One
of the best discoveries I uncovered in visiting Western Visayas is discovering
Guimaras as a perfect summer destination. Dotted with coves, beaches, nature
beauty and pockets of coastal sceneries, no wonder it is a perfect place to
worship the sun and enjoy pristine seascapes. Though, almost hidden and
underrated, Guimaras is suitably dubbed as “an island that fits your taste” for
it doesn’t just fit for a summer destination.
It fits to any season to be visited because of the best kept secret it
offers to its visitors. From various beaches, islands to explore, unique local
cuisines up to the selection of its prided mangoes, it has everything to fit
your taste.
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The highly prided mangoes of Guimaras - in a form of
keychains at Trappist Monastery! |
Guimaras
is the youngest and the smallest of the six provinces of Western Visayas. It
used to be a sub-province of Iloilo until 1992 when it became a full-fledged
independent province. Local folklore tells that the island exists after an
ill-fated lovers Princess Guima and slave Aras lost from their escape because
of unapproved love for each other. The island is formerly known as Himal-us
before it gained its present name after the folklore story.
Guimaras
can be reached from Iloilo via a 15 minute boat ferry from Iloilo’s Ortiz Wharf
that goes straight to the capital of the province – Jordan. After a day long
trip in Iloilo City, we arrived six in the evening in Jordan Wharf. Though, we
arrived in the province’s capitol of Jordan, our destination is to the
municipality of Nueva Valencia where we will stay for a night. In Jordan Wharf,
we have an option to either take a jeepney, multicab or tricycle to Nueva
Valencia. We took a tricycle after bargaining for a standard rate since it was
getting dark already and it is the fastest way to Nueva Valencia.
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| First glimpse of Guimaras island. |
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| Arriving at Jordan Wharf. |
As
the tricycle goes through Jordan then passes through Sibunag, I noticed the
province’ status as a progressing and developing province. Some of the roads
were not yet paved in concrete cements as some of the roads we have run through
were still in flattened soil. And at times we have to endure a rough ride on
the road because of unpaved roads. Streets and roads far from capitols and
establishment areas have no street lights to guide the way so imagine our dark
road ride to Nueva Valencia which is 1 hour away via a tricycle ride. Public
transportation is also scarce at night time. But dispelling all this, I know a
trip to this province is worthy because it offers beautiful islands, pristine
beaches and exciting adventures to explore.
Nueva
Valencia is a 4th class municipality of Guimaras province. It was the site of Guimaras oil spill in
August 2006 when a boat named MT Solar 1 sank a few kilometers from Nueva
Valencia. But today, the municipality has been recovered to the ecological
disaster after years of clean-up. Sitio Alibuhod is part of Baranggay
Poblacion, where Alubihod cove and beach are found. Travel time to reach these
places is 45 minutes but it ranges to 1 hour trip from Jordan Wharf during our
tricycle ride.
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| Accomodation at Raymen Beach Resort. |
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| Good morning, Guimaras! Its sunrise! |
One
of the fame resorts in Alubihod is
Raymen Beach Resort, where I and my travel mates stayed for overnight. The resort
sits at the center of Alubihod cove and beach making it accessible for beach
bumming and island hopping. It’s night already and we are tired from a whole
day activity in Iloilo, so I decided to reserve our energy for tomorrow’s
activities in the island by resting and sleeping early but before that we
indulge in
Pancit Molo for dinner.
It is a soup dish rather than a noodle (pancit) dish with spiced pork and
chicken meatballs daintily wrapped in thin dough, boiled in chicken–pork broth.
It is must-try cuisine when in Iloilo or Guimaras.
The
following day, I woke up at 6 in the morning to witness sunrise in Guimaras. So
I quickly went to the beach side of the resort. The sunrise did not fail to
marvel me! It was enough a beautiful sight to make my morning in Guimaras. But
along with this sight is also the wide and gorgeous
Alubihod Beach which the Raymen Beach Resort shares with the other
two resorts. It is one of the most scenic beach in the country that I have
been. On the right side of the beach is a lush vegetation of trees jutting with
sea rock karst to the sea. On the center, is the wide calm and cerulean water
of Guimaras. While on the left side of the beach is a scenic nipa huts sprouting
over the rock formations owned by the other resort in Alubihod beach. This is
also where one will see a group of islands on the sea that are just near the
beach and made the left view of Alubihod beach uniquely beautiful.
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| A panorama shot of Alubihod Beach. |
Alubihod
Beach has an ivory white sand beach. While not very fine sand beach, it is one
of the cleanest beaches I have seen. You’ll notice only few litters along the
shores of the beach. And if there is a litter, it is mostly natural litters of
dried leaves that fall from trees and old trunks of trees. This is where I
commend the Guimaraňons. They maintain the
cleanliness of their natural sights and pro-ecotourism.
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| Left side view of Alubihod Beach. |
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| Central view of Alubihod Beach. |
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| Right side view of Alubihod Beach. |
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| A closer look to the white sands of Alubihod... |
The
sunny morning signifies a good weather for island hopping. So after exploring
the beauty of Alubihod Beach, we proceeded in exploring the islands of Guimaras
arranged by the resort via a
banca
ride.
