Sagay City

SAGAY CITY TRAVEL GUIDE | TOURIST ATTRACTIONS, RESORTS, ITINERARY

Disclaimer: This blog is not in any way connected to any of the establishment mentioned in this post. Please direct your queries to them.

Sagay City, one of the underrated destination in Negros Occidental is waiting to be discovered and be considered as one of the top destinations in the province. The place offers very interesting attractions for the entire family. In my recent visit, I was able to explore several attractions of the place. With the goal of helping future travelers to this place, I created this travel guide. You will surely enjoy this place…

I enjoyed snorkeling at Carbin Reef. Just make sure to get a guide when doing this as the current can be strong at times. In my experience, I had difficulty of getting back to the boat after snorkeling. I will surely go back to this place in the near future and to explore more destinations in Sagay.

SAGAY CITY QUICK FACTS

• The name of the City “Sagay” comes from “sigay”, a semi-spherical shell found in the area. The city takes pride in its rich marine resource as follows:
• The 32,000-hectare marine reserve which includes Carbin Reef, Maca Reef, Panal Reef and, Maca Shoal.
• 500 hectares of mangroves with more than 100 hectares reforested
• 33 species of mangroves
• 10 mangroves associated species
• 100 species of seagrass, covers around 3,000 hectares of seagrass beds
• 78 species macrobenthic algae
• 60 genera of hard and soft corals
• 5 species of giant clams
• 4 species of marine turtles
• 5 species of marine mammals (sea cow)

SAGAY CITY TOURIST ATTRACTIONS | THINGS TO DO

I have listed in this post several tourist attractions in Sagay City with the necessary contact details. For the first time travelers to Sagay, I suggest that you will coordinate with the tourism office. They can give you the necessary information and guide especially when visiting the Marine Reserves during the rainy season. Their office is found at the public plaza of Sagay City (Old City Hall Building).

Please click here to read: TOP TOURIST ATTRACTIONS OF SAGAY CITY

Contact Details: City Information and Tourism Office Old City Hall, Sagay City, 6122 Philippines Telephone: 034-488-0649 Email: sagaycityinfo@yahoo.com  

CARBIN REEF

Enjoy swimming and snorkeling at Carbin Reef. The place is a sand bar with white sand which makes the water even clearer and perfect for swimming. Giant Clamshells can be seen when you do snorkeling. Don’t forget to get a guide when snorkeling as some areas has a strong current.  

MOLOCABOC ISLAND

Molocaboc Island is a fishing community in Sagay. The place has also mangrove forests and rich marine resources. Buy some fresh catch from the community and ask them to cook for you.

VITO CHURCH (SAN VICENTE DE FERRER)

If you are Catholic, maybe you already heard about this church. Numerous devotees visit this church every Friday.

MUSEO SANG BATA SA NEGROS, SAGAY CITY

A very interesting interactive children Museum established outside Metro Manila. The Museo Sang Bata sa Negros has adorable little in-house guides (kids).

Watch a short video of Museo Sang Bata sa Negros  

Sagay City

SUYAC ISLAND

See the oldest mangroves in Negros Occidental in the mangrove forest of Suyac Island. You will be delighted as you will be welcomed by the people in the community who are members of the Suyac Island Eco-Tourism Association (SIETAS). Nice bamboo footbridges are connecting several cottages spread at the mangrove forest.

PANAL REEF

The Panal reef is another interesting marine sanctuary in Sagay. Its rich sea life makes the place perfect for snorkeling and swimming.

MACAHULOM REEF

Macahulom Reef is another exciting place to visit to see another mangrove forest. During certain season migratory birds can be spotted at the place. You can explore the area through Boat cruising.

SINIGAYAN FESTIVAL

Just like any other places, Sagay City has its own festival. The Sinigayan Festival is held every 3rd week of March as an expression of art reflecting the culture of the people of Sagay. The festival is highlighted by street and arena dance competitions.

LIST OF HOTELS AND RESORTS IN SAGAY CITY

 

BALAY KAUSWAGAN | Contact Numbers: (034) 8-0316 | 0929-8992-219 | 0977-3758-195 Beach House Contact Numbers: 488-0222 | 0946-6125-55

C-Chen Paradise Beach Resort | Contact Number:0928-2995-623 Hi-way Travelers Inn Contact Number:0922-2262-425

Nomer’s Inn | Contact Number: 0946-6125-555

Rak Pension House | Contact Number:0923-9538-088

SAMCOR | Contact Number: 488-0365 Sea Jam Travelers Inn Contact Number: 722-0238

Must read: Balay Kauswagan

1 DAY SAGAY CITY TRIP ITINERARY AND BUDGET

I would like to share with you the itinerary we used for a day trip in Sagay. A friend, Mr. E – The Event Guro brought his car during our visit. However, I’ll put information here include fares to help you plan your trip to Sagay.

