Guimaras will definitely be brought up on the topic when we talk about mangoes because they are said to have the “Sweetest Mango in the Philippines.” With that, their local delicacies, with mango, are just mouth-watering. The residents must be proud of their breathtaking and stunning beaches, historical sites, and other activities. They also have the Manggahan Festival, an annual festivity to thank for their bountiful mango harvest. It is a small island province that can be visited for the whole day, but they can offer a lot to visitors.
Guimaras Tourist Spots:
- The Smallest Plaza in the Philippines
- Guimaras Signboard
- Mango Plantation
- Trappist Monastery
- The view deck of Lawi Bay
- Alubihod Beach
- Guisi Lighthouse or Faro de Punta Luzaran
- The Pitstop Restaurant
- Guimaras Windmills
How to Get to Guimaras:
- By Air: Book a Flight from Manila to Ilo-Ilo City. Travel time is an hour and 15 minutes.
- By Bus: In Startmall Alabang, ride in an Alabang Transit Bus to Ilo-Ilo City. This includes RoRo.
This is my Day 5 – Solo Backpacking in Western Visayas. Upon searching, I found that the resorts in Guimaras are expensive, so I booked an overnight stay at Ong Bun Pension House in Ilo-Ilo City for only 400 pesos. Ong Bun is within walking distance from Robinson's Place and has a jeepey ride to Parola Port. To get here, I followed the instructions provided by the guards. Two blocks away, I rode in the jeepney with the ARU/GPU signboard and alighted by the entrance of Parola Port for a minimum fare. Then, bought a ferry ticket for 15 pesos and logged my name. The dock and go of the ferries are continuous every 30 minutes. Travel Time: 15 minutes.
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| Photo: The Smallest Plaza, Guimaras. |
At the port, I met Kuya Ken with his stunning new motorcycle. Our first destination was the Smallest Plaza in the Philippines and the former Guinness Book of World Records, holder of the same title, 15-20 minutes from the port. The plaza is around 200 to 300 square meters in area, with the Philippine National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, in the middle and the highway and residents' houses on the side. According to Kuya Ken, all attendees fit into this small plaza during their annual fiesta. This means that this tiny plaza witnessed most of the gigantic historical events in the province.
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| Photo: Guimaras Signboard. |
Next is the signboard by the capitol grounds. This is where I had a glimpse of the province's history. According to what is written: “In early as 1581, this island was already known and called by several names. The earliest records of its name, Guimaras, was given by a Portuguese mariner in honor of his country and birthplace – Guimaras. Others say that a Spanish missionary name the island after a peninsula in Portugal called Guimaras, or from the names of places in Spain.” I can barely read the details below this paragraph.
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| Photo: Mango Plantation in Guimaras. |
The province is always associated with “the sweetest mangoes” in the Philippines, so visiting one of the mango plantations is a must. According to studies, the province has a volcanic soil that is very good for cultivating mangoes; as a result, their mangoes are the sweetest in the country. As mentioned, they have the Manggahan Festival celebrated annually to thank them for their bountiful mango harvest. Their local government invested in infrastructures that will help the mango farmers harvest more.
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| Photo: Trappist Monastery in Guimaras. |
My fourth destination was Our Lady of the Philippines Monastery or the Trappist Monastery. It is the home of the Christian Monks in the Philippines, founded in 1972. For Catholic believers, it’s the perfect spot for retreat, but for those looking for something to eat or pasalubong, it is also the perfect spot for you. The monastery has a gift shop with many products, from souvenirs (like shirts, key chains, ref magnets, and other local products) to sumptuous biscuits, piaya, and other local food products from mango.
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| Trappist Monastery gift shop. |
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| The Gorgeous view of the Lawi Bay, Guimaras. |
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| Photo: Crystal Clear water of Alubihod Beach. |
We were in a hurry because we felt raindrops on our skin, and the cumulus clouds formed in the sky. At 10 AM, we reached Raymen Beach Resort in Nueva Valencia. Paid 25 pesos for the day tour entrance fee. Alubihod Beach has fine white sand, emerald crystal clear waters, and gigantic rock formations. Less than 20 people were by the beach during my visit, so the ambiance was relaxing. Stayed here for an hour. Activities that are very interesting in Alubihod are swimming, island hopping, jet skiing, and many more. Usually, these services are offered by the beach resort owners. It is also the best place to stay.
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| Photo: Entrance of Guisi Lighthouse, Guimaras. |
The next was the most and exciting part – touching the walls of Guisi Lighthouse or Faro de Punta Luzaran. It is the second oldest lighthouse in the Philippines, lit up for the first time in 1894. This structure was erected in the 18th century to guide the mariners passing by. Its structure is made of metal from France, tisa from Portugal, and cement from England. Today, the thick walls are covered with mosses and plants, and the rusty metal lighthouse remains erected.
On the southwestern coastline of the province, tourists can also visit Guisi Beach and the Guisi Rock Formations. Yellowish sand, crystal clear waters, towering and artistic rock formations, and preserved tranquility are on its coastline. Resort owners offer island hopping, snorkeling, and other water activities.
The Pitstop Restaurant - Best Place to Eat in Guimaras. It's almost lunchtime, so Kuya Ken brought me to the Pitstop Restaurant – they have the best flavors. Had my super light lunch – double-sized pizza and cucumber lemonade. Inside, I saw familiar faces, those faces that I’d been seeing in the spots I also visited.
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| Photo of Guimaras Windmills. |
The next and last destination was the Guimaras Windmills. It’s a wide area with 27 gigantic wind turbines that harness electricity from the wind. The island is surrounded by the seas, so it’s a perfect location for renewable because of its sea breeze. According to Kuya Ken, the harnessed energy is transported to Ilo-Ilo City via cables submerged in the water. There’s a registration but no entrance fee. Also, we talked about the proposed bridge that will supposedly connect the province to Ilo-Ilo; however, it was declined because it could damage living underwater creatures. Then, my tour guide brought me to the Port. Settled the fee, and at 3 PM, I boarded the ferry and left the island.
My flight was at 7:45 PM, so I still had much free time. Wearing the same outfit, not sure about my smell, upon arrival in Parola Port, Ilo-Ilo, I asked one of the guards for my route to SM City Ilo-Ilo via jeepney, and he responded with a smile. I was mesmerized by his smile, so I followed his instructions. I rode in a jeepney by the port with a “Super” signboard. Alighted by the plaza near the city hall. Crossed the street and took another ride on a jeepney with the “SM or Robinsons” signboard. I had a coffee break at Starbucks for over an hour, then rode in a taxi to the airport.
Where to Stay in Guimaras:
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READ: SOLO-BACKPACKING IN CAPIZ, ANTIQUE, GUIMARAS, ILO-ILO