The New Iloilo Airport is of International Standards and is one of the most advanced and best looking airports in the Country.

By Air – airlines at the Iloilo Airport

Air Philippines

Office in Iloilo City: General Luna St., City Proper (Near Tijuana Restaurant and Bar)
Contact No.: (+63)(33)3208048 / (+63)(33)3208049 / (+63)(33)5085513

Cebu Pacific

Office in Iloilo City: SM City Iloilo, Diversion Road, Mandurriao District
Contact No.: (+63)(33)3208017 / (+63)(33)3206889 / (+63)(33)3206582 / (+63)(33)3294660

Philippine Airlines

Office in Iloilo City: Diversion Road, Mandurriao District (Beside SM City)
Contact No.: (+63)(33)3203030 / (+63)(33)3203131 / (+63)(33)3207151

Zest Air

Office in Iloilo City: Martmart Mall and the New Iloilo Airport
Contact No.: Mobile: (+63)9178911049 / (+63)9173051038

How to get to and from the Iloilo Airport:

There is a shuttle service to and from the airport with the drop-off and pick-up points at SM City Iloilo.
There are also taxis, which can be hired to take you to any point in Iloilo/Panay or to the Airport if you’re from the City.

By Sea

By boat, it takes 20 hours at most from Iloilo to Manila. From Zamboanga, 16 hours; Cagayan de Oro, 14 hours; Cebu, 12 hours. Bacolod City is a one-hour trip many times daily. To Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, it takes 38 hours, three times a month. Iloilo can also be reached by Roll-on roll-off (RORO) vessels via through President Arroyo’s Strong Republic Nautical Highway.

Shipping Lines in Iloilo City:

• Negros Navigation
  Destinations: Manila, Cagayan de Oro, Ozamis, Iligan, Zamboanga
  Office in Iloilo: Muelle Loney St., Iloilo City
  Contact No.: (+63)(033)3379882/ (+63)(033)3379759 / (+63)(033)3203430
  Website: www.negrosnavigation.ph
• Cokaliong
  Destinations: Cebu
  Office in Iloilo: Cor. De la Rama, Muelle Loney St., Iloilo City
  Contact No.: (+63)(033)3363322 / (+63)(033)3361122
  Website: http://www.cokaliongshipping.com/
• W G & A Superferry
  Destinations: Manila, General Santos, Davao, Ozamis, Zamboanga, Cotabao, Cagayan de Oro
  Office in Iloilo: De la Rama & Melliza Sts., Iloilo City
  Contact No.: (+63)(033)3372567 / (+63)(033)3350375
  Website: http://www.superferry.com.ph/

Iloilo River Wharf or popularly called “Muelle Loney”

Fastcrafts operated by the Phil. Fast Ferry Corp., Weesam Express, Bullet Express, and Royal Ferry Services serve the connection between Iloilo and Bacolod City on a daily basis.

Fastcrafts servicing the Iloilo – Bacolod route at Muelle Loney

Fastcrafts and RORO vessels servicing the Iloilo City – Bacolod Route:

• Bullet Express Corp
  Office in Iloilo: Domescon Bldg., Muelle Loney St., Iloilo City
  Contact No.: (+63)(033)3380618 / (+63)(033)3380619 / (+63)(033)3380620
• Weesam Express
  Office in Iloilo: Muelle Loney St., Iloilo City
  Contact No.: (+63)(033)3351572/ (+63)(033)3373282
• Montenegro Shipping (RORO)
  Office in Iloilo: Muelle Loney St., Iloilo City
  Contact No.: (+63)(034)7081322 (Bacolod)

RO-RO vessels at the Dumangas Port

There are also daily RO-RO vessels plying the Dumangas-Bacolod route. Dumangas, is a coastal town approx 30 minutes from Iloilo City. The Dumangas port can be accessed from Iloilo City by van at La Granja Terminal, in La Paz District.

It also takes less than 20 min. by pumpboat or 30 min. by ferry ride or RO-RO from Guimaras Island. Terminals to and from Guimaras from the City is at Parola Port (at the Mouth of the Iloilo River), Muelle Loney (Iloilo River Wharf), and Ortiz Port (Ortiz St., City Proper).

By Land

Iloilo is also accessible by land transportation to and from Aklan, Capiz, and Antique. it takes at most 3 hours to reach Iloilo from Kalibo in Aklan, Roxas City in Roxas, or San Jose in Antique.How to Get to Iloilo

Here’s the schedule of the Ati-atihan 2010 Festival:

Read the rest of Ati-atihan Festival 2010 Schedule (One comment)

Read the rest of Western Visayas Tourism Assembly 2009 Pictures (9 comments)

Ceres Bus bound for Caticlan stationed at the Tagbak Terminal in Jaro, Iloilo City

Read the rest of Iloilo Jeepney and Bus Guide (49 comments)

Iloilo Airport January to December 2008 Traffic Report:

