Guimaras Island - Itinerary Part 2

Guimaras mainland is close to Iloilo harbor and accessible in 15 minutes by motorboat or ferryboat that service the island from six in the morning to six in the evening daily. Motorboats are to the different islets are available on special arrangement. Travel time is 5 minutes to 5 hours depending on how far one wish to wander around. Upon arrival at Jordan Wharf, travelers are obliged to report at Guimaras Tourism Office located at waiting shed. Tourism guide asked for our destination, purpose and length of our stay. The tourism officer then arranged our transportation to our destination. There is a set rate for vehicle rentals regulated by the Guimaras Provincial Government. No need to worry about over-priced rates. There are three transport options to choose from depending on your group size and preference; rates for tricycles (4 to 5 people), multicabs (8 to 10 people), shuttle van / L300 (10 to 14 people) range from P250 to P500 per vehicle.

            Taking the passenger jeepney is the cheapest option (50php/head) especially for independent travelers. The jeepney loading/unloading station is located near the exit of Jordan Wharf (past the waiting shed). However, we settled for tricycle for privacy and possible stop over – we able to buy Guimaras’ pride – ripe mangoes at Jordan Public Market (priced at 70php/kg), felt honoraries at their capitol in San Miguel and went heaven at Trappist Monastery satisfying our sweet tooth with arrays of goodies prepared by in-house monks.

 Raymen Beach Resort located in Alubihod beach, one of the more popular resorts in Guimaras. Raymen Beach Resort is preferred choice by locals and tourist looking for relaxing, convenient and affordable break from the city. Alubihod Beach is a short white sand stretch surrounded by the inviting blue waters and pristine offshore islets of Nueva Valencia, Guimaras, which is much better than the grey beaches in Iloilo mainland and more convenient than the 5-hour travel to Boracay Island. Accommodation at Raymen Beach Resort varies from native to concrete in air-conditioned or natural breeze.

            We arrived quarter past nine and unfortunately they could not accommodate us – fully booked on weekdays of January, a sign of popular demand. What was not attractive about Raymen was staff’s incompetence: (1) they could not assure us of soonest possible time they could accommodate us (2) they offered the stairs as our waiting area (3) Receptionists were timid we barely saw them smile. By 1300H left no choice, we checked-in and secured an air-conditioned room with queen size bed, hot and cold shower for the price of 1,350php/night. In addition, visitors were confined at Raymen’s own concessionaire with food torture to ones palette.

            Frustrations on food and personnel incompetence failed spoiling the fun as Island hopping begun. Popular destinations for the island hopping tours in Alubihod include Ave Maria Beach, Lawi Marine Turtle Rescue Center, Buho Ramirez Cave, and Baras Beach Resort. Tourists wanting to venture out further could also visit the SEAFDEC Research Center, Isla Pulang Pasayan (Tiniguiban Island), Guisi Beach and Lighthouse. The booking station for the island hopping tours is located at a make shift kiosk along Alubihod Beach. Unless you are scrimped on time, there is no need to make prior reservations since there are many pumpboats (motorized outrigger) available and the boatmen charge a fixed rate of 400php/hour and additional 100 php/hour extension.

Almost sunset and half-baked, we decided to doze off anticipating a night to remember. Apart from my resolution, purpose of this vacation is to rekindle old flame with my partner Sam. I imagine myself with him on this unfamiliar environment figuring out how to survive and discover wonders offered by this island in most romantic ways. Guimaras is not Paris but it was amazing how this island been a romantic setting. No sparkling lights artistically draped over cities but hundreds of fireflies flutters creating a dreamy sequence at night. One will miss the absence of éclairs, tarts, and pastry cakes with fragrant Guimaras mangoes that had been a sweet delight to share with my partner and finally, the Guisi Lighthouse had transformed into Eiffel tower – erect with confidence casting light afar had left our sight fixated.

For 3,000php (1,500php/head) I had an amazing experience, successfully set foot on fulfilling my resolution and rekindled a once lost love; Guimaras Island had made me realized not to stop from experiencing, for experience you learn to grow, from growing you learn to give and from giving you let other people experience life.

Guimaras Island - Itinerary Part 1

Prior to shelving 2011 to memory lane, I strongly made resolution to travel more and be bolder enough to experience life. Dinagyang Festival came first in consideration, thus, promptly made me book flight to Iloilo City. However, such festivities needs more time allotment enable to perfectly execute and squeeze oneself in such celebration. In other words, airlines were all yet but fully booked for the whole week of Dinagyang. My persistence made me secure seat flight still at Iloilo City, but this time with complete revision of itineraries and focused researching about this little exotic island of Guimaras.

Guimaras Island province is blessed with picturesque beaches, falls, springs and offshore islets, which attract both foreign and domestic visitors. The province composed of five municipalities namely: Beunavista, Jordan, Nueva Valencia, Sibunag and San Lazaro spread in an area approximately 60,457 hectares. Each of the five municipalities has its own share of points of interest all guaranteed to make visitor’s trip memorable.

            After days of discussion, my partner and I decided to stay at Raymen Beach Resort at Poblacion, Nueva Valencia. Like other municipalities in Guimaras, Nueva Valencia delights an innumerable nature’s blessings. Not only are there a myriad for swimming, excursion, picnic, boating sites but some of the places are outstanding destinations. Water is calm at Alubihod bay. White sand beach, multi-colored corals, fish and other marine life are found in Igang and Tando Bays and Taklong Islets.

            Day 1 - Before sunrise, we are on foot at Iloilo City airport with much admiration of its cleanliness, facilities and maintenance. As advised, we looked for terminal of vans going to Iloilo city, the ride cost 50 php each. Iloilo housed five SM establishments and we dropped off at the first SM mall we saw, this mistake had turned as blessing in disguised leading us to Jaro Cathedral. It was Sunday morning and the Cathedral literally packed with devotees of Our Lady of Candelaria, but these not stopped us to scrutinize its history, architecture, photograph its picturesque value and said our own prayer of safety for this trip. It is an ordinary Sunday morning and yet we spotted a dozen of men in uniforms and we approached one to ask for assistance going to Guimaras. The conversation we had with the police officers, to our cab driver who by then turned into impromptu tourist guide and boatmen who decided to sail off even with just the two of us as passengers led us to conclusion that Ilonggos are indeed the sweetest.