Bacolod City is destination in Negros Occidental adored and frequented not only by foreigners but a lot of locals as well. Aptly called the “City of Smiles” which is a reference to its own version of the Brazilian Rio Carnival, the MassKara Festival. This stays true to its name with the myriad of activities and places to explore that surely does bring a smile to the faces of anybody who sets their foot in Bacolod.

Smile and get ready for an ecstatic adventure to ten of the most visited attractions in Bacolod City:

1. MAMBUKAL MOUNTAIN RESORT

Mambukal Mountain Resort is the top destination visited by tourists due to the plethora of activities that just leave the guests wanting more. Although not really belonging to Bacolod City, it is only 30 minutes away and is very much accessible to everybody from the city which is why it is a common side trip when visiting the Negros Occidental capital.

It lies 1,200 feet above sea level and it also serves as an entry point to Mt. Kanlaon. Originally, it was envisioned as a bath house and picnic garden by Japanese architect Kokichi Paul Ishiwata due to the relaxing mountain atmosphere but the surrounding natural attractions just had so much potential to provide both adventure and peace of mind to its guests. The resort’s activities include camping, wall climbing, zip lines, swimming, trekking, forest bathing, and many more that highlights the abundant gifts of nature in the resort.

RATES AND OTHER INFORMATION

ENTRANCE FEES

Adult: P50.00
Kids (11 years & below): P20.00
Light Vehicles: P15.00
Trucks/Buses: P30.00

ROOM RATES

Villas:
- Matrimonial – P1,700.00
- 1 Single & 1 Matrimonial – P2,000.00
- 4 Single Beds – P2,400.00
- Extra Bed – P200.00

Family Cottage: P4,000.00
- Extra Foam P100.00

LGU Cottages:
- Good for 2 pax – P900.00
- Good for 4 pax – P1,200.00
- Good for 6 pax – P1,500.00
- Extra Foam – P100.00

Tourist Lodge:
- Ordinary Room – P600.00
- Deluxe Room – P750.00
- Family Room – P1,000.00

Dormitory: (Exclusive Use – good for 20 packs) P2,000.00

OTHER RATES:

Camping: P30.00 per person
Picnic Huts:
- Big Hut – P600.00
- Small Hut – P300.00
- Tables w/ 4 Chairs – P100.00

CONTACT INFORMATION

Contact No.: (034) 473-0610
FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/Mambukal-Mountain-Resort-157341677642484/

2. CAMPUESTOHAN HIGHLAND RESORT

Located at the border of Bacolod City is Campuestohan Highland Resort, a fun-filled theme park that is a perfect getaway for the family and the summer treat that the kids deserve. The resort stands at 800 meters above sea level with a breathtaking view of half of Negros Occidental and a splendid view of Mt. Makawili. This mountain paradise hosts cool climates that are comparable to Tagaytay or Baguio.

It is both loved by kids and adults due to the attractions that vary from relaxing to downright entertaining which placed it among the “Top 6 Tourist Destinations in the Country”. Some of the activities in the resort are outdoor adventures such as rope courses, zip lines, and horseback riding. There are also activities that kids will surely enjoy such as the Grand Carousel, Viking Ride, and Walking Dinosaur.

Not only are these activities fun but they’re affordable as well with the cheapest ride at P35.00. Lastly, the resort has overnight rooms and facilities for families who want to whelm themselves for a couple days more. For anyone looking for a refreshing and amusing nature wonderland, Campuestohan Highland Resort is clearly the place to go.

RATES AND OTHER INFORMATION

Entrance Fee: P200 per person
Includes access to the swimming pool and children’s playground

COTTAGE RATES

Umbrella Hut: P500, good for 10 persons
Small Cottage: P700, good for 15 persons
Big Cottage: P1200, good for 20 persons
Small Gazebo: P4500, good for 40 persons
Big Gazebo: P5000, good for 50 persons

OTHER INFORMATION

Contact No.: 0915-211-1406
Email: campuestohanislands@yahoo.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/campuestohan.highlands/
Website: http://www.campuestohanhighlandresort.com/

Visit their page and website for a complete list of their rates.

3. SILAY CITY

Silay City, a part of Metro Bacolod, is a destination for those who have a penchant for historical and vintage architecture.The historical value present in this place makes it an enormous outdoor museum displaying the rich history and vibrant culture of the city and its residents. Aside from the structures, Silay City also attracts tourists through the sumptuous delicacies that also take the taste buds on a different kind of adventure. Moreover, Silay is conveniently the location of the Bacolod-Silay Airport which makes it very accessible to a lot of travelers.

This time-traveling city has been dubbed as the “Paris of Negros” and the “cultural and intellectual hub of Negros” due to the manifestation of ancestral and heritage houses in the area. Silay City has fascinated all that step foot in it and it even has secured itself a spot in the “Top 25 Tourist Destinations in the Country”.

4. THE RUINS

The variety of attractions in Bacolod ranges from marvelous wonders of nature to cultural and heritage attractions. At the outskirts of Bacolod City stands the empty shell of The Ruins, a magnificent Italianate architecture that is considered as the “Taj Mahal of Negros Occidental” due to the tragic history of love tied to it. It was the ancestral mansion of the wealthy sugar baron, Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson which was built in the middle of a vast sugar plantation in the early 1900s.

It was built in memory of his loving wife, who died in an accident while carrying their eleventh child. Although it was burned down by the Guerillas during World War 2, it still stands beautifully today as a symbol of the deep love and strong affection that Don Mariano had for his wife, Maria.

