It’s so easy to go to Iloilo if you are from Bacolod because of proximity and the availability of sea transport choices. And now, we have another choice — the FastCat – run by the Archipelago Philippines Ferries Corporaton (APFC).

Bacolod to Iloilo with FastCat

FastCat Ferry

There are three kinds of accommodations on the FastCat Ferry. They are, as follows:

• Business Class. The business class is a fully air conditioned section with comfortable seats. It has an LCD TV and can accommodate up to 63 passengers.
• Premium Economy. The premium economy is also air conditioned, equipped with two (2) LCD TVs, and can accommodate up to 105 passengers.
• Economy. The economy is an open area and can accommodate up to 107 passengers.

Meanwhile, Iloilo stories you might like:

• Iloilo Restaurants and their Best Eats
• Basic Molo, Iloilo Day Tour for the Family

FastCat Bacolod-Iloilo Trip

There is much to explore in the province of Iloilo. But if you only have a day to tour the province, here are some of the Iloilo destinations you can visit for a nice Iloilo heritage tour. You can easily take the first trip of FastCat from the Banago port in Bacolod City and then come back with the last trip.

The FastCat trip from Bacolod to Iloilo takes anywhere between 1 hour and 40 minutes to 2 hours.

Please note that you can achieve all the items on the tour when you have a private vehicle hired. This tour was done in cooperation with Philtranco.

• Where to Stay in Iloilo: Richmonde Hotel Iloilo

Iloilo Heritage Day Tour

Miag-ao Church

The Miag-ao Church is also known as the Santo Tomas de Villanueva Parish Church. It is a Roman Catholic church located in Miagao, Iloilo, Philippines that was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. It is a well-preserved Baroque Spanish-era church building.

San Joaquin Cemetery

The San Joaquin Campo Santo, better known as San Joaquin Cemetery, is a Catholic cemetery situated in the town of San Joaquin, in the province of Iloilo. It is well-preserved and was designated as a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines, together with San Joaquin Church.

GarinFarm

GarinFarm Pilgrimage Resort is versatile inland resort that landscaped glass- walled rooms with a breathtaking view of the ocean or the mountains, a wide swimming pool for adults and children, a 5,000 sq. meter man-made lagoon for boat rides, sporty fishing and kayaking, and horseback riding, among many others.

• FB page: GarinFarm

Molo Mansion, Plaza, and Church

Arevalo Handwoven Products

The Arevalo family had been making handwoven fabrics for a couple of decades now. They are the ones making the “sablay” of graduates of the University of the Philippines.

Camiña Balay nga Bato

The Camiña Balay nga Bato is a well-maintained ancestral house that is currently owned by Director Gerard Camiña. He is from the fourth generation of the Avanceña Family and his wife Mrs. Luth Saludes Camiña. The stone house is located at Osmeña Street, Villa de Arevalo, Iloilo City, which is just next to the Panaderia de Iloilo. It is open daily from 9am to 6pm. Have a nice cup of hot chocolate here.

Iloilo Eats

So as to not to waste time stopping by for breakfast, you can have breakfast on board FastCat where they offer simple and affordable meals. Just make sure you have some packed snacks like biscuits and chips that you can nibble along the way throughout your Iloilo heritage tour.

But for lunch, you may want to go to Breakthrough Restaurant at Villa Arevalo for some seafood dishes. For afternoon snacks, have some batchoy at Netong’s, either in La Paz or at the Atria Mall.

FastCat and Philtranco

FastCat has forged an alliance with Philtranco in order to provide a seamless travel experience on land and on sea around the islands of the Philippines. Philtranco, a big and organized bus operator in the country that was established in 1914, has operated passenger buses from Iriga to Naga.

Furthermore, they offer a variety of bus transport services and routes nationwide, spanning from parts of Northern Luzon, Pampanga, and Subic to provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao (Vismin).

To Visit Iloilo

Iloilo is a beautiful and culture rich province. It has a wealth of culture, history, and great food finds in Iloilo restaurants. You can experience a FerrySafe, FerryFast, and FerryConvenient trip when you travel to Iloilo with FastCat. Furthermore, travelers can also visit Iloilo from Manila, with daily trips from Philtranco. Passengers may also op to take a FastCat Ferry from Bacolod to Manila.

• Brewery Gastropub Iloilo
• Farm to Table Restaurant
• Al Dente Ristorante Italiano
• Hometown Iloilo Buffet by Freska 

FastCat Ferry Iloilo-Bacolod Schedule

Here is the schedule of the FastCat Ferry, plying the Iloilo-Bacolod route. Trip takes at most two (2) hours, depending on sea conditions.

Iloilo                      Bacolod
Departure            Departure
8:00AM                    5:00AM
2:00PM                    11:00AM
8:00PM                    5:00PM

FastCat Passenger Rates Iloilo-Bacolod

Moreover, here are the rates of FastCat Ferry for the Iloilo-Bacolod route (one way). As of February 2018. Children below 3 years old are FREE.

                                   Full Fare   Student    Senior/PWD    Children (3-7)
Business Class             P300            P240               P214                          P150
Premium Economy     P250             P200               P179                          P125
Economy                      P200             P160                P143                         P100

For more information, visit their website: FastCat.com.ph

• Find Iloilo City on the map.
• Find Bacolod City on the map.