The Iloilo Experience A Guided Walkthrough

Anyone who has visited Iloilo at some point within the past decade would be
well-aware of the top places to visit here. Places like Tatoys in Villa and
the many beautiful churches scattered throughout Iloilo would probably be top-
picks for tourists here. However, even these places are considered occasional
spots to hang out in by the locals here. Fortunately, this short guide will walk
you through how to get around Iloilo City and really experience what this place
has to offer through the eyes of a resident Ilonggo.

Facts About The Place

Iloilo City is officially known as The City of Iloilo. It is described as a highly

urbanized city located at the southern tip of Panay Island.

Iloilos natural climate is fairly hot with an average maximum temperature of

31 degrees celsius and a minimum temperature of 24 degrees celsius
according to statistics from https://weather-and-climate.com/

Officially, the Citys climate is described as a tropical wet and dry climate as
according to the Kppen climate classification system, with pronounced wet
season from June throughout November; then dry season from December to
May according to the Socio-Economic Profile of Iloilo City by the Iloilo City
Government.

Hire A Taxi Service For The Day

Now you could try getting around using the various Jeepneys in Iloilo, but youd
be subjecting yourself to all the dust and the unbearable heat that comes with
the territory. Its really false economy to do this, so do yourself a favor and
dont.

It would really be in your best interests to hire a taxi service for the entire day.
Ask your hotel lobby at the place where you are staying because they will
definitely be able to help you make arrangements with a local taxi service. In
fact, your hotel may even have their own car rental service with a personal
driver that is, if the price suits your budget.

Fortunately, most of the best places to visit in Iloilo are located right next to
each other along what locals call the Diversion Road or officially known as,
The Sen. Benigno Aquino Avenue.
Wit h that said, here are the top places worth visiting within Iloilo in no
particular order.

The Iloilo River Esplanade

You can think of the Esplanade as a riverside park.

Officially opened to the public on August 18, 2012, the Iloilo River Esplanade
definitely belongs on your list of place to visit while in Iloilo. Stretching out at a
whopping 1.2 kilometers from the Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue to Carpenter
Bridge, the Iloilo Esplanade is a brick-layered walkway laden with well-
maintained flower beds on each side. It offers tourists and locals alike a
beautiful view of the Iloilo River as well as a nice open place to run and get
their daily cardio exercise needs out of the way.

If you fancy more interesting activities, youll find that theres a mini-
amusement park right alongside the walkway with a mini go-kart circuit, rental
pedal bikes, trampolines and even a restaurant.

For those who want to get up close and personal with the Iloilo River, there is a
booth at the Carpenter Bridge portion of the Esplanade that offers pedal boat
rides for the following prices:

Pedal Boat: 80 PHP / Pax

Private Pedal Boat (Renting the boat privately is also allowed : 480 PHP
/Whole Pedal boat)

Electric Boat: 150 PHP / Pax *1 hour

The Esplanade currently sandwiches the Iloilo River on both sides and
construction is ongoing to stretch the walkway out to beyond the Carpenter
Bridge.

It is best to visit this place during the early morning from 5:00-7:00 AM or in the
evening from 6:00-9:30 PM. This is because the Esplanade is an open walkway
and the heat can become unbearable during noon time and early afternoon.

Smallville Complex

Near the Sen. Benigno Aquino Avenue end of the Esplanade Walkway is a small
wooden gate that leads to another must-visit place during your stay in Iloilo.
This is none other than the Iloilo Smallville Complex. Aptly-named after the
Superman-themed TV series from the early 2000s which its appearance
emulates, the Smallville Complex is a commercial complex of dining
destinations with many unique eating establishments that you can only find in
Iloilo. From burgers to seafood and Korean cuisine, youll find it all inside the
Smallville Complex. There are also multiple top-class hotels lined up in this area
along with several Karaoke Places and convenience stores.

The Atria Park District

Just a short walk away and directly connected to the Smallville Complex is the
newer Atria Park District. The Atria is another outdoor network of dining and
shopping experiences that you cannot afford to ignore. From staples like
Jollibee to more exotic and very Ilonggo food establishments such as Ang
Kamalig and Netongs Original Lapaz Batchoy, youll find them all closely
lined up together at the Atria.

