Baslay Hot Spring is in the little town of Dauin, just on the outskirts of Dumaguete city. If you’re into scuba diving at all, you’ve probably heard of Dauin since it’s one of the best diving spots in the Philippines, but it’s also home to some incredible waterfalls, rivers and hot springs. Baslay Hot Spring is an easy half-day trip if you’re staying in or around Dumaguete, and is a favourite hidden spot for locals looking for a little adventure.
READ: TOP 3 HOT SPRINGS NEAR DUMAGUETE
GETTING TO BASLAY HOT SPRING
Baslay Hot Spring is around 40 minutes outside of downtown Dumaguete, up in the mountains of Dauin. The best way to get there is via scooter or motorbike, which you can rent for $8 USD a day but if you’re not comfortable driving a scooter, you can rent a car for $40. Alternatively, you can get any public Ceres bus heading South from the Dumaguete terminal and get off at Dauin proper, then take a habal habal (motorcycle taxi) up to Baslay but you’ll have to negotiate a fair price since the driver will have to wait for you and take you back down to town.
You can follow Google Maps all the way to the parking area of Baslay Hot Spring, which has a little native house at the entrance. From there, it’s an easy 15 minute walk down the mountain and upstream once you reach the river until you get to the spring. You’ll smell it before you see it! The river and spring smells strongly of sulphur, so once you smell the scent of eggs you’ll know you’re close. The path down was developed with concrete steps and handrails, but unfortunately it was severely damaged by Typhoon Sendong in 2011 and has since been neglected.
HOW HOT IS BASLAY HOT SPRING REALLY?
Baslay Hot Spring is no joke. The river leading up to the spring is so hot you’re going to want to hopscotch across it, and the spring itself that comes from within the mountain is literally boiling. Before Typhoon Sendong hit, the local government constructed 4 pools where the boiling hot water was directed and mixed with the cold water of the river so that people could actually stand to sit in the water.
The pools are still there today, but they’ve seen better days. When we visited, 2 of them were too hot to sit in comfortably, but 2 were perfect! We were the only people there, since not many people tend to visit much anymore, so 2 pools was more than enough for us.
HOW TO FIND THE WATERFALL
After soaking in the hot pots for a while, you’re gonna want to cool off a bit. If you continue your trek upriver a short distance, you’ll eventually come across a small but refreshing waterfall. Don’t be duped by the “fake waterfall”. We thought this was the real waterfall and almost stopped there, but if you round the corner and keep going a little further, you’ll unmistakably find the real waterfall.
Hot water trickles from underground into the waterfall catchment, so the shallow pool is the perfect mixture of hot and cold. The waterfall itself is a lot cooler, and is the perfect height and strength for a natural shower in the jungle! There’s not much room for swimming, but it’s a good way to wash off that sulphur stench.
Baslay Hot Spring and its neighbouring waterfall make for an awesome little day trip from Dumaguete, and are especially worth a visit if you’re staying in one of the resorts around Dauin. We really hope the site is restored to its former glory one day, but it’s still a nice spot to check out regardless. If you’re looking for other hidden gems closer to Dumaguete, check out our guide to Tottyn Falls in Valencia, the perfect waterfall for adventure seekers.
READ: 26 BEST TOURIST SPOTS IN DUMAGUETE
PIN IT FOR LATER
WHERE TO STAY NEAR BASLAY HOT SPRING
Most people who visit Negros Oriental are told to stay in Dumaguete, but what they really mean by that is stay around Dumaguete. True, Dumaguete City has plenty of tourist inns and budget hotels, but it’s the surrounding towns of Dauin and Zamboanguita that offer the best spots to stay. There’s not a whole lot to do in the city itself, so when you stay in the nearby municipalities there’s plenty of nature to explore whilst still being nice and close to Dumaguete City. Check out our top picks for accommodation near Dumaguete City.
LUXURY: Atmosphere Resorts & Spa, Dauin
Atmosphere Resorts & Spa in Dauin is the resort to stay at if you’ve got a big budget and fancy the finer things in life. Atmosphere has hosted its fair share of local celebrities and deep pocketed divers looking for the best beachfront luxury in Dauin.
MIDSCALE: Mike’s Dauin Dive Resort, Dauin
If you want to stay by the ocean without breaking the bank, Mike’s Dauin Dive Resort in Dauin is a comfortable midscale accommodation option perfect for diving enthusiasts. If you’ve never dived before, you can get your certification at Mike’s, and divers of all skill sets can enjoy the abundance of macro diving opportunities in and around Dauin.
BUDGET: Bongo Bongo Divers, Dauin
Bongo Bongo Divers is one of the most popular hostels in Dauin for backpackers looking for cheap accommodation in a convenient location. The rooms are simple, without any glitz and glam, but the vibe is fun and welcoming. They have a variety of room styles to choose from, ranging from couples rooms to AC or fan only dorms.
AIRBNB: Villa Amani, Zamboanguita
Villa Amani in Zamboanguita is the perfect holiday home for small families or groups of friends looking for privacy that a traditional resort or hotel can’t offer. The main house sleeps 4 with additional space for 2 in the guest house, or you can book the guest house separately if it’s just the 2 of you and you’re on a budget. The property has a swimming pool, an unbeatable view of Apo Island and kayaks to use whenever you want.
MORE NEGROS ORIENTAL GUIDES:
Baslay Highland Brew Coffee, Dauin
Swimming with Turtles, Apo Island
Rock Point View Deck, Apo Island
Turtle Island, Siaton
Hidden Beach, Siaton
Casaroro Falls, Valencia
Pulangbato Falls, Valencia
Tottyn Falls, Valencia
Original Casaroro Falls, Valencia
