Things to do in Guimaras

Very few travelers are still searching for things to do in Guimaras. This island in the Visayas, despite its easy access from Iloilo City, is well known among local tourism but little among foreign travelers. Its main draws? Tasting the sweetest mangoes in the Philippines and soaking up the charm of an island that is still lightly developed for tourism.

To be very clear with you, in Guimaras (which, by the way, is pronounced “guimarás”) you won’t find the best beaches in the Philippines or epic island hopping, but it is a quiet place to spend a couple of days and enjoy the local vibe, with plenty of karaoke sessions and a bit of Tanduay.

To help you decide whether to include this island in your Philippines travel itinerary, here we’re going to tell you everything you need: what to see and things to do in Guimaras, where to sleep, how to get there, and a few traveler-to-traveler tips.

Table of Contents

Where is Guimaras

Guimaras belongs to Western Visayas and sits in the Panay Gulf, between the islands of Panay and Negros. It’s just a 25-minute boat ride from Iloilo, the capital of Panay, crossing the so-called Iloilo Strait. Its capital is Jordan.

It doesn’t have an airport, although, as we explain below in How to get to Guimaras, it does have several ports that make it very accessible from Iloilo and Negros. The busiest one is Jordan. Here’s a map so you can get an idea of its location and points of arrival.

What to see and things to do in Guimaras

Let’s get down to it! Here we’ll tell you the main activities to do in Guimaras.

Alubihod Beach

Most travelers who come to the island do so eager for the beach, and the best-known of them all is Alubihod Beach. It is, without a doubt, a beautiful beach with light-colored sand, although not super fine like Boracay’s, but very pleasant. It’s flanked by curious rock formations, perfect for jumping into the water when the tide is low.

Swimming at Alubihod Beach is a must-do in Guimaras, which is why it’s also the most popular area to stay, and you’ll find several resorts on the shore. In our opinion, this has made it lose a bit of charm, as they’ve demarcated swimming areas with small buoys—which we’re not big fans of. Even so, it’s still a pleasant place for a dip, to grab a meal, and to watch Filipinos enjoying with their families. On weekends it will be rare not to be invited to try lechon or sing karaoke.

⛵ Island hopping tours in Guimaras also depart from Alubihod Beach. We talk about them further below.

Guisi Lighthouse and Guisi Beach

One of the things we enjoyed most doing in Guimaras was climbing up to the Guisi Lighthouse or “Punta Luzaran Lighthouse.” Built in the 18th century, locals boast of having the second-oldest lighthouse in the Philippines, after Cape Engaño on Palaui Island.

Although it isn’t in great condition, it’s a very photogenic spot, since the walls of what used to be the old watch post are preserved. If you’re up for it—and very careful—you can climb to the top, from where you’ll get cool views of the adjoining beach. The lighthouse is a little over 18 meters tall.

Getting here won’t cost you much effort. You’ll need to walk about 10 minutes from where you park the motorbike or where your transport drops you. They charge 10 pesos per person to enter.

You’ll also easily find the trail that takes you to Guisi Beach, our favorite beach to see in Guimaras. Much more rugged than Alubihod, we spent a good while here enjoying the water and discovering the small caves near the shore. Guisi Beach is a good spot for snorkeling, so if you have gear, don’t hesitate. If you can, stay until sunset, which rarely disappoints.

Island hopping in Guimaras

Did you think island hopping was only done in Palawan? As we explain in Island Hopping in the Philippines, this is a fairly common activity throughout the archipelago, and in Guimaras it’s well worth it—especially if you enjoy snorkeling.

Unlike what happens elsewhere, in Guimaras this excursion is paid by the hour. That is, they charge 900 pesos for the first 3 hours for the entire bangka (up to 10 people) and then 400 pesos per additional hour. This lets you choose the places you want to visit according to your preferences. In our opinion, unless you want a very beach-heavy day, 3 hours will be enough to get a good feel.