Our first stop is
Fairy Castle Island. The island is
actually a tall rock formation shape like a fantasy castle that we see various
medias thus it was given that name. Since it is a rock formation island, it is impossible
for a banca to dock there so we just pass by around it.
Another
island that has gorgeous meters high rock formation was
Ave Maria Island. But this island has a beautiful and wide beach to
dock with. So we spend sometime in the island for souvenir shots and explore
some of its rocky sides. It also has a scenic beach side where I saw the islands
near it that adds a scenic sight around the island. When I asked our guide why
the island was named after Ave Maria, he informs me that it is because there is
a rock formation in the island that resembles the grotto of Virgin Mary.
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Spot the Virgin Mary grotto shape at the rock
formations of Ave Maria Island? |
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| Ave Maria Island's pristine beach... |
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| The lone sea turtle in Turtle Island. |
Just
across Ave Maria Island is
Turtle Island
where a lone sea turtle is under the care of the island’s caretaker. The turtle
was showed to us for us to have a closer look at it. I never had a
close-encounter with a sea turtle until this one. It was a learning experience
about the importance of this sea creature in our ocean’s ecosystem. The island
is a sea turtle sanctuary as according to other travel blogs, once the captive
turtles being taken care of are old enough, they released it to the open sea.
Turtle Island also has a wide and clean white sand beach.
Baras Cave was our next stop where our banca was able to dock
inside its cave. It was an amazing experience because it was my first time to
be inside a sea cave that is huge enough for a banca to dock inside. Though it
was dark inside Baras Cave, light still passes through its openings that let’s
you see numerous stalactite and stalagmite formations in its walls. Actually
visitors can step out of the banca and explore the rock formations inside the
cave like what I did. I only stayed in the cave for a minute since the waves
are getting strong inside Baras Cave. After exiting the cave, we just pass by
Baras Beach. Although it was tempting
to swim in the beach’s shores we did not dock in Baras Beach because it was
privately owned.
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| Entering Baras Cave. |
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| A stunning view inside Baras Cave. |
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| Baras Beach and its resort. |
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| SEAFDEC Igang Marine Station - a government run aquatic fishery center. |
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Be careful with this giant Lapu-lapu... they're big enough
to be carnivorous! |
The
last stop of our island hopping is a visit to
SEAFDEC or Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center- Igang
Marine Station. What visitors will see in SEAFDEC are big fish pens of breeded
fishes like giant grouper, milk fish, sea bass and red snapper. A fun activity
to do here is fish feeding which the kids will surely enjoy. I also enjoy
viewing the different fishes in the big pens since its my first time to see
giant lapu-lapu (grouper) and “mutant” 3 feet length bangus (milkfish). A visit
to SEAFDEC let us have an education and awareness about the importance of fish
breeding in our community. It was a satisfying way to end our exploration of
the islands of Guimaras.
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| Leaving Guimaras, enroute to Ortiz Wharf, Iloilo City. |
Guimaras
is not just all about resorts, beaches and island hopping. Guimaras is also ideal
for outdoor and adventure activities which one will find in Camp Alfredo and Guimaras Adventure Park. If you’re not contented with Alibuhod
Beach, you can further explore Guisi
Beach and had a side trip to another Guimaras landmark, the 18th
century Guisi Lighthouse. If you
prefer festivals, be sure to visit the island during Manggahan Festival which is celebrated along its anniversary as an
independent province every summer of April or May.
Truly
Guimaras is a perfect destination for summer. But it is not just finding a
perfect summer destination when I was in Guimaras but finding it as an “island
that fits your taste.” I discovered exciting island adventures, pockets of
gorgeous seascapes, unspoiled beaches, rich marine life and beautiful mornings
– all perfect for anyone that is looking for an island that suits any taste. And
not just sun worshipping! I had great island adventures despite of worry of
getting a rainy weather since I spend this trip during the wet season. But, whether
it is summer or rainy season of July, whenever a great sunrise greets your
mornings, the sun will always kiss your skin in Guimaras.
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*How to reach Guimaras
In Iloilo's Ortiz Wharf, ride a 15 minute ferry boat to Jordan Wharf. Jordan is the capital of the island province of Guimaras.
*How to reach Nueva Valencia, Guimaras
You have the option to take a jeepney or tricycle. Jeepney flies on certain times only. Since we arrive in Jordan at 6pm so we took a private transportation via tricycle. Travel time is 1 hour from Jordan to Sitio Alubihod of Nueva Valencia.
*Accomodation, island hopping and tour in Guimaras
Raymen's Beach Resort
Alubihod, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras
They also provide island hopping tour of Guimaras islands at PHP500 per hour with their private boat. SEAFDEC is the only stopover with an entrance fee.
Contact no: Not available.
Website: Raymen Beach Resort
Sun-kissed skin in Guimaras is a part of my Guimaras
blog series of the same title where I share my travel experiences in
exploring the province of Guimaras last July
9-10, 2012. Some information are credited to
Exlopre Iloilo - one of my guide and information source for this Guimaras trip.
