Silliman Beach — Attraction in Dumaguete

Silliman Beach in Dumaguete is a hidden gem, offering a delightful retreat for both locals and visitors. The beach exudes a relaxed, inviting vibe, making it a perfect spot for unwinding. Whether you're enjoying cold beers with friends or spending time with family, the atmosphere here is always warm and welcoming. Locals gather along the shore, making it a great place to bond while watching the waves. The peaceful setting combined with the sounds of nature creates a serene experience that is cherished by many.

One unique feature of Silliman Beach is the remarkable view of airplanes taking off from the nearby Dumaguete-Sibulan Airport. As planes soar into the sky, it creates a stunning contrast against the calmness of the beach and offers a sight that many locals love to watch. It adds an element of excitement to the otherwise tranquil environment, making it an enjoyable experience for both residents and visitors.

What stands out during our visits is how well-maintained the beach is, thanks to the dedication of the local government units (LGUs) and the community. I noticed locals actively cleaning up the beach, ensuring that it remains pristine and beautiful for everyone to enjoy. The collaboration between the LGU and residents is truly commendable and reflects a strong sense of pride and responsibility toward the environment.

Although the sand has a brownish hue, possibly due to sulfur flashing out from the river to the ocean, the natural beauty of the beach still shines through. Despite this, the local efforts to keep the area clean and well-kept make Silliman Beach an even more inviting destination. The harmonious blend of stunning views, community involvement, and the excitement of watching airplanes overhead makes this beach a truly unique and wonderful place to visit...

It is a local public beach, it may be crowded, it may be littered, it may be noisy. But it's close to town, it's free, and there are 3 great things going for it, and in these 3 respects it's a lot better than some of the so-called "beach resorts" elsewhere in Dumaguete:

The surface, both above and below the waterline, is all nice soft sand. No sharp rocks, no mud.

The bottom slopes down at a reasonable grade, meaning that no matter whether it's high tide or low tide, you only need to walk 10-20 meters to be at a swimmable depth. This is so much better than a lot of other beaches, where you may need to walk 100 or 200 m (often in the mud or on sharp rocks) until it's more than knee-deep.

There are tall trees just to the west of the sand strip, which means that there is plenty of shade to be found starting in...

Perfect to watch the landing and departure of airplanes due to it's closeness to Dumaguete Airport. Better to bathe in the morning - Vitamin D is good for our health and a good view of sunrise can be witness from here. Also, many fisher folks return from early morning catch. In the afternoon, more sightings of landing and departing airplanes plus changing hues of the sky due to sunset. I saw a puffer fish who was accidentally included on one of fishermen's net. Depending on the weather, the water may look clean or dirty. No entrance fee. Small tables and stores near the shore is available (maybe they are the source of trash aside from the locals residing near the area). If possible, bring a pair of gloves and garbage bag - do beach clean up to help the environment and do...