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Guimaras is a small island province in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. It is in the strait between two larger islands, Panay and Negros.

Understand

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location

Guimaras is south of Panay and north of Negros. It is close to Iloilo City and was once administered as part of Iloilo Province but is now treated as a separate province. It is one of the smaller provinces, with a land area just over 600 km2 (233 mi2) and population around 175,000 as of the 2015 census.

The island is well known for its sweet mangoes, which are one of the main income sources for most families.

The locals speak the Hiligaynon (Ilongo) language, same as in Iloilo and Bacolod.

Towns

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  • 1 Jordan Jordan, Guimaras on WikipediaPronounced as Hor-dan, it is the provincial capital of Guimaras.
  • 2 Isla Naburot (Naburot Island)

Get in

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By boat

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From Panay Island. Take a 15-minute boat ride from Iloilo City to Jordan, through the Guimaras Strait. As of 2024, most of the Guimaras-bound passenger ferries leave Iloilo from the terminal near CityMall Parola, at the easternmost tip of Iloilo City Proper (at the mouth of Iloilo River); the service is frequent, and is almost round the clock. There are also a few ro-ro ferries (transporting vehicles along with foot passengers) every day, sailing from the RoRo port in LaPaz, on the opposite (left) bank of Iloilo River. (Older guidebooks may send you to Ortiz Wharf in downtown Iloilo, but as of 2024 there are no ferries there, and the wharf itself has been occupied by squatters).

On the Guimaras side, the passenger ferries arrive to one of the two ports, Jordan or Buenavista. The ro-ro vehicle ferries have a separate port, also in Jordan. For schedules and ferries check F.F. Cruz Shipping or Navimar Shipping. Their web sites tend to be somewhat stale though, so at least the schedule has a clearly stated effective date, it may be wise to check the info directly with the company.

The boat trip used to be dangerous, as squalls (pugada or subasko in Hiligaynon) are known to form over the strait during rainy season, and on August 2019, over 30 died after three pump boats capsized under strong winds caused by a severe squall. As of 2024, boats are bigger and more reliable. For many years, plans have existed to replace the boat service with a road bridge across the strait, but every year the planned construction start date is moved further into the future; as of early, no actual construction work seems to take place yet.

From Negros Island. As of 2024, ferries may also run from Negros Island (the port of Pulupundan) to Guimaras. This service started and stopped several times over the last few years; contact Navimar Shipping for the current schedule.

Get around

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Unlike the larger islands of Panay and Negros, Guimaras does not have a network of Ceres bus routes. Some jeepneys do operate on the roads between the island's major towns, but at much lower frequencies than, say, in the Iloilo metro area. Most of the public transportation in Guimaras, therefore, is by tricycle.

Upon arriving in Jordan port, proceed to the Tourism Center just a few meters from the drop-off point. From there, you can ask for assistance about budget accommodations and how to get around. There are also several mini-van and tricycle drivers who offer tour rides.

There are several driver-guides who can be contacted prior to arriving in Guimaras:

See

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  • 1 Balaan Bukid Shrine (Catholic church), Balaang Bukid Shrine Trail, Jordan. 8AM-5PM. Hike to the 14 stations of the cross. Take a ferry bound for Jordan Wharf in Ortiz Port (Iloilo City). From Jordan Wharf, take a tricycle ride to the foot of Balaan Bukid. It's a 30-45 min hike to the top. During the Holy Week (Easter), there are special trips that transport visitors directly to the foot of Balaan Bukid. Free. (updated Mar 2017)
  • 2 Guisi Light House, Nueva Valencia. 8AM-8PM. From Guisi Beach, follow a trail 15 minutes uphill to the Guisi Lighthouse for a great view of the beach. At the top of the hill are the ruins of a Spanish-colonial outpost and the rotting remains of the metal lighthouse structure. Free. (updated Mar 2017)
  • 3 Trappist Monastery, Guimaras Circumferrential Road (On the road between San Miguel and Nueva Valencia.), ☏ +63 918 421 2852. An ornate cross-shaped church, with sections both for the monks (in the middle) and lay visitors (on the sides). A gift shop sells souvenirs and sweets. Free. (updated Mar 2017)
  • 4 Oro Verde Mango Plantations (Tree farm), Aguilar, Buenavista, ☏ +63335802228. 9AM-4PM. (updated Mar 2017)
  • 5 Guimaras Provincial Capitol (Local government office), Guimaras Circumferential Road, ☏ +63 332371111. 8AM-5PM. Free. (updated Aug 2023)
  • 6 Roca Encantada, San Miguel. A summer house built on top of a huge rock, possessing a magnificent architectural design, overlooking the Legendary Seven Isles or Siete Picados and fascinating beautiful seascape of the northern part of Guimaras Strait. It was built as a pledge of the great Lopez matriarch, Doña Precentacion Hofeliña Lopez in 1910. It was declared by the National Historical Institute as a Heritage House or one of the National Historical Landmarks on August 14, 2002. (updated Aug 2023)
  • 7 Holy Family Hills, San Lorenzo, Tamborong. Free. (updated Aug 2023)
  • 8 National Mango Research and Development Center, Guimaras Circumferential Road. 7AM-5PM. If you want to learn more about the sweetest mangoes of Guimaras, go here. The ideal month to visit it towards the end of summer where the mangoes are ripe and they offer picking activities. The arrangement of the mangoes are also very good for pictorials. (updated Aug 2023)

