🇵🇭 Philippines · Western Visayas
The Ultimate Guide to
Guimaras Island
The Mango Capital of the Philippines — an unhurried island paradise of world-famous sweet mangoes, pristine beaches, a Trappist monastery, and crystalline waters just 15 minutes from Iloilo City.
Section 01
Best Time to Visit Guimaras
🌞 Dry Season
November – May
Best beach conditions, island hopping, and farm visits. The famous Guimaras mangoes ripen March–June — arriving in April or May means tasting them at peak sweetness.
✓ Best Time🥭 Mango Season
March – June
Guimaras mangoes — considered the world’s sweetest — reach peak ripeness. Mango festivals, farm tours, and roadside stalls overflow with the golden fruit. Come for this if possible.
✓ Best for Mangoes🎊 Manggahan Festival
May (annual)
Guimaras’ biggest annual festival celebrating the mango harvest — mango-eating contests, cultural shows, product fairs, and street parties across Jordan town.
↗ Worth Timing🌧 Wet Season
June – October
Rain can limit island hopping but farm tours and town visits are unaffected. Hotel rates are lower and the island is pleasantly uncrowded. A peaceful time to visit.
↗ Budget FriendlySection 02
How to Get to Guimaras
⛴ Ferry from Iloilo City (Bancal Port → Jordan, Guimaras)
| Vessel | Duration | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Regular motorboat (bancal) | 15–20 min | ₱25–₱30/person |
| Pump boat (fast) | 10 min | ₱30–₱40/person |
| Ferry from Parola Port (to Buenavista) | 20–25 min | ₱25–₱35/person |
🚌 Getting to Bancal Port from Iloilo City
From SM City or the city center, take a Grab (₱60–₱100), jeepney to Ortiz (₱12), or hire a tricycle (₱100–₱150). The port is at the end of Muelle Loney Street near the Iloilo City Hall area. Ferries depart every 15–30 minutes from 5 AM to 7 PM.
Section 03
Where to Stay in Guimaras
Many visitors do Guimaras as a day trip from Iloilo. But staying overnight lets you enjoy the island at a peaceful dawn and after day-trippers leave. Accommodation is simple and affordable.
Budget Picks (₱500–₱2,000/night)
🏠 Valle Verde Cottage Resort
Simple nipa cottage resort on a hilltop with sea views, basic amenities, and access to a private beach cove. Relaxed, quiet atmosphere. Perfect for budget overnight stays.
₱600–₱1,500/night · Nueva Valencia
🏠 Raymen Beach Resort
Beachside budget resort on Alubihod Beach with fan cottages, a basic restaurant, and crystal-clear swimming water. Simple but the beach location is unbeatable.
₱700–₱1,800/night · Alubihod
🏠 Guisi Beach House
Rustic beachside accommodation near the historic Guisi Lighthouse. Fan rooms, hammocks, and a private beach stretch. For travelers who want to truly disconnect.
₱500–₱1,200/night
Mid-Range Picks (₱2,500–₱8,000/night)
🏨 Guimaras Island Resort
The island’s main mid-range property with a pool, restaurant, and comfortable air-con rooms. Good base for island hopping and mango farm tours. Staff arrange all activities.
₱2,500–₱5,000/night · Jordan area
🏨 Tatlong Puso Resort
Picturesque beachside resort with three interconnected heart-shaped pools (the landmark of Guimaras tourism), a restaurant, and comfortable A/C cottages on the beach.
₱3,000–₱6,000/night
🏨 Alubihod Beach Hotel
Comfortable hotel on one of Guimaras’ best beaches with well-furnished rooms, a beachfront restaurant, and watersports equipment rental. Popular with Iloilo families.
₱3,500–₱7,000/night
Luxury Option
✨ Isla Naburot Resort
Eco-luxury private island resort accessible only by boat from Jordan. Solar-powered, no Wi-Fi by design, treehouse-style cottages, and an all-inclusive package. The ultimate Guimaras escape for those seeking a complete digital detox.
₱8,000–₱18,000/night all-inclusive
Section 04
Where to Eat in Guimaras
🥭 Roadside Mango Stalls
The real reason to come — ripe Guimaras mangoes sold by roadside vendors for ₱30–₱80 each, or ₱300–₱500 per kilo. Eat them fresh, or buy vacuum-packed boxes to take home. The sweetest in the world.
🍛 Local Carinderias (Jordan Town)
Simple Filipino turo-turo eateries in Jordan town serving rice meals, fresh fish, and vegetable dishes. Eat where locals eat for the most authentic and affordable meals on the island.
🌅 Tatlong Puso Beach Restaurant
Beachfront dining with grilled seafood, Filipino classics, fresh fruit shakes, and stunning views. The three heart-shaped pools next door make for a unique backdrop.
🕌 Trappist Monastery Store
Not a restaurant, but the Trappist monks sell their homemade jams, cashew products, mango preserves, and wines. Stock up on Guimaras specialties here.
🐟 Alubihod Seafood Grills
Fresh catch grilled on the spot along Alubihod Beach — snapper, squid, shrimp, and crab at market prices. Best at lunchtime when fishing boats return.
