The province that occupies a large portion of Panay Island in Western Visayas Region. I bet if someone would mention Iloilo, the first thing that’s gonna come up on everyone’s mind will be Gigantes Islands (Islas de Gigantes or Land of the Giants). You read it right, GIANTS. It’s because of a local legend about those coffins found in Bakwitan Cave with gigantic set of human bones. Maybe legends were true but we’ll never know.
Gigantes Islands became a tourist destination because of its most photographed site, which is the Cabugao Gamay island. One of the five islands included on the island hopping.
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Aside from Gigantes Islands, the next destination would be Guimaras Island. While recently the islands in Concepcion has been gaining popularity which has been included on our itinerary and in this travel guide.
Read: Mindoro: Puerto Galera, Beaches and Waterfalls | Travel Guide
How to get there
- Fly to Iloilo or Roxas (Travel Time: 1hr 30 mins | Fare: Php1,000+)
There are a lot of entry points to visit the province of Iloilo and I’m recommending flying to Iloilo International Airport, if Iloilo City and Guimaras Island are at the top of your list. But if you want to head straight to Isla de Gigantes then the nearest airport would be Roxas City Airport. Because it would take you 3-4 hours of bus ride if you’ll land in Iloilo City than the 1.5 hours travel coming from Roxas City.
I have written separate guides/directions for each destination, check them out below.
Places to Visit
- Gigantes Islands are green.
- Concepcion’s Islands are pink.
- Guimaras Island are yellow.
- Hotel and accommodations are purple.
- City Tour are orange.
Islas de Gigantes
How to get there:
- From Roxas City Airport, hire a tricycle going to Ceres Terminal then take the bus going to Bancal Port. (Travel Time: 1hr | Fare: Php110+)
- Take a boat at Bancal Port going to Gigantes Norte. (Travel Time: 1hr | Fare: Php110+ Environmental Fee: Php50+)
For backpackers, there’s a public boat going to Gigantes Norte, where resorts are usually located. If you’re in a group, you may charter a boat starting at Php2,000 for 4 pax which includes the island hopping. You may contact Willie A Bacas – 0948 677 6946.
Read: Davao City, Samal Island and Talicud Island | Travel Guide
Sea Shells to try:
Gigantes Island is abundant with scallops and you could see empty shells almost everywhere around the island. It can be purchase Php1 per piece or Php100+ per basket. You may request the kind of dish you want the scallops to be cooked, we had ours steamed, baked, sweet and sour and grilled.
Concepcion
How to get there:
- From Gigantes Norte, we took the public boat going to Estancia Port. (Travel time: 1hour | Fare: Php100)
- Upon arrival, take a tricycle going to the bus terminal. (Travel Time: 15mins | Fare: Php10)
- Take a van or bus going to Iloilo City and tell the driver to drop you off at Sara bus terminal. (Travel time: 40 mins | Fare: Php100)
- Then take a jeep going to Concepcion’s Tourism Office (near the basketball court or public market). (Travel time: 20 mins | Fare: Php15)
- The tourism officer will assist you for the boat rental and accommodation, if you don’t have a contact. The boat will take you to your preferred island to spend the night and would return the next morning for the island hopping. Rate is at Php 4,000 (four islands, depending on which are available).
For your accommodation, you may choose between Sand Bar Island Resort, Villa Manuela both in Bulubadiangan Island or Badiango Island Resort. Luckily for us, we met two (2) travelers at the Tourism Office whom we shared the boat rent and accommodation at Villa Manuela for Php 1,600. In addition, there are no restaurants in the island, you may buy ingredients at the public market near the tourism office. You may cook your own food or have the resort cook them for you with a fee.
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Guimaras Island
How to get there:
- From Iloilo City, take a jeep that would pass to Ortiz wharf. Buy a ticket for Php14 for the boat ride going to Jordan Wharf which will only take 15 minutes.
- Upon arrival, proceed to Tourism office for registration, They would also help you arrange a land tour around Guimaras via tricycle, we had ours at Php1,500. It’s better to start your land tour as early as 7AM so you would be finished by 3PM and still have time to relax at Alubijod Beach where most resorts are in. You may contact Kuya Bugoy – 0920 261 7015.
Guimaras Land Tour
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There are lots of hotels and resorts around Guimaras Island but it’s better to stay in Nueva Valencia, if you’re planning to do the island hopping for the next day. We booked ours at Raymen Beach Resort for Php1,650/night. The rate for their island hopping starts at Php500 for one (1) hour and additional Php150 for the next succeeding hour. Ours only took two (2) hours to see the islands near Alubijod Beach. Some of the sites has entrance fees so bring extra money while on tour.