The most common stops on island-hopping tours in Guimaras are:

Ave Maria Island: pretty island with a sandbar, from which you can see Turtle Island (where you might spot a turtle or two if you’re lucky). Even so, what we liked most was the snorkeling, with plenty of clownfish and sea snakes. Entrance is 30 pesos per person. If the tide is low, you can walk to Turtle Island.
Natago Beach: this small beach flanked by two cliffs is a great place to rest, take a dip, and snorkel. Entrance is 50 pesos per person.
Fairy Castle: it’s a rock formation that looks like a castle. It’s only seen from the boat—stops are uncommon.
Baras Cave and Baras Beach: also called Buho Ramirez Cave, this cave is accessible if the sea allows and the tide is low. Inside there are lots of fruit bats. There is a resort of the same name here, with a nice beach. Entrance to Baras Beach is 30 pesos.
Lamurawan Island: rocky island with a viewpoint from which you can see the seven neighboring islets.
Tatlong Publo Beach: although most tours don’t include it because it’s a bit far, it’s one of the most beautiful beaches in the area. We don’t think you’ll regret coming here. Entrance is 60 pesos per person. Note you can also come to this beach by road (30′ from Jordan), so it could be a good idea if you want to stay longer.

On the other hand, it’s common for the boatman to suggest visiting the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) Guimaras Division. However, since they feed fish kept in captivity, it’s not something we recommend.

It’s best to head out early in the morning, visit the farthest spots first, and then work your way back toward Alubihod Beach as the day goes on. Seas are usually a bit choppier after midday. In any case, if you can time the route with low tide, it’ll be much better, as you’ll be able to snorkel comfortably and visibility tends to be better.

How to organize island hopping in Guimaras? You can arrange it at any time by going to Alubihod Beach. It’s common to find boatmen offering it there.

The sandbar of Ave María Island

Navalas Church

If you’re a history lover like us, you can’t miss a visit to Navalas Church. This is the oldest Catholic church to see in Guimaras, as it was built in 1880. It seems it once had a 1.5-meter-tall bell, but for some reason we don’t know, it was stolen and thrown into the sea. Although the interior and some parts of Navalas Church have been renovated, the façade, made of coral and stone, and the door remain almost intact.

Taste Guimaras mangoes and visit a plantation

It would be a real sin to leave the island without trying the mangoes that have made it known throughout the Philippines and even the world, because Guimaras mangoes appeared as the sweetest in the world in the Guinness World Records.

The harvest season, when they’re at their yellowest and sweetest, is between April and May. However, Filipinos also love to eat them when they’re green and sour, usually accompanied by sugar, a bit of spice, and bagoong (shrimp paste).

If you visit Guimaras in April or May, you won’t have any trouble spotting stalls selling them even along the roadside. You can find them from 50 pesos per kilo, though it’s more common for them to exceed 100 pesos.

Closely related to this, one thing to do in Guimaras is to visit a mango plantation. A good place is the National Mango Research and Development Center, where you can learn about cultivating this fruit and, if you feel like it, pick a few. Another well-known plantation is the Oro Verde Mango Plantation, but as you drive along the road you’ll see thousands upon thousands of mango trees. It’s said there are more than 50,000 mango trees on the island!

As a curiosity, even the tricycles in Guimaras seem to be shaped like mangoes. They’re super cool: small, yellow, and round.

Mango pizza and other things to eat in Guimaras

If eating mangoes on their own sounds too boring, then you can’t miss The Pitstop’s famous mango pizza. It’s so popular that it appears on every list of things to do in Guimaras. The pizza has cashews, bell peppers, cheese (a lot of it), and a Filipino-style mango sauce, meaning very sweet. It may sound a bit odd, but give it a chance and you’ll likely leave happy. Other dishes on the menu that feature mango include mango spaghetti and mango beef bulalo.

By the way, if you liked it, you’ll also find this restaurant in Cebu and Iloilo—though nothing beats eating it on “the island of mangoes.”

Other typical foods to eat in Guimaras include chicken inasal (though the most typical is Bacolod’s), cansi (this region’s version of bulalo), kinilaw with green mango, and, of course, plenty of seafood and fish like oysters or danggit (dried fish). Places to eat in Guimaras you might also like: Olivia’s Kitchen and Island Brew (they also have “mango pizza”) and Celian Seafood.

Manggahan Festival

As you’d expect, Guimaras also has its own festival to give thanks for such an abundance of mangoes. It’s the well-known Manggahan Festival, one of our favorite festivals in the Philippines.

Since the harvest takes place between April and May, this is held throughout the month of May. On its Facebook page you can see the dates for the year you want to visit and what events to expect. Although there are loads of concerts and dances, what we liked most was the all-you-can-eat mango buffet. For 120 pesos you get half an hour to eat all the mangoes you want—let’s just say we made the most of it!

It’s also fun to visit the different mango and mango-derived product stalls, which they lavishly decorate to win the prize for the best stand. At night, people go wild at the town fair, where you’ll see the most rudimentary Ferris wheel of your life. Truly, quite an experience.

