When to go

The climate in this part of the Philippines is tropical with an average year-round temperature of 30ºC and water temperatures of about 28 - 30ºC. From October to May it is always hot and dry, whereas the cooler and more humid months are from June to September. During the latter season it usually rains only occasionally, mostly in short and heavy showers during late afternoon or night time.

It should also be noted that this part of Negros is outside the typhoon belt is really is a year round destination to visit.

Getting there

There are daily flights to Manila with Singapore Airlines, KLM, Lufthansa and Emirates and a few other airlines with a total flight time of about 15 hours, excluding short stopovers in respective cities. From Manila you have to catch a 1-hour flight with Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines directly to Dumaguete, where you will be picked up by a resort representative to take you to your resort in Dauin or Zamboanguita, a 30 minutes drive away.

If you are on a 2-centre trip, coming from a different island in the Philippines, please ask us for the transfer details.

Getting around

Apart from private taxis, which can be comparatively quite expensive, the only way to travel along this stretch of coastline and into the city of Dumaguete is by Jeepney, the local busses. You can haul them down on the main road and get from A-B for literally pennies.

Entry Requirements

For stays of up to 21 days, most European community nationals require a valid passport with a minimum of 6 months validity from the date of arrival, as well as a return ticket.

Local Airport Tax

The international departure tax is P750, payable at Manila airport.

Language

The national language is Filipino, which is based on the language of Tagalog, and there are at least one or two dialects spoken in every region, the main one in the Visayas being Cebuano. The Philippines is currently the third-largest English speaking country in the world and English is both spoken and understood throughout the country.

Money

The official currency is the Philippine Peso. Most foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks, hotels and authorised foreign exchange dealers. In the larger cities, Traveller's cheques are widely accepted, as are all major credit cards. However, on Negros and apart from withdrawing cash from ATM machines, the Philippine Peso is the preferred and recommended form of payment. The resorts only accept cash (USD, EUR or Peso)

Health

There are no vaccinations required to enter the Philippines, though Hepatitis A&B are generally recommended. Even though the Philippines is a tropical country with some of the usual tropical diseases, we can assure you that with a few basic precautions you will be unlikely to experience anymore than maybe jetlag, an upset stomach or a sunburn. Take some insect repellent for the sunset hours with you and make sure you drink only bottled water, which is readily available pretty much everywhere.