There are still very few travelers searching for things to do in Guimaras. Despite being easy to reach from Iloilo City, this island in the Visayas is well known to domestic tourists, but not so much to foreign travelers. Its main attractions? Trying the sweetest mangoes in the Philippines and soaking up the charm of an island where tourism is still relatively undeveloped.
To be perfectly honest with you, in Guimaras (which, by the way, is pronounced “gee-mah-RAHS”) you won’t find the best beaches in the Philippines or epic island hopping, but it is a peaceful place to spend a couple of days and enjoy the local atmosphere, complete with plenty of karaoke sessions and a little Tanduay.
To help you decide whether to include this island in your Philippines travel itinerary, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know: things to see and do in Guimaras, where to stay, how to get there, and a few tips from travelers, for travelers.
Where is Guimaras?
Guimaras is part of the Western Visayas region and lies in the Panay Gulf, between the islands of Panay and Negros. It is just 25 minutes by boat from Iloilo, the capital of Panay, across 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 easy to reach from Iloilo and Negros. The busiest is the port in Jordan. Here’s a map to give you an idea of its location and arrival points.
Things to see and do in Guimaras
Let’s get down to business! Here are the main things to do in Guimaras.
Alubihod Beach
Most travelers who come to the island do so in search of beaches, and the best-known of them all is Alubihod Beach. It is undoubtedly a beautiful beach with pale sand—not as powdery as Boracay’s, but very pleasant. It is flanked by unusual 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 is also the most popular area to stay, and you’ll find several resorts along the shore. In our opinion, this has caused it to lose some of its charm, as swimming areas have been marked off with small buoys, which we’re not particularly fond of. Even so, it’s still a nice place to take a dip, grab a bite to eat, and watch Filipino families having fun together. On weekends, it would be unusual not to be invited to try lechon or sing karaoke.
⛵ Guimaras island hopping trips also depart from Alubihod Beach. We’ll tell you more about them later.
Guisi Lighthouse and Guisi Beach
One of our favorite things to do in Guimaras was climb up Guisi Lighthouse, also known as “Faro de Punta Luzaran.” The lighthouse was built in the 18th century, and locals proudly claim it is the second-oldest lighthouse in the Philippines, after Cape Engaño Lighthouse on Palaui Island.
Although it isn’t in very good condition, it is a highly photogenic place because the walls of the old lookout post are still standing. If you’re up for it, you can very carefully climb to the top, where you’ll get great views of the adjacent beach. The lighthouse is just over 18 meters tall.
Getting to this spot won’t be too difficult. You’ll need to walk for about 10 minutes from where you park your motorbike or are dropped off. Admission is 10 pesos per person.
You’ll also easily find the trail leading to Guisi Beach, our favorite beach in Guimaras. Guisi Beach is much wilder than Alubihod, and we had a lovely time here enjoying the water and exploring the small caves near the shore. Guisi Beach is a good place to snorkel, so if you have gear, go for it. If you can, stay until sunset, which rarely disappoints.
Island hopping in Guimaras
Did you think island hopping was only a Palawan thing? As we explain in Island Hopping in the Philippines, this is a fairly common activity throughout the archipelago, and in Guimaras it is well worth doing, especially if you enjoy snorkeling.
Unlike in other places, this tour in Guimaras is priced by the hour. In other words, an entire bangka for a group of up to 10 people costs 900 pesos for the first 3 hours, then 400 pesos for each additional hour. This lets you choose how many places you want to visit according to your preferences. In our opinion, unless you want a very beach-focused day, 3 hours will be enough to get a good feel for the area.
The most common stops on island hopping trips in Guimaras are:
- Ave Maria Island: a beautiful island with a sandbar, from which you can see Turtle Island (where, if you’re lucky, you might spot the occasional turtle). Even so, what we liked most was the snorkeling: we saw plenty of clownfish and sea snakes. Admission 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. Admission is 50 pesos per person.
- Fairy Castle: a rock formation that looks like a castle. You only see it from the boat; tours don’t usually stop there.
- Baras Cave and Baras Beach: also called Buho Ramirez Cave, this cave is accessible if sea conditions allow and the tide is low. There are lots of fruit bats inside. There is a resort of the same name here, with a lovely beach. Admission to Baras Beach is 30 pesos.
