos/3pax)
80 - other transportation expenses
1,368 pesos - subtotal
Day 2
167 - lunch at Old Pala-Pala (est. 500pesos/3pax)
50 - bus fare from Bacolod City to Mambukal Mountain Resort
50 - resort entrance
334 - room at the LGU cottage in the resort (900pesos/2pax plus 100pesos for extra foam)
100 - dinner at the resort (300pesos/3pax)
50 - share for drinks and pulutan with friends in the resort
70 - other transportation expenses
821 pesos - subtotal
Day 3
100 - breakfast at the resort
30 - kayak
167 - tip to our tour guide (500pesos from the three of us)
50 - lunch at a carindirya outside the resort
50 - bus fare from Mambukal Mountain Resort to Bacolod City
100 - dinner in Iloilo City
332 - room at the City Corporate Inn (995pesos/3pax) - first day
60 - other transportation expenses
889 pesos - subtotal
Day 4
100 - brunch in Iloilo City
267 - Guimaras half-day tour via private multicab (800pesos/3pax)
10 - entrance fee to Guisi Point Light House
200 - *personal donation to the Trappist Monastery
200 - *personal pasalubongs from the Trappist Monastery gift shop
300 - *personal pasalubongs of Guimaras mangoes (4 kilos at 75pesos/kilo)
100 - dinner in the hotel
50 - other transportation expenses
1,227 pesos - subtotal
Day 5
80 - breakfast in Iloilo City
332 - room at the City Corporate Inn (995pesos/3pax) - second day
167 - *other expenses in the hotel like bottled water, pancit, flu meds, etc. (500pesos/3pax)
30 - locker rental at the Traveler’s Lounge in SM City
180 - *movie at SM City (just to kill time)
130 - lunch at Ted’s Batchoy
100 - other transportation expenses
1,019 pesos - subtotal
Day 1 - 1,368
Day 2 - 821
Day 3 - 889
Day 4 - 1,227
Day 5 - 1,019
5,234 pesos - GRAND TOTAL
Not bad for a 5-day get-away. Note, however, that the figures are just estimates of our incurred expenses. This does not include airfare (better wait for airline promos), and the airport terminal fee. Although it includes pasalubong, it is still better to allot around 1500pesos since you will be bringing home delicious goodies from Bacolod City, Guimaras, and Iloilo City.
Contacts:
Negros Museum 2Go Travel (formerly SuperCat)
The Ruins Balay Negrense
Mambukal Mountain Resort
Trappist Monastery
Here is the list of entries on our 5-Day Western Visayas Tour:
I. Western Visayas: The 5-Day Itinerary
II. Bacolod City: Negros Museum and the Old Pala-Pala
III. Balay Negrense and the ancestral houses in Silay City
IV. The Ruins in Talisay City
V. Capitol Park and Lagoon
VI. Mambukal Mountain Resort and the Seven Falls
VII. Mambukal Mountain Resort-Hot Spring, Zipline, Kayak
VIII. Guimaras: Guisi Point Lighthouse & theTrappist Monastery
IX. Western Visayas: Summary, Expenses, and Contacts
Negros Museum 2Go Travel (formerly SuperCat)
Bacolod City, Negros Occ. Iloilo ticketing office: (+6334) 508-7227
(+6334) 433-4764 Bacolod ticketing office: (+6334) 707-7227
(+6334) 708-5080 Hotline: (+632) 233-7000
(+6334) 431-9451 scat-customercare@SuperCat.com.ph
negros_museum96@yahoo.com
Hacienda Sta. Maria Cinco de Noviembre St.
Talisay City, Negros Occidental Silay City, Negros Occidental
(+6334) 476-4334 / (0917) 832-6003 (+6334) 495-4916
Mambukal Mountain Resort
Brgy. Minoyan, Murcia, Negros Occidental
Direct Reservations: (+632) 433-7532/ 9295671/ 9282101/ 9941145
Resort CP Number: 09473241969/ 09052235745
Sweet City Captel Guisi Point LighthouseGatuslao St., Bacolod City Brgy. Lourdes, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras
(+6334) 433-5391 Contact Person: Ms.Rose Gaitan
(+6334) 432-2989 (0919) 563-6688
capgem_coop@yahoo.com Trappist Monastery
(Our Lady of the Philippines Trappist Abbey)
Brgy. San Miguel, Jordan, Guimaras
Contact Person: Fr. Bruno Mendoza
(+6333) 581-3385
(0927) 463-4465
I. Western Visayas: The 5-Day Itinerary
II. Bacolod City: Negros Museum and the Old Pala-Pala
III. Balay Negrense and the ancestral houses in Silay City
IV. The Ruins in Talisay City
V. Capitol Park and Lagoon
VI. Mambukal Mountain Resort and the Seven Falls
VII. Mambukal Mountain Resort-Hot Spring, Zipline, Kayak
VIII. Guimaras: Guisi Point Lighthouse & theTrappist Monastery
IX. Western Visayas: Summary, Expenses, and Contacts
hi Isko!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the info!!!
Will be going there on Saturday then be back at Monday! Kami naman! Ok tong blog mo! I find it so informative! Hope you continue blogging. Im sure alot would be benefiting from it. THanks again!