Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
EATING
Kalibo's dining options have improved in recent years, particularly out in Santa Monica on the way to the airport. In town
there are a few independent places, but otherwise it's a choice of hole-in-the wall carinderias or fast-food chains which
include
Chowking
,
Jollibee
and
Andok's
.
Latte Coffee Café
Branches at
Archbishop Reyes St
and at Santa Monica
T
036 268 9026.
There are two
branches of this pleasant coffee shop in Kalibo, both
of which sell great coffee, sandwiches and light meals
(P140-350), alongside Havaiana flip-flops. Free wi-fi.
Daily 9am-7pm.
Mary's
G. Pastrana St
T
036 268 8204.
Clean, bustling
canteen-style place serving huge bowls of noodles (P130),
sandwiches, desserts and coffee.
Daily 8am-6pm.
Peking House
Martyrs St
T
036 268 4752.
Kalibo's most
popular Chinese restaurant is often full of folk taking
advantage of the delicious but inexpensive (Filipino)
Chinese food. Mains P100-200.
Daily 11am-8pm.
Roz & Angelique's
Santa Monica
T
036 268 3512.
A popular dining spot for Kalibo's well-to-do, this formal
restaurant has an extensive menu featuring everything
from crispy
pata
(P360, good for three) to crêpes (P120),
burgers, sandwiches, crème brûlée and shakes. No MSG
is used in the cooking and there's free wi-fi.
Daily
10.30am-9pm.
6
DIRECTORY
Banks
There are a number of banks with ATMs, including
a BPI on Martyrs St and a PNB on G. Pastrana St.
Hospital
The Kalibo provincial hospital (
T
036 268
4917), an immense, modern, rose-pink building, is on
Mabini St.
Internet access
There are many small internet cafés,
including Ed's Video Place on G. Pastrana St (daily 8am-
9pm; P15/hr), and Rovic's on Luis Barrios St.
Post
The post o
ce is in the Provincial Capitol Building,
off Osmena Ave in the south of town.
Boracay
Some 350km south of Manila, and just off the northeastern tip of Panay, the island of
BORACAY
is famed for picture-perfect 4km
White Beach
, its quality dining and wild
nightlife scene, plus activities from scuba diving to kitesurfing. It may be only 7km
long and 1km wide at its narrowest point, but Boracay has over thirty beaches and
coves, and enough accommodation options to suit all budgets. Watching the graceful
paraws
(sailboats) setting sail at sunset is worth the journey in its own right.
For all its beauty, though, Boracay is of course the most developed resort in the
Visayas, a situation which has its downsides - it can be hard to relax with the
constant blare of music on the beach and the hum of tricycles on the island's main
road. Many resort owners are aware of how fragile the island is and organize beach
clean-ups and recycling seminars. The authorities are also finally waking up to some of
the island's problems and threats to demolish resorts that have been built without
permission have actually come into effect, plus a beach
smoking ban
has also been
enforced. Unlike the rest of the country,
topless sunbathing
is common at Boracay but
the authorities are keen to keep the island a family destination - in 2011 a “sex on the
beach” ban was mooted after some Western couples were filmed being over amorous on
New Year's Eve.
WET SEASON ON BORACAY
The two distinct
climatic seasons
in the Philippines have a marked effect on Boracay.
Because of the island's north-south orientation, White Beach takes the brunt of onshore winds
during the wet season (June-Oct), so don't expect it to look at its well-barbered best at that
time. The waves can be big, washing up old coconuts, seaweed and dead branches. Many
beachfront resorts and restaurants are forced to erect unsightly tarpaulins to keep out the
wind and sand and some even close during July and August, the wettest months. The onshore
wind makes for some thrilling windsurfing and kiteboarding, but other ocean activities move
to calmer waters on the island's east side.