Other curious things to do in Guimaras

As we said at the beginning, Guimaras is a favorite among local tourists. Being very accessible from Iloilo and famed for having the sweetest mangoes in the archipelago, Filipinos love organizing inland tours that take in other places. To be honest with you, we don’t consider them essential; but if you’re thinking of renting a motorbike, they might fit your plans and round out your visit.

Here are some other alternative places to see in Guimaras:

The Smallest Town Plaza: yes, Guimaras was once in the Guinness World Records for having the smallest town plaza in the world. Although another place has since taken the title, this is still the smallest in the Philippines. In the center there’s a statue of José Rizal, an essential figure in the history of the Philippines. If you pass through Jordan, you can pay it a visit.
Balaan Bukid: if you’re in the mood to stretch your legs, you can climb this popular hill. Along the way you’ll find the 14 Stations of the Cross leading to the summit, from where you can view the surrounding islands. It’s a very popular pilgrimage site during Holy Week. It’s believed that during World War II, locals hid here from the Japanese invasion.
Trappist Monastery: founded by the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (Trappists) in 1972, it’s a picturesque place to see in Guimaras—especially for the lush vegetation around it. Many people visit directly for its pasalubong (souvenir) shop, where you’ll find all kinds of products made by the monks, with mango as the star ingredient.
Guimaras Museum: while by no means a large museum, it has some items of historical value and a few explanations that aren’t bad for learning more about the island.
Roca Encantada: the Enchanted Rock was declared a National Heritage House. It belongs to the Lopez clan, who built it in 1910 in honor of Dona Presentacion Hofilena Lopez. You have to pay 50 pesos to access the grounds, but you can’t go inside the house. From its terraces you’ll get nice views of the Iloilo Strait and “Las Islas de Siete Picados.” The latter are seven islets said to have good snorkeling. If you’re interested, you can arrange a boat from Roca Encantada.
San Lorenzo Wind Farm: many visitors are amazed to see up close the 54 eighty-meter-high turbines of this wind power plant, the first in the Visayas.
Mountain biking: Guimaras is a hilly island, so if you like cycling, you’ll be glad to know there are a couple of interesting trails. For more information, contact Guimaras Tour Biking Rent/guide.

Where to stay in Guimaras

Let’s start with the important bit: staying in Guimaras is expensive. We’re not quite sure why, but accommodation on the island is far from cheap. It was very hard for us to find anything under 1.000 pesos and, believe us, it was kind of lousy.

This, the long distances, and the absence of public transportation covering the entire island lead us to recommend that you don’t make the same mistake we did and book in advance. This is even more important if you’re planning to visit during Holy Week (it’s crazy because a Way of the Cross is held that draws thousands of people) and the Manggahan Festival.

As you’ll see on the map we’ve put at the end of this Guimaras guide, the island’s tourist attractions are quite spread out and you’re going to need transportation. Most accommodation is concentrated in the south, especially at Alubihod Beach. We stayed there and find it the most convenient. Even so, if you want to go to another area, we’d make sure you can rent motorbikes at the accommodation (it’s not as common as on other islands).

Here are some recommendations on where to stay in Guimaras:

You’ll also find resorts on neighboring islands where you can get away from it all: Costa Aguada Island Resort, Magic Island Resort, and Isla Naburot.

How to get to Guimaras

You can get to Guimaras from Iloilo (Panay) or Negros.

Getting to Guimaras from Iloilo

The easiest way to get to Guimaras is from Iloilo. The city has a fairly important airport, so you’ll find plenty of flights to Iloilo.

Search flights to Iloilo

From the airport you have shuttles to SM City (80 pesos/30 minutes). A taxi to Parola Wharf will cost between 500 and 600 pesos.

Of course, you can also reach Iloilo from other parts of Panay (such as Boracay) and nearby islands by bus or van. You can take a look at 12Go and book right there.

Once in Iloilo, you need to go to Parola Wharf, the pier from which small bangkas depart all day to Guimaras.

There are several ports in Guimaras. The most common is to head to Jordan, where you’ll find the tourism office and transport to other parts of the island. The trip from Iloilo takes just 15 minutes, and they operate roughly from 4:00 to 19:00 every half hour. The ticket costs 40 pesos per person.

If you want to take a motorbike or car to the island, you’ll need to go to the Iloilo–Jordan Roro Port. They depart from 5:00 every 2 hours.

