You might have heard of a place popular with tourists these days, dubbed as the “Maldives of the Philippines”. This well-known attraction is called the Manjuyod Sandbar. Though geographically located in Manjuyod, the jump-off point is the city of Bais, in Negros Oriental. It is located just 45 kilometres (28 miles) from Dumaguete, which is the provincial capital of Negros. It officially became a city on September 9, 1968. While the city is still in the process of developing its economy and adapting new technology, they are still able to boost their economy and manage to not get left behind. In fact, it is the largest producer of raw sugar in the province of Negros Oriental and famed for its delicious delicacies.
The city is now also becoming popular in the tourism industry, because of its dolphin watching and sandbar that resembles the Maldives. What a nice attraction to bond with your little ones, right? Since the day my baby was born, I have been encouraging him and trying to expose him to various activities and by taking him to the beach, I’m hoping it will slowly help him to conquer his fear of the water. And, the Manjuyod Sandbar is the beach where he wanted to stay for the longest period of time! We even had a hard time returning to the port, because he refused to get back in the boat!
As a mother, this experience brings joy to my heart because we both had a great time. So, if you have a baby and you are thinking of visiting this place anytime soon, here are some tips I have for you!
1. Plan ahead
I know this is a no-brainer - of course, if you are going on a holiday, you will be planning ahead - but, not all things go as planned. From the day we booked our ticket to Dumaguete, we already made plans to visit the sandbar the next day. But, because of our excitement, we forgot that there would be a chance of light to heavy rain, since we were travelling in July.
We left from Tanjay City at 12:30 and it is a 30-minute drive to the small port in Bais. As soon as we arrived, we immediately got on the boat, as we wanted to make the most out of our trip. We paid for a boat for nearly a whole day visit, to visit the sandbar and do some dolphin watching, but we only got to enjoy it for about four hours because we were not prepared for the weather. This is important because you also have to think of your little ones and you don’t want them to get sick. So, in summary - plan ahead and check the weather forecast before you plan your trip!
Manjuyod Sandbar
Address: Bais City, Negros Oriental
Website: Manjuyod Sandbar
2. Bring your own baby food and sunscreen
Manjuyod Sandbar is an island gem that disappears during high tide and shows off during low tide. Because of this, take note that there are no convenience stores here or restaurants for tourists or any facilities for those staying overnight. Make sure you drop by a supermarket on your way to the port to buy all the things you need, including spoons, forks, plates, plastic cups, tissues and sunscreen.
I know sunscreen is a must when going to the beach but I forgot to bring it. I tried looking for it in the supermarkets and drugstores, to no avail. The same goes for food, especially for infants. You wouldn’t want your little one to try fresh sea urchin, would you? By the way, you can try this one-of-a-kind treat at the Manjuyod Sandbar for only 20 pesos (.39 USD) or sip a fresh Buko juice, sold by locals, from a boat.
What I like about the sandbar is that Manjuyod has the cleanest boats I have ever seen. They even have a table in the middle, so you can eat in the boat, if you don’t plan on renting a cottage. But the takeaway here is, bring your own food and sunscreen, especially if you are travelling with babies!
3. Bring a floater for an infant
Even though they have the cleanest boats here, they still lack in something, and that’s a life vest for an infant. In fact, during all of our island hopping in the Philippines, we have never seen a lifevest small enough for an infant. Safety first! Make sure you bring your own small life vest or floater. This is really useful because the sandbar isn’t at low tide all of the time, especially during rainy season. If you have a life vest, your little one can still enjoy swimming with the fish in the sea!
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4. Bring beach toys
During low tide, it’s not only the sand that appears in this sandbar, but several sea species emerge from the water, too. One of these species is the starfish. The starfish here vary from small to very big and all children will surely enjoy building sandcastles on the sandbar and decorating it with a starfish. Bring beach toys, buckets and shovels, to make sure your kids can make the most of the trip!
5. Take your little ones dolphin watching!
One of the activities featured at Manjuyod is the dolphin watching. In fact, it has become a very popular activity here because tourists love watching and playing with the active dolphins, here in the middle of the sea! My little one enjoyed clapping his hands to catch the attention of the dolphins so make sure you book a dolphin watching trip, when you visit.
6. Haggle on the boat rental
As I have said, because of poor planning, we were not able to enjoy the island for the whole day. If you have to go on a day where you might not get to enjoy a full day trip, the best way to make up for this is to lower the amount you pay for the boat rental. Learn to haggle when you are in Dumaguete because the people here are generous and they might give you a discount!
7. Don't forget your little one's beach towel
This is what we often forget and it’s one of the most important things to bring. Most of the islands don’t have a shower to wash up, after swimming, and the same goes for the sandbar. If you have a towel you can wash your little one in the ocean or ask the boatman if he has a small basin, for a quick bath. Either way, you’re going to need a towel!
Getting around
If you are travelling with a big group, it is best to rent a van, but, if you are travelling less than ten people, the best option is to take a bus from Dumaguete to Bais at Ceres Liner Terminal. The fare will depend on the type of bus you take, (ordinary or air-conditioned) but it is approximately 50 pesos (1 USD).
In Bais city, you can ride a tricycle going to the port. From there, you just have to wait for about 20 minutes to see the beautiful Maldives of the Philippines, the Manjuyod Sandbar! We hope these tips are useful for you if you are travelling with infants. Give your baby the best experience and don’t be reluctant to take them travelling with you. There is plenty to see and do at the Manjuyod Sandbar for kids of all ages and it’s a great place for a family vacation!
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