Guimaras Island Hopping
Read: Bohol: Island Hopping, Chasing Waterfalls + Cave Pools | Travel Guide
City Tour
My friend and I didn’t do much of the city tour, since we were already tired from all the travelling for the past four days. Aside from the Molo Church and The Mansion, the farthest we’ve been to was Garin Farm in San Joaquin which is an-hour-bus-ride from Iloilo City. I recommend visiting Garin Farm in the afternoon around 3 or 4pm, since it could be exhausting to take the 200+ steps if you go there in the morning under the scorching sun.
Where to Stay
Se San Beach Resort
Isla Gigantes, Carles, Iloilo
0927 435 4378
Raymen Beach Resort
Sitio Alubihod, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras Island
Villa Manuela Resort
Sand Bar Island Beach, Bolobadiangan Concepcion, Iloilo
0910 578 8323 / 0995 667 1872
Urban Inn
Luna Street cor. Arroyo Magdalo St. (In Front of St Clements Parish), Lapaz, La Paz, Iloilo
(033) 323 4277
Guimaras Circumferential Road Nueva Valencia, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras Island
0919 950 4174
Badiango Island Resort
Sitio Danao-danao, Brgy. Polopiña, Concepcion, Iloilo
0920 901 3452
Where to Eat
- The Pitstop Restaurant’s famous Mango Pizza
Sample Itinerary
This was our itinerary for our 6D/5N trip in Iloilo, we only went to places I want to see and there might be sites that are not in your list. If you haven’t got any plans your incoming Iloilo trip, you may use this as guide and tweak to what suit your budget and time.
Time |
Activity |
|
| Arrival in Iloilo City | ||
| 20:00 | Check in | |
| 20:40 | ETD from Manila | |
| 22:00 | ETA in Iloilo | |
| 22:30 | Sleep | |
| Day 1 | Carles (Gigantes Island) | |
| 4:00 | Wake Up | |
| 5:00 | ETD from Tagbak Terminal to Bancal Port | |
| 8:30 | ETA in Bancal Port / Tourism Office | |
| 10:00 | ETD to Gigantes Island | |
| 11:00 | ETA in Gigantes Norte / Check in at Se San Resort | |
| 12:00 | Lunch | |
| 13:00 – 16:00 | Island Hopping
Cabugao Gamay |
|
| 16:30 | Back to Sesan Resort / Freshen Up | |
| 17:00 | Land Tour thru Habla-habal
Bakwitan Cave |
|
| 19:30 | Dinner | |
| 21:00 | Sleep | |
| Day 2 | Concepcion | |
| 6:30 | Wake Up / Breakfast | |
| 8:00 | ETD to Estancia Port | |
| 10:00 | ETA in Estancia Port then hire a trike to Bus Terminal | |
| 10:45 | At the terminal, take a van or bus going to Sara | |
| 11:30 | Ride a jeep going to Concepcion Tourism Office | |
| 12:00 | Log at the Concepcion Tourism and pay environmental fee – Php 60 | |
| 12:15 | Buy food at the market / Lunch | |
| 13:00 | ETA and Check in Bulubadiangan Island (Sand Bar Island Beach Resort) – Php 25 – entrance | |
| 13:30 – 17:30 | Beach Bumming / Swimming / Siesta | |
| 19:30 | Dinner / Socials | |
| 21:00 | Sleep | |
| Day 3 | Island Hopping in Concepcion & Back to Iloilo City | |
| 6:00 | Wake Up / Photo Ops / Swimming | |
| 7:00 | Breakfast / Prep | |
| 8:00 | Check Out / Start of Island Hopping | |
| 8:00 – 12:00 | Island Hopping
Badiango Island Resort / Lover’s Lane – Php 50 – entrance |
|
| 12:30 | ETA in Concepcion Tourist Lounge | |
| 14:00 | Take a bus bound for Iloilo City | |
| 16:00 | ETA in Iloilo City | |
| 17:00 – 19:00 | Free Time | |
| 19:30 | Dinner | |
| 21:00 | Sleep | |
| Day 4 | Guimaras Island & Land Tour | |
| 6:00 | Wake Up / Prep / Breakfast | |
| 7:30 | ETD from Ortiz Wharf | |
| 8:45 | ETA in Jordan Wharf | |
