Valencia is a simple way to change pace from Dumaguete. You get a day that mixes Dumaguete City history with Valencia nature time, including hot springs and a couple of real water stops. I especially like how this tour is built around photo-friendly viewpoints and practical stops you can enjoy without needing special skills. My only real caution is that this is not a sit-and-do-nothing tour, so you will want comfy shoes and you should bring extra clothes and a towel for the swims.

I also like that the tour runs with hotel pickup and drop-off inside Dumaguete City, so you do not waste time figuring out transport. The schedule is tight enough to feel like a full day of variety, yet it still includes breaks for swimming and sightseeing. One more thing to keep in mind: you will pay extra for certain activities and entries that are not always included, so budget for those if you want the full water-and-lake experience.

If you pick the right day and pack smart, this is a strong value way to see why Valencia is one of the pride provinces of the Philippines, and how it grew from an old refuge into a place people visit for culture and bathing spots.

Key highlights to know before you go

• Dumaguete City culture first, with a smooth start from the Dumaguete Tourist Information and Assistance Center
• Cata-al World War 2 Museum, with time to walk and take photos
• Twin lakes viewpoint options, including Lake Balinsasayao and Danao areas plus scenic stops
• Sulfuric Mountain photo stop, short and straightforward, then straight into soaking time
• Red Rock Hot Spring swimming, plus another swim stop like Pulang Bato Falls

Valencia’s story starts in the city streets

Valencia’s name and roots are part of why this day feels more than just scenery. Valencia was originally called Ermita, meaning a secluded place, because it served as a refuge from marauding Muslim pirates. Later, in 1856, Spanish colonizers renamed it Nueva Valencia, honoring Father Matias Villa, who was the parish priest of Valencia and connected to Valencia, Spain. Even if you do not go deep on facts, you will feel the theme when you move through town sights.

One neat detail you can look for is the fountain brought from Father Matias Villa’s hometown. It sits in front of the Town Hall. It is the kind of stop that takes almost no time, but it helps you understand why the tour puts culture and history up front instead of saving it for later.

I like that the day starts in Dumaguete with easy orientation. You begin at the Dumaguete Tourist Information and Assistance Center, then you are off for a first round of photo stops and sightseeing. That early momentum matters. You get your bearings fast, and you start learning the rhythm of the area before you head into the more rugged, nature-heavy parts of the route.

Cata-al World War 2 Museum, a stop with real weight

The Cata-al World War 2 Museum is the one cultural stop on this outing that you should treat as the core event. The schedule sets aside time to visit, take photos, and walk. Even if you keep your reading light, the physical layout and focus on the Second World War gives the day structure. It turns the trip from a string of scenic breaks into something with context.

This is where I suggest you slow down just a bit. If you are tempted to rush through for the next view deck, resist that urge. A museum visit works best when you give yourself time to notice details. Even quick attention to exhibits helps you understand what the region went through, and why the Philippines protects and shares its wartime memory.

City to countryside, the route moves like a checklist

After the museum, the day shifts into more classic sightseeing. You will see several places that are ideal for photos and short walks rather than long hikes. Expect a mix of town plaza time, viewpoints, and stops that help you sample Valencia’s character.

Here are a few spots that fit that vibe:

• Chada Valencia Plaza for sightseeing and a chance to absorb the town feel
• Subida for handcraft souvenirs, a practical moment if you want gifts that are easier to carry than heavy items
• The Barn / Mango Ranch, good for quick photos and that “I’m actually here” feeling
• Alimyon Kapehan as a side trip, especially if you like grabbing local coffee during a travel day

I like this kind of pacing because it gives you choices without turning the day into a guessing game. You get plenty of time to look around, but you are not expected to plan your next move. It also helps if you are traveling with friends who do not all share the same priorities. Someone who wants photos is covered, and someone who wants culture and shopping has options too.

One caution from real-world experience: parts of the route that involve waterfront strolling can feel a little underwhelming if you want beach time right near town. If your main goal is water access, plan to enjoy your swimming stops farther out, where the tour clearly sets aside proper swim hours.

Lakes and view decks: where the photos make sense

Valencia’s lake stops are where you start seeing why this area gets visited so often. The tour includes Lake Kabalin-an, a View Deck, and the Twin Lake Balinsasayao / Danao area. This is a good moment to remember how weather and angles work.

View decks and lake overlooks are at their best when the light is not too harsh. Even on a normal day, you will likely get calmer, scenic photos here because you are not stuck at one random corner. The tour is set up to rotate you through multiple vantage points, so you are not stuck with the same background for every shot.

If you are the type who wants the “on the water” experience, pay attention to the optional costs listed for boat or kayak time. The tour data includes a boat/kayak fee of 300 per boat (for 4 pax). That means if your group is small, you might still get a boat option, but it may require paying as a shared boat. If you want to keep costs predictable, skip the boat and focus on the viewpoints that are included.

Forest Camp and Tierra Alta: fun swimming, then sightseeing mode

By the middle of the day, the tour hits its shift into swimming and nature stops. Forest Camp (Swimming) is one of the highlights, but the tour data also lists the Forest Camp entrance fee as not included (200). So if you want this as a true swim stop, factor that extra charge into your budget.

Right after that, you also get Tierra Alta for sightseeing. This pairing is practical. Swimming refreshes you, and then Tierra Alta gives your day a scenic reset before the route heads toward the sulfur area and hot springs.

