I honestly never thought that a place like this exists in the Philippines. It’s as though I was transported into the world of Shingeki no Kyojin/Attack on Titan and The Maze Runner.
🇵🇭BAYBAY BEACH, ROXAS CITY ADVENTURE PRIMER🇵🇭
✈️🛳🚌 How to get to Baybay Beach, Roxas City, Capiz:
⏺ Take a plane from Metro Manila to Roxas City (e.g. Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific).
⏺ Charter a tricycle to get to Baybay.
🏄🏝🚴 Sites to Explore/Activities:
Ruins of Alcatraz
People’s Park (sunrise/sunset viewing and seafood restaurants)
I first saw photos of Alcatraz Ruins when a friend of mine shared it on his Facebook timeline. Then after a few more months, another friend who lives in Panay personally visited these ruins in Roxas City. Boy was I amazed when I saw its pictures. I gotta see it with my own eyes, I thought to myself.Originally, I was planning to cosplay a Shingeki soldier from the Scout Regiment/Survey Corps. Unfortunately, the pair of boots I needed which could be purchased from an online shop was out of stock. Moreover, the pieces of the whole costume would come from four different sellers in China. It would be too much of a hassle if the belt or cloak didn’t arrive before the date of my flight to Capiz.
⏰⏳ SAMPLE ITINERARY:
DAY 1
5:00 AM ETD for Roxas City
7:00 AM Early check-in
8:00 AM Breakfast
9:00 AM ETD for Ruins of Alcatraz
12:00 PM Lunch
1:00 PM Free time / explore the city
5:00 PM Sunset at Baybay
7:00 PM Dinner
DAY 2
4:00 AM Check-out
4:30 AM ETD for Roxas Airport
6:00 AM ETD for Manila
💰💶 ESTIMATED BUDGET (for a solo traveler): Php 3,500 – Php 4,500 (exclusive of airfare)
***Expenses may vary depending on the type of accommodation you will avail and personal consumption of food and other necessities. If traveling alone, you will solely shoulder the transfer rates via tricycle.
My college buddy and I landed early morning at Kalibo Airport. Together with our friend who is now based in Aklan, we made a quick side trip to Boracay first before heading to Capiz late in the afternoon. It was already dark when the three of us reached Roxas City. We asked the tricycle driver who took us to our hotel to pick us up before sunrise the following day and take us to the ruins.The next day, we left for the ruins at dawn. The streets of Roxas City were still quiet as we munched on some food for breakfast by a bakery before heading to Barangay Culasi where the ruins can be found.We passed by some houses and walked towards our destination. The place was deserted when we arrived.Considering the low light condition since it was still dark, I had to make use of my tripod first to produce sharper images.We climbed up the stairs and waited for the sunrise here atop the ruins.These ruins are the remnants of an unfinished resort of the Bermejo Family while others call it Ruins of Alcatraz because it resembles Alcatraz Island in San Francisco.I really enjoyed taking tons of photos at the ruins. After all, this was the only destination I took note of in this over-the-weekend itinerary in Capiz. It was virtually deserted although we came across a few people during visit.I also used my GoPro to get this wide angle shot to cover the expanse of Alcatraz Ruins.We then headed to the Shrine of The Sacred Heart of Jesus before returning to the hotel since our friend had to leave and go back to Kalibo. Too bad it’s just only the two of us munching on seafood by lunch time.Our trip to the Seafood Capital of the Philippines wouldn’t be complete without dining out at Baybay. We ordered scallops, grilled squid, grilled fish and our Filipino version of anchovy ceviche. The other half of the fish was then made into a soup (my bad, I forgot the name of the fish). Honestly, I already lost count of how many cups of rice my friend and I ordered from the restaurant’s staff.It was early afternoon when we made our way back to the city proper to have some desserts at Spanggo Café. Since I have a sweet tooth, I could never miss out on tasting their specialties. By dinner time, we tried out this restaurant near the cathedral that looks like an American diner. We had salad, pizza, pasta and milkshake. I wonder how many calories we consumed after eating non-stop that day.
📜✏ Tips/Reminders:
📌Alcatraz Ruins is also known as Bermejo among the locals. It is located at the farthest end of Baybay’s coastline.
📌You may hire a tricycle to tour you around Roxas City.
📌Expect rain during monsoon season (June-February).
📌Always observe the LNT principles.
The same year of 2019, I visited Roxas City again after a month and a half passed since my Alcatraz Ruins and Boracay trip. I just came back from my Holy Week vacation in my hometown in Mindoro.Boracay Island still is the most famous spot in Panay where you can catch the setting sun so I actually never expected that I would be seeing such raw beauty of Mother Nature. After all, there were only a few pictures online of Baybay Beach showcasing its awesome sunset.Indeed, sunsets will always be my favorite color.I’ve witnessed some of the best sunsets here in our country and I could really say that the sunset here at Baybay Beach is unarguably one of the most breathtaking.These photos of Baybay’s sunset was the highlight of this second trip of mine in Capiz.Since Roxas City is facing north, you’ll get the best of both worlds. When facing Baybay Beach, the sun will rise on your right while the sunset will be on your left.Because my first mirrorless camera already gave up on me, I was so excited to try out my newly bought one for this trip which was purchased just a day prior to my flight.Our hotel is just within walking distance so Baybay Beach is accessible to our location. I just strolled along the shoreline while patiently waiting for this spectacle.I stood in front of these dancing shades of the heavens that changed every minute.There was a handful of people eating by the resort where I was but no one was really paying attention to the changing hues of the sky.I set up my tripod then captured quite a number of shots until the evening twilight came. It was worth the wait.Sunsets always have that soothing aura. But this time, it felt different. The sunset I felt here felt sad and painful, as if its bleeding colors were trying to remind its spectator feelings of regret and longing.
***For other destinations in Panay, you may visit this link.
Was it hard looking for place to stay in Baybay? Also how about restaurants? Found this blog while searching for place we can go to after staying in Boracay for 4 days, alloting 3 days for other areas we can explore.
2 Comments
Donna
Was it hard looking for place to stay in Baybay? Also how about restaurants? Found this blog while searching for place we can go to after staying in Boracay for 4 days, alloting 3 days for other areas we can explore.
Riley
hello po. slr, marami naman po resto sa baybay. as for accom, we stayed at Villa Patria Cottages. malapit lang po sya dun. you can check out Agoda.