Skip to main content

Island hopping in Guimaras

 The many coves, islets and beaches of Guimaras offer great opportunities for a terrific summer getaway. Aside from beach-combing and swimming; going around the islands proves to be one exciting activity that often highlights a (day) trip to the island.
The popularity of Alubihod beach makes it a good jump off point for island hopping for it offers convenience and a lot of other amenities as well. Just pay the entrance fee at any resort - no need to book for rooms or cottages. Along the beach you will find a number of boat operators offering boating services with rates standard for the whole of Guimaras. These boatmen already have an island hopping itinerary but they can also accommodate out-of-the-route requests, weather permitting.
Typically, the first stop is at PawCaFS or the Pawikan Caring and Feeding Station in Brgy. Lawi in Jordan. At first you might wonder why you’re headed to an area that’s full of houses on stilts with no beach in sight. But seeing the signage of the wildlife reserve, you’ll then know why.
For some minimal donations to keep the project going, visitors can hold and have some photo ops with green sea turtles being cared for plus some puffer fishes too.
After connecting with life on the sea, the journey continues along the clear waters, coral stone formations and islets. You’ll then discover the raw beauty of Ave Maria islet - a perfect place to enjoy a fine-sand beach and clear waters, and Natago beach with its gleaming sand and rock formations.
And if you’re lucky you might find other isolated beaches where you can frolic under the sun! Maybe, a stretch of sand that only appears at certain times of the year. Other times when the winds bring the waves to its direction, it becomes inexistent.When you’re done dipping in the waters of your own private beach, something different is in store. Initially, you might think you’ll just take a closer look of some rock formations. But then a cave suddenly opens up and a few minutes after you find yourselves inside as the boatmen expertly maneuvers the banca within. A trip inside Baras cave offers some thrills of being almost engulfed in darkness while floating on water. One can even take a dip in the waters or just linger around the cave. Another one for the cameras to capture but watch out for the snakes and bats!
Continuing the journey brings one to see numerous natural attractions and famous resorts Guimaras has to offer. Here, one can enjoy isolated resorts like Baras beach resort and its photo perfect cottages on top of the rocky cliffs. You can actually take a dip and linger for a while in it. The famed Isla Naburot is “for your eyes only” as it is a private resort, non guests are not allowed to step on the island. But you can almost feel the serenity it brings and beckoning beauty made by both nature and man.

Feeling more adventurous? Then Isla Tiniguiban is definitely for you! It’s a little way out in the open sea and big waves tend to pound the boat along the journey. But the little island offers a lot of big surprises, the most enchanting of which are the famed “pulang pasayan”. Literally translated as red shrimps, it’s among the few places where one can find live red shrimps – swimming and scavenging for food. Shrimps and other crustaceans usually turned red only when subjected to heat – cook that is, but here, shrimps are in their natural state of reddish orange. These shrimps only come out of the crevices during high tide so be sure to check the calendars.
Yet without the shrimps, the place has a lot to offer. Even as a private island, the caretaker is warm enough to welcome anybody. He’ll show you around the nice sandy and pebble beaches, the rocky islands across, some secret coves and hilltops that offer greats views of the smaller and main island of Guimaras. Time can really stood still while you’re in this little island.
Even just for a day trip to Guimaras, one can (and must) include island hopping among the activities. The boating rates among the cheapest in the country and offers a whole lot of activities, places to go, beaches and island to offer and some scenes found only in Guimaras. Small boats good for 6 persons, at most go for the rates of Php400/first hour and PhP150 for the succeeding hours. Boats with a bigger capacity command higher rates but still very much affordable.

Whether it’s first on the itinerary or last, island hopping in Guimaras will prove to be one of the best parts of the journey. And it will surely leave a lasting impression on the island that fits your taste!

Popular posts from this blog

Connie Carillo Diversified Farm in Bingawan: Helping Sustaining a Healthy Community Through Farm Schools

The area around the town of Bingawan, the edge of the central portion of the province is where it ends and the town of Tapaz, Capiz province begins and is very much another unsung corner of Iloilo with warm, friendly, welcoming people. Bingawan has some rich farming land and farming is at the heart of its village life. The landscapes are gorgeous here; with gentle pastures, to the high mountains. The area offers some beautiful hikes and bike trails across its lovely rolling meadows, woodland and a few working farms. The town would be less touristic than its neighboring towns but is well worth exploring. If you are concerned about how organic can contribute to benefit our shared environment, promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved, then a trip to Connie Carillo Diversified Farm is for you. With the governments’ efforts to improve the knowledge and technical skills of the farmers, the Connie Carillo Diversified Fa

Cebu Pacific Improves Travel Fund, Voucher Policies

Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB), the Philippines’ leading airline, makes significant improvements in its customer policies by offering non-expiring travel fund and extending the validity of travel voucher to provide passengers with better travel experience. Effective August 1, 2023, CEB rolled out the following changes: 1.         NO EXPIRATION OF TRAVEL FUNDS . Previously, travel funds were valid for six (6) months from the date of conversion. However, under the new policy, travel funds will no longer have an expiration date. Passengers can now use their travel funds as a virtual wallet to pay for new bookings or add-ons in the future without any time constraints.  In addition, those with a MyCebuPacific account can use their non-expiring travel funds not only                   for themselves but also for booking flights on behalf of their family members or friends, adding            an element of convenience and support for their loved ones' travel arrangements. 2.         LONGER TRAVEL

Building a Healthier Future Together: LG PH Donates to West Visayas State University Medical Center

 LG Philippines affirms its commitment to build a better community with its recent CSR initiative in Iloilo. The activity was spearheaded by LG, together with Mark Vincent Fabresis from ML Laundry Equipment and Supply and BigWash. 2 sets of Giant C Max and 2 sets of Titan C Max washers and dryers were donated to West Visayas State University Medical Center (WVSU-MC) in Region VI, modernizing their laundry facilities. The turnover event, held on July 20, 2023, was attended by representatives from WVSU-MC, LG, and BigWash, highlighting the collective effort to enhance healthcare services in the region. L-R: Mr. Paul Rizzel Ledesma - Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Julio H. Lacao Jr.- Head of Linen Section, West Visayas State University Medical Center, Dr. Dave Endel R. Gelito III - Medical Chief II, West Visayas State University Medical Center, Dr. Celina C. Gelada - Vice President for Medical and Allied Services, West Visayas State University Medical Center, Mr. Philip Lee - Big Wash Director