Located on the northwest coast of Negros Island, Bacolod is the biggest city and trade center in the Western Visayas, thanks to its geographic location in the center of the Philippines’ sugar-producing region. The city makes an excellent base to explore some of the nearby scenery, including Mount Kanlaon National Park, home to the Kanlaon Volcano — the highest point in the Visayas — as well as waterfalls and craters. Other popular spots include the Ruins and Lakawon Island, a beautiful beach destination with white sands, cerulean waters, the opportunity to engage in watersports from boating to kiteboarding, and a large floating bar.

Lacson Street, Bacolod’s main drag, is lined with restaurants where you can try some of the region’s most famous dishes, including cansi, a beef dish flavored with Batuan fruit, or chicken inasal, marinated grilled chicken. The street is also near the Negros Museum and the San Sebastian Cathedral, where you can learn more about the city’s history.

As with many tropical destinations in the northern hemisphere, the climate in Bacalod is warm and humid all year long, with only minor rises and falls in seasonal temperatures. That said, the heat peaks in April and May, and the rainy season lasts from June until October. Although the rain generally only lasts a few hours, it can often be overcast, making it tricky to plan outdoor activities. Things dry up a bit through the winter and spring, giving you plenty of opportunities to spend your days on the water or wandering around the city sans umbrella.

San Sebastian Cathedral

As the region’s most important religious building, this gorgeous cathedral stands in the center of Bacolod. Looking much older than its 140 years, it was built using locally sourced coral stone from Guimaras and hardwood from Palawan. Only a few splashes of Baroque ornamentation stand in contrast to the elegant simplicity of the white ceiling, walls, and floors.

Balaring Mangrove Park

Located 30 minutes north of Bacolod, the Balaring Mangrove Park is a mangrove reforestation project that was started to repopulate the area with the native trees. Mangrove trees are crucial to the ecosystem as they provide homes for many different species and help to filter pollutants out of the water. You can get up close and personal with the trees via a 1,600-foot bamboo bridge that runs through the forest — the longest bamboo bridge in this part of the Philippines. Climb the 30-foot watchtower to get a view of the forest from above.

Capitol Lagoon Park

This beautiful park is located in front of the Beaux-Arts style Negros Occidental Capitol Building, which was opened in 1933 and serves as a the seat of government of the Negros Occidental province. The park is a popular spot for jogging, and you can often see families and groups of friends enjoying a day out on the green.