The many coves, islets and beaches of Guimaras offer great opportunities for a terrific summer or anyday 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 (Raymen is recommended) - 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. Or you can book via Raymen Beach Resort.
These boatmen already have an island hopping itinerary but they can also accommodate out-of-the-route requests, weather permitting.
The journey begins 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 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.
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.
Then there's Natago Beach which is a stretch of white sand between two islets with a picturesque hut island hoppers can visit.
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.
Another picturesque point is at Lamurawan Resort where one can get a gorqeous view of islets atop a grotto of the Virgin Mary.
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.
You can take your aquaculture interest further at the Igang Marine Station which is under SEAFDEC (Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center).
The facility consists of islets housing research facilities and clusters of fish cages interconnected by floating foot bridges. The most interesting feature of the station is what's inside the fish cages.
Here you'll find lapu-lapu, sea bass (apahap), surgeon fish (labahita), pompano, maya-maya, milkfish (bangus), abalone and more.
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.
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!
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 (Raymen is recommended) - no need to book for rooms or cottages. 
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| Rates and itinerary at Raymen Beach Resort as of Jan 2019 |
And if you’re lucky you might find other isolated beaches where you can frolic under the sun! 
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. 
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. 
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| The view is just amazing at Lamurawan. Photo from flickr |
You can take your aquaculture interest further at the Igang Marine Station which is under SEAFDEC (Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center). |
| SEAFDEC File Photo |
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| Photo from SHOESTRING TRAVELERS |
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| Photo from SHOESTRING TRAVELERS |
- GUIMARAS is just 15 minutes away from Iloilo City via pumpboats.
- It can be accessed via the Ortiz wharf which docks at the Jordan wharf OR the Parola wharf which brings you to Buenavista wharf
- Tickets costs PhP15 per passenger and slight higher after 6pm.
- If you opt to your own transportation there's a RORO port in Lapuz, Iloilo in which the roro vessel will dock at the Jordan RORO Port.
- Transport options in Guimaras includes public jeepneys, multicab jeepneys for hire, tricycle for hire and vans for hire.
- A day trip in Guimaras from around 8am to 6pm can cover most sites including a 3-hour island hopping.
- A whole pumpboat can be hired past 6pm if you are a big group.
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| Island Hopping in Guimaras overview. Take not that the Pawikan Caring Station is now CLOSED. |
Click the pics to enlarge
