GUIMARAS ISLAND HOPPING GUIDE: SECRET BEACHES & MUST-VISIT ISLANDS

Across the sea from Iloilo is a truly underrated gem of a tropical destination, boasting shallow waters in countless shades of turquoise, bright white sands, and juicy golden mangoes that taste as sweet as candy. That’s what I would come to discover as I explored some of the best islands in Guimaras. This experience turned out to be an unexpected surprise, and the perfect first adventure after settling into a new life abroad. While the Philippines has gained huge popularity in recent years over grandiose destinations like Palawan, Siargao and Boracay, there’s an irresistible intrigue to the places that are lesser-known, yet uniquely charming and worth visiting. My family and I planned out this beach day as part of my dad’s birthday celebration, so here is my Guimaras island hopping guide for our trip.

What is Island Hopping in Guimaras?

Island hopping in Guimaras is a boat tour that takes you to surrounding islands like Baras Balabag and Taklong Marine Reserve, famous for white sand beaches, sand bars, shallow turquoise waters, and mangroves.

Where is Guimaras?

Guimaras is a province in the Western Visayas region, located in the Panay Gulf. With its location being just south of Iloilo City, Guimaras is only fifteen minutes away via ferry, where you can find the sweetest variety of mangoes, the most iconic fruit of the Philippines!

How to Get to Guimaras: Transportation

Starting from Iloilo City, catch the ferry at the Guimaras Iloilo Ferry Terminal. There are departures every 15-30 minutes, with the earliest ones departing anywhere between 5-6:30am, and the latest ones between 6:30-9pm. The fare costs 40PHP for regular passengers and the ride lasts for about 15-20 minutes. The destination is Jordan Port.

Guimaras Island Hopping Guide

Our Guimaras island hopping tour felt like stepping into a local’s undiscovered paradise, thanks to my cousin who’s a travel agent and thoughtfully planned out the day’s itinerary. We rose early to catch the ferry and arrived on the island by 7:00am, which helped us take in everything through a calm perspective and at a leisurely pace. I was amazed to see some of the best islands in Guimaras that showed off the crystal clear waters, white sands, and expansive views that the Philippines is known for! To me it felt like Boracay, but with a more slow-living vibe and without the large-scale urbanization. Not to mention the plethora of mango fruit stands dotted along the town’s winding streets that we passed by on the way to the port.

Best Guimaras Island Hopping Spots

Baras Balabag Sand Bar

This first stop on our Guimaras island hopping itinerary had a gorgeous sand bar nestled in between two islands. We admired the patterned seashells and white coral pieces along the shore. From there we could gaze out to the calm sea and enjoy unique views from either side. After lathering on the sunscreen and kicking off our shoes, we jumped right into the water that made us feel instantly refreshed. As I back floated and soaked up the morning sunshine, I thought to myself, “Yes! This is exactly the kind of island hopping I’ve been wanting to experience!” What made it even better was getting to see starfish, a sea turtle and plenty of fish swimming by.

Taklong Island National Marine Reserve

So much beauty awaits on this island and is an amazing example of what Guimaras beaches can offer. Shallow clear waters gently lap against stretches of white sand. Lush trees along the shore and all over the island provide much-needed respite from the scorching sun. There are two short uphill hikes on either side, each with sweeping views of the sea colored in that famous turquoise palette characteristic of the Philippines. Some smaller secluded beaches are just a short walk from the boat dock, and others we had to swim over in order to reach them. The only sounds we heard were the natural white noise of the sea tide and rhythmic buzzing of cicadas. The reserve is also home to a biodiverse ecosystem of mangroves, which help with protecting coastlines and supporting marine life.

Piagaw Floating Cottage

One of the Guimaras tourist spots that made our trip even more fun was having lunch on a floating cottage! We packed a homemade feast of jambalaya, macaroni salad, marinated pork chops (grilled fresh on Taklong Island right before), juicy watermelon and sweet pineapple, ready to enjoy right in the middle of the sea. And of course some Guimaras mangoes that we picked up from a fruit stand that morning on the way to the port. We opted to bring food with us but there is a small concession stand with prepackaged food available for purchase. If the weather didn’t get so windy, we definitely would have gone for a dip here!

Photography Notes

I was super lucky with the weather conditions that day being sunny with only a few clouds passing by. Arriving in the morning allowed me to record the landscapes and details with softer light streaming through from an angle, as opposed to high noon that creates harsh shadows and intense contrast. Using a wider focal length (28mm, 35mm) for my Guimaras photography was essential in capturing the seemingly endless seascapes from higher vantage points. Also framing the environments using elements of the boat (the roof, side posts, and foredeck) creates a perspective in which the viewer feels like they’re sailing along with me.

Camera Gear Used: Sony A7III + 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 lens; iPhone 11

How to Go Island Hopping in Guimaras

My cousin who is a travel agent booked our Guimaras island hopping tour through Guimaras Island Tour - Aldrin. This specific package is priced as follows and includes the following:

Guimaras Island Hopping Price

• 1500PHP per person (approximately 25USD)

Inclusions

• Half-day duration

• Pick-up/drop off at Jordan Port

• Guimaras island hopping itinerary - Baras Balabag Sand Bar, Taklong Island & Piagaw Floating Cottage

• Tour guide, pump boat ride, entrance, & environmental fees

• (Food not included, packing meals & snacks highly recommended)

Sample Itinerary: Half-Day

• 6:30am - Catch ferry from Guimaras Iloilo Ferry Terminal to Jordan Port

• 7:00am - Tour guide pick-up

• 8:00am - Arrival at tour dock

• 8:00am-1:00pm - Island hopping tour

  • Stop 1: Baras Balabag Sand Bar

  • Stop 2: Taklong Island National Marine Reserve

  • Stop 3: Piagaw Floating Cottage

For questions and booking assistance, contact Fe Sanchez via Facebook or at 09472951142

Best Time to Visit Guimaras

Dry season (from March to May) is the best time to visit Guimaras since weather is dry and sunny with minimal rainfall. March is when the mangoes start to become in season and the island is still fairly uncrowded. Most tourists visit in mid-May during the Guimaras Manggahan Festival. The celebration lasts the entire month but events are concentrated mostly between the middle to end of May. I was there at the start of the summer season during the last week of March, when the weather was sunny but not unbearably hot yet. Also I sampled the fresh mango from a fruit stand in town and it was perfectly ripe! (If you happen to be visiting the Philippines during rainy season, check out this post about ways to make the most of your trip despite the weather: Rainy Season in the Philippines)

Travel Tips for Guimaras Island

A few handy dandy things to know before visiting Guimaras:

• Mangoes from outside the island are prohibited, in order to keep Guimaras a mango pest-free zone

• Bring enough cash to last your whole trip, since ATMs can be scarce

• To get around the island, tricycle drivers are available for hire and can be found at the port (The tour that we booked provided van transportation)

Final Thoughts

Guimaras is for the mango lover who is seeking a scaled down, slower paced version of the white-sand-beach-turquoise-water-paradise vibe iconic to the Philippines. If your way of getting to know a destination is immersing yourself in its natural environments, you’re in for such a treat here. The bucketlist items I’m saving for the next visit are definitely staying overnight at a resort, snorkeling, and trying mango pizza. If you found this Guimaras island hopping itinerary helpful, stay tuned for my future travel guides about more destinations around the Philippines!