Baybay Beach, Roxas City is the long public shoreline of Barangay Baybay, facing the Sibuyan Sea, and the city's favorite place for sunsets, morning walks and seafood dinners. It is free to visit and an easy tricycle ride from the city center. From Baybay you can also reach some of the best Capiz tourist spots: Olotayan Island, the Culajao mangrove park, the dried fish stalls of Banica, the Sacred Heart shrine on Tumandok Hill and the heritage district by the Panay River.
This local guide covers what each place is like, how to get there and what to keep in mind. We do not list prices or schedules because they change; ask locally or check official pages before you go.
Baybay Beach, Roxas City
Baybay is the Hiligaynon word for seashore, and the name fits. The beach stretches for several kilometers along the city's northern coast.
What to do at Baybay Beach
- Watch the sunset. Evenings are when the beach comes alive, with families, joggers and barkadas (groups of friends) along the shore.
- Eat seafood. Restaurants and grills line the beachfront, and the People's Park area is known for fresh seafood cooked to order. Our guide to the Seafood Capital of the Philippines tells you what to try.
- Walk or jog in the morning. Early mornings are cooler and quieter, a good time for a walk along the shore.
- Swim with care. Swim where locals swim, avoid the water during strong waves or bad weather, and keep children close.
Getting to Baybay Beach
Take a tricycle from the city center; the ride is short. Many hotels and resorts in Roxas City are in or near Baybay, so you may be able to walk.
Keep Baybay clean
The beach belongs to everyone. Bring a bag for your trash, skip single-use plastic, and leave shells, corals and sea creatures where they are.
Locals pitch in too. On February 28, 2026, JCI Roxas Halaran and Filamer Christian University NSTP students held a coastal clean-up at Baybay, followed by Hot Meals on Wheels for residents. On June 23, 2026, the chapter brought SA DAGAT to the Baybay shoreline during Barangay Baybay's San Juan Festival: a boat race for local fisherfolk and Pinta Baruto, where eight artists painted two donated fiberglass boats. Admission was free. Further along the coast, Coastline Cuts gave free haircuts to 107 people at the Dumolog Covered Court that same month.
Other tourist spots in Roxas City
Olotayan Island
Olotayan is a small island off Roxas City and the city's island barangay. It is a quiet place for a day trip, with a shoreline of sand and coral rubble and clear water around it. Boats leave from the city's coast; ask locally about the departure point, and arrange your boat in advance.
- Wear water shoes, since the shore can be rocky.
- Bring your own food and drinking water, as facilities are basic.
- Go only in good weather. The crossing can be rough for small boats when the wind is strong.
- Respect the residents and the reef: no littering and no collecting of corals or shellfish.
Culajao Mangrove Eco Park
In Barangay Culajao, northeast of the city center, a mangrove eco park protects a stretch of mangrove forest that began as a reforestation project. It is a calm place to see birds, fish and crabs, and a good lesson on why mangroves matter: they protect the coast from storm surges and serve as nurseries for the seafood Capiz is known for. There is an entrance fee, and activities such as paddle boats may cost extra. On March 28, 2025, our chapter joined JCI Roxas Sinadya for the Kandili mangrove planting at the park.
Banica dried fish stalls
East of the city center, the road to Banica is lined with stalls selling dried fish and other seafood products. It is the place for pasalubong (gifts to bring home). Ask vendors to pack your purchase tightly if you are flying.
Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Pueblo de Panay
On Tumandok Hill in Barangay Dinginan, inside the Pueblo de Panay township, stands a giant statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. GMA News has described it as 132 feet tall. The hilltop gives wide views of Roxas City and the Sibuyan Sea, and it is a popular stop for pilgrims and photographers. Dress modestly, as it is a place of prayer.
The heritage district
Around the City Plaza, you can see the Immaculate Conception Metropolitan Cathedral, Ang Panublion Museum inside an old water tank, the birthplace of President Manuel Roxas, the old Roxas City Bridge over the Panay River, the bandstand and the Capiz Provincial Capitol. The city government's Heritage Walk page describes nine stops you can do on foot in an afternoon.
Capiz tourist spots outside the city
Santa Monica Church and the Panay bell
In the town of Panay, a short drive from Roxas City, the Santa Monica Parish Church is one of the most important heritage churches in Western Visayas. Its belfry holds a huge bell, often called the largest church bell in Asia, cast in the 1800s from coins donated by townspeople and weighing more than 10 tonnes. The church was declared a National Historical Landmark in 1997.
Suhot Cave and Spring, Dumalag
Inland in Dumalag, Suhot is a natural spring resort with a cave you can explore. The cool spring water is a nice change from the beach. Check with the resort for current rates and opening hours before you go.
The coastal towns
Towns such as Pilar, Ivisan and Sapian have their own beaches, bays and seafood traditions, especially oysters and mussels. Ask locals about the best spots, and check for red tide advisories before eating shellfish.
A simple two-day itinerary
- Day 1 morning: Heritage walk around the City Plaza, cathedral and Panublion Museum.
- Day 1 afternoon: Pueblo de Panay and the Sacred Heart shrine, then Banica for pasalubong.
- Day 1 evening: Sunset and seafood dinner at Baybay Beach.
- Day 2 morning: Boat trip to Olotayan Island if the weather is good, or the Culajao mangrove park if it is not.
- Day 2 afternoon: Drive to Panay town for Santa Monica Church and its bell.
Timing your trip? December's Sinadya festival adds processions and street dancing to the mix; see our Halaran festival guide. For general travel tips, read our Roxas City, Capiz local's guide.
Responsible travel tips
- Check the weather. Boat trips should only go ahead in good conditions. Follow PAGASA advisories and local coast guard rules.
- Leave no trace. Carry out what you bring in, especially plastic.
- Support local. Eat at local restaurants, hire local boatmen and guides, and buy pasalubong from local vendors.
- Respect sacred places. Churches and shrines are places of worship first.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an entrance fee at Baybay Beach Roxas City?
Baybay Beach is a public beach and is generally free to visit. Resorts and restaurants along the shore have their own rates.
Can you swim at Baybay Beach?
Yes, many locals swim there, especially on calm days. Avoid swimming in rough weather or strong waves, and follow any local advisories.
How do I get to Olotayan Island?
Hire a boat from the Roxas City coast. Ask your hotel or locals to help arrange a trusted boatman, agree on the price and return time beforehand, and only cross in good weather.
What is the best time to visit Capiz tourist spots?
The drier months are best for beaches and boat trips. Typhoons can affect Capiz in the second half of the year, so plan flexible dates and read our typhoon preparedness checklist.
Love the coast? Help care for it
JCI Roxas Halaran is a chapter of young active citizens in Roxas City, open to men aged 18 to 40. If you want to help keep Baybay and the rest of our coastline beautiful, join the chapter or see our projects.
