Located just across the water from Iloilo City, the tropical island of Guimaras tempts imaginative travelers with its promise of peace and quiet under the hot sun.
Unlike many islands and beaches in the Philippines, you won’t find many lively beach bars on Guimaras. This island is popular with people who want to experience unmarred natural beauty and simply relax for a while. However, the area is known for its numerous vibrant festivals, and those that like to party should time their trip to coincide with one of the celebrations.
A great way to save money is to pitch a tent on the sand of a nearby island. Many local boat owners offer trips to surrounding islands, dropping off passengers one day and picking them up the next. If you’re looking for a real deserted island experience, Turtle Island this could be just the thing.
Getting There & Away
The best way to get here is from Iloilo, which has its own airport with regular flights from Manila (1 hour) and Cebu (30 minutes). There are also regular buses to Iloilo from surrounding towns and cities such as Caticlan (6 hours), Kalibo (4 hours) and Roxas]] (3 hours). Guimaras is a 15-minute ferry ride from Iloilo port.