There are reasons to consider spending your vacation in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental which is the home of Pintaflores Festival.
San Carlos has tourist spots worthy of family bonding, or simply relaxing and whiling away time with friends or co-workers.
The scenes alone when driving or riding from Bacolod City is something that will refresh the mind and spirit.
The sights and sounds while along the Negros Trans link Eco-Tourism Highway will surely compensate the usual hassle when driving or riding some distances.
There are several spots worthy of stopovers, selfie and groupie opportunities.
The beautiful sceneries are just boundless, not counting several resorts, man-made and natural structures, fresh fruits and flowers along the way, and the forests.
PEOPLE’S PARK
On arrival at San Carlos proper, go straight to the People’s Park where swimming pools, cabanas and a seaside boulevard can relax the tired body.
The city government-owned and operated park– once a smelly and eyesore garbage dump site, is now a plaza-like area and resort rolled into one.
Kids and adults alike can have an enjoyable swim, or simply to dine, and savour the unpolluted air.
Incoming and outgoing fastcrafts, ro-ro vessels, big ships and even jet skis are visible from the park, with Sipaway island floating along Tañon Strait on the back drop.
LA FORTUNA LAGOON
By two or three o’clock in the afternoon, you can bring the group to Hacienda Fortuna which is only about 11 kilometers from the city proper.
What’s in there?
There’s the sprawling, beautiful, natural body of fresh water named La Fortuna Lagoon.
Maintained by hacienda owner Ledesma Hermanos Agricultural Corp., the spot is both a tourist destination and a source of irrigation water for sugarcane and other farms surrounding the very fertile land.
The bluish and greenish clean lagoon, teems with fresh water fish although fishing is not allowed as they are left to multiply to control mosquito larvae.
The lagoon, free for all to visit, has various trees lining around it, with wild birds spending hours mostly in the late afternoon to feed.
It has a viewing deck built on the edge of the water, with the kick of romantic ambiance and silence that deafens the ears and the mind — indeed, no word can best describe the area.
Best time to visit is during feeding time of birds which is from 3PM to sundown.
By the way, when you want to visit the place which is private, and was venue to some shoots for beauty contests, movies and films, coordinate with either the Ledesma Hermanos Agri firm or City Tourism Office.
OVERNIGHT STAY
After your exit from La Fortuna, drive around the city and also swing to the area where the sprawling SACASOL solar power plant facilities are located, just beside the main highway.
Overnight stay is no problem in this city.
Hotels and pension houses abound, and they fit to your budget.
You may also opt to spend your night at La Vista Highlands Resort which is along the Negros Trans link highway.
WHISPERING PALMS
Spend the next day in Sipaway, a pollution-free island with just about seven kilometers of coastline. It is also still part of San Carlos.
It is about 15 minutes from the city port on pump boats, and when you get there via Dapdap Wharf in Barangay San Juan, take a single motorcycle or a tricycle to get to the resorts.
One of the most popular and well-visited resorts in Sipaway is Whispering Palms, that also has 8AM to 5PM “day tour” package, with amenities and foods.
An overnight stay is strongly recommended, though.
It has swimming pool, mini zoo, sports facilities, elevated cabanas overlooking Cebu Island, mangroves that add up to its natural beauty and ambiance, and a lot more.
With just a little advance planning and coordinating, getting to more places of interest in San Carlos will be worth it.
Also coordinate with the City Tourism Office in advance, they will be glad to assist you to make sure your stay will be as memorable in this city that has both tourism and business or industrial potentials.