RATES AND OTHER INFORMATION

Opening hours: 8:00AM -8:00PM, Everyday except Tuesday and Saturday (closes at 4:30PM)

ENTRANCE FEES

Adult: P100 per head
Student (w/ ID): P60 per head
Children (below 8 y.o.): P20 per head
Senior Citizens: P70 per head

OTHER INFORMATION

Landline: (034) 476-9448
Mobile No.: 0917-832-6003/ 0905-513-3347/ 0939-298-5657
Email: lacson_mansion@yahoo.com.ph
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/theruinstalisay/?rf=172104629486064
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheRuinsTalisay
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theruinstalisay/
Website: https://theruins.com.ph/

5. BERNARDINO JALANDONI MUSEUM

Silay City was home to affluent residents who displayed their wealth through mansions and their luxurious lifestyles. One of the prominent citizens of Silay was Don Bernardino Jalandoni who owned the Bernardino Jalandoni House along Rizal Street. This house stands out from the other heritage structures around it due to the archaic pink of its exterior which was surely a head-turning structure during its prime.

Photo from Bernardino Jalandoni Museum Facebook Page

The lavish lifestyles of the Silay residents during its glory days as the trade center and sugar bowl of Negros Occidental is highlighted in the architecture of the house and the various displays in the museum. Even the interior serves as a testament to the riches that they had as the building is made up of expensive quality materials procured in and outside of the country. Completing the opulent atmosphere that the house radiates are several collections from the past such as grandiose chandeliers, a century-old Steinway piano, harps and other luxuries of the time that are in perfect condition. A tour around the house surely shares a glimpse of a different side of life in the past.

RATES AND OTHER INFORMATION

Opening hours: 9:00AM -5:00PM, Tuesday – Sunday and Holidays
ENTRANCE FEES: P50 per head

OTHER INFORMATION

Contact No.: (034) 495 5093

6. SAN SEBASTIAN CATHEDRAL

Also called the “Bacolod Cathedral”, San Sebastian Cathedral is the most famous religious and historical landmark in Bacolod City. The interior and exterior view of the church is stunning and makes it stand out even at the heart of Bacolod. It is even more magnificent at night with the lights illuminating the Baroque architecture and expert handicraft of the building. This fine church is made up of coral stone harvested from the neighboring island, Guimaras, and some hardwood from Palawan. Fortunately, despite its grandiose facade and architecture, San Sebastian Cathedral is open to tourists and to all who practice the faith.

Opening hours: 5:00 AM – 8:00 PM

7. CAPITOL PARK AND LAGOON

The Capitol Park and Lagoon is a spacious provincial park that highlights an artificial lagoon in front of the Capitol that is filled with Tilapia Fish. The rich culture and heritage of the city is evident in the Spanish-colonial architecture of the Capitol Building. The building architecture, sculptures, and the lagoon are all works of the country’s national artist, Guillermo Tolentino while the other artistic sculptures around the park are the works of other prominent sculpting artists.

The park is a frequented destination by locals and tourists alike due to the relaxing and welcoming atmosphere. Others also enjoy feeding the tilapia just swimming about in the man-made lagoon. It is also very lively due to the number of people visiting and a place to just immerse in an average day of a Negrense in Bacolod. If you have the free time, the park is perfectly safe for a relaxing stroll.

8. BALAY NEGRENSE

In the heritage city of Silay stands an artistically crafted museum that showcases the lifestyle of sugar barons of the 19th century. Balay Negrense was the first museum to emerge in Negros Occidental and it is also one of the most visited in Silay City. The house was the property of Victor F. Gaston who hailed from a sugarcane cultivator – his father.

It was built in the year 1897 and was inhabited by Gaston and his parents until his death in 1927. It was abandoned in the mid-1970s but was brought back to its formal glory by a group of locals who is now called the Negros Cultural Foundation with the pooled donations from other locals and financial assistance from the Department of Tourism.

Opening Hours: 9:00AM – 5:00PM, Tuesdays to Sundays
Entrance Fee: P50 per head

9. NEGROS MUSEUM

Negros Museum is one of the first museums in the Philippines that houses preserved contemporary pieces of art that depicts history and culture. The most distinctive trait of this museum is that it does only display historical artifacts but it also encourages and exhibits recent story-based contemporary arts of the local artisans. Together with the antiques, the museum was also filled with these contemporary works that told the stories and events occurring in the Negros Islands during artists’ times. They are bits and pieces to the story being crafted together that create a narrative of how they live their lives as Negrenses.

Photo from The Negros Museum Facebook Page

The Negros Museum was also build on the objective of developing knowledge and understanding of the people about their past and present cultures. It serves as a gateway that connects the old and new generations of local artisanship.

Entrance Fees:

Adult – P40 per head
Children – P20 per head

Contact Info:

Contact Information: (034) 434-5552
Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/TheNegrosMuseum/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenegrosmuseum/

10. PULANG TUBIG FALLS

Pulang Tubig Falls is a majestic waterfall located in the protected zone of the Northern Negros Natural Park. It is an hour’s trek from the small community of Patag – historically known as the last stronghold of the Japanese Imperial Forces during World War II. The trek to the falls and the area surrounding the waterfall are both filled with lush vegetation that are pleasing to the eyes and relaxing for the soul. At the end of the long trek is the clear and refreshing waters of Pulang Tubig that just beckons for a dip – a perfect reward after an arduous activity. The 80-meter of water splendor will drop anyone’s jaw with its magnificent view.