Do

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  • 1 Capitoguan Beach, Cabaling Coast (Take a tricycle from Jordan Wharf to Balcon Maravilla (150 pesos, or 200 if the driver takes you off-road a bit closer to the beach), and then walk about a mile on the forest trail.). Open 24 hours. Guimaras has a number of secluded beaches without road access, and Capitoguan is one of them. To get there,The beach operators charge a 50 pesos per person admission fee. If you have packed a tent with you, you pay 200 PHP fee to set up the tent overnight. There are also a few simple cabins which can be rented for 1500-2000 pesos per night. Amenities include a water pump, and a toilet which can be flushed with the water you bring from that pump. Several sari-sari stores sell packages snacks, drinks, and basic meals. One can also buy charcoal (uling) to cook on a charcoal grill. Actual swimming is somewhat challenging, since the beach is separated from the ocean by a small coral reef, which becomes exposed at low tide.
    When leaving the beach, it may sometimes be possible to hire a pump boat to take you to the nearby Singcalang Beach (about 1 km to the north), which is just outside of Barangay Balcon Melliza, where tricycles are available to take you back to Jordan or elsewhere.     50 PHP per person admisson fee. (updated Mar 2024)
  • 2 Cabaling Coast, Cabaling Coast, Espinosa. Open 24 hours. Free. (updated Aug 2023)
  • 3 Sunrise Valley Ocean View Resort, Basketball Court, Barangay, San Lorenzo, ☏ +63 928 749 1710. 7AM-7PM. It was a nice place with many great spots for photos. (updated Aug 2023)

Buy

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Beach in Guimaras

There is a souvenir shop located beside the Guimaras Provincial Capitol where you can buy local delicacies.

The best time to buy mangoes is during summer time (mid-April).

  • 1 Guimaras Trade and Information Center (GTIC) Pasalubong Center, Guimaras Circumferrencial Road. 7AM-5PM. (updated Aug 2023)
  • 2 Crossing Piña, Crossing, San Lorenzo, Guimaras. 8AM-7PM. In-store shopping. (updated Aug 2023)
  • 3 Mango Fruit Stalls Pasalubong, Guimaras Circumferential Road (Guimaras Circumferential Road). 8AM-9PM. Come and visit the mango fruit pasalubong delicacies. Let's taste the sweetest mango here in Guimaras Island! (updated Aug 2023)
  • 4 Iloilo Divisoria, Guimaras Circumferrencial Road. 9AM-7PM. Outlet mall. (updated Aug 2023)

Eat

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Guimaras' pride are is its mangoes which are known to be among the sweetest. Mangoes are grown in such massive numbers that they are made into dried mangoes, jam and surprisingly, mango ketchup.

Drink

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  • 1 D&Js Cafe And Resto Bar, Guimaras Circumferrencial Road. 11AM-11PM. (updated Aug 2023)
  • 2 The Mango Island Cafe, Guimaras Circumferrencial Road near BJMP Road. (updated Aug 2023)
  • 3 Sta. Hildegarda Cafe, Trappist Gift Shop, Guimaras Circumferential Road, ☏ +63 923 740 2751. 9AM-5PM. (updated Aug 2023)

Sleep

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Connect

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As of 2024, cell phone service is available in many parts of the island, but, generally, not in its farther south-western reaches, where there are no major towns.

Go next

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Nearly anyone leaving Guimaras will start with a ferry ride to Iloilo City, or (if the Negros-Guimaras service is operating) to Pulupundan (south of Bacolod). There are no other routes unless you have your own boat or charter one.

Iloilo has an airport, a seaport, and bus connections to anywhere on Panay. It serves as a regional transport hub; from there you can reach anywhere in the Philippines and there are a few international flights as well. One popular destination is the resort island of Boracay, just off Panay and reachable starting with a bus journey from Iloilo to Kalibo.

A short ferry ride from Iloilo gets you to Bacolod, capital of Negros Occidental; from there you can easily reach anywhere on Negros Island or continue to the expat-friendly Dumaguete or the main urban hub of the entire Visayas region, Metro Cebu.

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