Oriental Express
Google this phrase and results will churn out international luxury modes of transport which only the rich and famous can afford.
But down south in Negros Oriental, there is a different kind of express experience within reach of the regular Joe. It may cost you “an arm and leg,” though on a different sense—that of exploring this alluring eastern province on a motorbike.
With a splendid road network, safe surroundings and hospitable people, it is a top-of-mind choice of the Tourism Promotions Board’s Motorcycle Tourism program and the so-called Philippine Loopers. Below is a guide for an epic Negros Oriental Express ride on two wheels.
Pit Stop 1: Dumaguete. Monikered as the “City of Gentle People,” this provincial capital is the gateway to the province with the airport just outside its doorstep. It exudes an eclectic aura taste which masterfully blends the old and modern facets of living, and is regarded a motorcycle hub due to the huge number of two-wheel riders.
Rizal Boulevard, named after the national hero who docked here and spent a few hours strolling the bay, is the city’s show window with a charming promenade and restaurant row which never fails to captivate locals and visitors alike. It has an extension park called Pantawan, a local favorite for inexpensive recreation whose centerpiece is the Spanish galleon-themed Panilongon Quincentennial landmark which approximates the path sailed by the remnants of Ferdinand Magellan’s 1521 expedition.
Not to be missed is the iconic Silliman University which boasts of a sprawling green campus, a series of museums, heritage buildings, and interesting spots in-between.
Another must-see landmark is the century-old Negros Oriental Provincial Capitol and Freedom Park, a spic-and-span government complex which is used for socio-civic events such as the Buglasan Festival.
Pit Stop 2: Sibulan. Dumaguete’s next-door neighbor, this bustling town it is home to numerous dealers of popular car brands because of its spacious land area.
On its mountaintop is the picturesque Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park, an exhilarating hideaway for birdwatching, camping, trekking and boating.
Golfers will be delighted by Bravo Hotel which has art gallery-like rooms, 3 swimming pools, a firing range, a restaurant which serves steaks and wood-fired oven-baked pizza, and the 18-hole Youichi Nagato-designed golf course.
The four-star upland hotel is tucked in a palm tree garden dotted with Asian motifs and has a panoramic vista of Tañon Strait and southern Cebu.
Pit Stop 3: Bais. Further up north is this a heritage city, sugar cane plantation, seafood hub, and the jumpoff point to the dolphin-watching and sandbar activities on Bais Bay.
Visitors can now stay longer and spend the night at the newly-opened Sandbar View Hotel, a hilltop boutique lodging which has a stunning seaview and the long white sandbar in neighboring Manjuyod town.
The City is also home to the Hudyaka sa Bais which topped the province-wide Buglasan Festival and the recent competitions in Cebu’s Sinulog.
Pit Stop 4: Pamplona. Backtrack a bit and you will reach this highland town which has become a tourist hotspot with its cool climate, rolling terrain, and country-style restaurants, cafes, and resorts which sprouted during pandemic.
A must-stop is Café Alicia, a cozy resto and coffee shop with a charming chapel, and picturesque nooks which can set social media on fire. Connected by a hanging bridge over a cliff is Arminda’s Cabin In The Sky, an eco-friendly lodging made out of container vans, and has infinity pools with a view, a function room, and a 300-meter zipline.
Pit Stop 5: Sta. Catalina. Ride westwards across the mountain roads and you’ll reach this once-obscure town in under an hour. Named after St. Catherine of Alexandria, its claim to fame is Santabucks Eco Adventure Park, a roadside recreational spot which combines adrenaline rush, interlude with nature, and home-cooked food.
Pit Stop 6: Siaton. Continue with the loop ride and you’ll reach this town whose main attraction is the Lake Balanan Mountain Resort situated in an interior upland village. The 25-hectare placid lake was formed by a 6.8 tectonic earthquake as the fallen rocks and soil blocked the Balanan River.
Glide on the lake on board a kayak or pedal boat, feast on local cuisine at the resort’s kitchen, and go nature-spotting with its rich flora and fauna.
Pit Stop 7: Dauin. Complete the Oriental loop and unwind on this coastal town which is heralded as among Asia’s best diving sites. This quaint locale houses the best themed resorts and dining outlets in the province because of the influx of Filipino and foreign divers.
To this town also belongs the marine biodiversity-rich Apo Island, a most-sought after scuba diving and snorkeling spot.
For a complete reef to ridge ride, hie off to Baslay Coffee Forest and sip the aromatic highland brew coffee in the bosom of the mountains.
