Summer is here! Here’s your summer vacation idea: Visit Iloilo, Visit Western Visayas! It’s so beautiful in our place! Beaches, heritage sites, culture, adventure, and food!
For the best summer vacation idea, spend probably 7 days with us so you’ll be able to thoroughly enjoy Iloilo, Guimaras, Antique, Capiz, Aklan, and Negros Occidental. I’ll attempt to share a quick itinerary here:
Day 1 – Iloilo
Fly to Iloilo early in the morning so you’ll have time to go around the city and enjoy heritage houses, museums, public markets, and the well preserved Calle Real — the old city center. Don’t skip La Paz Public Market to enjoy your coffee at Madge and of course your original batchoy at Netong’s. Ask the locals where to get the best seafood — top of my mind is Tatoy’s in Villa Arevalo. Oh lawrd, don’t forget the thick tablea chocolate drink in Camiña Balay nga Bato also in the same district.
Day 2 – Guimaras
Have a quick day trip to Guimaras. Eat the sweetest mangoes, explore the beaches -Natago is something to discover!
Day 3 and 4 – Carles Iloilo
Get up early and drive up north to Carles, Iloilo, the home of Las Islas de Gigantes. Swim, dive, eat there. Mostly eat, because you’ll find the sweetest and freshest scallops there at only P1 per piece (that was the price the last time I was there).
Day 5 – Roxas
You can choose to go further to Roxas in Capiz to eat some more seafood in Baybay. Visit heritage sites and immerse with the nice people there for a day, but before sundown, head to Kalibo where you can spend the night.
Day 6 – Antique
Go around Kalibo in the morning. Don’t forget their garlicky-sweet Kalibo chorizo for breakfast. And of course, the fattest talaba may be in some stalls around this quaint town. Eat your lunch here and then move to Antique in the afternoon. Go straight to Tibiao and have your self pampered in a warm kawa bath there.
Day 7 – Bacolod
Drive back to Iloilo really early to catch the boat going to Bacolod. Eat in Aida’s at Manokan Country, have your sweets in Calea and visit The Ruins in nearby Talisay. You can choose to fly back to your home destination via Bacolod airport or go back to Iloilo. Don’t forget to buy piaya before going home!
If you choose to go back to Iloilo, don’t forget to buy your pasalubong at Wewin’s, JD Bakeshop and Biscocho Haus. My recent favorite butterscotch is made by Rgies – they have either mango or cashew bits, really delicious! Before you fly out, try Kap Ising’s pancit Molo.
I recommend that you take the last flight out of Iloilo so you won’t be rushing like crazy.
Of course if you have limited time, you can skip some of them but make sure to come and visit as soon as you can.
Hope to see you in Iloilo and the rest of Western Visayas this summer!
