all the colours of the Philippines, designed your way
Tropical Experience Travel Services - Tours of the Philippines
HOME - About the Philippines - Design your trip - Tour Samples - About us - Sustainability - Contact and Booking - Terms and Conditions - Guests Reviews
Bacolod
The Sugarland of the Philippines
Bacolod City – dubbed as “The City of Smiles” - is the capital of the much wider Negros Occidental Province. The latter, however, is also often referred to simply as “Bacolod” too.
Additionally, the whole Province is also known as “Sugarland” or the “Sugar bowl of the Philippines”. Sugar is the engine of the local economy and sugarcane plantations are truly dominating the local landscape.
Going around the cities of Bacolod, Talisay and Silay you will come across a series of rich villas and mansions owned by wealthy families that made a fortune with sugar. While most are private houses, few of them are also open to the public. Probably the most iconic of these buildings is the ancestral mansion of Don Mariano Lacson in Talisay, a sugar plantation owner, that dedicated this Italian-inspired villa to his wife. The place is commonly known as “The Ruins”.
There are not just ruins around, though! Other buildings, such as Jalandoni Museum, the Hofileña Ancestral House and Balai Negrense (among many others) are still standing in their full beauty to showcase the golden era of the sugar economy.
A Foodie Hub
Bacolod is also known as a great destination for food enthusiasts. Perhaps the most famous food item is the tasty Chicken Inasal (literally, “chicken on a skewer”). Yet, if you prefer fish and seafood this is the place for you too: seafood is bountiful, tasty and affordable. Keep some space for dessert: sugar is abundant, which means you will find also many bakeries and fantastic desserts. Notably, also the sugarcane-based worldwide famous Don Papa Rhum is crafted here!
The Beaches of Sipalay
Moving to the beach, the most famous sea destination is widely considered to be Sipalay. One of its most famous beaches is called – guess what! – Sugar Beach. It is 1-kilometer long and its clean water is shallow and transparent. At the back of the beach lie beautiful cone-shaped limestone cliffs covered by pristine forests. Staying in Sugar Beach allows you to enjoy the clean environment and the peace of nature without the need to enclose yourself in a private resort.
Other remarkable places in the area are Punta Ballo Beach and the bays of Tinagong Dagat (meaning “hidden sea”) and Campomanese: the landscape here is truly picturesque! The cone hills are coming out of the water just like a lot of little islets, surrounded by transparent waters. It is possible to swim around or also go kayaking if you prefer.
How to Visit Bacolod
Bacolod is quite an off-the-beaten-track destination, especially for international travellers. It is anyway connected with Manila and Cebu, thus allowing us to attach it to basically any of our tours. From Sugar Beach, a land transfer can also take you to Dumaguete, to head to Siquijor, Bohol, Cebu and other destinations of the Visayas Region.