Bais Tourist Attractions
Located less than an hour from the capital of Negros Oriental, Bais is an off the grid travel destination in the Philippines. Not many people have heard of it but after our brief albeit lovely time there, we're betting it won't stay away from the radar for long.
Visit the Maldives of the Philippines
What to do after you've made your way here? Schedule your excursion to the "Maldives of the Philippines" – Manjuyod White Sandbar. Although, it is possible to negotiate with local boatmen, it is recommended that you transact directly with Bais Tourism Office. The boat we had from them costs PHP3,500 but it's already good for more than 10 people so you can save if there are more people in the group.
The sandbar can be reached in about 15 minutes by boat. Although, docking there is free, you may want to rent one of the stilt houses for the day at PHP1,500. We skipped it and decided to use the boat for shelter.
Stretching approximately 7 kilometres, this is probably one of the most scenic sandbars we have been to. The convergence of the blue sky, crystal clear water, and white sand will make many photography enthusiasts weep for joy so make sure your camera is sufficiently charged. We really loved walking around the seabed and if you get thirsty, there are vendors selling fresh coconut juice. Seafood can also be had at a steal! Some fishermen would sometimes approach us to sell sea urchins, fishes, and oysters at a fraction of the market price.
Tip If you're allergic to seafood, we suggest bringing your own lunch as there are no restaurants here. If you want to fully enjoy the sandbar, then make sure to time your visit between 7 am to 10 am. In general, boat rental would set you back between 2,000PHP to 5,000PHP whether you decide to deal with the tourism office or not. Most of the time, this price already includes a side trip to go dolphin watching.
Dolphins encounters
Always dreamed of seeing a pod of dolphins playing in their natural habitat? After your sandbar escapade, your boat will head over to Tanon Strait that lies between Cebu and Negros Oriental. This narrow stretch of water is a popular playground for various species of dolphins such as spotted and spinner dolphins.
It's a bit of a distance and we didn't see any right away but after about an hour, a pod of them showed up near our boat! We're not allowed to swim with them but it was awesome to see them jumping and swimming beside our boat. The experience of seeing them up close outside of an ocean park is definitely one for the books.
Please note however that since you're trying to spot them in the wild, keep your expectations low as there's always a risk of not sighting any. However, we were told that the dolphin watching season falls between April to September with a 90% success rate.
Mangrove Walks
Another worthy stop over is the Talabong Mangrove Park. This protected sanctuary can be reached by land or by boat (during high tide) and features about 400 hectares of mangroves. There's a concrete walkway going through the mangroves and depending on what month you visit, you may see some migratory birds. It's a peaceful slice of nature and it's well worth a visit especially if you like marshy vegetation.
Spotting the trains
For train spotters, a nice little surprise awaits you in Bais. Sitting across the gates of the Central Azucarera de Bais, a steam train - the Baldwin locomotive - is a nostalgic reminder of the sugar industry's heyday. Not far away is a quaint chapel called Mojon as well as some colonial houses.
