Philippines Travel Guide
Philippines Travel Guide seeks to share the vibe of an authentic experience through our idea of adventure travel for explorers and memory seekers in the Philippines.
Philippines Travel Guide seeks to share the vibe of an authentic experience through our idea of adventure travel for explorers and memory seekers in the Philippines.
Guimaras is an island province located in the Western Visayas area. Jordan, its capital, is one of the smallest and youngest provinces in the Philippines. It lies between the main islands of Panay and Negros. It is a popular tourist destination for both international and local visitors due to its beautiful beaches, island-hopping activities, waterfalls, springs, off-shore islets, and world- sweetest mangoes.
We left at 4:00 a.m. from Bacolod in the province of Negros Island to get to Guimaras Island, both in Western Visayas . The night before, we tried to find out when and where the banca would depart from Bacolod, Negros Occidental (Western Visayas). Unfortunately, it turned out to be more difficult than we expected.
Everybody was giving us different information. So, we took our chance and asked the locals as we arrived at the harbor. These local friends told us that the boat will not go out that day because of an engine failure. So, getting to the island of Guimaras early was now impossible.
Traveling by boat/ banca in the Philippines is a very common transportation option for tourists. A banca is a typical small Philippine- made outrigger boat that can travel between islands of average distances.
We drove to Bacolod Pulupandan Port to take another boat that was scheduled to depart at 8:00 a.m. Timetables are tricky things in the Philippines because they change significantly in less- trafficked destinations like Guimaras Island.
If you want to enjoy your trip to the Philippines, follow the best travel safety tips when traveling to the country.
At 8:00 a.m, we were on our way to San Lorenzo Ro-Ro Wharf in Guimaras Island, Western Visayas by a banca. But other than bancas, there are other sea transport options available in the area that you can take, such as ferryboats and pump boats.
The transfer from Bacolod to Guimaras Island usually takes around 15 minutes. To reach Nueva Valencia in Guimaras, Western Visayas, we rode on a tricycle (a light, three-wheeled vehicle). Decorated with airbrush paintings of windmills and mangoes, it was the most beautiful tricycle I had ever seen in the Philippines.
When traveling to the Philippines, make sure to prepare your top essentials for travel ahead of time to ensure a comfortable trip.
If planning a trip to Guimaras Island, check out the Google My Maps below to experience activities and adventures, and get to know different routes and directions, accommodations to stay, attractions to visit, and restaurants to dine in. Visit the Guimaras Island travel Google My Map to learn more about our Philippines Travel routes and adventures.
Zak and Dani created the Philippines Travel Guide while on 51 days Philippines travel adventure in 2017. Focused on the idea to explore travel routes and documenting location information by using the Google Maps application in the Philippines.
We created a detailed Philippines travel diary each day about our Philippines eco-adventure traveling experiences, including the production of pictures and videos of our trip through the Philippine archipelago.
Philippines Travel Guide is passionate about helping other self-minded adventure travel lovers, to make the best out of the trip to the Philippines by providing real information that passionate travelers and enthusiasts need to know about the archipelago.
Philippines Travel Guide is an ongoing process to work out public shared and detailed Google MyMaps of the entire Philippines to provide easy navigation for travelers.
This website also contains a collection of interesting authentic insights and travel tips and tricks and destinations in the Philippines.
Guimaras is one of the Philippines’ most popular travel island destinations especially among nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers. Because of the increasing local and foreign visits to the island, accommodations have also significantly grown over the years. From budget -friendly hostels to luxurious hotels, Guimaras provides you with a vast array of options to choose from.
What is the average cost of backpacker hostels in Guimaras Island?
For backpackers and short- term travelers, guesthouses and hostels on the Guimaras island are the ideal places to stay. For as low as PHP 750 or USD 15 per night, you can get a comfortable room for your group of 7 friends or family members.
This is ideal for a small group of friends or travelers who do not mind sharing a room with others.
You will be surprised by the line of luxurious hotels in Guimaras Island. These accommodations take pride in their top-of-the-line amenities and customer service at par with other five-star accommodations on the island.
If you want to bring your Guimaras vacation to the next level, this is a must-pick. Along with facilities like restaurant, bar, waterpark, infinity pool, these hotels offer sophisticated suites and beach pods.