6 AM – left Bacolod to Sagay ( Ceres Bu Fare – PHP 127)

8 AM – 8:30 AM- visit Balay Kauswagan

8:30 -9:30 AM – tour in Museo Sang Bata sa Negros (if you have kids with you, better to give a little more time in this place as they might enjoy or may want a more engaging tour around the museum.

Entrance Fees: Adult- PHP 50.00 Students: PHP 25 Senior Citizen – PHP 40 Parking Fee: PHP 30 (whole day) | PHP 130 (Overnight Parking) Contact Numbers: 0918-6171-736 | 0948-9261-764

9:30-10:00 AM -Old Sagay to Carbin Reef

• Boat Rental from Old Sagay Wharf to Carbin Reef: PHP 1,200 – 10 pax;  PHP 1,500 – 11 to 15 pax maximum
• Snorkeling – PHP 500/2 persons with guide Payment for snorkeling must be made at the tourism center located at the wharf in Old Sagay (jump-off point for Carbin Reef).

10:00-11:30 AM – Swimming and Snorkeling at Carbon Reef

11:30-11:50 AM – Carbin Reef to Suyac Island. If you rented a boat from Old sagay Wharf to Carbin Reef, just add PHP 300 for a side trip to this Island.

11:50-12:10 MN -Orientation and Reception by Suyac Island Eco-Tourism Association (SIETAS)

• Entrance to Suyac Island – PHP 30 Cottage – PHP 500

12:10- 1:00 PM – Lunch by the Beach . We were 6 during our visit and the total charge for our food was PHP 1,600. To support the community managing the place, it would be good not to bring food and simply order from the group managing the place. Just order your food 2 days in advance. Contact Number: 0907-3962-199 1:00-3:00 PM – Swimming at Suyac Island

3:30-4:00 PM -Suyac to Old Sagay Wharf At the wharf is a place where you can ask for a quick shower and change before proceeding to your next destination.

4:00-5:00 PM Visit to Nune Lucion Alvarado at Margaha Beach Resort

5:00-6:30 Sagay to Bacolod City

The author at Suyac Island

HOW TO GET TO SAGAY CITY

FROM BACOLOD CITY TO SAGAY CITY

The most convenient airport when visiting Sagay is through  Bacolod-Silay Airport. From the airport, you can take a ride going to Silay and wait for the Ceres Bus to bring you to Sagay City. However, it will be more convenient if you take a shuttle service from the Airport (Airconditioned) and ask the driver to drop you at Ceres Bus South Terminal.

Shuttle service vans are found just at the parking area of the airport. It will be easy to find them as they approach all arriving passengers coming out of the airport. From Bacolod City (Ceres Bus South Terminal) take a bus passing Sagay City. Travel time to Sagay is approximately 2 hours. From Sagay City, take From Fare from Bacolod to Sagay – PHP 127 From Sagay City just take a tricycle to bring you to your desired destination.

FROM CEBU CITY TO SAGAY CITY

If you are traveling from Cebu you can reach Sagay by taking a Ceres Bus going to Bacolod via Toledo in about four hours including a one-hour ride in fast ferries. The bus will pass by Sagay City.  

The Author with fellow bloggers Gladdy Reyes of Experience Negros and Claire Algarme or First Time Travels with the popular visual artist Nune Lucio Alvarado, Sagay City

Negros Occidental Essential Guides

• Negros Occidental Travel Travel Guide
• 5-Day Northern Negros Travel Guide
• Bacolod Travel Guide
• 12 Things to do in Bacolod City
• 3-day Bacolod City Travel Guide and Itinerary
• Talisay Travel Guide
• Silay Travel Guide
• San Carlos Travel Guide
• Don Salvador Benedicto Travel Guide 
• Murcia Travel Guide
• Bago City Travel Guide
• Escalante Travel Guide
• Hinigaran Travel Guide
• Sipalay Travel Guide
• Victorias City Travel Guide
• Kabankalan Travel Guide

Sagay City