Information about Kalibo

Kalibo

Kalibo is a first-class municipality and capital of the province of Aklan, the Philippines’ oldest province. As the capital, Kalibo is situated at the center of tourism and trade activities: from being the gateway to Boracay Island to welcoming devotees and travelers to join the Ati-Atihan festival every January.

Kalibo is further divided into 16 urban barangays, with a land area of 50.75 square kilometers (2.79% of the entire area of Aklan). It can be found at the coastal municipalities of Aklan, near the opening of the Aklan River. 

The term Kalibo originated from ‘sangka libo’ (one thousand) based from the reported number of native Ati who attended and celebrated the first Catholic Mass in the area. Locals refer to the town as ‘Akean’ due to its proximity with the Aklan River. During the Spanish regime, it was also called Calivo / Calibo / Calibog / Adan / Daclan. 

When in Kalibo, visiting the world-famous Boracay and attending the Ati-Atihan festival are a must. However, there are also other ways to discover the best of Kalibo. You can immerse yourself with the culture at Aklan Freedom Shrine, Museo It Akean, and Kalibo Cathedral, join the environmental movement at Bakhawan Eco Park, support local crafts at Papierus Arts and Crafts and Dela Cruz House of Piña, and of course – dig in to the distinct tastes of Aklanon cuisine such as tamilok, binakol, and latik. 

How to get there

Regular domestic flights from Manila and Cebu service Kalibo, and the airport has a runway long enough for widebody planes.

Best time to visit

It is an all-year-round destination that can be visited anytime of day.