• Passenger Traffic (Incoming+Outgoing)
  • Philippine Airlines -  359,754
  • Cebu Pacific – 489,812
  • Air Philippines – 224,222
  • Others – 119
  • Total – 1,073,109 (7% increase from 2007)
• Cargo Movement (in Kgs.)
  • Philippine Airlines -  3,017,025
  • Cebu Pacific – 2,284,190
  • Air Philippines – 4,059,058
  • Total – 9,360,273
• Aircraft Movement -  12,160

Read the rest of Iloilo Airport reaches 1 million passenger arrivals in 2008 (15 comments)

Kalibo/Aklan Hotel and Resort Directory:

• Apartel Marieta
• Beachcomber Inn
• Glow Moon Hotel
• Garcia Legaspi Mansion
• Hibiscus Hotel
• Kalibo Queen’s Inn
• La Esperanza Hotel
• Suburbia Garden Hotel
• Sampaguita Garden Hotel

The Ati-atihan Festival is a contrast to Dinagyang Festival in many aspects but both share the same essence of merry making and giving patronage to Senyor Santo Niño. Here are some pictures of the recent Ati-atihan Festival 2009 in Kalibo, Aklan:

Festival Parade during the Ati-atihan Festival 2009

Palapak at the Kalibo Church during the Ati-atihan Festival 2009

Make sure to witness and participate in next year’s Ati-atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan!

Province of Aklan location map

Aklan is accessible from Iloilo City by land via Buses and Vans stationed at the Tagbak Terminal in jaro District, Iloilo City. Travel time is approximately two and a half hours away from Iloilo to Kalibo and another 2 hours from Kalibo to Caticlan, the jump-off point to Boracay Island. Aklan also has its own airports and is 45 minutes from Manila by air. Aside from domestic flights, Kalibo Airport also serves direct flights to and fro Incheon and Taipei, South Korea through international flights served by Asian Spirit, Mandarin Airlines and Pacific Pearl Airways. Alternatively, flights by Sea Air and Asian Spirit through Caticlan Airport in the town of Malay are also available.

Terminal of the International Airport in Kalibo

Aklan is famous for Boracay, a resort island, which boasts of its seven kilometer “White beach” named after its powdery white sand. It is one of the top tourist destinations in the Philippines and adjudged by numerous travel magazines and surveys as one of the best beaches in the world.

White sand beach of Boracay Island

Aside from Boracay, there is still a lot of attractions in the Province of Aklan for tourists to explore and such as its exciting caves, cascading waterfalls, and natural pools. Ascend the seven basin waterfalls in Jawili. Plunge into the natural cold springs of Nabas. Conquer the five caves of Buruanga town or enjoy white water rafting in Libacao.

Jawili Seven Basins and Waterfalls

New Washinton is also a must to visit because it hosts Sampaguita Gardens owned by Sam Butcher, an American artist and creator of Precious Moments artworks that promote messages of loving, caring and sharing. Sampaguita Gardens is recognized as a landmark in the Travel & Trade Industry.

Precious moments dolls

Another known icon of the province is the annual Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo. Originally, The festivity was to celebrate the coexistence between the Ati and the Malays who were newcomers to the Island. This festivity coincides with the Feast of “Santo Nino” which is usually held during the third week of January.

An Ati warrior during the Ati-atihan Parade in Kalibo

The most prominent languages in the province are the Aklan languages, which includes Aklanon and Malaynon. Aklanon is spoken by a majority of the people, while Malaynon is spoken in Malay. Other languages include the language of the Ati; Hiligaynon, the regional language; Kinaray-a; and Capiznon. Most Aklanons can speak and understand English.

Fireworks display during the Ati-atihan Festival

Source: Wikipedia, Department of Tourism Region VI, Province of Aklan Tourism Office

Photo by Vince from Explore Aklan

Explore Aklan is a newly established blog about Aklan and a partner site of ExploreIloilo.com. Vince, the creator of Explore Aklan, recounts his experiences during the aftermath of the typhoon and has posted some pictures of the devastation in his hometown.

Read the rest of Typhoon Frank causes flood in Kalibo and the rest of Aklan, help needed! (6 comments)

Boracay Island is located off the northwest corner of the island of Panay, and belongs to the Western Visayas island-group, or Region VI, of the Philippines. The island is approximately seven kilometers long, dog-bone shaped with the narrowest spot being less than one kilometer wide, and has a total land area of 10.32 square kilometers.

Boracay’s two primary tourism beaches, White Beach and Bulabog Beach, are located on opposite sides of the island’s narrow central area. White Beach faces westwards and Bulabog Beach faces eastwards. The island also has several other beaches.

White Beach is the main tourism beach. It is a bit over four kilometers long and is lined with resorts, hotels, lodging houses, restaurants, and other tourism-related businesses. In the central portion, for about two kilometers, there is a footpath known as the Beachfront Path separating the beach itself from the establishments located along it. North and south of the Beachfront Path, beachfront establishments do literally front along the beach itself. Several roads and paths connect the Beachfront Path with Boracay’s Main Road, a vehicular road which runs the length of the island. At the extreme northern end of White Beach, a footpath runs around the headland there and connects White Beach with Diniwid Beach.