Plazuela de Iloilo

Just one stones throw away from The Atria is a lesser-known place known as
Plazuela de Iloilo (and the soon to be opened Plazuela Dos). You should ask
your driver to take you to this place to make sure you dont lose your way.
Furthermore, you might want to stop at the newly-opened S&R membership
shopping center on the way.

Plazuela De Iloilo is fairly spacious with a lot area of 12,533 sq. m. and 8600 sq.
m. in leasable areas.

Plazuela is a private commercial complex with a mini night market selling

unique, affordable goods that you probably wouldnt find anywhere else.

With that aside, this place offers more of the same from The Atria and the
Smallville complex with lots of unique dining establishments and commercial
centers such as an authorized Sony and Apple service center inside of the main
building.

What sets Plazuela apart is its Spanish and Italian-influenced architecture.

Furthermore, hobbyists and artists alike will definitely appreciate the life-like
statues on display of the Disney Princesses, Marvel and DC Superheroes and
even Angry Birds sculptures. For those who appreciate good sculpting, youll
find that the sculpt and paint job on these life-sized statues are as perfect as
the sculpt on your 1/6 to 1/3 scale collectible figures. Selfie-junkies will have a
blast in this area.

Sm City Iloilo

Literally right next to Plazuela is SM City Iloilo, currently the largest mall in the
city. With a land area of a land area of 170,000 m2 (1,800,000 sq ft) and a total
gross floor area of 181,657 m2 (1,955,340 sq ft), it is considered to be the 2 nd
largest mall in Western Visayas

The best part is that the Plazuela side of SM City hosts the newly opened
Southpoint wing. This is basically the night life area of SM City Iloilo
boasting both local, national and international-level premium dining
experiences.

The Molo Mansion

If you are stopping by the Molo Plaza to admire the intricate design of the St
Anne Parish Church (which is now fully air-conditioned, by the way), you might
as well take a short trip to the opposite side of the Plaza to the Molo Mansion
a newly restored heritage mansion with antiques on display and even a
commercial Ilonggo Culture souvenir shop courtesy of Kultura. Incidentally, if
you know the way, the Iloilo River Esplanade is actually just around 4 blocks
away from Molo Plaza.

The Calle Real

If you fancy a more budget-friendly trip with an emphasis on shopping for

unique local goods and novelty, items, you should definitely try out the Calle
Real. Unlike the night life areas outlined in this article, you should visit the Calle
Real ideally anywhere between 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

The Calle Real used to be the heart of the business district of Iloilo and for
many Ilonggos, it still is. Get someone who is familiar with the place to guide
you around and be wary of your valuables in this area. Basically, if you have
ever been to Divisoria in Manila, you know the drill.

You can find everything in this area from arnis sticks, to cellphone accessories
and gadgets, to very cheap mosquito killing rackets, to ACE DVD players with
built-in Karaoke functionality. With a budget of 2000-3000 PHP, you can feel like
a king shopping in this area.
As long as you play it safe, you will definitely enjoy your trip to Calle Real this
is also arguably the best place to shop for an authentic souvenir from Iloilo
outside of taking a trip to the smaller provinces that surround the main city.

Within the vicinity of this area, youll find the Filipino-Chinese Friendship Arch
located at Iznart St.

Honorable Mention: Megaworld

The Iloilo Business Park is better known locally as Megaworld. Located at the
site of Iloilo Citys now relocated airport, this area is currently in development
with a planned lifestyle mall, commercial district and various business
establishments. Outside of the 21-storey Injap Tower, Megaworld hosts the
largest and most intricate hotels and buildings to be found currently in Iloilo
City.

Everything Is At Your Fingertips

Have you noticed a pattern with the places listed out here? Apart from one or
two exceptions, almost everything is figuratively at your fingertips. Thats Iloilo
City for you. From unique dining experiences to river boat rides, you wont have
to wait 30 minutes to an hour to get from one place to another. Traffic does
suffer from some mild congestion during peak hours, but you will never really
have to wait that long just because all the must-see, must-experiences places
are just literally located right next to each other.

With that said, have fun, be safe and enjoy your stay in this quaint hitherto of
urbanization and local culture. Where traditional practices effortlessly mesh,
thrive, and find a way to coexist amidst rapid urban development -- in a little
place called Iloilo City.