• Understand
• Get around
• See
• Do
• Learn
• Work
• Buy
• Drink
• Contact
• Stay safe
• Cope
• Get out

Map of Aklan showing the location of Kalibo.

Kalibo [1] is the capital-town of the province of Aklan, Philippines.

[edit] Understand

Akeanons/Aklanons as the the locals are called are highly literate. English and Filipino is widely spoken and understood. Akeanon/Aklanon is the dialect spoken which is radically different from the rest of the Ilonggo-speaking provinces in the Panay Island. Ilonggo and Kinaray-A is also spoken and understood albeit by a huge minority.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Many airlines fly direct to the Kalibo Airport once/twice a day.

Kalibo Airport in Aklan now allows night landing.

By 2008, there will be a new airport terminal at Kalibo Airport to accommodate arriving passengers in the province brought by international chartered flights from Incheon, South Korea and Shanghai, China.

Asian Spirit, Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific , Pacific Pearl regularly flies to Kalibo.

China Eastern will establish airlinks soon.

[edit] By Van

Vans or L3s as they are called cost about 80 pesos per person from Caticlan to Kalibo and they take approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. Look for an air conditioned van (which might come at a slightly inflated price of 10 to 20 pesos more per person).

[edit] By Jeepney

A Jeepney to Kalibo from Caticlan takes about 1 to 1.5 hours and will cost you about 45 Pesos.

Jeepney-Php 45, FX Taxi- Php 90,Terminal Roxas Ave. Street Kalibo, Aklan Shuttle Bus-Php 100 up,Terminal Airport

[edit] By RORO

RORO or, Roll on, Roll off, is a combination of ferry and bus in one ticket.

[edit] Get around

Motorized tricycles will take you just about anywhere in Kalibo for a standard rate of 6.50 Pesos (6 Pesos 50 Centavos). Foreigners are commonly asked for much higher rates but the drivers must accept the 6.5 peso rate by law.

[edit] See

Kalibo Mangrove (Bakhawan) Ecotourism Park- one of the most successful mangrove reforestation project

in the country is one of the places that must ot be missed as well as the Piña-weaving industry.

Museo it Akean, the town's museum is a repository of the province's rich cultural heritage.

During the Ati-atihan festival, don't forget to visit the Kalibo Cathedral and witness the Catholic

faithful get a brief respite with the "paeapak" or the massaging of a small Sto. Niño (Christ Child)

statuette onto the devotees.

[edit] Do

[edit] Learn

The renowned Ati-Atihan Festival is held every 3rd week of January, celebrated with frenetic dancing,

and drinking to the wee hours of the morning. (Please see wikipedia article on this.)

Kalibo, Aklan is also famous for the woven pineapple silk (piña) that is the darling of Philippine

fabrics and the choice of the elites and the landed. The silk was the fabric used in making the barong

that was worn by the leaders of the APEC countries during it's conference in the Philippines in 1996.

Aklan finally became an independent province when President Magsaysay signed into law on April 25,

1956, Republic Act 1414 separating Aklan from Capiz. This law was authored by Cong. Godofredo P.

Ramos .

[edit] Work

Foreigners who decided to stay in Kalibo are usually retirees who are married to a local. Some maintain businesses in Boracay and Kalibo. Work is generally scarce for foreigners, however, the entrepreneural one could probably engaged in maintaining small businesses in Boracay and properties in Kalibo.

[edit] Buy

Piña Cloth (a must buy), Banana Chips, Coconut Products, Dried Fish, Mangoes, Rambutan, Lansones,

Furniture Products and recycled paper products.

[edit] Eat

During the Ati-atihan festivals and the run-up to Aklan Day, Food festivals abound where seafood, and copious amount of pork and and beef are grilled and served al fresco at the town's main streets.

[edit] Budget

[edit] Mid-range

[edit] Splurge

[edit] Drink

Alcohol is cheap like everywhere in the Philippines, and during the alcohol-fueled days of the

Atiatihan - it is very much readily available at supermarkets, convenience stores and corner stores.

Fruit juices are widely available and made fresh owing to the abundance and proximity of

fruit-producing provinces including Aklan.

For some local brew, tuba, (fermented coconut wine) is popular amongst the locals (usually in far-flung

barangays) and might be worth the taste if you are offered one.

[edit] Sleep

Due to the boomtown character of Kalibo- there is a shortage of places to stay in. Department of Tourism has devised a Homestay Program for tourists where visitors are welcomed into local homes for a fee. Please ask the Philippine Department of Tourism office in your area when planning such.

Sampaguita Gardens (New Washington) -is about 10-20 minutes away from Kalibo. It is a small sea-side resort which boasts a butterfly park, a mini-fair grounds, a year-round Christmas cottage, a Chinese and a Filipino restaurant, swimming pools and a sprawling Thai-Balinese type mansion by it's owner. At the back of the resort is a beach.

Airport Line Inn(Suggested for overnight stay)

Kalibo Queens Hotel (Near Kalibo Gaisano Mall and Wet market)

Villa Atong-Atang

[edit] Budget

Airport Line Inn (Price Php 300 up),

[edit] Mid-range

Kalibo Queens Hotel (Price Php 1500)

[edit] Splurge

Sampaguita Garden (Price Php 2,500 up)

[edit] Contact

Local Police Tel. No. 166

[edit] Stay safe

Kalibo is relatively safe - although cases of pickpockets and an occasional brawl arises especially during the Ati-atihan festival rush where people from other provinces flood the town. Kalibonhons are naturally peaceful and religious folks.

[edit] Cope

[edit] Get out

Vans, and buses abound and it takes only about an hour to get to the Caticlan port (jump off point to Boracay in the Northwest. Roads are paved and usually well-managed.