Do you want to get more amenities and space while enjoying your Guimaras trip? Airbnb can be a great alternative. Many tourists choose to stay in Airbnbs specially if they plan to stay a little longer on the island. Although the majority of these Airbnb rentals in Guimaras Island are located in less accessible places, these rentals come with all the essential facilities you need.
As compared to hotel accommodations for an extended stay, Airbnb frequently offers a better value for your money. You will surely love to take advantage of the weekly and monthly discounts it offers to its guests.
If you think that one day is enough to explore Guimaras Island, Western Visayas, think again. A visit to this island province can never be complete without tasting the world’s sweetest mangoes and getting a sight of its giant windmills. Go ahead and hop around its surrounding islets, and watch its magnificent sunset.
Guimaras Island has around 50,000 mango trees and is well-known for its delicious mangoes. The best time to visit the island and participate in the Mango Festival is from February to May. Also, San Lorenzo Wind Farm in Guimaras is a must-visit, where you can take instagrammable poses at the foot of the giant windmills
Today (Day 13), island-hopping in the islets of Guimaras was on our travel itinerary. We rented a private banca from the Raymen Beach Resort and left early together with the boat’s crew. We began our tour at the SouthEast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) in the Southwest part of Guimaras Island, Western Visayas. We were so amazed to see how the staff in this marine reserve protect and sustain the population of fish and turtles in the area. It was truly an interesting sight.
The local guide was really friendly. We could feel the passion he had for marine life. From there, we went on to Ave Maria Islet, Turtle Island, Lamurawan Island, Alubihod Beach, and the Pirate Cave by a rented banka or boat.
It was an unforgettable island-hopping trip in Guimaras where we snorkeled different spots. The first island we visited was Ave Maria Islet in Brgy. Lawi, Jordan Guimaras. It had coral reefs just below the surface. Everything was incredible until I encountered a Walo-Walo (sea snake).
Next, we came to visit Turtle Island, an inhabited island in Brgy. Lawi, Guimaras, Western Visayas. It was a green turtle sanctuary in the past. Then, we moved on to Lamurawan Island , a small but wonderful beach in Nueva Valencia, Guimaras. It is popular not just because of its grotto of the Virgin Mary, but also for its beautiful view of the 7 surrounding islands.
Want to plunge into pristine beaches and crystal waters? Here are the top spots for island-hopping in the Philippines. Discover how vast, beautiful, and unique this country is.
The next stop was Natago Beach , a privately-owned resort in Brgy. Sinapsapan, Jordan (the capital city of Guimaras). It has a small viewpoint and a sandbank, where we snorkeled at a small coral reef near the shore. The water was deeper than Ave Maria Islet, but there were not as many fish as the other island. Nonetheless, we kept going because of its line of beautiful corals . We encountered another Walo- Walo , which was a lot bigger than the one we saw earlier. From a safe distance, we watched the beautiful snake gather food around the coral. It was such a noteworthy experience chatting with the skillful boat crew and friendly locals.
The last stop was Isla Naburot Resort in Brgy. Sinap-sapan, off the western shore of Guimaras Island, Western Visayas. This tiny islet’s white beach forms a natural cove as it is being tucked between the mainland and the surrounding island. You can stroll around its incredible line of coral reefs during low tide.
We decided to return to Raymen Beach Resort. It was almost dinner time when we arrived at our accommodation. So we ordered something from the different foods listed on the menu.
Right after having a delectable dinner, we left to experience the sunset at an ecological mangrove park, around the corner from the hotel. Just in time for the sunset, we found the perfect spot- and it was at the base for cliff jumping. That time of the day, the spots were closed for cliff jumping; so, we had plenty of time to enjoy the stunning sunset toward the horizon.
Aside from finding abundant marine life and species in the most popular dive spots in the Philippines, there is always something waiting to be discovered in this beautiful archipelago.
To capture the stunning sunrise, Zak got up at 4.30 a.m. to return to the same hill in Raymen Beach Resort where we had gone for sunset watching two nights earlier. Unfortunately, his great effort was not rewarded with a sight of a golden sunrise because it was quite a cloudy morning.
