Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral
Jaro Plaza
The Spanish-era
Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral
is the seat of the Catholic diocese in the
Western Visayas and its ivory-white stone facade is suitably impressive. Steps either side
of the main doors lead up to a platform and the Shrine to the Divine Infant and
Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Our Lady of Candles).
Nelly Garden mansion
Set back from Luna St, south of Jaro Plaza • Tours cost P1000 per group; visitors need to reserve at least three days in advance
The grandiose
Nelly Garden mansion
stands down a picturesque driveway lined with
eucalyptus. The mansion, which has murals on the walls and a U-shaped dining room
with a fountain in the middle, can only be visited by arrangement with the Iloilo
tourist o
ce. Nearby, Lourdes Dellota's on East Lopez Street (
T
033 337 4095) sells
religious artefacts such as
santos
, and jewellery.
6
Bulabog Puti-An National Park
Foreigners P100, Filipinos P10, guide P150 (recommended if you're coming independently) • Ranger's o
ce cabins P200/person, Dingle
homestay P500/person • Panay Adventure Travel and Tours (see opposite) offer climbing (US$75) and caving (US$55) trips, with a
minimum of four people • To reach the park independently, charter a taxi (P2000-3000, depending on vehicle size and how long you stay)
or take a jeepney to Dingle (1hr), then tricycle (P15/person) to the park entrance
Some 40km north of Iloilo,
Bulabog Puti-An National Park
, established in 1961, sits
along a ridgeline of intact primary forest. The region's caverns were used as a hideout by
revolutionary forces during the Spanish period and inscriptions penned on the cave
walls still bear testament to this time. Today the park offers a healthy choice of
adventurous outdoor pursuits, plus the chance to spot monkeys, pythons and a host of
creepy-crawlies. You can easily visit as a day-trip from Iloilo, but for those who want a
closer look, an
overnight stay
can be arranged at the simple cabins in the ranger's o
ce,
or at a homestay in Dingle. You can get to Bulabog Puti-An independently, but for
fuller exploration it's best to arrange a trip in advance, either through the tourist o
ce,
or Panay Adventure Travel and Tours (see opposite), who offer trekking, caving and
climbing trips.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
ILOILO CITY AND AROUND
By plane
Iloilo's new airport is at Cabutuan, 15km from
the city. A taxi to the city centre costs about P350, or you
can take a share-van for P50/person. Cebu Pacific (
T
033
333 0015) and PAL (
T
033 333 0040) have ticket o
ces at
the airport. Air tickets can also be obtained at travel agents
or any of the city's Western Union of
ces.
Destinations
Cebu Pacific and PAL Express have several
daily fights to Cebu (45min) and Manila (1hr). The former
also flies to Davao (daily; 1hr 5min), and Puerto Princesa
(3 weekly; 1hr 5min).
By boat
Slow ferries from Cebu and Manila arrive at the
wharf on the eastern edge of the city, a 15min walk or short
jeepney/tricycle ride from General Luna St. Fast ferries for
Bacolod arrive a few hundred metres beyond the post o
ce
on Muelle Loney St. Finally, Ortiz wharf, used by bangkas
(P15) from Hoskyn on Guimaras, is at the southern end of
Ortiz St near the market.
Destinations
Bacolod (frequent; 1hr); Cebu City (7 weekly;
12-14hr); Hoskyn (on Guimaras; every 30min; 15min);
Manila (1 weekly; 20hr).
By bus and minivan
Most buses now arrive at the Tagbac
bus terminal, 9km away on the outskirts of town, from
where it's a 20min ride into town by taxi (P100) or jeepney
(P12).
The most comfortable and reliable bus company
is Ceres Liner (
T
033 329 1223), which has frequent a/c
and ordinary services. Non-stop minivans from here are
slightly quicker, but more expensive. Both services are
most frequent until 1pm. For San José, capital of Antique in
the west, and Libertad to the north, you'll need to head to
the old San Pedro terminal on M.H. Del Pilar St in the west
of town.
Destinations
Caticlan (every 45min; 6hr); Estancia (every
20min; 3hr 30min); Kalibo (every 30min; 4-5hr); Roxas
(every 30min; 3hr); San José (every 30min; 2hr 30min).
GETTING AROUND
By taxi and jeepney
There are plenty of taxis in Iloilo,
but the city centre is compact enough to cover on foot. To
get to the outlying areas of Molo and Jaro, there's a jeepney
terminal
on Ledesma St.