Bulabog Beach, across the island from White Beach, is a secondary tourism beach and Boracay’s main windsurfing and kiteboarding area.

Boracay Island was originally home to the Ati tribe. Boracay is part of Aklan Province, which became an independent province on April 25, 1956. Formerly undiscovered, it wasn’t till the 1970s that tourism began to develop in Boracay, and the island became popular with backpackers in the 1980s.

Decades ago, Boracay Island was a well-guarded secret, almost possessively so that only a few knew of its existence.

It was only in the 70′s when, it is said, a foreign movie crew accidentally “discovered” this island paradise. Others maintain that it was the German traveller, Jens Peters’ book, which included rave reviews of Boracay that changed the island’s pace from that of being a quiet secret to eventually being voted (like many other beaches in the Asian region) as having the best beach in the world.

Whichever story is true, it was around this time that Boracay Island slowly ceased to be a private travellers hangout and eventually became a favourite tourist destination in the Philippines. In a span of a mere 10 years, the whole world, it seemed, discovered Boracay and the once, nearly deserted stretch of beach became a teeming vacation and leisure spot for upscale tourists from all parts of the world.

Weather in Boracay is generally divided into two seasonal weather patterns known locally as the Amihan and Habagat seasons. In the Tagalog language, Amihan means a cool northeast wind, and Habagat means west or southwest wind; south-west monsoon. Amihan and Habagat seasons are generally associated respectively with the El Niño and La Niña global weather patterns. The Amihan season is characterized by moderate temperatures, little or no rainfall, and a prevailing wind from the east. The Habagat season is characterized by hot and humid weather, frequent heavy rainfall, and a prevailing wind from the west. Boracay will be in the Amihan weather pattern from sometime in September or October to sometime in May or June and in the Habagat weather pattern for the remainder of the year. These dates can vary in individual years, though. Tropical Storms can impact Boracay at any time of year, but are most likely to be seen during the Habagat season.

A number of accommodation types are scattered all over Boracay, ranging from luxurious hotel types to budget, spartan rooms. Guests can also choose according to location–Station 3 is where most of the cheaper lodgings are located, while Station 2 is meant for those who want to be within close proximity of the bars. Station 1, meanwhile, is where you can find the more isolated accommodations, offering peace and quiet to those looking for a respite from the usual action-packed Boracay night scene. These are usually for the more upscale vacationers.

Boracay is the site of a world-class 18-hole par 72 golf course designed by Graham Marsh. In addition, Boracay now has in excess of 350 beach resorts with more than 2,000 rooms ranging in quality from five-star to budget accommodations, so tourists are sure to find whatever they are looking for. Boracay also offers a wide range of restaurants, bars, pubs, and nightclubs that bop until morning.

Boracay is one competitive venue for the Asian Windsurfing Tour, with the week-long Boracay International Funboard Cup competition usually being held on Bulabog Beach each January. The well-known Ati-Atihan Festival takes place each January in Kalibo on nearby Panay island. A much smaller Ati-Atihan festival is celebrated on Boracay, usually in the second or third week of January.

Dragon boat races are held annually on Boracay under the auspices of the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation, with teams coming from around the Philippines and from other Asian nations to compete. The races usually take place sometime in April or May. Since 2003, the Philippine Ultimate Association has been organizing the Boracay Open Asian Beach Ultimate Tournament, an ultimate frisbee event, which is usually held during summer. The Olympic Council of Asia has announced that Boracay will host the 2014 Asian Beach Games.

The Boracay Dragons, Boracay’s ultimate frisbee team, ranked #1 in the Philippines, and soon in Asia. They competed in Brazil for World Championship Beach Ultimate 2007. All of the players on the Boracay team were shorter than the shortest players on every other team combined, and only half of the team could afford to fly to Brazil. Nonetheless, the Boracay team took home the most awards undefeated against every other team until the final match in which they lost. Despite being second place in the tournament, the Boracay Dragons are considered to be 2007′s most formidable Ultimate Frisbee team.

Other than Filipino (Tagalog), English is widely spoken in Boracay. Aklanon or Akeanon, is also spoken, as Boracay is part of Aklan Province. The Ati language was spoken by the original inhabitants of the island.

On the island, the two main modes of transport are via motor-tricycles along the main road or by walking along the beaches. Pedicabs are also available for transport along the Beachfront Path. Other means of transportation include mountain bikes, quadbikes and motorbikes, all of which can be rented.

To explore around the island’s coast, motorized bancas and sailing paraws are available for rent. These are outrigger canoes and are common sight in waters around the island. The sailing paraw is a narrow hulled boat with outriggers either side and with passengers sometimes seated on a trampoline platform between the outrigger supports. These are extremely fast off the wind, but can be unwieldy for inexperienced sailors.