DUMAGUETE CITY TOURIST SPOTS

(April 29, 2013: Currently updating this page)

Dumaguete City is a great travel destination. The city has charming sights and wonderful people. It's also the perfect jump-off point to various places of interest. 

Explore Dumaguete hopes that you can visit the following sights in Dumaguete and nearby towns and cities:

1.   Dumaguete Boulevard
2.   Silliman University Campus
3.   Dumaguete Belfry Tower
4.   Apo Island Marine Sanctuary
5.   Bais Dolphin Watching and Manjuyod Sandbar
6.   Lake Balinsasayao
7.   Lake Balanan
8.   Casaroro Falls
9.   Forest Camp
10. Beaches in Dauin

Visitors who want to maximize their time and prefer a hassle-free trip are welcome to consider Explore Dumaguete's Tour Packages or Explore Dumaguete's Diving Packages. 

Dumaguete Boulevard

The Dumaguete Boulevard is also known as Rizal Boulevard, was named after the Philippine’s National Hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal.  Historians say that Dr. Rizal passed by Dumaguete City on his way to Dapitan and strolled along its beautiful and serene shores.  This is one of the most beautiful and most captivating landmarks in the city.  Take part two local rituals in Dumaguete: eat at the tempurahan and stroll along the boulevard.

Dumaguete tempurahan

View of the Dumaguete Pier from the boulevard

Silliman University

Silliman University was founded in 1901 by Dr. David Sutherland Hibbard and Laura Crooks Hibbard through a generous donation of $10,000.00 from an American philanthropist, Dr. Horace Brinsmade Silliman. It is the first and oldest American university in the Philippines. Some famous landmarks in the university are:

1.) Silliman Hall – The oldest building in Silliman University and in Dumaguete City. Even after undergoing renovations, much of its structure is still made up of materials from an old theatre in New York. It houses the Anthropology Museum of the university.

2.) Silliman Portals – The portals are the official insignia of the university. There are a lot of portals within the campus which represent different gateways to life. Some of them are: a.) the Gates of Opportunity; b.) the Gates of Knoweldge; and c.) the Gates of Service.

3.) Claire Isabel McGill Luce Auditorium – this 900-seater auditorium is the bastion for Culture and the Arts in the Visayas and Mindanao regions. Its architectural marvel is acknowledged all over the Philippines and also around the world. The Luce Auditorium is also dubbed as the "CCP of the South".

Dumaguete Belfry Tower

According to legend, the Dumaguete Belfy Tower was built in 1811 because of frequent pirate attacks which resulted to the seizing of the city's women. In fact, the word 'Dumaguete' comes from the word 'Daguit' which means 'to snatch'. The ringing bells of the Belfry tower used to warn the locals of impending arrivals of pirates.

Dumaguete Belfry Tower

Apo Island Marine Sanctuary 

Apo Island Marine Sanctuary is considered to be one of the best dive spots in the world. It is the home of more than two-thirds of the worlds known coral species. Because of the vastness of its marine resources, Apo island has been protected as a fish sanctuary since 1982.

Apo Island Rock Formation

Bais Dolphin Watching and Manjuyod Sandbar

Bais City is 45 km to the north of Dumaguete City. Visitors sail from Bais City's Capiñahan Wharf and proceed to the home of the dolphins: Tañon Strait. Among the species in Tañon Strait  are the famous spinner dolphins and the melon-headed whales.

The trip may end at the Manjuyod Sandbar, a crescent strip of white sand that appears when the tide is low.

Bais Dolphin Watching

Manjuyod Sandbar