500-Pesos Backpacking Challenge: DUMAGUETE

Populated with over 120,883 gentle people as of 2010 census, Dumaguete City has been a big ring on the ears for the travellers. It has been attracting numbers of tourists since the 1500s and earlier for it has easy access from and to Cebu City which is known to be the Capital Province of Central Visayas.

Its name came from the word “dagit” means “to snatch” and “dumaguet” the visayan equivalent for “to swoop” since it is known for being prone to pirate raids way back. It was firstly known to be Dananguet and then changed to Dumaguete in 1734.

This City is an ideal backpacking destinations to those who can only afford a-day-trips and thirft travelling. It is also ideal for those who want to rest from the hustles and bustles of Cebu but do not want to be totally alienated with a new environment. When you go there, it is just like Cebu without the traffic and pollution.

SO HOW MUCH WILL IT COST TO GO THERE? IS 500 ENOUGH TO ENJOY THE PLACE? LET’S CHECK

Before anything else, I would have to warn you that the budget I will be introducing is good only for the fare. Therefore, if you are into food trips and shopping, you really have to bring extra amount of cash to avoid budget shortage.

Let’s start this trip from the Cebu City South Bus terminal, from there our P 500.00 will start to fall off. Take the bus with the sign via LILO-AN and tell the conductor that you are going to the port for negros oriental. Well you do not have to worry since it where the bus is really heading and their final drop-off route.

The travel would take 3 and a half hour if it is during early morning (12:00am to 4:00 am) but on regular traffic, it would take 4-5 hours depending on how bad the traffic situation is. Ours was almost 3 and a half since we left the South Bus Terminal by 12:30 A.M. and we arrived in Lilo-an at 3:45 A.M. for the first trip.

When you have reached the Lilo-an Port, from there you have two options on what to ride, either a pump boat or a fastcraft. If you are on a very tight budget, you may take the pump boat which is only 45 pesos, 17-peso difference from the fast craft which costs P 62.00. In our case, we took the fast craft since it was only the available ride during dusk. The trip from Santander to Sibulan would take 25-30 minutes so you have all the time to continue your nap.

From Sibulan port, you need to take a public utility jeepney going to Boulevard (as locals call it), that is P 11.00 for the fare. The travel would take 15 minutes. Then you may start your tour from the port across Silliman University. Riding tricycles, jeepneys and taxis is not advisable. For you to appreciate the town you have to walk and get lost from its streets. There are a lot of places to visit, all you have to do is to be curious and walk then you’ll gonna see stuff.

Along the baywalk of the boulevard you may take a break in the very well-known Sans Rival – the home of the ever favorite tourist food – Silvanas. You need not to worry with your heavy meals too since there are a lot of restaurants to choose from. If you are on a budget you may look for carenderias or commercialized fastfood restaurants such as Jollibee and Mcdonalds. But you will not go to Dumaguete just to eat Mcdo and Jollibee right? then for you to appreciate your trip, eat in the carenderias.

Budget Breakdown:

Bus Ride (Back and Forth) – P 370.00

Fast Craft (Back and Forth) – P 124.00

Pump Boat (Back and Forth) – P 90.00 (alternative)

Jeepney (Back and Forth) – P 22.00

Total – P 516.00 (Fast Craft) Difference: P -16.00

Total – P 482.00 (Pump Boat) Difference: P 18.00

As you can see, me and my companion failed to fulfill the budget bracket of P500.00 since we took the fast craft instead of pump boat. If you are concern with the safety, both rides are fine but if you are into convenience the fastcraft is advisable.

Itinerary

11:00 P.M. to 12:00 A.M. – Assembly – Cebu City South Bus Terminal

12:30 A.M. – 03:45 A.M. - Departure from the terminal – First Trip for Ceres Bus

03:45 A.M. - Arrival in Lilo-an Santander Port

04:00 A.M. - Departure from Santander

04:30 A.M. – Arrival in Sibulan Port

04:40 A.M – Departure to Boulevard

05:00 AM – Arrival to Boulevard – Breakfast

06:16 AM – Sunrise – Walkathon Begins

7:30 AM – Departure to APO ISLAND

02:00 PM – Departure to Boulevard

04:00 PM – Arrival in Sibulan Port

05:00 PM – Departure to Santander

05:30 PM – Arrival and Departure to Cebu City

05:30 - 09:30 PM – Travel to Cebu City

As you can see there is an insert trip to Apo Island which is our main goal for our Negros trip. I did not include it on the breakdown since it is another backpacking set. I will be posting the 500-Peso Backpacking Challenge for Apo Island next to this article.