GUIMARAS: Home of the sweetest mangoes and more!



Guimaras, home of the sweetest mangoes, is probably one of the most beautiful provinces I've visited in the Philippines. It can be reached in less than 20 minutes from the port in Iloilo. It is a small island but it has loads to offer than just sweet mangoes!

I arrived at Iloilo International Airport around half past 11PM from Manila (our flight was delayed but thanks AirAsia for the sweet deal! Got my RT tix for 2k booked a week before the flight). Getting to the town proper where the cheap rooms are were a bit difficult. Vans going to the city were no longer available when we landed but good thing I was able to share a taxi ride with 4 other passengers and paid only Php100. 

I stayed at Queen's Inn near SM Iloilo and paid only Php330.00. If you're looking for a cheap but clean room to stay, Queen's is one of the best options. It is walking distance from SM Iloilo and the room I stayed in was clean and huge. They have a fixed rate of Php250 for the first 3 hours and Php80 for every succeeding hour. 


I checked out at 4:30AM and had a nice bowl of La Paz Batchoy at Ted's. I stayed until 5:30AM and took a Jeepney ride going to Ortiz Warf where boats going to Guimaras are available. Fare going to Guimaras only took less than 20 minutes and one-way trip costs Php15.00

I was with Victor, a local from Iloilo I met who decided to join me to tour Guimaras. We were picked up by our tour guide at 7:00AM and started our amazing land tour. 
Land tour usually lasts 3-4 hours depending on the places you want to visit and the time you want to spend in each site. We first visited The Smallest Plaza, National Mango Research Institute, Provincial Capitol, Trappist Monastery and Guisi Lighthouse. There are other places you can visit like Museo, Pitstop, Pasalubong Center, Windmill Farm, Adventure Park, Balaan Bukid and more but Guisi Lighthouse was my favorite! There's also a beach nearby and there's no entrance fee. 

By lunch time, we went to Alubihod Beach and took an Island Hopping tour. Island hopping costs Php500 for the first hour and Php150 for every succeeding hour. You may ask your tour operator where the best spots are. The islets are very close to each other and time management was easy (trust me, we visited several islands and it only took us 3 hours).


We had sumptuous lunch at Raymen's beach resort. Buttered Alimango, Grilled Tuna Belly, Kinilaw, 2 big-ass sweet mangoes and 6 cups of rice (that's how hungry we were!) only cost us Php700.00

It may have been a short trip but it was definitely worth it! It wasn't peak season for the mangoes so they were a little expensive (Php300/kilo) but during mango season, it go as low as Php80~Php100/kilo. 

Here's how much we spent for our Guimaras Day Tour
Jeep from Iloilo - Ortiz Warf - Approx Php 10
Boat from Ortiz Warf to Iloilo - Php 15
Guimaras Land Tour - Php 1200 (600/head 2pax)
Island Hopping - Php 650 (325/head 2 pax)
Food Php - 700 (350/pax)
Fare going back to Iloilo - Php 15
Jeepney from Ortiz Warf to Iloilo City (town proper) - Approx Php 10
Total Expenses: Php 2650 for two pax or Php 1325/pax

Cost can be reduced if you will bring your own food or if you'll travel in group. 

For Guimaras Land Tour, you may contact Kuya Cherald at 0917 964 7934. He wasn't available when we went there and we were picked up by his brother. 
Thanks to Ronan for assisting me in getting a cheap room to stay and to Victor for coming with me to Guimaras!

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