A quick, honest note for expectations: some people are happiest with the classic “swim and soak” parts, while Tierra Alta can feel more like a sightseeing stop than a can’t-miss attraction. If you are the type who needs every stop to feel dramatic, you might enjoy Tierra Alta more if you treat it as a viewpoint and photo break, not as the centerpiece.

Sulfuric Mountain picture time, then straight to Red Rock soaking

One of the most distinctive sequences in this tour is the run toward the sulfur area. You get Sulfuric Mountain mainly for picture taking, with a short stop listed as 5 minutes. That is not meant to be a full immersion activity, it is meant to give you quick visuals and context. If you hate rushing, this part can feel fast, but it also prevents the day from dragging.

Then you move into the heart of the water experience: Red Rock Hot Spring for swimming. This is one place where the tour clearly aims to deliver, because the itinerary sets aside 1 hour for Red Rock swimming time.

Hot springs tours are most enjoyable when you remember the practical side:

• you will want swimwear on hand
• you should plan for wet time plus getting changed
• you will appreciate having a towel and extra clothes ready to go

The tour data explicitly recommends bringing extra clothes and a towel if you take this tour. Take that advice seriously. It turns a slightly messy travel day into a comfortable one.

Also, think about comfort footwear. You might be walking around before and after soaking. Comfortable shoes help you handle transitions without stress.

Pulang Bato Falls swim, then you roll back to Dumaguete

After Red Rock, the tour includes another swimming stop, and Pulang Bato Falls (swimming) is listed among the places to visit. So toward the end of your day, plan for more water time, not just a final photo stop.

This second swim hour helps balance the hot spring time. The hot spring is about relaxing and soaking. A falls swim is more about active fun and changing your scenery again before the ride back. It can also help you feel like the day had enough time for both types of water experiences.

When the outing wraps up, you return to the starting area, the Dumaguete Tourist Information and Assistance Center, after the full run back toward Dumaguete.

Price and value: what $72 buys you (and what it does not)

The price is listed as $72 per person for about 7 hours (the package also notes 8 hours). For that price, the tour includes a lot of the stuff that usually adds up on your own: aircon transportation, fuel, drivers and parking fees, a tour guide, bottled water (1) per tour, and entrance fees.

That entrance-fee inclusion matters. On a day with multiple stops, it reduces surprise costs and keeps the tour feeling smoother.

What is not included:

• Meals (listed as 400 to 450 per pax)
• Forest Camp entrance fee (200)
• Boat/kayak (300 per boat for 4 pax), if you decide to do it
• Anything not mentioned as included, which is why it helps to check what is covered for your exact day

So is $72 good value? I think it is, especially if you are staying within Dumaguete City and you like the idea of a guided route with planned entrances. If you are the type who always snacks independently and you already plan to pay for extra activities anyway, the math gets even better. If you are trying to keep your budget extremely tight and skip optional fees and swimming entries, you can still enjoy the core highlights.

The guide experience: get the explanations, not just the ride

This is a private group tour with an English live tour guide. That is a big part of the value, because you are not just being transported between scenic points. You are also meant to get explanations at stops, which helps the day feel connected rather than random.

One guide-driver name called out in the feedback is Ria, described as friendly with good explanations from pick up through drop off. That matters because the difference between a good tour and a average one is often not the sights, it is how the stops get explained.

There is also a cautionary note from experience: one day had a driver but no tour guide, and there was a pickup delay. That is not guaranteed for every run, because the tour details state a live English guide. Still, if you want full guiding, confirm your confirmation shows an English guide included with your pickup time.

Who should book this Valencia from Dumaguete tour

This tour is a good fit if you:

• want a full day in Valencia without planning transport between sites
• enjoy a mix of culture plus swim time
• like photo stops at viewpoints, plazas, and scenic sulfur area locations
• travel with people who will appreciate both quick town stops and nature time

It is not a good fit if you:

• are pregnant, based on the tour info
• have mobility impairments, since the day includes sightseeing and walking time
• prefer only one type of activity, because this day clearly rotates between museum time, sightseeing, and swimming

You will enjoy it most when you pack smart and treat the day like what it is: a packed, varied half-day to full-day route.

Should you book Twin Treasures, Dumaguete and Valencia?

I would book it if you want a structured way to see Valencia’s mix of town culture, wartime memory, lake viewpoints, and hot spring swimming, all starting with pickup in Dumaguete. The price feels fair because transportation, a live guide, and entrance fees are part of what you pay.

I would hesitate only if you strongly prefer a true beach near town, or if you need every stop to feel like a major attraction rather than a viewpoint or quick photo break. Also, if you are sensitive to tight scheduling, this is not a slow stroll day.

If you go in with the right expectations and pack the essentials for swimming, this tour hits the sweet spot of practical and fun.

FAQ

How long is the Dumaguete and Valencia tour?

The tour duration is listed as 7 hours, and the package also notes an 8 hour tour.

Where is pickup and drop-off?

Pickup and drop-off are included for hotels within Dumaguete City.

Is there an English tour guide?

Yes. The tour includes a live tour guide and the language is English. It is also listed as a private group.

Are meals included in the price?

No. Meals are not included, with meals listed at about 400 to 450 per person. Entrance fees are included, but some items like Forest Camp entrance fee and boat or kayak are not.

What should I bring for the stops?

Bring comfortable shoes and comfortable clothes, plus beachwear. If you plan to swim, bring extra clothes and a towel.

Is there a refund if I cancel?

Yes. Free cancellation is available if you cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.