Iloilo | The Adventures of AdventuRoj!

Getting Around Iloilo Airport

Upon our arrival at Iloilo airport, we headed to the tourism office inside to inquire about the usual range and mode of transportation from the airport going to the city or to other destinations such as Boracay. We were informed that we could take either of the following:

Going to Boracay (Caticlan) via Public Transportation
- Ride a Metered taxi (perhaps the cheapest) – range from 300/taxi from the airport going to the city to Ceres Bus Terminal
- Ride a Bus from Iloilo going to Caticlan (6 hours trip) Php325/head
Hire a van direct from airport to Caticlan (easiest but can be expensive) Php 4,500/van

Lucky for us for when we were about to give up our quest for haggling a cheaper rent for a van and just opt for the public transpo by bus, we found another group of 6 that would also be going to Boracay so we decided to just get a van (all 12 of us divided by the Php4,500) which means we only get to spend around 375php/head. Wow!

***However be aware that some of the tour services (like the one we got) fooled us into believing that the very comfy and big van that we used from the airport to the city will be the one used in going to Caticlan. We were surprised to find out that upon arrival in their terminal in the city, they transferred us into another vehicle (still a van but smaller and perhaps smellier).

Of course this enraged us, until they finally gave up and just provided us with the vehicle that we wanted. I’m thankful that there are 12 heads complaining, what if there were less? For sure they probably won’t allow.

Anyway, we started our 6-hour journey. Below are some of the snapshots I’ve taken while we were on the road, passing by the various provinces.

Iloilo City

Capiz Province

Aklan

And yes, I love the weather. Cold, wet, rainy, with a smell of lemon dew. Makes me wanna sing … I’ll do my blogging in the rain…

The above blog post is part of my Iloilo – Guimaras – Kalibo – Boracay Adventure series of posts that happened last September 27-30, 2012. To read more the rest of the series, click on the following links: | Boracay Family Trip via Iloilo | Iloilo – Boracay Roadtrip | | Descent and the Night Life in Boracay, Philippines | Exploring the Mystique Crystal Cove Cave | Snorkeling and Fish Feeding at Boracay | Boracay Helmet Diving Underwater Exploration! | Beach Bumming at Boracay | City Strolling and Malling at Kalibo | Exploring the White Islands of Boracay | Adventuroj Guimaras Island Tour

It is my father’s birthday and to celebrate his big day Adventuroj planned a trip to Boracay for the whole family.

It has been my nth time to Boracay already, but my last one was still before I’ve become a travel blogger. So this is actually my first time as adventuroj and a first time for the whole family.

Below is the itineraries I’ve planned, with two versions for my father’s convenience (which ever he chooses). Feel free to download it as you wish.

Happy trip!

Iloilo – Guimaras – Kalibo – Boracay Trip

Iloilo – Boracay Itinerary v.1

Day & Time	Activity	Est. Expenses
September 27, 2012
7:45-8:50am	Departure Davao – Iloilo
	Fare to airport	100
	Terminal Fee	200
9am	Travel to Bus Terminal: Ceres Liner bus station in Iloilo is in Rizal St. (Tanza)	50
10am	Take Ceres Bus from Iloilo to Kalibo (fare: PhP325.00) with travel time of around 6 hours with at least two stop-overs (snacks comfort breaks in usually not-so-orderly toilets). 9am or 12nn trip [All Ceres buses to Kalibo and Caticlan/Buruanga take the Passi route.] or hire van (2,000php)	350
3pm	Lunch	100
	Check in at Ati Atihan County Inn	300
	sampaguita gardens ang meron precious moments dolls
6pm	Ramboys for their lechon liempo, RML for the chicken bacolod or Seawall for the pizza Abregana, a nice hangout place with live music. They have yummy pizzas!..	100

