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March 02, 2012

Day 3: Day Trip in Guimaras

I have WOW (Wealth of Wonders) Philippines book, my mom gave it to me year 2005 and from that moment I wanted to visit Guimaras, according to the book, Guimaras is a dazzling island of sweet mangoes. I love mangoes, either unripe or ripe so it is really one of my goals to taste the sweetest mangoes in the world when I saw the PHP1 sale of Airphil Express last June, I didn’t think twice because it’s now my chance to visit Guimaras. It is the 1st P1 sale that I booked.

We were supposed to stay in La Puerta Al Paraizo, one of the new resorts in Guimaras but I changed my mind so we just had one sweet day in Guimaras. I had a difficult time in deciding whether to contact a driver/tour guide or I will just go to the tourism kiosk when we get there but to avoid the hassle, a week before our trip, I contacted one driver/tour guide.

Ortiz Wharf

At exactly 7AM we left One Lourdes Dormitel and took La Paz Jeep (P7.50) to Ortiz Wharf. Then I bought the ticket (P14). Travel time from Ortiz Wharf to Jordan Wharf is around 15 to 20 minutes. Our driver/tour guide was already there waiting for us, I just informed him of the name of our boat. The first stop is Raymen Beach Resort for our Island Hopping; boat rental is P400 for the first hour and P150 for succeeding hours.

Raymen Beach Resort

Exactly 8:30AM we started our island hopping; first stop is Turtle Island, P5 entrance fee. We only saw one turtle, napakawalan na daw yung iba and this turtle just went back home. 


Then we move to Baras Cave


Next is Natago Beach, (donations) this is where we stayed longer. Natago Beach is a private resort owned by German and Filipino but the sad part is they are both dead. German died year 2007 and Filipino died year 2009. They were supposed to stay here after their retirement but they never enjoy the place, Sayang!


Lucky for us, we’re the only people on the island but unfortunate for me because I can’t swim, red flag. So here I am, watching and taking pictures. Anyway, I’m happy when my two boys are happy because I know they love to swim.

Solong-solo
I was a little bit sad because we can’t go to SEAFDEC and Ave Maria Islets because it was low tide. Waahh! I didn’t know that I should also check the tide if only I know this information I would schedule our island hopping after our land tour. So we went back to Raymen Beach Resort, we paid P20 for the shower room.

I’m not expecting any fancy food and fast food in Guimaras so we had our lunch in carinderia.


Then we went to Guisi Lighthouse, expect for a rough road and bumpy ride. You can see the old lighthouse and the new one.

This is the Kenyama Guimaras Resort; you can see this resort before you reach Guisi Lighthouse.


After Guisi Lighthouse, we went to Trappist Monastery and bought some pasalubong.


Of course, we won’t leave Guimaras Island without tasting Guimaras mango, P75 per kilo.


Then we had a quick snack at Pitstop, don’t miss this mango pizza. I love the combination of cheese, cashew nuts, mango and bell pepper.

P308 pizza + drinks

We skipped Roca Encantada because we might miss the boat going back to Iloilo. There is one unfortunate incident during our tour, we had a flat tire and it took more or less 1 hour and 30 minutes before it was fixed. So naubos oras namin dun. But anyway, we still enjoy our day trip to Guimaras. 

I will not recommend our driver/tour guide because I learned after our trip that you can hire a tricycle for P1,000 to P1,200 (standard rate) and I paid PHP1500 excluding the tip. In fairness, he is nice naman but of course, if you want to save some money, go for a cheaper rate.

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22 comments:

  1. feedback sa taste ng mangoes? =)

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    Replies
    1. matamis sis. balik ka ulit, season na daw ng mango. =)

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  2. Love the photos sis! Inggit ako, I want to visit Guimaras too.. :(

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  3. The cave looks awesome and as for the pizza, it looks really yummy!

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  4. Gusto ko yung pagka arrange ng mangoes. The combination of green and yellow made the fruit stands look very attractive, plus parang ang kikinis and malalaki yung manga, parang premium mangoes mga to, they look yummy!

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  5. Ang cute nyong tatlo kasama anak nyo. :) Ako naman yung natagong dagat ang hindi ko napuntahan kasi 2 hours lang island hopping ko. Dumaan lang kami. Hehe. Madaya rin yung nakuha nyong driver ha.

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    Replies
    1. 2 hours lang din kami, expected ko 3-4 hours kaso hindi kami nakapunta sa iba. :(

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  6. We went swimming in Guimaras last 2007. It was so beautiful. =)

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    Replies
    1. i agree sis, guimaras island has its own beauty.

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  7. Pahamak ang flat tire na yan ah! Mega bakasyon kayo ah! Mukhang ang sarap nga nung pizza na may mango! I'll take note of that dahil gusto ko din mag bacolod and side trip sa guimaras.

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    Replies
    1. oo nga sis, hindi sulit yung rent ko at hindi ko napuntahan lahat. hehe!

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  8. Michi! This is very helpful!! I have 1 day to spend in Iloilo. Will get there 10am and then have to be in the airport by 7pm. Abot ba? Hehe. I just want to taste the mangoes and go around a bit. No need naman to see the whole island. How long is it from the airport to the port and then the island hopping how long also? :)

    By the way, can you help me out? Entered a photo contest and I just need the most number of likes to win! Click on this --> http://tinyurl.com/DestinationParadise and it will take you to the Facebook location of my pic. Make sure it's the one of me on a bridge. Thanks so much! :)

    Joei
    www.joeiandme.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. iloilo airport to ortiz wharf, 30-40minutes depending on traffic. yup sis, kaya naman. 3-4 hours yung island hopping, it depends on how long you want to stay in each spot. liked your sumilon entry.

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  9. Hi Michi,

    can we stay ba sa Natago Beach? kc sabi dito
    http://www.tripadvisor.in/Hotel_Review-g1602649-d1821558-Reviews-Natago_Beach_Resort-Jordan_Guimaras_Island_Visayas.html

    exclusive daw toh para sa family at friends ng owner ng Natago Beach :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi andrea! as far as i know, you can visit the place but overnight stay, mukhang hindi. may caretaker dun e, so if exclusive siya sana hindi kami inallow. nung dumating din kami may paalis na 2 boat. sabi lang sa king nung tourguide/boatmen na magbigay ng donations after namin magstay dun...hmmm. alam kaya ng owner yun or baka kilala ng boatmen yung caretaker.

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  10. Hello Ms.Michi, your shared experience about Guimaras is very helpful to me cause I have a scheduled tour in iloilo very soon.
    Just want to ask po kung gaano kalayo ang Ortiz wharf from Iloilo City or Airport?

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    Replies
    1. Hi, more or less 45 min. depending on traffic.

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    2. tnx sis for the reply.
      One more tip sis, since we plan for a day tour only in Guimaras, from Ortiz wharf to jordan wharf, how did you go to the different resorts/beaches especially what they call turtle island? did you hire another boat or you just go to the different places only by trycle you rented?

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    3. you have to rent a boat, as I mentioned on my post "First stop is Raymen Beach Resort for our Island Hopping; boat rental is P400 for the first hour and P150 for succeeding hours. "

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