After a day of diving in Apo Island, Ate Claudia and I crossed the Bohol Strait to visit the neighboring island province of Siquijor, a total contrasting experience from the city life of Dumaguete.

Salagdoong Beach, Olang, Maria, Siquijor

Only one hour by fast craft from the port of Dumaguete City, Siquijor is a small, mystical, laid back island with rich history and natural attractions. The island, slightly bigger than Camiguin, has a 75 kilometers circumferential road that spans in its six towns of San Juan, Lazi, Maria, Enrique Villanueva, Larena and Siquijor, the provincial capital.

Its attractions include old churches, waterfalls, natural springs, century old trees and structures, caves, and white sand beaches. Numerous diving sites also dot the water surrounding the island.

Aboard the Delta Fast Craft from Dumaguete to Siquijor

We took the 9AM Delta Fast Craft from the port of Dumaguete to Siquijor. A P175 (P160 for fare and P15 for terminal fee) short ride to the province. By 10AM, we were already in the port of Siquijor, and as we exit the port, tricycle and multicab drivers mobbed us, offering tour of the island.

One thing lacking in Siquijor is regulated tourism. There is no organize way of attending to tourists and standard rates of tours. With so many offers and sales talk, it was Haypee who got us. At first he priced us P1000 for five-hour trike tour of the island, but we haggled and brought it down to P700. We need to be back to Suquijor port before 3PM to catch the last trip of Delta Fast Craft to Dumaguete, and he made sure we will be back in time for the trip.

Tour Siquijor with trike

Our first destination was St. Francis of Assisi Church and Belfry of Siquijor. Located just outside the port, the church was the oldest in the province. It was constructed from 1795 to 1831.

St. Francis of Assisi Church

Next stop was Capilay Spring Park, just along the main highway in the town of San Juan, a favorite hangout for locals and tourists on hot sunny days with its cold water originating from the natural spring. The complex was converted into a public park with pools, cottages, trees and well designed landscape.

Capilay Spring Park

Just a few minutes away from Capilay Spring Park is a smaller spring with the century old banyan (balete) tree still standing on it. This is the oldest tree in the island and a popular landmark of Siquijor due to its hugeness, oldness and the myths and legends attached to it.

Century-old banyan (balete) tree

By lunch time, we were already in the town of Lazi. Lazi  is home to the San Isidro Labrador Parish, one of the few remaining Baroque Churches in the Philippines, and a candidate for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The church was established by Augustinian Recollects in 1857. Across from the church is the convent and museum. The convent, which was erected in 1887, is one of the oldest and biggest in the country. Entrance fee to the museum is P20.

San Isidro Labrador Church

San Isidro Labrador Convent

Also in the town of Lazi is the Cambugahay Falls, one of the main attractions of the island. It is a multi-tiered waterfalls with the cold water coming from the natural springs in the mountain/forest area of the island. From the road, one needs to go down to a 135 stone steps to see the falls.

The 135 stone steps down to Cambugahay Falls

Cambugahay Falls

From the town of Lazi, we headed to the neighboring town of Maria for our last stop – the Salagdoong Forest and Beach in Barangay Olang. But on the way to Salagdoong, an unfortunate thing happened. Our trike broke down at around 1:30PM. Haypee stopped at a repair shop and asked for help from the mechanic. Thirty minutes past and after some workaround, the trike was back to its shape and we continued our tour. We reached Salagdoong Beach past 2PM and just spent a little time exploring the area and sitting in the beachfront.

"What are you looking at?" - A cow across the repair shop.

Salagdoong Beach is now a developed beach. With slides, cottages, halls and rooms, the public beach is being managed by the local government of Maria and a popular destination for beach lovers, locals and tourists alike. Entrance fee is P15 per person and parking fee (for our trike) of also P15. They have restaurant inside and rooms for those planning to stay overnight.

Salagdoong Forest

Twenty minutes before 3:00 PM, Haypee approached and told us that it takes almost an hour back to the port of Siquijor. We were shocked. It was almost 3:00 PM, and the last Delta Fast Craft leaves on the same hour. But our worry eased a bit when he said that there is a Montenegro Ferry that leaves at 3:45 PM.

Salagdoong Beach

We quickly left Salagdoong Beach, and Haypee drove his trike in full speed. We took the short cut road, the one that crosses the mountain area of Siquijor from Maria to Larena rather than the circumferential road that will pass to Enrique Villanueve. By 3:30 PM, we reached the port just in time before the ticket counter stop issuance of tickets. Whew!

We thanked and bid goodbye to Haypee. He was such a good tour guide, we handed him a little over what we agreed for his kindness.

The Montenegro Ferry fare was cheaper at P109, plus P13 terminal fee. The ferry is bigger than Delta’s but a bit slower. Travel time from Siquijor to Dumaguete was two hours, inclusive of almost half an hour stop before docking in Dumaguete.

Montenegro Ferry to Dumaguete

Before going back to Harold’s Mansion, we walked to the nearby baywalk and ended the day with sweet treats from Sans Rival.

It was a mystical day for Ate Claudia and me, we had a glimpse of the beautiful island of Siquijor in a day, an experience we will forever cherish.

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