Although the weather in the Philippines is generally hot and humid throughout the year, it can change at any time.
As he returned to the accommodation, we went off to explore several spots on the island of Guimaras with our rented XRM bikes . We had to bargain with the bikes’ owner just to get a fair rental price for these bikes. Traveling around by motorbike in the Philippines is a flexible way to tour around the country.
Our first stop was Guisi Lighthouse , situated in Guisi Point, Brgy. Dolores, Nueva Valencia in Guimaras, Western Visayas. Built by the Spanish in 1857, it is the second oldest lighthouse in the Philippines . All that remains is a rusty steel construct made of imported materials from Europe. Despite that, it is a must-see spot for incredibly good pictures. All you need is a bit of courage as you climb up the lighthouse.
You want to travel to more known tourist destinations in the Philippines but not sure where to go? Check out the most popular destinations in the Philippines and get an idea of what to expect from each Philippine travel destination.
If planning a trip to Guimaras Island, check out the Google My Maps below to experience activities and adventures, and get to know different routes and directions, accommodations to stay, attractions to visit, and restaurants to dine in. Visit the Guimaras Island travel Google My Map to learn more about our Philippines Travel routes and adventures.
We stopped at a mango stall in the little village of San Miguel in Jordan, Guimaras Western Visayas and picked up all kinds of mango snacks. We bought fresh mangoes, jams, cookies, and juice. This is what makes the island of Guimaras a mango capital of the Philippines. A name well-deserved indeed!
We just can’t get enough of delicious mangoes, so we went to the National Mango Research Center to see them grow on trees. Situated in San Miguel in Jordan, Guimaras Western Visayas, this 8-hectare center is planted with mango trees which are both used for production and research. Unluckily, there was nobody there to tour us around.
We got back on our bikes to see more of the island. Guimaras, for the most part, is not yet developed for large tourism. It is a stunning destination to visit, on top of being always windy due to the many windmills everywhere. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the luxury of time during our visit to Guimaras, and needed to leave for Iloilo on the opposite island of Panay, Central Visayas.
To get back to Iloilo Panay Island, we take a passenger ferry from the Jordan Port in Guimaras. It only takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes to reach Iloilo Port in Fort San Pedro Drive, and you will only need to pay PHP 15 to PHP 22 or less than USD 1 for the fare.
Check out the Google Maps below, to have an overview of the entire 51 days of Philippines travel adventure including exciting attractions and activities we did, destinations we explored, and travel directions in the Philippines.
Adventures and fun times are unlimited when you visit the Philippines. Our encounters with the country’s attractive scenery and people were unforgettable. Here is a complete overview of the Philippines Travel Diary experience for our 51 Days trip to the different destinations in the Philippines in 2017:
Zak and Dani created the Philippines Travel Guide while on 51 days Philippines travel adventure in 2017. Focused on the idea to explore travel routes and documenting location information by using the Google Maps application in the Philippines.
We created a detailed Philippines travel diary each day about our Philippines eco-adventure traveling experiences, including the production of pictures and videos of our trip through the Philippine archipelago.
Philippines Travel Guide is passionate about helping other self-minded adventure travel lovers, to make the best out of the trip to the Philippines by providing real information that passionate travelers and enthusiasts need to know about the archipelago.
Philippines Travel Guide is an ongoing process to work out public shared and detailed Google MyMaps of the entire Philippines to provide easy navigation for travelers.
This website also contains a collection of interesting authentic insights and travel tips and tricks and destinations in the Philippines.
Our trip to Guimaras made us realize that the island province is more than just a destination known for its sweet mangoes and the Windmills Farm. It is a home to pleasant people, magical beaches, and stunning islets surrounding the main island.
While Guimaras is one of the top-picked destinations in the country that both local and foreign tourists love to explore, it has preserved its natural beauty over the years.
Looking forward to visiting this island someday? We assure you that it will be worth your time.
Learn more about the passport & visa guidelines when coming to the Philippines before booking your flight.
For the next 3 days in the Philippine adventure diary (Day 15-17), we explored the beauty of Gigantes Island.
Philippines Travel Guide seeks to share the vibe of an authentic experience through our idea of adventure travel for explorers and memory seekers in the Philippines.
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