| 9:00 – 15:00 | Land Tour
Smallest Plaza |
|
| 11:45 | Lunch at the Pitstop Restaurant’s famous Mango Pizza | |
| 15:30 | Check in at Raymen Beach Resort | |
| 16:00 | Swimming / Beach Bumming | |
| 19:00 | Dinner / Socials | |
| 21:00 | Sleep | |
| Day 5 | Guimaras Island & Island Hopping | |
| 6:00 | Wake Up / Prep | |
| 7:00 | Breakfast | |
| 8:00 – 10:00 | Island Hopping
Nagtago Beach – Php 100 – entrance |
|
| 10:00 | ETA in Raymen’s Beach Resort | |
| 11:00 | Swimmig & Prep | |
| 12:00 | Check Out | |
| 13:30 | ETD to Pasalubong Center | |
| 13:45 | ETA in Jordan Wharf to Ortiz Wharf | |
| 15:30 | Try a La Paz Batchoy | |
| 16:00-20:00 | Free Time | |
| 21:00 | Sleep | |
| Day 6 | City Tour and Off to Manila | |
| 7:00 | Wake Up / Breakfast | |
| 8:00 | Ride a jeep bound for San Joaquin | |
| 9:40 | ETA in San Joaquin, hire trike to Garin Farm | |
| 9:45 | ETA in Garin Farm | |
| 10:00 – 10:45 | Explore Garin Farm – Php 150 – entrance | |
| 11:00 | Brunch | |
| 11:30 | ETD to Iloilo City | |
| 13:30 | ETA in Iloilo City | |
| 13:30 – 14:30 | Molo Church The Molo Mansion |
|
| 14:45 | Snack at the Molo Mansion Cafe | |
| 15:00 – 16:30 | Rest / Freshen Up / Pack Up | |
| 17:30 | ETA at Iloilo Airport | |
| 18:00 | Check in / Dinner | |
| 19:35 | ETD to Manila | |
| 20:45 | ETA in Manila |
Sample Budget
Below is the summary of our expenses for our Iloilo trip, souvenirs and other personal expenses are not included. We saved a lot on food and accommodation when we were in Iloilo City since my friend’s cousins live there. Thank you Ate Day and Kuya Mike!
| Summary of Expenses | Amount | Total |
| Airfare | 1,824.56 | |
| Vien’s | 641.24 | |
| Chai’s | 1,183.32 | |
| Accommodation | 3,400.00 | |
| Fan room at Se San Resort | 1,000.00 | |
| Kubo at Manuela’s in Bulubadiangan | 750.00 | |
| Standard Room at Raymen Beach Resort | 1,650.00 | |
| Transportation | 2,060.00 | |
| Van to Carles Port | 440.00 | |
| Passenger Boat to Isla Gigantes | 320.00 | |
| Boat to Estancia Port | 200.00 | |
| Tricycle to Estancia Terminal | 20.00 | |
| Van to Sara | 200.00 | |
| Jeep to Concepcion | 30.00 | |
| Side Car to Concepcion Tourist Lounge | 20.00 | |
| Bus to Iloilo City | 234.00 | |
| Taxi to Ortiz Wharf | 100.00 | |
| Boat to Jordan Wharf | 28.00 | |
| Tricycle to Jordan Wharf | 150.00 | |
| Boat to Ortiz Wharf | 28.00 | |
| Jeep to Garin Farm | 100.00 | |
| Tricycle to Garin Farm | 50.00 | |
| Tricycle to Main Road | 20.00 | |
| Bus to Molo | 120.00 | |
| Food | 3,595.00 | |
| Isla Gigantes | 950.00 | |
| Concepcion | 695.00 | |
| Iloilo City | 730.00 | |
| Guimaras | 1,220.00 | |
| Island Hopping / Tour | 5,750.00 | |
| Island Hopping in Isla Gigantes | 800.00 | |
| Land Tour in Isla Gigantes | 400.00 | |
| Habal-habal in Isla Gigantes | 400.00 | |
| Island Hopping in Concepcion | 2,000.00 | |
| Land Tour in Guimaras | 1,500.00 | |
| Island Hopping in Guimaras | 650.00 | |
| Entrance Fee & Guide Fee | 1,110.00 | |
| Garin Farm | 300.00 | |
| Nagtago Beach | 100.00 | |
| Samarah’s Floating Cottage | 200.00 | |
| Badiago and Tour Guide | 100.00 | |
| Bulubadiangan Island | 50.00 | |
| Environmental in Isla Gigantes | 60.00 | |
| Environmental in Concepcion | 120.00 | |
| Other Entrance Fees | 180.00 | |
| Total (excluding airfare) | Php15,915 | |
I hope this travel guide helps you plan your Iloilo trip and excites the travel bug in you. Safe travels always!
