Iloilo is the major gateway to Western Visayas. It is accessible by plane, ferries and the roll-on-roll-off (roro) services.
By Air
Iloilo has one of the most beautiful and state-of-the-art airport facilities in the Philippines. It is conveniently located between the borders of Cabatuan and Sta. Barbara towns, approximately 20 kilometers or 30 minutes travel away from Iloilo City. Air travel time from Manila to Iloilo is 45 minutes, 35 minutes from Cebu and 2 hours from Davao City. Carriers that are servicing the Iloilo International Airport as of this date are Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines, Philippine Airlines and Zest Air with regular daily flights from Manila-Iloilo and vice versa. Regular flights from Cebu-Iloilo vv. and Davao-Iloilo vv are also available.
Iloilo International Airport to Iloilo City
From Iloilo International Airport you can ride a shuttle van or a taxi to take you to Iloilo City. The shuttle vans have their drop off terminal at the SM City Iloilo’s travellers’ lounge terminal. It would cost you 50Php if you take the shuttle service. Taxis are also available from the airport. The fare rate is on a haggling basis, but some do use their meters to determine the rate, at approximately 200-300 Pesos depends on which part of the city you are heading in. There are also multicabs that ply the airport to Sta. Barbara routes and vice versa. You can take those multicabs at a cheaper rate of 10Php. From the airport you will be dropped at the Total Gas station along the crossing to Sta. Barbara town proper and then take a Sta. Barbara – Iloilo City jeepney going to city (Highway if you’ll be going straight to Mandurriao District, City Proper, Molo or SM City and LaPaz if your heading to Boracay/North Panay Bus Terminal or Jaro and LaPaz Districts) and it’ll cost you approximately P15. You can take the same routes in going to the airport.
Iloilo River and Muelle Loney Port
By Sea
Iloilo City has one of the safest ports in the Philippines. It faces the sheltering Island of Guimaras and nestled along the mouth of the majestic Iloilo River. The city has four major seaports, the International Port in Loboc, Lapaz, the Domestic Port in Fort San Pedro, the Muelle Loney Port serving the Iloilo to Bacolod trips and the Ortiz Port serving the Iloilo to Guimaras trips. Iloilo currently has the only international port in Western Visayas and is one of the busiest ports in the Philippines.
Sailing time is about 20 hours from Manila 12 times weekly; from Zamboanga or Cagayan de Oro, 14 hours twice a week; from Cebu, 12 hours once daily. Fastcrafts from Bacolod City take 50 minutes. There is also a nautical highway service by roll-on-roll-off (RORO) vessels fom various parts of the country. Bus terminals are in Ali Mall Cubao, Quezon City and Pasay City.
Other provincial ports of Iloilo are in Estancia that has regular trips also to Manila and Dumangas the Naluoyan Port that services as the roro terminal to Bacolod and several other destinations.
By Land
From Iloilo City you can head to the neighboring towns and provinces with a very smooth and safe travel by land. Air-conditioned buses, vans, jeepneys and taxis are available to transport visitors to their destinations.
The city is a transportation hub of Panay and nearby islands including Boracay and Guimaras. There are several bus companies that provide transportation to the other major urban areas of Panay – Kalibo in Aklan, San Jose in Antique, Roxas in Capiz, and Passi City in Iloilo. There are also PhilTranco buses from Cubao, Quezon City to Iloilo City that are using the ro-ro ferries.
You can get around the city by the Iloilo jeepneys (dubbed as the most beautiful ones in the Philippines) or by the taxis (most of them are brand new units).
You may also browse through the travel guide articles.
No Responses to “How to get to Iloilo”