September 28, 2012	From Kalibo: Get a Jeepney or bus to Caticlan (two hours).	100
	From Caticlan to Boracay Ferry	15
	Take tricycle from Pilahan to Crafts Supermarket	20
	May gate 5meters behind ATM, dumaan kayo sa gitna ng nagtitinda ng damit at karne sa right side
10am	Check in at Villa Lourdes Resort [Balabag, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan] Mobile: (+63923) 714-8747, (+63917) 917-2513	400
	Lunch	100
	There are lots of activities to keep you occupied on the island. You can try helmet diving, snorkeling, island hopping, parasailing and what not’s.
	Have cocktails while watching the spectacular sunset. Take advantage of the happy hour as most resorts offer a buy one take one promo on drinks.
September 29, 2012	Return trip (earliest) Caticlan to Iloilo is at 630am.	350
	Check in at Ong Bun Pension [Corner Quezon-Ledesma St] Mobile: (+63910) 433-5048, (+63923) 252-0292 [950php for 6]	150
	Must See and Do: Island Hopping in Guimaras: Baras Cave, Pawikan Island, Ave Maria Island, SEAFDEC Guimaras Tour : Trappist Monastery, Plantation , Guisi Light house Places to Eat: The Pitstop in Guimaras Places to stay: Raymen Resort, Guisi Beach Resort
12nn	Back in the city, have a steaming bowl of Batchoy from either Ted’s or Deco’s.	100
1pm	Head to Ortiz Wharf in Iloilo City. Cross the Sulu straight via pump boats for 15 minutes. When you get to Jordan Wharf in GUIMARAS ISLAND, there are multi-cabs and tricycles for hire to bring you to Nueva Valencia where La Puerta Al Paraiso is.	100
	Ask the driver to drop by at the supermarket to buy the world famous Guimaras Mangoes.
	Things we did in Guimaras: Ambakan Waterfalls, Raymen Beach, Trappist Monastery, Island Hopping (SEAFDEC, Turtle Island, Ave Maria, etc.), buy mangoes.	100
5pm	Back to the wharf: Along the way, stop at the TRAPPIST MONASTERY for some pasalubong shopping. The calamansi and guava jams, mango flavored piayas and mango bars were a hit and a personal favorite.	100
6pm	Reward yourself with a seafood feast for dinner by the beach at either Tatoy’s or Breakthrough in Villa. A heaping plate of fresh oysters is only Php 50 (USD 1.16)	100
	or just stay at Iloilo
	Must See and Do: Miag-ao Church Molo Church Jaro Church
12nn	Lunch at Ted’s Oldtimer La Paz Batchoy
	Head to Museo Iloilo at Bonifacio Drive and spend time marveling at fossils, stone age potteries, prehistoric tools and other artifacts depicting the lives and culture of early Panay natives. Walking around Calle Real will give you a nostalgic feeling of Iloilo’s grandiose colonial past. While you’re here be sure to grab a few Queen Siopaos from Roberto’s to munch on. A visit to Aduana Building is also a must for a panoramic 360 degree view of Iloilo and Guimaras. Finally, go to Plaza Libertad and end your walking tour here.
6pm	Dinner: Tatoy’s Manokan and Seafood at Villa. Eat to your stomach’s content and enjoy Iloilo’s chicken inasal and some grilled seafood.

