iloilo

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All You Need
Bacolod City is a 50min flight from Manila and
a 30min flight from Cebu, or you can catch a scan the QR-code below
to Know ferry from Manila, taking 18hrs. There are also & negros
fast ferries to Bacolod from Iloilo City. occidental
Located on the island of Panay in the Western
Visayas, the province of Iloilo and its buzzy Jordan in Guimaras is 20-25mins from
capital Iloilo City are linked by the Guimaras Ortiz Wharf in Iloilo City by pump boat, or
Strait to the independent island-province there are local ferries from Parola Wharf
of Guimaras and to Negros Occidental, the in Iloilo City to Buenavista.
northwestern half of the island of Negros.
Negros Occidental’s capital is Bacolod City.
Where Follow us for more
As well as being a great base for exploring the information on Philippine
natural attractions that dot the surrounding to Stay tourism destinations
province of the same name, Iloilo City is one of • MANILA
the main access points for Boracay Island Most of Iloilo City’s longer-established hotels  @PhilippinesinUK

IloIlo
with its powdery white beaches. are clustered in City Proper, but it is compact  @Philippines_UK
and uncongested enough for you to explore  @Philippines_UK
easily wherever you stay. Upmarket hotels

Getting to
are opening in Mandurriao’s burgeoning #itsmorefuninthephilippines
business parks, while Jaro and La Paz are #bepartofthefun
and around

& negros
popular with budget travellers, and Molo #morefunforever
and Villa Arevalo have larger beach resorts.
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL
Iloilo has easy flight connections to Guimaras is also known for its relaxed beach ILOILO CITY • • BACOLOD CITY Download our
Manila (75mins), Cebu (55mins), Hong Kong resorts, as is Sipalay in Negros Occidental. GUIMARAS ISLAND •
Visit Philippines app from
NEGROS ORIENTAL •
CEBU CITY
(2hrs 40mins) and Singapore (3hrs 35mins). Bacolod has plenty of good-value, comfortable your mobile app store
SIPALAY CITY •

OCCIDENTAL
Jeepneys, tricycles (motorised taxis) and buses accommodation around the cathedral, Public
are the most common ways of getting around Plaza and general central area.
the city and province as a whole.

Climate
Tropical, with an average annual temperature
of 27°C. February and August are the driest and
wettest months respectively. Department of Tourism
Embassy of the Philippines
2nd Floor, 10 Suffolk Street
London SW1Y 4HG
United Kingdom

Regional Office Tel: +44 (0)20 7321 0668

Department of Tourism Region VI (Western Visayas), Ground Floor, Casa Real
de Iloilo (Old Iloilo Provincial Capitol), Gen. Luna St., Iloilo City, Philippines info@[Link]
Tel: +63 33 337 5411, dot6@[Link] [Link]
MassKara Festival, Bacolod
Gamay Island, Islas de Gigantes
 WELCOME TO ILOILO Why It's More Fun
and nightlife scene. But it’s Negros Occidental
that is the region’s true cultural highlight, with
& NEGROS OCCIDENTAL in Iloilo & Negros splendid architecture – including the Palacio

