Iloilo City Bacolod City ferry

Iloilo City Guide

Iloilo City Ferry Port

With a population of nearly half a million people and growing rapidly, Iloilo City Port has quickly become one of the most urbanized cities in the Philippines. The port is situated on the southern shore of Panay Island, the sixth largest island belonging to the Philippines, laying to the western part of the Visayas. Iloilo Port borders the Panay Gulf and makes for a natural harbour due to its physical landscape and proximity to neighbouring islands. The port used to be notorious around the Philippines for its unpleasant layout and decaying facilities, however, in 2014 it underwent a major revamp and now boasts a new, modern look. The terminal primarily links passengers to the nearby city of Bacalod; the port’s development has led to a huge increase in traffic, as a result it has been known to suffer from congestion. Supercat and Oceanjet are the main companies operating in the area, providing crossings to popular resorts such as Manila, Cebu, Bacolod and Cagayan De Oro. The length of time the ferry routes take varies; it is just a 15 minute crossing to Bacolod yet over 24 hours to Manila. For transport in and around the port there are jeepneys available, which are best described as a shared taxi, offering incredibly cheap rates. There are several of them waiting at the terminal, with workers employed to help tourists who are confused about the transportation system to Iloilo city centre and other prominent areas.

Bacolod City Guide

Bacolod City Ferry Port

Situated in one of the Philippines most urbanized cities, Bacalod Port rests on the North West Coast of Negros Occidental. The city itself was dubbed as the ‘Best place to live in the Philippines’ by MoneySense magazine in 2008, as well as being known as the ‘City of Smiles’. Bacalod Port is well connected to the other major cities and islands that the Philippines has to offer with links to the capital city of Manila, Iliolo City and the Cagayan De Oro. The journey to Manila is roughly 18 hours long, though the return journey can take over a day depending on the time of day of the departure. The crossing to Iloilo city is much quicker, only taking three hours, and runs frequently throughout the day. The ferry port is fairly easy to reach from the city centre, with several taxi ranks waiting in the heart of the city. Bacalod City is famed for its food, so whilst in the centre give one of the restaurants a try for a taste of traditional cuisine.