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ILOILO CITY

Iloilo City is a tourist hub where the best restaurants, museums, hotels, shopping districts, and nightlife in the province await. It is most known for the annual Dinagyang Festival, exquisite heritage sites, deliciously fresh seafood, and signature Ilonggo dishes. The city is also home to many Spanish-colonial churches, grand vintage houses, and old commercial and institutional buildings dating back to its heyday as the “Queen City of the South.”

Cabugao Gamay

is one of the best tourist spots in Iloilo which is part of Islas de Gigantes, an archipelago on the northern portion of the province. Coined as the “Selfie Island“, it is the most photographed island in Islas de Gigantes. It features a hill covered with thick vegetation and a rock formation on one end while both are being connected by a spectacular sandbar dotted with coconut trees. Atop the rock formation serves as the viewing area that offers 360° view of the entire island, neighboring islands and the vast sea.

Cabugao Gamay is located in Islas de Gigantes, Carles, Iloilo.

Tangke Lagoon

is an enchanting tourist destination in the province of Iloilo. It is a natural saltwater lagoon or pool hidden in the steep cliffs on the southern tip of Gigantes Sur, one of the largest islands that comprises Islas de Gigantes. It is a wide lagoon with emerald clear waters suitable for swimming while the area is surrounded by picturesque rock formations with notable greenery. The natural lagoon is being fed by sea water through a small opening which the water volume depends on the tide (sea levels). Outside the lagoon over the limestone karst are some perfect sites for cliff jumping down the sea water below.

Tangke Lagoon is situated in Islas de Gigantes, Carles, Iloilo.

Antonia Beach

is one of the most visited tourist spots in Iloilo found on the eastern portion of Gigantes Sur. It is a popular white sand beach in the province which features a wide white sandbar with a rock formation at its tip. It shares very similar feature as of Cabugao Gamay Island. The beach is surrounded with emerald clear waters abundant in coral reefs and marine life suitable for swimming and snorkeling. Moreover, it is a famous campsite on Islas de Gigantes where visitors can catch the best views of sunrise and sunset. Visitors may also buy seafood for lunch such as oysters, crabs, scallops and famous Wasay-Wasay.

Antonia Beach is located in Islas de Gigantes, Carles, Iloilo.

Pawikan Cave

On the southern tip of Gigantes Sur is a unique cave with an intriguing folk story behind, the Pawikan Cave. It was named after the huge turtle egg-shaped rock formation found before on its deep chambers. According the local folk stories, the turtle egg-shaped rocks served as markers to the hidden treasures by the Japanese Imperial Army which were believed to be a part of Yamashita Treasure. The cave features a huge entrance chamber, outstanding rock formations and numerous chambers lit up by several openings on the ceiling. The 30 minute hike may be challenging but exploring the cave and hearing its story from the local guide will be worth it.

Pawikan Cave is situated in Islas de Gigantes, Carles, Iloilo.

Santo Tomas de Villanueva Church

Miagao Church, also known as Santo Tomas de Villanueva Church, is one of the fascinating tourist spots in Iloilo. The church is one of the most beautiful Baroque churches in the Philippines which was built on 1797 made of adobe, eggs, corals and limestone thus giving it an ochre color. It has an impressive facade with note-worthy designs such bas-relief coconut tree depicting the “tree of life“, images of the saints and native flora and fauna. Moreover, it has two unequal bell towers position on both sides while the most imposing structure on the interior of the church is its golden coated retablo. This is one of the most impressive churches and historical landmarks on the province.

Sto. Tomas de Villanueva Church is located in Miag-ao, Iloilo.

Museo Iloilo

Museo Iloilo houses collection of historical and cultural displays in the province of Iloilo. The building itself is an attention grabbing elegant structure while the inside is full of artifacts and fossils, religions images and statues, as well as paintings and sculptures. Displays inside the museum includes pottery, jewelry, war relics, parts of Britain’s sunken ship, tradeware from China, Annam and Siam, Carbon-q4 dated remains of Mondo tribe including their swords and spears and numerous relics. Some displays might be creepy for some visitors but for the one’s eager in history, this museum has a lot to showcase.

Museo Iloilo is situated in Iloilo City, Iloilo.