Guimaras Getaway

TJ and I both love traveling and exploring places. Instead of splurging on luxurious hotel food or expensive gifts, we plan affordable trips at least twice a year and make the most of it. This year, there was no better way to welcome our 30^th month together than our Guimaras Getaway.

Guimaras has been on top of my must-see places. Because TJ had been there a few years back and heard stories about the place directly from him, the more I wanted to go. Thanks to his best friend who gave us impromptu invite to an Iloilo trip late last year, we booked tickets on sale in no time.

Iloilo is the primary gateway to Guimaras. After a 45 minute flight from Manila, we took another hour and half boat ride from Iloilo port to the island. It was way past lunch time and our tummies were growling of hunger, but the picturesque Guimaras kept us distracted the whole time. I was immediately in love with its clear blue waters and beautiful rock formations. I couldn’t wait to dock.

Upon arrival at Alubihod Beach in Nueva Valencia, we checked in at Raymen Beach Resort and had our late lunch at its in-house resto where we had daing na bangus and tortang talong, not to mention the filling and delicious mango shakes. Guimaras is known for its produce of the sweetest mangoes in the country. We were too lazy to take a dip and go around the island at 5PM, so we decided to take some rest, chill at a nearby videoke bar, sang our hearts out while enjoying some booze.

We were up early the next day for the most awaited Guimaras adventure. First stop was the Guisi Point, home of an 18^th Century Spanish era lighthouse. The bumpy 20-minute tricycle ride and hike was no joke, but upon reaching the peak, the view was simply breathtaking. The ruins were picture-perfect just as what we expected. The conserved but rusting lighthouse showed us how locals revered their history and the modern one just a few meters away showed us how things have changed through generations. The view of Guisi Beach from the top made us want to take a plunge into its lovely waters.  We were so thrilled, we wanted to see more.

Next stop was the Turtle Island,where we met a pawikan and a unique puffer fish at its Turtle Sanctuary. It was good to know about government efforts in protecting wildlife on the other side of the country.

Final destination was the Ave Maria Island – named as such because of its famous cave likened to the Virgin’s grotto. True to its name, it was the most pristine part of the island that we’ve been to where we enjoyed pure white sand. Its waters were luring us for a swim, shifting from light to dark shades of crystal-clear blue as it got deeper.

The Baras caves were another tourist destination and may be explored further by the braver ones. Other must-go spots were the Trappist Monastery, the Mango Plantation and the Inampulungan Island to name a few. There was just too much to explore Guimaras and an overnight trip definitely would not be enough. It was quite a quick trip, but a very memorable one indeed.

Well at least we have more reasons to come back.