Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Heading to Minalonan from the west you'll pass through
Lazi
, with its delightful
nineteenth-century church built of coral and stone and right opposite it, the oldest
convent in the Philippines, a low-rise wooden building now sagging with age but still
beautiful. A few kilometres inland from Lazi,
Cambughay Falls
are the island's most
accessible and popular waterfalls. Steep steps lead down to the pretty falls which are a
pleasant spot for a picnic or a swim.
6
Larena and around
Some slower ferries arrive at the port of
LARENA
, from where the beaches of Sandugan
are only a brief jeepney or tricycle ride to the north. From the pier it's just a short walk
to the town centre, which has a town hall, plaza and church, but not much else. There
are a couple of basic lodges in Larena, but with plentiful jeepneys and tricycles to
nearby Sandugan, there's really no need to stay.
Sandugan
Six kilometres northeast of Larena is the village of
SANDUGAN
, where there's a beach
and a number of resorts, one with professional
scuba-diving
facilities. To reach the
beach, take a tricycle or jeepney from Larena to Sandugan and then negotiate the rutted
path that leads to the shore. All the tricycle drivers know it, so you won't get lost.
Mount Bandila-an
You can enquire about guides at the tourism assistance centre in Siquijor Town, although many resorts can also offer advice and arrange for a
local to show you the way • Access is via either the village of Cantabon (take a tricycle or jeepney from Larena), or Cangmonag in the south
At 628m,
Mount Bandila-an
is Siquijor's highest point and accessible to anyone
reasonably fit. It lies at the centre of the island in an area still recovering from damage
inflicted during World War II, when acres of forest were razed by retreating Japanese
troops. Now the entire area is part of the Siquijor Reforestation Project and while
rehabilitation is not yet complete, wildlife such as the leopard cat and long-tailed
macaque survive.
Mount Bandila-an can be climbed in a day, and you'll need a guide. On the way to the
peak you'll pass the
Stations of the Cross
, where a solemn religious procession re-enacting
the Passion of Christ is held every Easter, and there are a number of springs and caves.
Ask the guide to point out the huge old
balete tree
at the side of the trail, said to be
home to spirits, imps and guardians of the forest. To ask their permission to pass, the
polite thing to say is
tabi tabi lang-po
, which means “excuse me, please step aside”.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
SIQUIJOR
By boat
Siquijor is not accessible by plane, but between
Delta (
T
035 225 3128), GL Shipping Lines (
T
035 480
5534) and Oceanjet (
T
032 255 7560 in Cebu,
W
oceanjet
.net) there are up to six fast ferry connections from
Dumaguete to Siquijor Town (daily 6am-3pm; 45min).
Oceanjet also has a combined service from Cebu to
Tagbilaran, then Dumaguete and finally on to Siquijor
Town (4hr 50min). A few slower Montenegro Lines (
T
032
238 5820 in Cebu,
W
montenegrolines.com.ph) and
F.J. Palacio Lines (
T
032 253 7700 in Cebu) ferries run from
Dumaguete and Tagbilaran to Larena (3hr).
Onwards boat
tickets can be arranged through most resorts or directly at
Siquijor Town and Larena piers.
INFORMATION
SIQUIJOR TOWN
Tourist information
There's a tourism assistance centre
(Mon-Fri 8am-noon & 1-5pm) at the pier in Siquijor Town
which has a few maps and brochures and can also help
arrange transport and guides.
Services
There are a few small internet cafés, including
the intriguingly named Melbon Rub.
LARENA AND AROUND
Services
Larena has a post o
ce and an Allied Bank with
an ATM. You can get online in Larena at Mykel's Internet,
next to the pension of the same name.