Dubbed the ‘City of Love’ for its friendly, gentle Relatively wealthy for its sugar production,
Occidental Episcopal, San Sebastian Cathedral, the Capitol
Building, and Spanish and other churches – plus
and soft-spoken inhabitants, Iloilo City is large Negros Occidental is a centre of arts and steam locomotives bearing witness to the the
There are plenty of opportunities for activity-
but has a human face: its seven districts all culture, with Silay City north of the capital of province’s affluent golden age.
packed day-trips and short breaks within Iloilo
have their own character thanks to colonial Bacolod City dubbed ‘the Paris of Negros’ for
province: hiking in forests and to waterfalls,
influences, and their own town centre with its heritage houses. But it has its own beautiful Eating here is a joy. Don’t miss the local classics The UNESCO World Heritage Tarsier, Bohol
snorkelling or scuba-diving in the Kuliatan
a plaza, Roman Catholic church and public pristine beaches: the seaside city of Sipalay is of batchoy (pork and noodle soup), lechon listed Miag-ao Church, Iloilo
Marine Sanctuary, and sailing to caves and a
market. Its newer business district Mandurriao seen by some as an alternative to Boracay and manok (chicken spit-roast over charcoal), talaba
saltwater lagoon. Guimaras is renowned for its
has an array of dining and nightlife options, is renowned for its diving as well. (oysters), pancit molo (pork wonton soup),
water sports and island-hopping, while diving is
while Villa Arevalo has a beach vibe and lots ‘Kadyos, Baboy, at Langka’ or KBL (pork, pigeon
a big draw of Sipalay in Negros Occidental.
of seafood restaurants. “Iloilo is a hidden gem, full of history and pea and jackfruit stew) and laswa (a clear Dinagyang Festival, Iloilo
nature [and] a less-crowded alternative vegetable soup). Then of course there are the
The rest of the province is a mecca for outdoors to a big city like Manila.” sweet mangoes for which Guimaras is known.
activities, including hiking and diving. The – National Geographic Culture
island of Sicogon in the north, accessible by & Food
bus and then boat from Iloilo City, is being
developed as an eco-destination. Iloilo City Dubbed the ‘Province of Festivals’, Iloilo has
is also the access point to the beach paradise plenty to entertain, divert and educate, whether
of Guimaras with its water sports and boat- it be museums of local history or the lively bar
hopping to outlying islands.

Bucari pine forest, Leon, Iloilo

Tangke saltwater lagoon, Carles, Iloilo

Top 10
Activities

• Tour the UNESCO-listed • Snorkel or scuba dive in the • Discover the friendly,
Miag-ao Church in Miag-ao Kuliatan Marine Sanctuary rapidly modernising Negros
Fresh mangoes, Guimaras with its gigantic rock Occidental capital of
45mins from Iloilo City.
• In Iloilo City, visit the Museo formations, two hours from Bacolod, voted among the
Iloilo, the Nelly Garden Iloilo City. best places to live in the
• •
Top Events
Nelly Garden, Iloilo City Manggahan Festival (Mango Festival) Island, heritage mansion and Jaro From Iloilo City, sail to Isla de Philippines, with a vibrant Art
Francisco Guerrero Guimaras, May – a showcase of the famous Gigantes to discover Pawikan District, sporting scene and
& Festivals
Cathedral, and wander along
food, with street dancing and dance and the lloilo River Esplanade. Cave and the Tangke museums.
drama competitions • Venture to the pilgrimage, saltwater lagoon. • Visit Silay City, nicknamed
• Dinagyang Festival, Iloilo City, January • MassKara Festival, Bacolod, October – one of agricultural and leisure site • Discover the water sports and ‘the Paris of Negros’ for its
Waterfront Hotel Cebu City – parades and street dances in honour the biggest festivals in the Philippines, with of Garin Farm an hour from beach paradise of Guimaras, 29 heritage houses including
of Santo Niño. sporting events, music concerts, food festivals, the city. then go island-hopping from Balay Negrense.
• Panaad sa Negros Festival, Bacolod, April garden shows, agriculture-trade fairs and • Hike in Bucari Pine Forest in Guimaras to Inampulugan, • Dive to see whale sharks,
– the ‘Festival of Festivals’, showcasing the more. Leon and Nadsadjan Falls in Guiwanon, Panobolon, turtles and other marine life
region’s history, arts and culture, tourism, • Haw-As Festival, Dumangas, Iloilo province, Igbaras, both 90mins from Natunga, Nadulao and other at Sipalay and Danjugan
trade, games and sports. October – a celebration of the local fishing Iloilo City. surrounding islets; don’t miss Island for its protected reefs
• Pasundayag Festival, all towns in Iloilo industry, with performances and displays of the fascinating Igang Marine and rich marine life.
The Ruins, Talisay City, Negros Occidental Station of the Southeast
province, April – traditional dances, parades, the regional marine bounty including milkfish,
singing and displays of tribal clothes. crabs and tiger prawns. Asian Fisheries Development
Center.

Iloilo River, Iloilo City