#SABVENTURES: Roxas City

February 21-23, 2015

Welcome to the SEAFOOD CAPITAL OF THE PHILIPPINES! 

(The view from Cafe Terraza, El Circulo, Roxas City) 

Wanderlust-ing with Aleli! Going back to my second favorite home--Roxas City! I have been assigned to Roxas for a month and my experience back then is really unforgettable. So when my friends and I had our early summer getaway in Boracay, I asked them to stop by to Roxas City to dig in some seafoods. YUM! 

Obligatory shot @ El Circulo-- So touristy!

Anyways, Roxas is just a 4 hour drive from Caticlan. 

Here's the breakdown of the fare rates: 

From Caticlan to Kalibo v.v. : PHP100 

From Kalibo to Roxas v.v,: PHP120

FYI: The mode of transportation in Roxas is Tricycle. That will cost you PHP10 to PHP25 or more depending on the destination.

Upon arrival in Roxas, we decided to visit the airport since I have friends there then went to Julieta's Apartelle for our accommodation. We didn't pay that much on our accommodation since we have some OB friends who is staying there, we just paid for the extra person rate which is: PHP100/night - stayed there for 3 nights. Their rate per room is PHP850/night/room. Anyway, there are a lot of budget hotels and apartelles in Roxas, so in case you haven't decided yet where to stay you can look around once you're there. 

********************************************************************

What to do in Roxas? 

1. Go to Panay

        - Sta. Monica Church (See and Touch The Biggest Bell in Asia)

        - Butterfly Garden 

        - Museum (still under construction when we visited, the museum was destroyed by the earthquake and Typhoon Yolanda)

2. Go to Talon Adventure Park 

       - Try the activities -- ATV, Zipline, Swimming, Sight-Seeing

       - Take your obligatory touristy photo with the I LOVE CAPIZ 

3. Satisfy your seafood cravings in Baybay (different restaurants near the Black Beach)

4. Try Budget Friendly restaurants like: Tangerine, D'Prime, Chibugan 55, Cafe1927

5. Witness the panoramic view in Cafe Terazza (PS. Don't forget to try their cakes-- esp. Tiramisu and Tres Leche)

6. Craving for dried fish? Dried Pusit? Dilis? Go Visit Banika.

7. Go to San Antonio Resort for some skinny-dippin' hahahah. NAH! just swim and enjoy the resort's infinity pool and some water activities.

********************************************************************

This is our itinerary for 3 days! :)

Ready?

Day 01

Brunch at Cafe1927; Sta. Monica Church and Panay Bell; Talon Adventure Park; Dinner at Almas in Baybay 

CAFE 1927

Before we start the island tour we ate at Cafe 1927, It is located at the City Proper  /Capitol, it is beside Land Bank and infront of a Plaza. 

          

CAFE 1927---- The Cafe is well known for it's Bachoy and Baby Back Ribs. But my favorite would be their Palabok! Hahaha! You guys should try it! 

After having our brunch(Breakfast and Lunch) in Cafe 1927 we decided to go to Panay to see the bell and the panoramic view at the top of the old church. 

In going to Panay, you can ride a tricycle that would cost you PHP20/person. 

STA. MONICA CHURCH, PANAY

Sta. Monica Church in Panay

Church's Interior 

The Church has its own tour guide so before going up to the bell, you may proceed to the tourist office beside the church. The Tour guide will accommodate and guide you to the top of the Church where the bell is located. You will be using a very steep stairs and it's a bit dark-- make sure to watch  your steps

  

There are also different sizes of bells located at the top of the Church. 

Trivia: Despite of being an old and very historic church, According to our Tour guide, they are still using the church for mass ceremonies and every Sunday they have 2 mass ceremonies in the morning.

After knowing the Church's history we had our chance to see the breath taking view from above and took the opportunity to take some shots! SMILE!

The view from above  

located at the back of the church

Groupies! 

TALON ADVENTURE PARK 

You can do a bunch of things in Talon Adventure Park-- they are offering: ATVs, Zipline, Cottages, Swimming and Sight seeing. It is a semi white sand beach in Roxas City. The activities they are offering are budget friendly so you don't need to worry, BUT when  we arrived in Talon the officer told us that they don't have activities for the day. Anyways, If you wish to stay there long you may bring your own food since there is no restaurants or stores near by or even at the place. There is NO ENTRANCE FEE. For your fare, it really depends on your point of origin-- since we came from Sta. Monica Church in Panay (quite far from the park) we paid for PHP113/ person for the tricycle. The road going to Talon is a bit bumpy so might as well be ready!

Dinner at Baybay

Something that excites me the most whenever I'm in Roxas are their very budget friend seafood restaurants. I AM A SEAFOOD KIND OF GIRL!! Hahaha! If you're in Roxas City Proper you must visit Baybay--- a series of restaurant by the beach. You can choose from whichever restaurant you want to try depending on your budget. Upon ordering, you may choose what seafood you want to eat and how you want it to be cooked. Nice right? Nah! It's PERFECT!!!

So, we had our dinner at Alam's one of the restaurants in Baybay. We paid for PHP163/person inclusion: Buttered Shrimp, Grilled Squid, Baked Scallops, Rice, and Drinks 

                                                       

Day 02 

Brunch at Chibugan 55, Unwind and Relax at San Antonio Resort, Dinner at Cafe Terraza 

CHIBUGAN 55

Our second and last day in Roxas is for unwinding and relaxing our mind and body. And since we didn't get enough sun kissing/ sun burn on our body we opted to go to the resort near Baybay. 

If you're in a tight budget you MUST try CHIBUGAN 55 in front of Gaizano Mall. For as low as PHP55 you'll get a great set of meal! Affordable right? The owner of the restaurant is very hands on. He will go and talk to every customer to entertain them and know if the food is great or not.

SAN ANTONIO RESORT

After our breakfast we headed to San Antonio Resort near Baybay. For only PHP95 (Entrance fee),  you can go enjoy the resort's infinity pool and good ambiance. They also have water activities such as Kayaking and Boating. For your food they are offering in house food! So you don't really have to worry!

CAFE TERRAZA

One of my favorite restau! You can dine in or outside to enjoy the break-taking view of Roxas City plus you'll be enjoying the food especially the cakes -- TRY Tiramisu and Tres Leche! YUMMM!!! They also have Burgers, Pizzas, Pastas, Hotdogs, Sandwiches, Fries, Rice Meals, and etc.

Day 03
Last Day in Roxas City

Woke up early to catch the first trip of the vans to Kalibo. Since we will be flying back to Manila via Caticlan flight. It's gonna be a long drive back to Caticlan!!! The fare rates are the same as going to Roxas to Caticlan v.v. I suggest if you're going on a road trip you might as well take the van not the bus since it will take you more time on bus because of the stop overs.

Really enjoyed our stay in Roxas! and I'm surely going back again!!! I LOVE ROXAS!!! I hope you'll get to visit such a wonderful place!There are still things you must see and try in Roxas that my friends and I haven't visited yet because we were time restricted and all. anyways, Enjoy and Have Fun!!! 

xx SABBY