Lake Balinsasayao In Dumaguete – 2024 Visitor’s Guide

One of the best things to do in Dumaguete is to explore Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park.

The twin crater lakes known as Balinsasayao and Danao, rising 1000 meters above sea level, are the prominent features within the national park located on the western side of Mount Guintabon.

I have put together this complete guide to visiting Lake Balinsasayao including how to get there, how much it costs, and what to expect when you arrive.

WHERE IS LAKE BALINSASAYAO?

Balinsasayao Twin Lakes National Park is located just 14.5 km from Dumaguete in a village known as Sibulan.

Click here to see the location on Google maps.

BALINSASAYAO TWIN LAKES TOUR

The best way to visit Twin Lakes is to book a full-day tour to see the highlights of Dumaguete.

The Twin Lakes Natural Park Tour is the most top-rated tour with great reviews.

This comprehensive tour includes a visit to Balinsasayao Twin lakes, as well as the transfer from and to your hotel, which is always convenient! Did I mention that lunch is included too?

HOW TO GET HERE

If you choose not to do a tour and want to visit DIY, you can rent a motorbike in Dumaguete for 500 – 800 pesos per day or rent a car for 1500 – 2000 pesos per day, and make your own way to this location.

The journey time from Dumaguete to Twin Lakes Natural Park takes approximately 1-hour.

OPENING HOURS & ENTRANCE FEE

Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park is open Monday to Sunday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Lake Balinsasayao entrance fee is 50 pesos for local Filipinos and 100 pesos for tourists.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT LAKE BALINSASAYAO

The twin lakes of Balinsasayao and Danao formed from a volcanic eruption some 10,000 years ago and the 90-meter deep craters over time have filled up with water from rain and stream deposits, resulting in the two lakes being separated by a narrow mountain ridge.

Hundreds of species of forest trees, fruit-bearing, and flower plants dominate the vegetation around the lakes.

On top of this, Twin Lakes Dumaguete is a famed spot for bird-watching enthusiasts, playing home to many different species of bird, the most popular being the Flaming Sunbird.

BALINSASAYAO LAKE

Lake Balinsasayao is one of the best Dumaguete tourist spots not to be missed.

There are two main viewing platforms at Twin Lakes Dumaguete, the first is located next to the main car park/restaurant that overlooks Balinsasayao, the larger lake of the two.

The second viewing platform is a 1km hike around the edge of Lake Balinsasayao towards the narrow mountain ridge and this is where you’ll find a 3-tiered watchtower that overlooks the Twin Lakes.

If you prefer not to hike and want to take a paddle boat ride with a local, renting the boat for 250 pesos per hour is possible. Alternatively, you can rent a kayak for 100 pesos and paddle out onto the lake yourself.

Across the lake, you can discover the Olayan Waterfall and rock pools which were the highlight of my adventure to Balinsasayao Twin Lakes.

You will have to take the boat or kayak to get to the falls, and then it is a short 10-minute hike through the jungle before you reach Olayan Falls.

My friends and I swam in the shallow rockpool beneath the falls where we had all to ourselves.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

There is a strict No Drone Zone at Lake Balinsasayao. Recently, there was an incident that involved a native bird attacking someone’s drone mid-flight and resulted in the bird being killed and the drone crashing into the lake.

Unfortunately, you cannot swim in the Balinsasayao Twin Lakes as the water from the lakes sources the town of Dumaguete and it needs to stay as clean as possible.

There are also volcanic components in the lake which are not very good for your skin.

The motto at Balinsasayao Twin Lakes is, ‘Take nothing but pictures, kill nothing but time, leave nothing but footprints.”

WHAT TO PACK FOR THE PHILIPPINES

When visiting the Philippines, here is a list of items I highly recommend bringing with you:

FINAL THOUGHTS – BALINSASAYAO LAKE

I hope you enjoyed reading this article and if you have any questions about Balinsasayao Lake, please leave me a comment below this post and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

For a quicker response, be sure to join Jonny Melon’s Travel Tribe on Facebook and post your questions or recommendations to our awesome community.

TRAVEL RESOURCES FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or it’s your first trip overseas, here are some useful travel resources to help you kick-start your next adventure!

THANKS FOR READING

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