The Philippines - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 647

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 bus and jeepney The bus terminal is at Tagbac, 5km
north of the centre. Jeepneys marked “Jaro Liko”, “Legares”
or “Zarraga” all serve the centre of town (P12).
Destinations

Freska Smallville Boardwalk, Diversion Rd. Freska
continues to make Illonggo dining easy with its mouth-
wateringly good-value daily lunch and dinner buffets.
Over 40 dishes are on offer, including green mango salad,
chicken Inasal, BBQ pork and a delicious dessert line-up.
Your thirst can be quenched by the huge selection of
imported beers and staff are impressively upbeat. Daily
11.30am-2.30pm & 5.30-10.30pm.
Smallville Complex Diversion Rd, just north of the river.
This outdoor complex is pretty much the centre of Iloilo
nightlife. Popular bars/clubs to look for include Aura and
Ice. All have live bands and/or DJs nightly, usually with a
P100 entry fee, and don't get going till about 11pm. Daily
11am-5am.

★

The terminal serves northern destinations,
including Caticlan (hourly; 6hr) and Kalibo (hourly; 5hr) via
Concepcion and Roxas. Non-stop minivans from here are
slightly quicker, but more expensive. Both services are
most frequent until 1pm. Note that early-morning Ceres
buses (until 6am) leave from Tanza Street. Plenty of
companies also serve Manila, using the roll-on, roll-off
(RoRo) ferries.
By ferry Three terminals serve Iloilo. Ferries to Guimaras
are served by Ortiz wharf; ferries serving Bacolod arrive at
the Iloilo-Bacolod ferry terminal on Muelle Loney Street,
while other domestic services use the nearby wharf off
Fort San Pedro Drive, at the eastern end of the city. From
Ortiz, walk to the main street and catch a “Baluuarte” or
“SM City” jeepney into town; from Fort San Pedro, walk to
the main street and catch a “Jaro CPU” jeepney; there are
jeepneys just outside the Iloilo-Bacolod terminal.
Destinations Cebu City (7 weekly; 12-14hr); Manila
(weekly; 20hr).

DIRECTORY
Banks Plenty with ATMs along General Luna St,
including BDO.
Internet Netopia at SM City Mall or at Robinson's Mall
(both Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat & Sun 10am-8pm; P20/hr);
Taven Cyber Café at Riverside Inn (daily 9am-7pm; P15/hr).
Police Opposite the University of San Agustin on General
Luna Street.
Post o ce On Muelle Loney Street by the Iloilo-Bacolod
terminal.

8

Kalibo
KALIBO lies on the well-trodden path to
Boracay and for most of the year is an
uninteresting town, but every third Sunday
of January it becomes the epicentre of
probably the biggest street party in the
country, Ati-Atihan (see box opposite).
Kalibo is a compact place with most
amenities within walking distance of each
other. he major thoroughfare is Roxas
Avenue, which runs into town from the
airport in the southeast, with most streets
leading off it to the southwest.

INFORMATION
Tourist information The city's tourist information o ce
is on Bonifacio Drive (Mon-Fri 8am-5pm; T 033 337
5411 or T 335 0245, W westernvisayastourism.com.ph)

ACCOMMODATION
★

Highway 21 General Luna St T 033 335 1220 or
T 0917 722 4321, W highway21hoteliloilo.com. One of
three “21” lodgings in Iloilo, this wonderfully e cient
hotel is centrally located and has helpful staff. Rooms
are modern and spotless, and all have a/c and cable; those
in the annexe are slig htly sm aller and plainer, though
cheaper. Wi-fi available. P900
Sarabia Charter Pension House General Luna St
T 033 508 1853 or T 0920 6149 263. Tucked behind the
faded grandeur of the Sarabia Manor Hotel , this budget
pension has small, simple and attractive rooms set
around a smal l gard en, and benefits from use of the
Sarabia' s pool. P720

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
By plane The 10min tricycle ride into town from the
airport costs P10/person, or P30 for private hire. There are
direct vans and buses from the airport to Caticlan (P200).
Destinations Cebu (2 daily; 55min); Manila (15 daily; 1hr).
By bus Regular buses and vans serving Caticlan (the
jumping-off point for Boracay) arrive and depart directly
from the airport (P200; 2hr); cheaper buses and vans
(P100) to Caticlan leave from the terminal on Osmeña Ave,
from where there are regular buses to Iloilo (5hr).
By ferry Dumaguit port is 50min away. There are several
2GO and Moreta Shipping Lines ferries weekly to Manila
(16-20hr); Moreta's o ce is at 19 Martyr's St. Jeepneys
run between the port and the town centre.

EATING, DRINKING AND NIGHTLIFE
Butot Balat Solis St. A haven of tropical tranquillity and
greenery in the midst of the downtown mayhem, this
popular restaurant offers candlelit dining under thatched
cabanas surrounding a small pond. Try chilli shrimps
(P245), pork Bicol Express (P175), beef kare-kare (P285) or
fish by weight.