September 30, 2012	Travel to Airport
9am	Flight Iloilo to Davao

	Total Estimated Expenses	2985

Guimaras – Iloilo – Boracay Itinerary v2

Day & Time	Activity	Est. Expenses
September 27, 2012
7:45-8:50am	Departure Davao – Iloilo
	Fare to airport	100
	Terminal Fee	200
	Guimaras Side Trip
11am	Head to Ortiz Wharf in Iloilo City. Cross the Sulu straight via pump boats for 15 minutes. When you get to Jordan Wharf in GUIMARAS ISLAND, there are multi-cabs and tricycles for hire to bring you to Nueva Valencia where La Puerta Al Paraiso is.	100
	Look for the Guimaras Tourism Office located at the waiting shed outside the arrival area of the Jordan Wharf. The tourism officer can arrange your transportation to Guisi Beach or any destination in Guimaras. There’s a set rate for vehicle rentals regulated by the Guimaras Provincial Government.
	Guisi Beach is 45 minutes to 1 hour away from Jordan Wharf. Rates for multicabs (8 to 10 people) and shuttle L300 vans (10 to 14 people) start from P500 per vehicle.
	Check in at Guisi.	300
	GUISI HERITAGE COTTAGE – Dolores, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras Contact Persons: Mrs. Henreitta Dulla / Jose Garonita Contact Numbers: 09205470288 / 091559466061 / 09274640488 / 09154570088
	I encourage you to spend a night here in Guisi, it will be your most unforgettable experience while doing this trip. The Heritage Cottage can fit 6 people for only P1,500. You would also notice the old lighthouse built by the Spanish to guide their ships navigating off Iloilo Strait. If you’re not yet convinced to stay here, how about imagining yourself waking up with the stunning view of clear blue sea and the three lighthouses built just near each other.
	Ask the driver to drop by at the supermarket to buy the world famous Guimaras Mangoes.
	Things we did in Guimaras: Ambakan Waterfalls, Raymen Beach, Trappist Monastery, Island Hopping (SEAFDEC, Turtle Island, Ave Maria, etc.), buy mangoes.	50
	For our tour which included Macopo Falls, Trappist Monastery, Sadsad Falls, Valle Verde Mountain resort, Alubihod beach, lunch and pasalubong shopping at San Miguel town, totalling to 4.5 hours, haggled price was P900.	300
	Must See and Do: Island Hopping in Guimaras: Baras Cave, Pawikan Island, Ave Maria Island, SEAFDEC Guimaras Tour : Trappist Monastery, Plantation , Guisi Light house Places to Eat: The Pitstop in Guimaras Places to stay: Raymen Resort, Guisi Beach Resort
	Along the way, stop at the TRAPPIST MONASTERY for some pasalubong shopping. The calamansi and guava jams, mango flavored piayas and mango bars were a hit and a personal favorite.	100

September 28, 2012

	Back to Jordan Wharf – Iloilo City
9am	Travel to Bus Terminal: Ceres Liner bus station in Iloilo is in Rizal St. (Tanza)	50
10am	Take Ceres Bus from Iloilo to Caticlan (fare: PhP325.00) with travel time of around 6 hours with at least two stop-overs (snacks comfort breaks in usually not-so-orderly toilets). 9am or 12nn trip [All Ceres buses to Kalibo and Caticlan/Buruanga take the Passi route.] or hire van (2,000php)	400
	From Caticlan to Boracay Ferry	15
	Take tricycle from Pilahan to Crafts Supermarket	20
	May gate 5meters behind ATM, dumaan kayo sa gitna ng nagtitinda ng damit at karne sa right side
3pm	Check in at Villa Lourdes Resort [Balabag, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan] Mobile: (+63923) 714-8747, (+63917) 917-2513	400
	Dinner	100
	There are lots of activities to keep you occupied on the island. You can try helmet diving, snorkeling, island hopping, parasailing and what not’s.
	Have cocktails while watching the spectacular sunset. Take advantage of the happy hour as most resorts offer a buy one take one promo on drinks.

September 29, 2012	Return trip (earliest) Caticlan to Iloilo is at 630am.	350
	Check in at Ong Bun Pension [Corner Quezon-Ledesma St] Mobile: (+63910) 433-5048, (+63923) 252-0292 [950php for 6]	150
12nn	Back in the city, have a steaming bowl of Batchoy from either Ted’s or Deco’s.	100
	Must See and Do: Miag-ao Church Molo Church Jaro Church
	Head to Museo Iloilo at Bonifacio Drive and spend time marveling at fossils, stone age potteries, prehistoric tools and other artifacts depicting the lives and culture of early Panay natives. Walking around Calle Real will give you a nostalgic feeling of Iloilo’s grandiose colonial past. While you’re here be sure to grab a few Queen Siopaos from Roberto’s to munch on. A visit to Aduana Building is also a must for a panoramic 360 degree view of Iloilo and Guimaras. Finally, go to Plaza Libertad and end your walking tour here.
6pm	Reward yourself with a seafood feast for dinner by the beach at either Tatoy’s or Breakthrough in Villa. A heaping plate of fresh oysters is only Php 50 (USD 1.16). Eat to your stomach’s content and enjoy Iloilo’s chicken inasal and some grilled seafood.	100

September 30, 2012	Travel to Airport	100
9am	Flight Iloilo to Davao

	Total Estimated Expenses	2935

I’ll be updating you of our trip in my coming post. For now I’d be enjoying the scenic views of the province as we trek Boracay from Iloilo via a rented van. Until next time adventurers! *It’s my first time wrting and publishing a blog post while I’m on the road. Haha