✨ Isla Naburot (All-Inclusive)
Staying at Isla Naburot includes all meals — fresh seafood, tropical fruits, and Filipino specialties prepared by the resort chef. No à-la-carte; the full experience is included.
Section 05
Things to Do in Guimaras
🥭 Mango Farm Tour
Visit a working carabao mango orchard and see how the world’s sweetest mangoes are grown, bagged (to protect from insects), and harvested. Pick and eat directly from the tree. The most unique experience Guimaras offers.
₱200–₱500/person
🏝 Island Hopping
Guimaras has numerous surrounding islets with pristine beaches and clear water — Inampulugan, Taklong Island Marine Reserve, Naburot Island, and the Guisi sandbar. Charter a bangka for a full-day tour.
₱1,500–₱3,000 boat charter per day
🕌 Our Lady of the Philippines Trappist Monastery
A peaceful mountain monastery run by Trappist monks who make homemade jams, wines, and cashew products. The grounds are serene; the monks maintain a schedule of prayers open to visitors.
Free (donations welcome)
🏛 Guisi Lighthouse
A 19th-century Spanish colonial lighthouse on a dramatic rocky promontory overlooking the Guimaras Strait. The surrounding area has a small beach and is a wonderful sunset viewing spot.
Free
🏖 Alubihod Beach
One of the finest beaches in the Visayas — crystal-clear aquamarine water, white sand, and a relaxed resort atmosphere. Swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking available.
Free beach access · Day resort ₱100–₱300
🌿 Taklong Island Marine Reserve
Protected marine sanctuary south of the main island with excellent snorkeling — vibrant coral gardens and abundant reef fish. Include in island hopping tour.
₱50 sanctuary fee
🛵 Motorbike Island Tour
Hire a motorbike or tricycle tour to cover the highlights — monastery, lighthouse, mango farms, and beaches — in a single productive day. Best arranged through your resort.
₱800–₱1,500/day tour
⛵ Paraw Sailing
Traditional outrigger sailboat rides are available from some beaches in Guimaras. Drift across the Guimaras Strait watching the Iloilo skyline at sunset on an authentic Filipino vessel.
₱800–₱1,500/hour
Section 06
Getting Around Guimaras
🛺 Tricycle
The primary land transport. Short trips ₱20–₱50. Hire for the day to cover all sights: ₱800–₱1,500. Negotiate before boarding.
🛵 Motorbike Rental
₱400–₱600/day. Best for independent exploration. Roads are good between major attractions.
⛵ Bangka Boat
For island hopping. Charter from Jordan Port or your beach resort. ₱1,500–₱3,000/day. Include snorkel gear in negotiation.
🦶 Walking
Jordan town center is compact. The ferry landing, market, and main restaurants are within easy walking distance.
🚐 Multicab/Jeepney
Shared rides between Jordan and Nueva Valencia: ₱20–₱35/person. Limited frequency — tricycles are more practical.
⛴ Ferry Back to Iloilo
Last ferry from Jordan to Iloilo departs around 6–7 PM. Don’t miss it — arrange your day accordingly.
Section 07
Sample Itineraries
8:00 AM
Ferry from Bancal Port, Iloilo to Jordan.
8:30 AM
Tricycle to Trappist Monastery — buy jams, wines, cashews.
10:00 AM
Mango farm tour — pick and eat fresh mangoes.
12:00 PM
Lunch at Alubihod Beach seafood grills.
2:00 PM
Swim at Alubihod Beach or Guisi Lighthouse visit.
4:30 PM
Return ferry to Iloilo before last boat.
₱600–₱2,000/person
Day 1
Morning ferry, Monastery + mango farm, Alubihod Beach lunch and swim. Overnight at beach resort.
Day 2
Full-day island hopping — Taklong Marine Reserve, Naburot, Guisi sandbar. Return ferry afternoon.
₱2,000–₱7,000/person
Day 1
Monastery, mango farm, Guisi Lighthouse sunset. Overnight at Tatlong Puso or Alubihod resort.
Day 2
Full island hopping — all major islets, snorkeling at Taklong.
Day 3
Kayaking, beach morning, stock up on mango products. Return ferry to Iloilo.
₱4,000–₱15,000/person
Section 08
Complete Budget Overview
Budget Traveler
₱800
estimated per day
Cottage resort · carinderias · farm tour · tricycle transport
Mid-Range
₱2,500
estimated per day
Beach resort · restaurant meals · island hop · tricycle hire
Luxury
₱12,000+
estimated per day
Isla Naburot all-inclusive · private boat · all meals
📊 Daily Expense Breakdown
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | ₱500–₱1,500 | ₱2,500–₱6,000 | ₱8,000–₱18,000 |
| Food & Mangoes | ₱150–₱400 | ₱400–₱1,000 | Included (Isla Naburot) |
| Activities | ₱200–₱600 | ₱800–₱2,000 | ₱2,000–₱4,000 |
| Transport | ₱100–₱300 | ₱300–₱800 | ₱800–₱2,000 |
| Total Per Day | ₱950–₱2,800 | ₱4,000–₱9,800 | ₱10,800–₱24,000+ |