Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tibiao
T
0905 906 2380.
Simple lodge by the river with
basic bamboo
bahay kubo
huts each with a
kawa
, a large
wok-like bath heated by
fire (
originally used for cooking
muscovado sugar; P200).
P500
TIBIAO
Hometel
University of Antique Campus, Main Rd.
Twelve simple rooms mostly wit
h shar
ed bathrooms, set in
the peaceful university campus.
P500
per person
Kayak Inn
Beyond TEA Park,
in the foothills outside
The east coast
Panay's
east coast
- from Iloilo City north to
Estancia
- is an undeveloped area of
wilderness and sun-drenched barangays rarely seen by tourists. There are some
wonderfully pristine islands off the coast, many of them unfamiliar even to locals, but
to explore them you'll need time on your hands, patience and a willingness to spend
nights camped on beaches. This region was badly hit by Typhoon Yolanda with heavy
loss of life. In time tourism can have its role here, but for now the region is best left to
get back on its feet.
6
Roxas
ROXAS
, the capital of Capiz province, is renowned for its seafood, and also has a
reputation among Filipinos as being a hotbed of witches and shamans. The city is
connected by air, ferry and land, but aside from taking a trip out to the pleasant if
unremarkable stretch of golden sand at
Baybay Beach
, 4km north of town, and trying
the seafood, there is little to keep visitors in Roxas for long.
In late 2013 Roxas became the headquarters for the Yolanda relief operation in
devastated northern Panay. While Roxas proper escaped without too much serious
damage, many of the famous seafood shacks (and resorts) at Baybay were damaged or
destroyed, but were already being rebuilt at the time of writing.
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
ROXAS
By plane
The airport, 10min north of the city by jeepney or
tricycle (P15) in Arnaldo Blvd, is served daily from Manila by
PAL and Cebu Pacific flights, both of which have of
ces there.
By boat
Ferries dock at the Calusi pier, 2km west of Baybay
Beach. Tricycles run out to the pier for P20. Providing the
weather is agreeable, bangkas leave every morning for
Sibuyan Island in the Romblon group (4-5hr).
By bus, minivan and jeepney
Services for Iloilo, Kalibo
and Estancia use the Alba terminus south of the Panay River,
reachable by tricycle. Direct services stop early, so another
alternative is to catch one of the frequent buses to Sigma
(until 6.45pm), and then change there for Kalibo or Caticlan.
Services
To get online, head for Oracle Internet Café,
Rizal St at Gomez St.
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
ROXAS
Halaran Plaza Hotel
Opposite City Hall, Rizal St
T
036
621 0649.
In a central location, Halaran has a choice of
spacious and comfortable fan and a/c rooms with solid
wood
en flo
ors and high ceilings, although they can be
noisy.
P850
Roxas President's Inn
Rizal Ave at Lopez Jaena St
T
036 621 0208,
W
roxaspresidentsinn.com.
This hotel
is strewn with antiques and rooms are cosy and clean, with
a/c, cable TV and hot s
howers
. There's also a convivial café
with wi-fi in the lobby.
P1400
BAYBAY BEACH
Alma's Grill
T
036 521 3384.
Quickly rebuilt after
Yolanda destroyed the original shack,
Alma's
still serves
the same standout
gambas
(P300 good for six people) and
TINDOG CAPIZ!
Visitors to Roxas can help with the Yolanda relief and recovery effort by taking one of the
provincial tourist o
ce's “Tindog Capiz!” (Arise Capiz!) tours (
T
033 337 5411,
E
capiz.tourism
@yahoo.com).
Voluntourism
trips were already in place prior to Yolanda, but now have more
focus and purpose than ever. Projects include house and school building, mangrove replanting,
food production and livelihood training programmes.
