2019 • 08 • 09

Bacolod is a charming city with an old-world personality exemplified by the traditional homes and Spanish-era churches. Beyond this is the province’s beautiful, natural attractions seen along the coast and countryside. Go on a day trip to the resorts to soak in the fresh air or enjoy nature. Time travel by visiting the mansions turned into museums in Talisay or downtown, or enter the old colonial churches. Sit down in the cafes and restaurants to taste the province’s sweets and famous cuisine. If you visit during the right time, participate in the festivities of Masskara. If you are planning to visit The Ruins, the traditional houses in Silay, Balay Negrense and other attractions in the city, here is how you can get to Bacolod.

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How to Get to Bacolod

From Manila

The easiest and straightforward way to reach Bacolod is through Manila’s airports. There are numerous direct flights throughout the week. Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific ply this route regularly. Try to book tickets months before your trip to get the lowest possible price. However, buying a few weeks before isn’t too expensive either.

Negros Occidental’s airport, the New Bacolod-Silay International Airport, is located in Silay City. It will take approximately 30 minutes by land travel to reach Bacolod from the airport. Airconditioned shuttle buses bound for Bacolod are available at the airport.

From Cebu

If you’re in Cebu, it is possible to reach Bacolod City by land and sea. The fastest route is via Don Salvador.

Make your way to Cebu’s North Bus Terminal. Once in the terminal, look for the Ceres Buses located in the far right area. Look for a bus with a ‘via Don Salvador’ sign. You pay the P580 fare inside the bus once it departs. The ticket also covers ferry and port terminal fee. If you’ll be boarding a FastCat ferry, the fare will cost an extra P5 to P65 depending on the type of accommodation you get. The trip may take up to 8 hours one way. Try to get to Cebu North Bus Terminal two hours before your chosen departure time. Buses to Bacolod’s South Bus Terminal ply this route regularly.

You’ll have to alight the bus when you arrive at the port. You’ll then board a ferry bound for San Carlos. You’ll get a seat or bed. After arriving at San Carlos, you’ll re-board the same bus you alighted. It will proceed to Bacolod City with a short toilet and meal break.

From Iloilo

Iloilo is a possible jump-off point for nearby provinces such as Boracay, Capiz, and Antique. You can also visit many beaches such as the famous Gigantes Islands. The city and province itself have many interesting and historic sites such as Miag-ao Church.

If you’re planning to include Bacolod City in your itinerary, Iloilo is a possible starting point. It is fast and convenient to travel between the two places because of the frequent ferries and fast crafts that ply this route. You have the option to take Weesam Express, Ocean Jet or SuperCat 2Go.

From the city, make your way to Iloilo River Wharf. It is where you’ll find the fast crafts bound for Bacolod. The trip takes up to two hours. Before departing, you have to pay a terminal fee of P30.

Ferry Schedules and Fares:

• SuperCat‘s first trip is at 7:30 AM and the last one is at 5:00 PM. Fares are P190 for the economy, P230 for the deluxe, and P260 for the tourist class.
• OceanJet‘s first trip departs at 6:05 AM and the last one is at 5:15 PM. The ticket costs P230 for the tourist class or open air and P365 for business class.
• Weesam Express‘ first trip departs at 6:30 AM and the last one is at 4:35 PM. The tourist class ticket costs P230 and the first-class ticket costs P300.

Note: You can get a discount if you are a student, senior citizen or person with a disability.

From Dumaguete

If you’re planning to cover more than one place in one trip, it is possible to combine Dumaguete and Bacolod. Dumaguete is located in Negros Oriental, lying side by side Negros Occidental. It is convenient to travel from the former to the latter by bus with a few stops in between. Your first stop for this is the Ceres Bus Terminal near Robinsons Mall.

There are air-conditioned and non-aircon buses that operate this route from 1:00 AM to 10:30 PM. The fare is P380 and P295 respectively, the trip takes approximately six hours. You pay the fare inside the bus. There will be stops at the bus terminals of Mabinay and Kabankalan where you can eat or buy snacks, or use the toilet. Once you reach the terminal in Bacolod, you can take the jeep or other transportation to your accommodation.

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Where to Stay in Bacolod

Bacolod is like any other tourist destination with all types of accommodation options for those on a budget and those who are willing to pay more. The ideal places to stay are in the downtown area near Lacson Street. You’ll find plenty of hotels in this part of the city. You can also find malls, restaurants, cafes and fast-food chains here. If you want to stay near The Ruins, you can find a place to stay in Talisay City. Here are some of the recommended hotels by Agoda users, in no particular order.

• Seda Capitol Central. ✅ CHECK RATES & AVAILABILITY
• GT Hotel Bacolod. ✅ CHECK RATES & AVAILABILITY
• L’Fisher Hotel. ✅ CHECK RATES & AVAILABILITY
• Nature’s Village Resort. ✅ CHECK RATES & AVAILABILITY

For more options, search here: Bacolod Hotels