Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GETTING AROUND
If you've booked accommodation in advance, you may get a free pick-up from your port of arrival; otherwise there are
tricycles from the main port of Siquijor, and jeepneys from Larena. You could also arrange a tour through your resort.
By motorbike
Renting a motorbike (or bicycle) is
the cheapest and best way to get around the island.
Motorbikes can be rented for around P400/day from
many resorts, or at Scandinavian Rent-A-Motorbike
(
T
0939 640 5132) on the National Highway in Siquijor
Town.
By bangka
To take you along the coast by sea, bangkas
can be chartered in Larena, Siquijor Town and Lazi.
6
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
THE WEST COAST
suggests, this laidback resort sits on coral cliffs overlooking
a tiny stretch of beach lapped by glass-clear water. Simple
rooms are spread through
a love
ly garden and the restau-
rant looks out over the sea.
P980
SIQUIJOR TOWN
The main drag in Siquijor Town, Rizal St, is chock-a-block
with cheap canteens and bakeries selling fresh
pan de sal
.
Samyz Pizza
Mabini St.
This is a pleasant enough place
to while away time if you find yourself waiting for a ferry,
and does okay pizza.
Daily 11am-8pm.
LARENA AND AROUND
Casa de la Playa
Sandugan
T
035 377 2291,
W
siquijor
casa.com.
Owners Terry and Emily have established a
New Age tropical spa that offers yoga sessions, food made
with organic vegetables from the resort's own garden and
even massages from a local shaman. Accommodation is in
a range of lovingly built fan and a/c huts and houses
(P1100-2400); some are set back from the shore in a pretty
garden bursting with frangipani and white
sampaguita
blosso
m, whi
le others are on the beach and have sea
views.
P1100
Hard Rock Cottages
2km east of Sandugan
T
0926 278
6070,
W
hardrockcottages.com.
Four very simple cottages
in a lovely, quiet spot overlooking the ocean. Two of the
cottages are on the clifftop, while the other two
are dow
n by
the sea. There's a small bar and restaurant here.
P1200
Kiwi Dive Resort
At the eastern end of Sandugan
Beach (turn right at the end of the path)
T
035 424
0534,
W
kiwidiveresort.com.
Pleasant, small-scale resort
with attractive stone cottages on a low hill overlooking a
private cove, all with bathrooms and the better ones
with solar hot water (P1090). Omelettes, nourishing stews,
curry, fish, spaghetti and vegetarian dishes are some of
the tasty options available at the restaurant. One of the
owners is a dive instructor and can organize trips to nearby
sites. They also have wi-fi and rent ou
t mou
ntain bikes
(P275/day) and motorbikes (P590/day).
P450
Triad Restaurant
Larena
T
0917 321 2124.
Perched
atop a hill a short ride from Larena,
Triad
offers tasty food
and expansive views over the coast. Dishes on offer include
buttered shrimp (P270),
lechon kawali
(P90) and pancit
(P95).
Daily 10am-9pm.
THE WEST COAST
Charisma Beach Resort
Solangon, 3km west of San
Juan
T
0929 807 0515,
W
charismabeachresort.com.
British-owned place with dorm beds, simple rooms right
on the beach and spick-and-span, white, motel-style
room
s arran
ged aro
und a s
wimming pool (P1750-2500).
Dorm
P350
, double
P1400
★
Coco Grove Beach Resort
Tubod, 3km east of San
Juan
T
035 481 5008,
W
cocogroveresort.com.
By far
the island's most luxurious resort, Australian-owned
Coco
Grove
occupies a prime stretch of palm-fringed beach.
Rooms range from modest but tasteful standards to newer
executive suites and luxury villas, all of which have a/c.
There are two restaurants, two pools, a swim-up bar, dive
centre, kayaks, massage and wi-fi, among other amenities.
The resort also runs daily dive trips to Apo Island (where
Apo Island B
each Re
sort
is under the same ownership; see
box, p.320).
P2700
Coral Cay Resort
Solangon Beach, 3km to the west
of San Juan
T
0919 269 1269,
W
coralcayresort.com.
This resort is owned by an expat and his Filipina wife.
Accommodation ranges from clean, simple rooms with
fan and cold shower to spacious a/c cottages with a small
living area and separate bedroom (P3450). The restaurant
menu is surprisingly urbane for such an isolated place,
featuring coq au vin and Australian Chardonnay. Jeepney
tours, trekking, scuba diving, mountain bik
es and a
nything
else you care to ask for can all be arranged.
P1000
Royal Cliff Resort
Close to Coco Grove, Tubod
T
035
481 5038,
W
royal-cliff-resort.de.tf.
As its name
Negros
The island of
NEGROS
, fourth largest in the country and home to 3.5 million people,
lies at the heart of the Visayas, between Panay to the west and Cebu to the east. Shaped
like a boot, it's split diagonally into the northwestern province of Negros Occidental