Getting to Guimaras from Bacolod

If, for whatever reason, you’re coming from Negros, you can also get to Guimaras. You can do it via Iloilo by taking one of the boats from Bacolod to Iloilo or in a more direct and economical way—albeit a less comfortable one.

For the latter, you need to take a jeepney from Bacolod’s Central Market to Libertad Market (8.50 pesos). A few steps away is SaveMore, where you should hop on a jeepney to Pulupandan (1 hour/30 pesos). There you can catch the boat that leaves every morning before 8:00 to Sibunag. It takes 1 hour and costs about 200 pesos. Keep in mind it’s a small boat (for about 50 people), heavily loaded, and it’s normal for it to move quite a bit. Then there’s a slightly larger one at 11:00 to San Lorenzo (90 pesos).

There are more boats to different ports in Guimaras, but schedules are even more erratic. Therefore, we suggest asking at your accommodation or calling the Guimaras tourism office (+63 33 237 1134). You can also check this Facebook page of the shipping company.

How to get around Guimaras

If you take a look at the map, you’ll see that Guimaras is not a small island and that tourist sites are somewhat spread out. These are your options for visiting it:

Jeepneys: around the island there are jeepneys that run along the lightly traveled roads you’ll find. Fares depend on distance, but figure between 15 and 50 pesos per person.
Tricycles: keep in mind that jeepneys don’t reach, for example, Alubihod Beach. That’s why you’ll also find tricycles. They charge around 20 pesos per person for a 2‑kilometer ride, as long as you share with others. From Jordan to Alubihod it’s 250 pesos for the whole vehicle just for you.
Motorbike in Guimaras: the island is quite large and transport is scarce and can get expensive if you want to move around a lot. Therefore, the best thing is to rent a motorbike. Resorts don’t usually have them for rent, so it’s best to do it through the tourism office in Jordan, where there are usually people offering them for about 500 pesos per day. Remember to read our article Renting and riding a motorbike in the Philippines for more information.
Rental tricycles/multicabs: if you don’t ride a motorbike or couldn’t find one to rent, it’s very typical to tour Guimaras’s main sights in a tricycle or multicab. They charge according to the number of people and what you want to visit. Thus, a tricycle charges around 1.500 pesos per day for 4–5 people, while a multicab is around 2.000–3.000 pesos. The usual route includes: Balaan Bukid, the Smallest Plaza, a mango plantation, the monastery, Pitstop Restaurant, Guisi Lighthouse and Guisi Beach, Alubihod Beach, and San Lorenzo Wind Farm.
Habal-habal: you can ride pillion on a motorbike with a driver. A full-day island tour is around 1.500 pesos.
Tour from Iloilo: if you want zero hassle, the Asian “Civitatis,” KLOOK, runs this excursion from Iloilo City.

Private tour from Iloilo to Guimaras with KLOOK

In Transport in the Philippines you can find more information about these means of transport.

Some tips for visiting Guimaras

The best time to visit Guimaras is from December to May, when it’s the dry season. If you go between April and May you’re more likely to enjoy the world’s tastiest mangoes.
How many days for Guimaras? As you’ve seen, it can be done in a single day from Iloilo. If you want to take it slower, 2 days would be fine—one to tour the island at your own pace and about 3–4 hours for island hopping.
Since it’s a place with a lot of local tourism, we suggest visiting Guimaras Monday through Thursday, when there are fewer people.
Internet on the island still isn’t great. Don’t rely on Wi‑Fi and bring a SIM card, but even then assume that 4G barely exists and you’ll often have to make do with 3G.
Bring cash: there are a few Landbank ATMs in Jordan and Buenavista, but sometimes they’re out of money. You’ll usually be unable to pay for most things by card.
If you plan to do island hopping, don’t forget water shoes and a dry bag. In Backpack for the Philippines you’ll find more info.
As a curiosity, people in Guimaras speak Hiligaynon, also called Hiligueino or Ilonggo. Even so, as you can read in Languages in the Philippines, almost everyone speaks Filipino and English.
Healthcare infrastructure in Guimaras is very basic. If something happens, you’ll have to be transferred to a hospital in Iloilo or other larger cities such as Manila or Cebu. Please don’t travel without good travel insurance for the Philippines. Here’s a 5% discount for the one we use.

Guimaras map

Here’s a map with the main tourist attractions to see in Guimaras, plus hotels and restaurants:

We hope this Guimaras guide has helped you plan your adventure on this lesser-known island of the Philippines. If you have any questions or comments, we’ll be happy to read them below.