‘Secluded,' ‘chaste,' and ‘undeniably beautiful' are the expressions that befit the summer getaway named Sipalay. This coastal city is blessed with pristine beaches, sunken islands, and baffling wreckages—some of the country's best and untouched. The shorelines are lined with verdant forests that hide even more wonders inside, such as caves and waterfalls, making it a dream destination for adventure-loving trekkers.
Sipalay is located at the heel of the boot-shaped island of Negros, and the province's prime lure is its paradise of a beach, the Sugar Beach (or Langub to the locals), just 15 minutes away from the city proper. The fine sand and azure waters make it an ideal place for various water activities such as swimming and snorkeling; and the calm water makes it an ideal choice for novice divers. The avid ones, however, may prefer Punta Ballo, not only for the splendor above the water, but also for the hidden treasures underneath. The diving site has a number of cavernous precipices and shipwrecks, such as the SS Panay, and the MS Jojo, where whale sharks may be found. Sipalay's coast atolls, like the Enzian Reef and Obon Point, enchant visitors with a rainbow of corals and other marine life. Not far from Punta Ballo is Campomanes Bay, famous for its calm waters even in harsh weather, and also Tinagong Dagat ("Hidden Sea" in local tongue) where tourists can explore the many islets lush with vegetation.
Festivals in Sipalay rival foreign Mardi gras, especially during its founding celebration called Pasaway sa Sipalay (Pasaway in Visayan dialect means "to call for attention"), which is a feast for the eyes in itself because of the many dancers and performers clad in outlandish costumes resembling copper minerals. The fiesta is a testimony to the greatness of the city's rich copper industry.
