The Philippines - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 644

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
By plane The airport is a few kilometres northwest of the
city centre. Tricycles make the trip for P120. A taxi-van will
set you back P250.
Destinations PAL and Cebu Pacific fly to Cebu (daily;
30min) and Manila (5 daily; 1hr 15min).
By bus The Ceres Liner terminal is on Governor Perdices St
near Robinson's Place mall. A tricycle costs P20. For
departures to the north of the island, it's worth making
sure that you get on an express bus, shaving a few painful
hours from journey times.
Destinations

including one dorm, dotted amid jungle greenery has
an atmospheric chill-out area and restaurant serving
great Thai fo od. Boat transfers are P300. Dorm P250 ,
double P450
Sulu Sunset Beach Resort T 0919 716 7182, W sulu
sunset.com. The simple nipa huts right on the beach are
good value, and there's table tennis, table football, darts,
billiards and hammocks to while away the afternoons. The
restaurant is superb, with plenty of veggie dishes (P180),
freshly baked wood- oven bread and pizzas (P190). Boat
transfers P300. P550
★

Takatuka Lodge T 0920 230 9174, W takatuka
-lodge.com. The wacky world of Takatuka has to be seen to
be believed. Rooms all feature verandas and one-of-a-kind
furnishings, from the pink Cadillac bed in the Superstar
room, to the stereo-controlled microphone lights in
Rockadelic. For a/c or hot showers add P200-300 per
night. The restaurant serves some of the best food on the
beach and the Salamizza (salami rösti ) is recommended.
Wi-fi costs P50 per 30min. P1050

Hourly buses to Sipalay (45hr) via
Kabankalan or Hinoba-an, and Bacolod (6hr). For Cebu
island, take a van (P11, or tricycle P100) north to Sibulan
(or Tampi for Bato on Cebu) from where there are boats
(every 30min; 30min; P35-70) to Lilo-An. From Lilo-An
there are buses up the east coast to Cebu City, while
from Bato buses go north to Moalboal (and then on to
Cebu City).
By ferry The pier is near the northern end of Rizal Blvd,
within easy walking distance of the centre. A tricycle
costs P20.
Destinations Cagayan de Oro (weekly; 7hr); Cebu City
(1-2 daily; 4hr); Dapitan (on Mindanao; daily; 3hr); Manila
(weekly; 19hr); Siquijor (6 daily; 45min); Tagbilaran (1-2
daily; 2hr).

Dumaguete and around
DUMAGUETE , the elegant capital of
Negros Oriental, lives up to its reputation
as “he City of Gentle People”. Lying on
the southeast coast of Negros, within sight
of the most southerly tip of Cebu Island,
it's a nicer-than-average port town and the
perfect jumping-off point for Siquijor and
the marine sanctuary of Apo Island , where
the diving is superb, plus there are plenty
of adventurous pursuits to be found in the
mountainous hinterlands, from lakes and
waterfalls to hot springs and traditional
markets. he main street is Perdices Street,
which runs north-south, and where you
can find plentiful ATMs, travel agents
and pharmacies.

8

INFORMATION
Tourist information The tourist o ce has a kiosk in
Quezon Park (Mon-Fri 8am-5pm; T 035 225 0549,
E [e-mail]) on Santa Catalina Street.
However, Harold's Mansion (see p.648) is a better source of
information for backpackers.
Internet The internet cafés around the Silliman
University complex, at the northern end of Hibbard St, are
plentiful and cheap (P25/hr). There's also free wi-fi in
many hotels.

APO ISLAND
The Apo Island Marine Reserve and Fish Sanctuary is said by those in the know to be one
of the world's top ten diving sites. There are two “resorts” on the island, plus a few budget
lodgings. The plush Apo Island Beach Resort ( T 035 321 1038 or T 0939 915 5122 3359,
W apoislandresort.com; double from P2700, dorm P800) stands on an isolated sandy cove
hemmed in by rocks, while cheaper Liberty's Lodge ( T 0920 2385 704, W apoisland.com; double
P1950 including all meals for two) is on the main beach. To get to Apo, take a bus going to
Bayawan and ask to get off at Malatapay, where the boats leave, and which also has a
fascinating Wednesday-morning market. Small bangkas (good for four people) cost P2000
round-trip, while the next size up is P3000 (up to ten people), or alternatively you can arrange a
place on one of the four daily Liberty Lodge shuttles (P300 per person). General admission to the
marine sanctuary is P100. To get the most out of your trip, talk to the guys at Harold's Mansion
(see p.648) before you go.