Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Malatapay market
Malatapay, Zamboanguita • About 20min southwest of Dauin by road, or 20km from Dumaguete • Wed dawn-noon • Most of the resorts
in Dauin arrange trips to the market or you can flag down a jeepney, or charter a tricycle (P150-200 round-trip from Dauin including
waiting time)
One of the most unusual markets in the Philippines is held every Wednesday in the
seaside barangay of
MALATAPAY
. Buyers and sellers at
Malatapay market
, also known as
Zamboanguita market
, still use the traditional native barter system, with farmers from
the surrounding villages and Bukidnon tribespeople from the interior meeting with
fishermen and housewives to swap everything for anything - livestock, fish, exotic fruit,
strange vegetables and household items. You'll have to be up bright and early to visit
the market: the bartering begins at first light and is usually more or less finished by
noon. Malatapay is also the departure point for boats to Apo Island (see box below), so
a visit to the market and island can easily be combined.
6
Tambobo Bay
Most resorts can arrange trips or hop on any bus or jeepney (P60) from Dumaguete or Dauin heading south along the coast; get off at
Siaton and then take a tricycle for the last few kilometres (P50/person) to the beach; if you have your own vehicle it's far simpler to leave
the main road at Mayabong Crossing (Km39) from which it's a beautiful but very bumpy 10km to Tambobo
Forty kilometres south of Dumaguete, at the very southern tip of Negros near the small
town of Siaton,
Tambobo Bay
is a beautiful, serpentine bay, popular with foreign
yachties for the protection it affords from storms, but also for its laidback lifestyle and
APO ISLAND AND OTHER DIVE SITES
Tiny, volcanic
Apo Island
, 7km off the south coast of Negros, has become a prime destination
for divers, most of whom head out for the day from Dumaguete, Dauin or Siquijor. Site of one
of the Philippines' first and most successful marine reserves, Apo has a series of reefs teeming
with marine life, from the smallest nudibranch to the largest deepwater fish. The sanctuary
area is on the island's southeast coast, while much of the flat land to the north is occupied by
the only village, home to four hundred fisherfolk and farmers. Non-divers needn't be bored;
Apo has some fantastic snorkelling and it's a great little island to explore on foot.
Organized trips
from Dumaguete or Dauin cost P1000-3000 per person depending on the
level of comfort and number of people in your group, or you can travel independently on one of
the regular bangkas from Malatapay. The trip takes about 45 minutes and the price is fixed at
P2000 for a small bangka (good for four), P3000 for a large bangka (up to ten people), or
alternatively you can arrange a place on one of the four daily
Liberty Lodge
shuttles (P300/person;
see below). General
admission
to the marine sanctuary is P100.
Among other dive sites,
Calong-Calong Point
off the southern tip of Negros is known for its
dazzling number of smaller reef fish. Nearby is
Tacot
, a tricky deep dive where sharks are
common. From the coastal towns to the south of Dumaguete you can take a bangka to Siquijor
(see p.301), where sites such as
Sandugan Point
and
San Juan
go as deep as 65m, and where
you can expect to see tuna, barracuda and sharks plus, from March to August, manta rays.
Sightseeing trips to Apo can be arranged through most hotels in Dumaguete, but for dive
trips you're best to proceed through dive resorts in Dauin (or Siquijor if you're staying there)
-
Atmosphere
,
Liquid
and
Mike's Dauin Beach Resort
are all recommended. In Dumaguete
Harold's Mansion
runs day-trips (1-3 dives P2000-3300), or you can just snorkel (P1000).
ACCOMMODATION
Apo Island Beach Resort
Apo Island
T
0939
915 5122,
W
apoislandresort.com.
Under the same
ownership as
Coco Grove
(Siquijor) and
Coco Grande
(Dauin). this lovely little place sits at the back of a tiny
isolated sandy cove hemmed in by rocks. It's expensive,
and the beach and restaurant can get overrun with day
visitors, but when they've left for the day the true magic
of this location reveals itself. Dorm
P800
, double
P2700
Liberty's Lodge
Apo Island
T
0920 2385 704,
W
apoisland.com.
Set above the main beach,
Liberty's
offers good views and reasonable rates for the sweet
little rooms, which are also inclusive of all meals. Wi-fi
for P50/day (if there is ele
ctricity)
. Shuttle boat to
Malatapay four times per day.
P1950
