Roxas City Tourist Attractions

 OLOTAYAN ISLAND

An hours’ travel from the city proper is this island baranggay of Olotayan. This island is blessed with a coarse white sand beach and serene shores that fits everyone’s desire for a private beach. A boat ride can be arranged at the Banica wharf for a certain fee.

BAYBAY BEACH

One of the sites to see in Roxas City is Baybay Beach. It is just three kilometers away from the city circle. The place is a favorite weekend spot for the local populace and those coming from nearby towns and provinces. Considered a “must not miss” spot in Roxas City, Baybay beach is ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking. It has a seven-kilometer stretch of sugar-fine, glittery, ebony sand. The water sometimes washes up to the shore a substance known as “margaha” to the locals, which is fine iron particles that an ordinary magnet can pick up and collect!


 

MANTALINGA ISLAND

Nearby Mantalinga island which is a kilometer away from the shoreline of Baybay beach has been identified as an ideal diving spot for scuba divers and a perfect rotunda for sailboat (dilayag) and kayaking contests. Recently nicknamed “Good Luck Island” by tourism consultants, the place is believed to be a source of luck for local fisherfolk. They write the names of their fishing boats on the side of the island before they set out to sea for the first time.

ANG PANUBLI-ON, THE ROXAS CITY MUSEUM

Located just across the City Hall, this impressive circular piece of architecture offers every visitor a comprehensive view of what Roxas City was then, what it is now and its vision for the future – a complete record those who have given their share in making Roxas City what it is today. Constructed in 1910, the museum used to be a water tank that served the local residents for more than three decades.

 

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL

One of the oldest in Panay Island, this church is a silent witness to events that have unfolded in the city over the past centuries. Its imposing view complements the city plaza fronting the Panay River and the Capiz bridge. Fiesta lights add glitter to the church.

ANCESTRAL HOUSE OF THE LATE PRES. MANUEL ROXAS

The birthplace of Pres. Manuel Roxas, First President of the Philippine Republic and Roxas City’s most illustrious son in whose honor the city got its name, still stands at its original site at Rizal St., (corner Zamora St.,), a few minutes walk from the city hall and the city plaza.

THE CITY BRIDGE

The old and imposing Spanish City Bridge has remained strong and firm since it was built in 1910. Connecting the commercial center of the city to the main thoroughfare, traversing the Panay River, the bridge is a silent witness to various changes that ushered in progress and development in the city. Like the old bridge, equally alluring is the huge stretch of the Panay River that traverses the very heart of the city. For this, Roxas City has been dubbed as the "Venice of the Visayas".

BAYBAY SEAFOOD GRILLS

Located at Baybay beach is a stretch of stalls serving the freshest seafood in town. These establishments offer a laid-back atmosphere where one can simply dine and relax to the refreshing sea breeze, sparkling fine gray sand, serene blue waters and pristine shoreline. It specializes in “talaba” steamed in hot boiling water or broiled over charcoal for P25-P35 pesos per basket. It also offers other mouth-watering dishes like chicken and pork barbecue, pantat, hito, squid, and other grilled delicacies at affordable prices. It is a perfect venue for an intimate dinner for 2 or lively family gatherings.

HORTUS BOTANICUS

Hortus Botanicus houses a collection of both introduced and endemic plants that are properly labeled and arranged according to families. The Hortus Botanicus or garden is set in Milibili, a barangay of Roxas City, which is around 3.12 kms. from the city proper and 950 meters away from the national road. The site is nestled along the gentle rolling hills of Milibili, a natural setting for the different plant collections. The existing body of water at the site can hold aquatic plant accessions and facilities for recreation. Its location is ideal for seminars, hands-on training programs, for retreats or simply a place to unwind. Plant hobbyists, on the other hand can learn more here and avail of planting materials for their collection.
The gardens are not only a living museum of plants or a sanctuary and conservation area for the city’s plant species but also a learning center where livelihood activities like the setting-up of backyard gardens, training for garden services and other allied activities can be conducted.

Culajao Mangrove Eco-Park

Experience a breath-taking view of the 4.69 hectare mangrove reservation zone; a reforestation project of the Roxas City Government in partnership with Katunggan Sa Culajao Salbaron Association (KACUSA), Inc. and PEW Fellows Program in Marine Conservation to address the dwindling mangrove forest in the City of Roxas.

People's Park (La Playa de Roxas)

Found at the end of Arnaldo Boulevard, roughly a three- minute tricycle ride from Roxas City Airport and a stone's throw away from Roxas City Seafood Plaza is a Seashore-manmade Park. With a cool breeze blowing "round the clock" and the sound of the ocean waves splashing against the park’s break water (when the tide rolls in), this place is ideal for family picnics at daytime and a romantic date at night. Take a guitar and just jam with your friends as it gives you a "Caribbean feel" with its mixture of "cobble-stone-feel" footpath, palm trees and the scent of the sea or just lounge and relax to a sun setting over the Visayan sea.