Panay

Wedge-shaped Panay is best known as the gateway to the holiday isle of Boracay, but this jungle-covered island has plenty of attractions of its own. Every year in January, the historic town of Kalibo comes alive for the riotous Ati-Atihan festival, a fascinating time to connect with the complex culture of the islands. At other times, people come to Panay to explore sleepy coastal villages and the adventure playground of the interior. Bulabog Puti-An National Park is a prime destination for rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking and other adventurous activities, and several agencies in Iliolo offer support for first-timers. Historically, ...

Wedge-shaped Panay is best known as the gateway to the holiday isle of Boracay, but this jungle-covered island has plenty of attractions of its own. Every year in January, the historic town of Kalibo comes alive for the riotous Ati-Atihan festival, a fascinating time to connect with the complex culture of the islands. At other times, people come to Panay to explore sleepy coastal villages and the adventure playground of the interior. Bulabog Puti-An National Park is a prime destination for rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking and other adventurous activities, and several agencies in Iliolo offer support for first-timers. Historically, Panay was settled by seafaring tribes from Borneo, and the island today is a curious blend of tribal customs, Spanish colonial traditions and bustling cities that show the obvious touch of the American administration in the Philippines. Beaches are a secondary attraction — no surprise with idyllic Boracay just offshore — but you can still find the classic tropical island experience on the island of Guimaras, which also produces the finest mangoes in the Philippines. Iliolo has the main airport but travelers bound for Boracay fly into Caticlan.

About the Expert

Joe Bindloss has written more than 30 guidebooks for Lonely Planet, Time Out and other publishers, with a focus on Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent and island nations.