Located in the central part of the Philippines lies one of the largest urban provinces, Iloilo City. Officially known as City of Iloilo, this province is recognized as a 1st class and highly urbanized part of Western Visayas
Known as the City of Love, Iloilo is filled with friendly, soft, and kind-hearted people that harmoniously balance its vigorous culture and beautiful places such as historical churches, heritage sites, and highlands perfect to travelers who seek to find genuine peace and serenity.
One of the things that makes the trip worthwhile is to experience and immerse yourself in the culture of the place and try out activities that they offer. Here are some of the activities that you don’t want to miss to make the most out of your Iloilo escapade:
Dinagyang Festival is one the biggest religious festivals in the Philippines. Held every first month of the year, Dinagyang will let you experience the busy city streets with the resounding sound of drums that will entice you to join the dance performance of Dinagyang Ati.
Iloilo City is home for several historical churches. Each of the famous and well-preserved churches are filled with historical backgrounds and stories that transform their uniqueness to beauty and wonders.
Iloilo City is surely for nature lovers! Iloilo offers several activities such as hiking trails and waterfalls adventure in the highlands of Iloilo. These places are the best spots to go to for spontaneous travelers who want to immerse themselves in nature and get away from their busy city-life.
Food is undoubtedly one of the highlights during travel. You surely don’t want to miss out the drooling fresh seafood and native cuisine that Iloilo City offers especially their famous dishes, La Paz Batchoy, Chicken Inasal, and Pancit Molo.
The several majestic buildings and spots in Iloilo City are not only aesthetically pleasing, they have historical backgrounds and stories that will make you want to include them in your itinerary. Here are some of the travelers favorite places to visit:
Jalandoni-Montinola Mansion is a heritage mansion that has witnessed the historical events of WWII and served as quarters for Filipino soldiers. Inside the mansion, you can find the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes that is traditionally used by the cathedral for procession.
San Joaquin Church is one of the most fascinating churches in Iloilo City. The design of the facade is rich with the historical context of the victory of Spain in the Tetuan battle against the Moroccan Forces.
After a long day of spontaneously exploring Iloilo City, Senator Efrain Treñas Boulevard will remind you to slow down and carpe diem while offering a good ambiance to watch the sunset.
Garin farm is located at San Joaquin, Iloilo where you can find life-size dioramas that demonstrate nine biblical scenes and the majestic white cross that can only be reached after climbing a 456-steps staircase. Garin Farm is also a spontaneous location for activities like kayaking, fishing, swimming, and zipline.
You've read it right! Iloilo City also has its own rice terraces that are perpendicularly carved. Miagao Rice Terraces is found in a 500-hectare rice field located at Cabalaunan Village. The perfect shape of Miagao is the product of the meticulous hands of local inhabitants.
If you are planning to visit Iloilo City and want to make the trip worthwhile, it's best to visit during its busiest time and experience their festivals and good weather. You might want to consider traveling to Iloilo during the months of January, February, March, and October. While travel expenses and accommodations are expensive during these months, you can book travel tickets and room accommodations in advance to save and avail travel promos.
Planning to visit Iloilo City in the next coming days? Checkout the weather in Iloilo City.
Planning to visit Iloilo City but you don’t have any idea how to reach the city? Worry no more! Here are some reminders and guides that will help you organize and plan your travel to Iloilo City.
Iloilo City is now requiring every traveler to present Valid ID, S-PaSS, Vaccination Certificate (for vaccinated travelers), and Negative RT-PCR Test from DOH-accredited issued within 72 hours (for unvaccinated travelers).
One of the practical ways to travel to Iloilo is by RoRo. You can book your Ferry ride to 2GO Travel. They offer 3 trips from Manila North Harbor Pier 4 going to IloIlo City per week (Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday). You can choose from their accommodations that fits in your budget. Their fare rate ranges from PHP 1,676.71 for budget-friendly travelers to as much as PHP 7,175.46 for their most expensive mode of accommodation.
There are 2 Bus Transports you can choose from to travel from Manila to Iloilo City. To secure your slot, you can book and pay bus tickets online.
Ceres Bus
Ceres Bus offers 4 daily trips to Iloilo from Manila. The first trip is scheduled for departure at 8:00 AM and the last trip at 5:00 PM. The travel time from Manila to Iloilo by bus is approximately 20 hours. The Ceres Bus is air-conditioned and the estimated fare rate is PHP 861.00+.
Philtranco
The terminal of Philtranco is located at Pasay Terminal and only offers 1 trip departing at 11:00 AM from Pasay Terminal to Iloilo City. The rate of bus fare for deluxe accommodation is PHP 1096.45+ and the total travel time is 20 hours.
If you opt to travel by plane, simply book a flight to Philippine Airline, AirAsia, or Cebu Pacific from Manila to Iloilo city. The length of travel time usually depends on the departure time. The estimated total time of travel is 1 hour and 35 minutes.
No review available.
