Welcome to Dumaguete City! Get ready to dive into a world of adventure, flavours, and culture. In this blog, we’ll explore the best things to do, delicious foods to try, and unique ways to experience the charm of Dumaguete. Let’s dive in!
Dumaguete is a small coastal city, located in the central Visayan region of the Philippines. This city is also known as the “City of Gentle People”. This city allows you to explore nature to the fullest. There are plenty of parks, gardens, and palm groves. This city is considerably inexpensive and the local transportation is also cheap. Dumaguete has a beautiful coastline, active volcanos, serene waterfalls, fascinating wildlife, and a hiking trail galore. You will find the locals very polite, friendly, and helpful which will make your trip easier.
Things to do in Dumaguete:
1. Rizal Boulevard, Dumaguete:
Rizal Boulevard is named after Dr. Jose Rizal, a man who is considered the national icon in the Philippines. Here, you can sit on the benches and see the rising and setting down as people come in and out of the nearby port. During the daytime, you can enjoy the friendly environment, chat and play guitar, or visit the restaurants and shops which line one side of Boulevard. During certain festivals and national holidays, there are also parades, barbecues, and live music that the whole family can enjoy. At night you can have a walk by the boulevard and see the city lights gleaming on the water. You can feel the cool and calm breeze coming from the ocean.
2. St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral, Dumaguete:
Dumaguete city is known for its beautiful churches and Alexandria Cathedral is one of them. The original foundation of this cathedral was laid in 1754 and the construction was fully completed by 1776. Outside the church, you will find four stone pillars that hold up the entrance gate, standing atop these pillars are four intricate statues of the Saints Matthew, Mark Luke, and John. Inside the church, you will see elaborately situated alter pieces, and exquisite chandeliers hanging from the cathedral’s high ceiling. The architecture of this cathedral is the major attraction of this place, you can feel the warmth, comfort, and vibe of positivity inside the cathedral.
3. Quezon Park, Dumaguete:
Quezon Park earns its nickname, “the heart of the city,” as it sits centrally within Dumaguete, embodying its vibrant pulse. This park faces the St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral. Named after Manuel Luis Quezon y Molina, renowned as the second president of the Philippines, this park holds his legacy at its core. Here, you can spend a stroll with your friends and family. Old-century trees, plants, bushes, and flowers envelop this park, nestled in the city centre across from the Bell Tower. Here, you can also shop for souvenirs and try local tasty street food and drinks. This place opens for 24 hours and there is no entrance fee.
4. Casaroro Falls, Dumaguete:
Casaroro Falls is located 9.4 km west of Dumaguete City. The journey to this spot and the spot itself is extremely picturesque. To reach this spot you have to walk up a rocky hill, make your way across a hanging bridge, and then climb down 335 steps of stairs. You will meet a lot of monkeys on your way to the bottom of the falls where a cold swimming basin awaits for you to dive in. The falls are 100ft high and are surrounded by rich green jungle foliage. The falls are considerably narrow, instead of the usual wide cascade.
5. Old Belfry Tower, Dumaguete:
It is the oldest bell tower in Visayas. This is the oldest surviving structure in the city. It is also known as Campanario de Dumaguete. It was built in 1811. Old Belfry Tower is located beside the St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral. And in front of the city’s Rizal Park. It was built to monitor and warn the locals of the impending danger of Moro pirate attacks in search of slaves. Locals visit this belfry to light the candles and offer prayers at the grotto of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
Food to try:
1. Bossing Tempura:
Bossing Tempurs is the most popular street food in Dumaguete. This dish is very similar to Kikiam. The major difference is its shape and length. This dish is famous because of its special dip numbered zero to five. The number corresponds to the level of spiciness. Zero being the sweetest and five being the flaming hot.
2. Palabok:
Palabok means “garnishing”. These rice noodles feature toppings of shrimp, pork, chicharron, tinapa flakes, tofu, scallions, hard-boiled eggs, and fried garlic, all mixed in shrimp sauce. Green onion and calamansi garnish these rice noodles, adding a fresh and tangy flavour.
How to reach Dumaguete:
1. By flight:
Dumaguete has its own international airport that receives flights from all around the world. You can easily get flights from Cebu, Bohol, and Manila to Dumaguete. From the airport, you can get a taxi or jeepney to get to the city centre.
2. By ferry:
Dumaguete City ferry port hosts about 20 weekly ferries connecting Visayas Island with Mindanao Island and Luzon Island. Travelling to Dumaguete by ferry is the most common and convenient mode of transportation. You will find a lot of ferries operating from Siquijor to Dumaguete city. The first ferry departs from Siquijor to Dumaguete at 6:00 am and the last at 3:50 pm. The average travel time is about 50 minutes. The ticket fare goes from 250 pesos to 380 pesos.
3. By bus:
Ceres bus terminal is the main bus terminal of Dumaguete city. You can get buses from the neighbouring towns to reach Dumaguete city. Approaching Dumaguete by bus is less preferred because of the traffic congestion.
How to get around:
Moving around in Dumaguete city is considerably cheaper than other cities in the Philippines. Based on your budget and convenience you can choose the best mode of transport. Tricycle is the major mode of transportation in Dumaguete city. They are comfortable and cheap. You can approach most of the tourist spots by a tricycle. For traveling out of the city, we suggest catching a bus from Ceres bus terminal. If you’re with family, consider hiring a car taxi for added comfort. If you are traveling solo then renting a scooter will be a great decision.
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