Campuestohan Highland Resort

Campuestohan sits about six hundred metres up in the hills behind Talisay, an hour from Bacolod, and it is a theme resort in the fullest sense: giant fibreglass dinosaurs, oversized cartoon and film characters, a Transformers figure, replicas of assorted landmarks, wave pools and slides, a zipline, a hanging bridge, go-karts and themed accommodation ranging from cabins to a castle, spread across a hillside with the cool air that altitude brings. Nothing about it pretends to be authentic or natural, and Filipino families come in large numbers precisely for that - it is a day out for children rather than a landscape. The elevation makes it genuinely pleasant in the afternoon compared with the coast. Anyone looking for heritage or nature in Negros will find neither here and should go to Silay, Mambukal or the Sagay reserve instead; anyone travelling with children will find it does what it sets out to do.

History

Ricardo Tan bought the 5-hectare site in 2010, first meaning to build a retirement home for his wife Nita, and began building a theme resort in June 2011 despite doubts about a "dead place". It opened in May 2014, its dinosaur park followed in 2017, and a rooster-shaped hotel was inaugurated in October 2024 (Wikipedia, Campuestohan Highland Resort).

What to look for

• The giant statues - dinosaurs and oversized figures across the site.
• The pools and slides - the water park section.
• The rides - zipline, hanging bridge and go-karts.
• The hill air - noticeably cooler than Bacolod below.

When to go

November to May for dry weather. Weekdays are far quieter; weekends, school holidays and summer fill it completely.

Before you go

It is an artificial theme resort, not a natural or heritage site. Rides, pools and food are charged on top of the entry pass. Public transport does not reach it; a vehicle is needed. Weekends are loud and crowded.

Nearby

Mambukal Resort's hot springs are on Kanlaon's flank; Silay's heritage houses and Bacolod are on the coast.

Key facts