- Lamurawan Island: a rocky island with a lookout point from which you can see the seven neighboring islets.
- Tatlong Publo Beach: although most tours don’t include it because it’s a little far away, this is one of the most beautiful beaches in the area. We don’t think you’ll regret coming all the way here. Admission is 60 pesos per person. Note that you can also reach this beach by road (30 minutes from Jordan), so that may be a good idea if you want to spend more time there.
It is also common for the boatman to suggest visiting the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) Guimaras Division. However, because they feed the fish they keep in captivity, it isn’t something we recommend.
It’s best to set out early in the morning, visit the most distant places, and gradually make your way back toward Alubihod Beach as the day goes on. The sea is usually a little rougher after noon. In any case, if you can time your route to coincide with low tide, it will be much better, as you’ll be able to snorkel comfortably and visibility tends to be better.
How do you arrange an island hopping trip in Guimaras? You can do so at any time by heading to Alubihod Beach. It is common to find boatmen offering trips there.
The sandbar at Ave Maria Island
Navalas Church
If you love history as much as we do, you can’t miss a visit to Navalas Church. This is the oldest Catholic church in Guimaras, as it was built in 1880. Apparently, it once had a bell 1.5 meters tall, but, for reasons unknown to us, it was stolen and thrown into the sea. Although the interior and some parts of Navalas Church have been renovated, the facade, made of coral and stone, and the door remain almost intact.
Try Guimaras mangoes and visit a plantation
It would be a real sin to leave the island without trying the mangoes that have made it famous throughout the Philippines and even around the world, because Guimaras mangoes were listed as the sweetest in the world in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Their harvest season, when they are at their yellowest and sweetest, falls between April and May. However, Filipinos also love eating them while they are green and sour, usually served with sugar, a little chili, and bagoong (shrimp paste).
If you visit Guimaras in April or May, you’ll easily spot small stands selling them even along the roadside. Prices start at 50 pesos per kilo, whereas they are usually over 100 pesos.
Closely related to this, one of the things to do in Guimaras is visit a mango plantation. One good option is the National Mango Research and Development Center, where you can learn about how this fruit is grown and, if you feel like it, pick some yourself. Another well-known plantation is the Oro Verde Mango Plantation, but as you travel along the roads, you’ll see thousands upon thousands of mango trees. It is said that there are more than 50,000 mango trees on the island!
Fun fact: even the tricycles in Guimaras seem to be shaped like mangoes. They’re super cute: small, yellow, and rounded.
Mango pizza and other things to eat in Guimaras
If eating mangoes on their own seems a little too boring, then you can’t miss the mango pizza at The Pitstop. It is so famous that it appears on every list of things to do in Guimaras. The pizza has cashews, peppers, cheese (a lot of it), and a Filipino-style mango sauce—that is, a very sweet one. It sounds pretty weird, but give it a chance and we’re sure you’ll leave happy. Other dishes on the menu featuring 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, although nothing beats eating the mango pizza on “the island of mangoes.”
Other typical things to eat in Guimaras are chicken inasal (although the most traditional version is from Bacolod), cansi (this region’s version of bulalo), kinilaw with green mango, and, of course, plenty of seafood and fish, such as oysters or danggit (dried fish). Other places to eat in Guimaras that you might like include Olivia’s Kitchen and Island Brew (they also have “mango pizza”) and Celian Seafood.
Manggahan Festival
As you might expect, Guimaras also has its own festival to give thanks for such an abundance of mangoes. It is known as the Manggahan Festival, one of our favorite festivals in the Philippines.
Since the harvest takes place between April and May, the festival is held throughout the month of May. On its Facebook page, you can check the dates for the year you plan to visit and see what events await you. Although there are tons of concerts and dances, what we liked most was the all-you-can-eat mango buffet. For 120 pesos, you have half an hour to eat as many mangoes as you want—you wouldn’t believe how stuffed we were!
It’s also fun to visit the different stalls selling mangoes and mango products, which are lavishly decorated in hopes of winning the prize for best stand. At night, people go wild at the town fair, where you’ll see the most rudimentary Ferris wheel you’ve ever encountered. Seriously, it’s quite an experience.
