Looking for a weekend getaway where you can commune with the
Mother Nature? Roxas City has lots of them! Whether it’s swimming on the beach
or achieving solace, away from the frenzy of urban life, you get what you want
and they’re just minutes away from the heart of the cosmopolis. Here’s my top 7
picks where you can head to this weekend.
Ayagao Beach
Experience the tranquil side of Roxas City at Ayagao Beach in
Baragay Talon and be mesmerized by the unadulterated beauty that it has to
offer. If your idea of rest and relaxation is getting tucked in a faraway
island, then, this paradise offers you almost the same feeling, only that it’s
just a 20 minute tricycle ride from the city center. With its course off-white
sand beach, the hiking trails, the zip-line and the magnificent of the sunset,
Ayagao is fast becoming a nature lover’s destination.
Basiao, Ivisan
Famed for its “virgin” beach, powdery white shoreline, and
relatively rustic environment, Basiao in the town of Ivisan (just 15 minutes
away from Roxas City) is a beachbum’s haven. Basiao overlooks three islets: Mahabang
Pulo, Marukol Gamay and Marukol Dako. With
its one kilometer stretch of white sand, strolling along its pristine shoreline
is a delight! Fishing is the main source of livelihood here, so you might catch
up with fisher folks on your stroll. How get here? Catch a jeepney ride from
Ivisan town proper going to Basiao. Image: Ralph Lauren Figueroa
Baybay Beach
Considered as the 15th largest natural bay in the world,
with the beach’s cliff as one of the highest in Western Visayas, Baybay Beach
is the most popular weekend destinations in Roxas City. Whether it’s food trip
that you’re craving for, or a plunge on the water, Baybay has everything to
offer! There are cottages for rent where you and your family can stay all
day. Restaurants are also open to serve
you. Image: Ralph Lauren Figueroa
Cadimahan River Tour
Located in Sitio Lawis, just near the beach in Baybay, Roxas
City, the Cadimahan River Tour offers motorized cabanas that double as floating
restaurants that ply along the Cadihamahan River. The floating cabana can carry
up to 40 people. Rental is consumable with food. Additional offerings include
footspa, nail care, and massage (excluded from the rental fee). The seafood are
guaranteed fresh and cooked anyway you want it. Photo: Mai Flores/Budget Byahera
Culasi Point
Take a hike to Culasi Point and get a stunning view of the
Sibuyan Sea on one side and Roxas City on the other. The 15-minute walk from
the Coast Guard Headquarters in Brgy. Culasi is a good cardio exercise and gives
you a view of the lovely landscape. Ideal time to come here is either early in
the morning (trekking is allowed from 6 am to 6 pm) or late in the afternoon
(5-5:30 pm). It feels romantic to watch the sunset here.
Read: Culasi Point and Light House in Roxas City
Read: Culasi Point and Light House in Roxas City
Olotayan Island
Olotayan Island is the only island-barangay in Roxas City.
This placid destination offers a rustic
view and isolated idyll, free and distant from the frenzy of the day-to-day
routine and the trappings of modern civilization. Olotayan is a sanctuary for
coral reefs and tropical fishes. Its white sand beaches and gently sloping
coastlines make the place a destination for those who love snorkeling and scuba
diving. How to get here? Take a boat at
the ferry port in Brgy. Banica.
Palina Greenbelt Ecopark
Palina Greenbelt Ecopark is located in Brgy Cagay, Sitio Cablatan, Roxas City around 5km from the city proper. It offers a tour of the Panay River with floating rafts that can carry as much as 50 persons for rent. You can even take part in activities like mangrove planting, fishing and shell gathering. Seafood can also be served upon request, but with advanced reservations. Photo: I am Traveling Light
