Roxas City travel guide

Roxas City, Philippines

By the Travel Wiki editorial team

Roxas City

Introduction

Roxas is a component city and the capital of Capiz province in the Philippines. It sits in Western Visayas, where it is the most populous city in the province and the second-most populous in the region after Iloilo City.

Before you go

Roxas City, formerly the town of Capiz, serves as both the provincial capital and the commercial center of Capiz province. It retains the feel of a typical Spanish-era Filipino town while also having malls and a growing central business district, the Pueblo de Panay. The city is named after the fourth President of the Philippines, its most famous native. The local economy depends largely on seafood, and the city is known for it. You'll find many fishponds and fishpens, mostly used for cultivating milkfish, though these are increasingly being replaced by residential subdivisions, malls and call center blocks. For information while planning, the city's tourist office is located at the Ang Panublion Museum, listed under "See".

Getting there

Roxas City is served by air, sea and road, so your approach depends on where you're coming from. Roxas Airport (RXS) sits about 2 km north of the centre, with Cebu Pacific, PAL Express and Philippines Air Asia all flying daily from Manila on Airbus A320 jets. By sea, the Port of Culasi (Roxas City Port) on Baybay Rd in Culasi handles ferries: 2GO Travel runs from Batangas City via Romblon island three times a week, and Super Shuttle operates a direct RORO ferry from Batangas City. From the port gates, take a tricycle into the city centre.

Long-distance buses and vans arrive at the Roxas City Integrated Terminal (RCIT) on Sacred Heart of Jesus Ave, which stays open around the clock and has jeepney and tricycle transfers to downtown and nearby towns; shops and a supermarket are just beside it. Ceres Liner covers Iloilo (2 hours) and Kalibo (1.5 hours), while the related Ceres Transport has a daily trip from Manila via Batangas City and Caticlan. UV Express vans also arrive from Iloilo and Kalibo. At the terminal, buses depart from the middle, jeepneys leave from the east side and vans from the west; buses, vans and jeepneys will also drop you off on the main road.

Getting around

Roxas City is compact and has no rail, metro or tram network, so you get around by road. Tricycles are the primary way around town: flag one down on the street or find them waiting at terminals, the airport and the port, and use them for short hops between downtown, your hotel and the waterfront. They are not metered, so agree on the fare before you set off. An air-conditioned jeepney covers the stretch between the bus terminal and downtown, and jeepneys and UV Express vans fill the gaps between tricycles and long-distance buses. There is no taxi or ride-hailing scene to speak of, so tricycles serve the role taxis would elsewhere.

Downtown is walkable: the historic core around the plaza, the cathedral and the government complex sits close together, so sightseeing on foot works well in the centre. For anything beyond downtown, or to reach the airport, port or bus terminal, take a tricycle or jeepney. At the Roxas City Integrated Terminal (RCIT) on Sacred Heart of Jesus Ave, buses depart from the middle, jeepneys to the east and vans to the west; the terminal stays open around the clock and has shops and a supermarket beside it. Buses and vans handle intercity routes, with Ceres Liner serving Iloilo and Kalibo, Ceres Transport running a daily trip from Manila via Batangas City and Caticlan, and UV Express vans arriving from Iloilo and Kalibo. Roxas Airport sits just north of the centre, and the Port of Culasi is on Baybay Rd in Culasi near the Culasi Lighthouse; both are a short tricycle ride from the centre, so no elaborate transfer planning is needed.

Where to stay

Roxas City's accommodation is concentrated in the centre, where you'll find simple fan-cooled rooms with private bathrooms and cable TV. Options on Gomez Street and Plaridel Street include Halaran Plazza Hotel, Capiz Lodge and Casa Purita Hotel, all offering single or double rooms in the budget range. These are straightforward, no-frills places where check-in and check-out are typically at noon.

If you'd prefer a chain-style stay, there are two RedDoorz properties — one on San Roque Street Extension and another near Plaridel Street — both with afternoon check-in and noon check-out. For something with more facilities, Alunsina Hotel and Spa sits on Teodorica Avenue in Barangay Banica, while Altacosta Beach Hotel is out on the Baybay Strip in Barangay Baybay, handy if you want to be near the water.

Food & drink

For Korean food, head to Katara Café Samgyupsal Roxas City in the Elemar Business Center along San Roque Extension. Mang Inasal sits on the ground floor of Gaisano Marketplace on San Roque Street, while Zugbao Bar and Resto can be found on Datiles Street. Several spots cluster along Baybay Beach in San Juan and Arnaldo Boulevard, including The beachbarandhouse, Coco Veranda, Dinersbakers Bar and Restaurant, and Prince Baker on Roxas Avenue. For coffee and lighter fare, Arnaldo Boulevard is the street to know: Mang Kape, Palm Coast Coffee, and Feeka Coffee + Bistro all line it, with The beachbarandhouse also serving drinks by the beach.

What to see and do

For a view over the sea and nearby islets, walk about twenty minutes to the base of the Barangay Culasi Lighthouse and climb to its viewing deck. Ang Panublion Museum, housed in a creatively reused circular water tank, holds exhibits on local and indigenous Panay culture along with the tourism office. In the town of Panay, Santa Monica Parish Church was built in 1884 from coral blocks, with thick walls and an unusually large bell cast by Juan Reina from sacks of coin given by townspeople. You can also take in Roxas City Hall on Hughes Street and the open, free Roxas City Plaza on Arsobispo Street. Baybay Beach, part of the People's Park along Arnaldo Boulevard, is free and open around the clock, and Palina Greenbelt Ecopark on Cagay Road is an ecological park that is likewise always open. For something on the water, Coy'z Floating Cottage in Punta Cogon is a tourist attraction open during the day. If your visit falls in the first week of December, Sinadya sa Halaran celebrates the city's founding and doubles as the festivities for the Immaculate Conception.

Three days in Roxas City

Day one: Arrive at Roxas Airport (RXS), served by Cebu Pacific, PAL Express and Philippines Air Asia on Airbus flights from Manila, or come in by sea at Roxas City Port on Baybay Rd, reached by Super Shuttle RORO from Batangas City via Romblon. Settle into the city, once a Spanish pueblo, and take an easy first walk to get your bearings. Start with Ang Panublion Museum for context on Roxas and Capiz, then spend the rest of the day around the city centre, easing into the Filipino pace of life in the capital of Capiz.

Day two: Go deeper into the city and its surroundings. Roxas City sits on Panay in Western Visayas, and its character rewards a slow day of wandering rather than rushing between sights. Use the Roxas City Integrated Terminal (RCIT) if you want to range further, and keep Sacred Heart of Jesus Ave in mind as a reference point when moving around. Return to the centre in the evening, when the city is at its most sociable.

Day three: Keep the final day flexible. If you have time before departure, revisit the parts of Roxas you liked most, or make the run to Iloilo City if your onward plans point that way. Leave via Roxas Airport or Roxas City Port, depending on how you came. Whether you flew in from Manila or sailed from Batangas City through Romblon, the return is straightforward from Culasi and the port area.

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