Other interesting things to do in Guimaras
As we mentioned at the beginning, Guimaras is a favorite destination among domestic tourists. Because it is so easy to reach from Iloilo and is famous for having the sweetest mangoes in the archipelago, Filipinos love putting together inland tours (land-based tours) that include other places. To be honest with you, we don’t think they’re essential, but if you plan to rent a motorbike, they may fit nicely into your plans and make your visit more complete.
Here are some other alternative places to see in Guimaras:
- The Smallest Town Plaza: yes, Guimaras was once in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the smallest plaza in the world. Although another plaza has since taken the title, this one is still the smallest in the Philippines. In the center is a statue of Jose Rizal, an essential figure in the history of the Philippines. If you’re passing through Jordan, you can pay it a visit.
- Balaan Bukid: if you feel like stretching your legs, you can climb this popular hill. Along the route to the top, you’ll find the 14 Stations of the Cross, and from the summit you can take in views of the surrounding islands. It is a very popular pilgrimage site during Holy Week. It is believed that during World War II, locals hid here from the Japanese invasion.
- Trappist Monastery: founded in 1972 by the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance, or Trappist Order, it is a picturesque place to see in Guimaras, especially because of the vegetation surrounding it. Many people visit specifically for its pasalubong, or souvenir, shop. There you’ll find all kinds of products made by the monks, with mango as the star ingredient.
- Guimaras Museum: while it is by no means a major museum, it has a few objects of historical value and some decent explanations that will help you learn 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 enter the grounds, but you cannot go inside the house. From its terraces, you’ll have lovely views of the Iloilo Strait and “Las Islas de Siete Picados.” The latter are 7 islets where the snorkeling is said to be good. If you’re interested, you can negotiate a boat trip from Roca Encantada.
- San Lorenzo Wind Farm: many visitors are amazed to see the 54 wind turbines at this wind farm up close, each of which is 80 meters tall; it is the first wind farm in the Visayas.
- Mountain biking: Guimaras is a mountainous island, so if you enjoy 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 part: staying in Guimaras is expensive. We’re not entirely sure why, but accommodations on the island are far from cheap. We had an incredibly hard time finding anything under 1,000 pesos and, believe us, it was pretty crappy.
Because of this, the long distances, and the lack of public transportation covering the whole island, we recommend that you avoid making the same mistake we did and book in advance. This is even more important if you plan to visit during Holy Week (it’s crazy because a Way of the Cross celebration draws thousands of people) or the Manggahan Festival.
As you’ll see on the map at the end of this Guimaras guide, the island’s tourist attractions are quite spread out, and you’ll need transportation. Most accommodations are concentrated in the south, especially around Alubihod Beach. We stayed there and think it is the most convenient option. Even so, if you feel like staying in another area, we would make sure you can rent motorbikes at your accommodation (it isn’t as common as on other islands).
Here are some recommendations for where to stay in Guimaras:
- Raymen Beach Resort
- Nature’s Eye Resort
- Sun Sea Resort
- Jannah Glycel Beach House
- Kenyama Beach Resort
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 major airport, so you’ll find plenty of flights to Iloilo.
From the airport, there are 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 check 12Go and book right there.
Once in Iloilo, you need to go to Parola Wharf, the pier where small bangkas depart for Guimaras throughout the day.
Guimaras has several ports. The most common option is to head to Jordan, where you’ll find the tourist office and transportation to other parts of the island. The trip from Iloilo takes just 15 minutes, and boats operate roughly every half hour from 4:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. A 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. Boats depart every 2 hours starting at 5:00 a.m.
Getting to Guimaras from Bacolod
If, for whatever reason, you’re coming from Negros, you can also get to Guimaras. You can travel via Iloilo by taking one of the boats from Bacolod to Iloilo, or take a more direct and affordable route. That said, it’s also less comfortable.
