Siquijor was once under the administration of Negros Oriental, so the best route to get to this small island is still via its old mother province through its capital, Dumaguete City. From Manila, you can take a domestic flight to Dumaguete City (Siquijor’s airport is closed to passenger flights as of the moment) and then hop onto a ferry for a ride to the island in less than an hour. Because Siquijor is slowly making its way to mainstream tourism, ferry schedules are regular and predictable, making a day trip to the island and back a time-saving option. Fare is between P120-P200 (US$3-5) depending on the age and amenities of the vessel.
If you are coming from Bohol, getting to Siquijor is straightforward. Take a fastcraft to Siquijor from Tagbilaran (capital of Bohol), although the trip is longer (3 hours) and fare more expensive (P890 one-way or P1,690 two-way or US$22.50 and $42.50 respectively as of March 2013).
Getting from Cebu is somewhat a go-through-the-hoops process if you opt for an overland-ferry-overland-ferry route. Otherwise, you can book a plane ticket from Cebu to Dumaguete.
Should you choose the more painful itinerary, you can take a bus in Cebu’s South Terminal bound for Liloan for a travel time of three hours. Fare is P200 (US$5) for an air-conditioned ride and cheaper for a regular bus.
From Liloan in southern Cebu, you can take a ferry to Sibulan, a short jeepney ride north of Dumaguete. Ferry time is less than 30 minutes and fare including terminal fee is around P60 (US$1.50). From Sibulan, you can take a multi-cab or jeepney bound for Dumaguete and pay P11.
Dumaguete is the usual gateway to Siquijor because the former is a tourist hub itself, and an ideal jump-off point to other attractions in Negros Oriental. Dumaguete is a university town courtesy of Silliman University and has a vibrant and well-entrenched expatriate community of mostly North American origin. Manjuyod Sandbar is about two hours to the north, while Apo Island is about the same distance to the south (via overland-ferry route).
Because of low barriers to entry into this small Visayan island, a day trip to Siquijor from Dumaguete can be arranged, or an extended trip that includes Siquijor in the itinerary can be planned instead. Others with time to devote to an extended Visayan trip normally make the Boracay-Antique-Roxas-Iloilo-Bacolod-Cebu-Bohol-Siquijor-Dumaguete-Apo Island circuit, or a variation thereof.
Photos by Cherry Vic Patalita