For the latter, you need to take a jeepney from Bacolod Central Market to Libertad Market (8.50 pesos). SaveMore is a short walk away, and from there you need to take a jeepney to Pulupandan (1 hour/30 pesos). There, you can catch the boat that departs for Sibunag every morning before 8:00 a.m. It takes 1 hour and costs about 200 pesos. Bear in mind that it is a small boat with a capacity of around 50 people; it gets very crowded, and it is normal for it to rock quite a bit. Then there is another, slightly larger boat to San Lorenzo at 11:00 a.m. (90 pesos).
There are more boats to different ports in Guimaras, but their schedules are even more erratic. We therefore recommend checking with your accommodation or calling the Guimaras tourist office (+63 33 237 1134). You can also check this Facebook page for the shipping company.
How to get around Guimaras
If you take a look at the map, you’ll see that Guimaras isn’t a small island and that the tourist attractions are somewhat spread out. These are your options for exploring it:
- Jeepneys: jeepneys travel along the island’s quiet roads. Fares depend on the distance, but expect to pay between 15 and 50 pesos per person.
- Tricycles: bear in mind that jeepneys don’t go to places like Alubihod Beach. That’s why you’ll also find tricycles. They charge about 20 pesos per person for a 2-kilometer ride, as long as you share with other people. A private tricycle ride from Jordan to Alubihod costs 250 pesos.
- Motorbike in Guimaras: the island is quite large, and transportation is limited and can become expensive if you want to get around a lot. The best option is therefore to rent a motorbike. Resorts don’t usually have them for rent, so it’s best to arrange one through the Jordan tourist office, where there are usually people offering rentals for around 500 pesos per day. Remember to read our article Renting and riding a motorbike in the Philippines for more information.
- Tricycles/Multicabs for hire: if you don’t ride a motorbike or haven’t found one to rent, it is very common to tour Guimaras’s most popular tourist attractions by tricycle or multicab. They charge according to the number of people in your group and what you want to visit. A tricycle, for example, charges around 1,500 pesos per day for 4–5 people, while a multicab costs about 2,000–3,000 pesos. A typical tour includes Balaan Bukid, the Smallest Plaza, a mango plantation, the monastery, the Pitstop Restaurant, Guisi Lighthouse and Guisi Beach, Alubihod Beach, and San Lorenzo Wind Farm.
- Habal-habal: you can ride as a passenger on a motorbike with a driver. A full-day tour of the island costs around 1,500 pesos.
- Tour from Iloilo: if you don’t want to deal with the logistics, KLOOK organizes this tour from Iloilo City.
Private tour from Iloilo to Guimaras with KLOOK
In Transportation in the Philippines, you can find more information about these means of transportation.
Some tips for visiting Guimaras
- The best time to visit Guimaras is from December to May, during the dry season. If you decide to visit between April and May, you’ll have a better chance of enjoying the best mangoes in the world.
- How many days do you need for Guimaras? Well, as you’ve seen, you can do it as a day trip from Iloilo. If you want to take things more slowly, 2 days would be good: one to explore the island at your own pace and about 3–4 hours for island hopping.
- Since Guimaras is popular with domestic tourists, we recommend visiting from Monday to Thursday, when it is less crowded.
- Internet access on the island still isn’t very good. Don’t rely on Wi-Fi; bring a SIM card, but even then, bear in mind that 4G is almost nonexistent and you’ll have to make do with 3G.
- Bring cash: there are a few Landbank ATMs in Jordan and Buenavista, but they sometimes run out of money. As a rule, you won’t be able to pay for much of anything by card.
- If you plan to go island hopping, don’t forget water shoes and a dry bag. You’ll find more information in Packing for the Philippines.
- One interesting fact: people in Guimaras speak Hiligaynon, also known as Hiligainon or Ilonggo. Even so, as you can read in Languages in the Philippines, almost all of its residents speak Filipino and English.
- Guimaras has very basic healthcare infrastructure. If anything happens to you, you’ll need to be transferred to a hospital in Iloilo or another larger city such as Manila or Cebu. Please don’t travel without good travel insurance for the Philippines. Here’s a 5% discount on the one we use.
Map of Guimaras
Here’s a map showing the main tourist attractions to see in Guimaras, as well as hotels and restaurants:
We hope this Guimaras guide has helped you plan your adventure on this little-known island in the Philippines. If you have any questions or comments, we’d love to hear from you below.
