Readers of this blog often ask me about room rates for some resorts I have featured here while some asks for sample itinerary.

This post is for one reader who emailed me asking if I can help her craft their itinerary in Guimaras Island. True to my promise and to promote this island as a freelance writer, here it is. Take note that this IT is for those bound for Nueva Valencia, Guimaras.

Day 1

* arrival in Iloilo City

*transport from Iloilo Airport to Ortiz port ( where you can take a boat to Guimaras; travel time is 45 minutes -1 hour)

* arrival in Jordan port then proceed to the resort of your choice ( you can take some photos along the way which will make the trip a  little bit longer)

*swimming

* after lunch..boating ( visit Bat Caves and SEAFDEC fish sanctuary, Turtle Island)

Day 2

* rent a motorcycle to Guisi (about 400php back and forth; driver will wait for 5 hours)

*Guisi Beach and Lighthouse

Day 3

* Trappist Monastery for pasalubong

* if you still have time, you can explore the city of Iloilo

For accommodation, I suggest Villa Igang Resort.

I hope this helps..just follow the link to the posts I wrote for more information..and forgive me if this is not as good or organized as those prepared by travel agents, I’m quite in a rush to finish some tasks as a freelance writer..enjoy!

Revamping this site to feature destinations and travel in general as much as possible, I looked back for this year in terms of where I have set foot in.  Turns out that I have traveled so much this year! Yipee! Take the fact that my son has become older that I can leave him for a night or two for some “me time” traveling. Likewise, he is bigger to bring along to further destinations.

I excluded Roxas City and the rest of Capiz province as well as Kalibo and Aklan since we always go there.  So here are the places that I have been too this year:

1. Zamboanga del Norte

Dakak

I have been to Mindanao a thousand times ( my mom is from Lanao del Norte), it is still a path unknown to me. And to visit and explore the peaceful Zamboanga del Norte was amazing. We’ve been to Dakak ( I just love it), Dipolog and Dapitan. I love the unspoiled scenery of Zamboanga.

2. Misamis Occidental

Aki having fun with the monkey in Cotta

My husband hails from Ozamiz City and we visited their place during the Holy Week. I have been to Ozamiz City before I even met him and last Holy Week, we went to different places in the province like Jimenez with their old church and passed different municipalities along the way.

It was my first time to see real dolphins..haha!

For my baby who loves the water so much ( just like me), we visited the Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park (MOAP) in the town of Sinabacan which is just 25 minutes away from Ozamiz City. I found this blog which has complete information about MOAP. Click here!

3. Guimaras

Alubijod, Guimaras

Oh, the romantic and tranquil island of Guimaras. I visited the island once again this year with my high school barkadas last June. And an interesting fact that one of the women I admire, Daphne Osena-Paez worked and lived in Guimaras for a year. We stayed in Villa Igang Resort and visited Guisi Beach, Guisi Lighthouse and Ruins, Trappist Monastery, etc..

4. Cebu

Aki swimming with his cousin, Boodie in Shangrila Mactan

Should I include this? I’m from Cebu and of course, Iloilo is just an hour away by plane. But this year is different since I came home many times, 4 times to be exact. Even as a local of Cebu it was my first time to visit Shangrila Mactan, the Parola in Lilo-an and the Museum of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Cebu.

5. Manila

"Can I feed them Ma?"

Manila as the capital city serves as the stoppver for many our trips and sometimes we stay for one night to check out this vibrant city. When we went to Mindanao last Holy Week, we treated our son to the Manila Ocean Park but it was not as impressive since we came from MOAP where we really touched sea animals in their own habitant.

When my husband went to Ilocos, we stayed for one night in Manila before going home. And a creepy thing happened, my husband saw a vision of a child burning in pain while we slept in our hotel room. Creepy! I won’t share what hotel it was..I don’t want to ruin their business..haha!

6. Ilocos Norte and Sur

Where is Simon Ibarra?

Our Ilocos trip was the best for this year. I have been dreaming of Ilocos in years and if I remember it right, I once said that I will marry the man that will take me to Ilocos. haha!

There was a storm, Santi hitting Luzon when we went there with some flights cancelled but we conquered them all and had a wonderful time in Ilocos.  When we were in Vigan, we missed our son so much that we didn’t have much fun as we should have.

7. Boracay

ahh..unwind and relax..

I have been to Boracay six times and I shouldn’t put this on my list since I can always go here if I wanted to. But nevertheless, I include this since we spent our special Christmas day in Boracay and it turned out to be the best Boracay trip I ever had. Lessons learned- stay in Station 1 and avoid avoid the peak season during summer.

There is my list. How about you? Where were you in 2009?

As we left Bangui Wind Farm, the golden sun was almost there and we were rushing to go to the next town – Pagudpud. See, when in Ilocos allocate at least 3 days for you to have full control of your time. No time to grudge and we headed off to this famous beach destination in northern Luzon.

When we were in Pagudpud, it was an accomplishment for me. For I am at the northwestern tip of Ilocos and of mainland Luzon. I have reached that far! Wipeeee!

From Laoag City, it is 2 hours by bus and since we went there by car, travel time is lesser than that. If you are from Manila, there are buses that travel straight to Pagudpud if you wish to stop here first.

Saud Beach, Pagudpud. The sand is not as white as it should be since we were there during the Golden hour.

At first, I thought that Pagudpud is a surfing beach though it still can be when the winds are strong but when we arrived, it is a pristine beach. Many people call it as the “Boracay of the North” due to long stretch of  white sand. True, the sand was white but of course, not as powdery as that of Boracay. Still, it is a remarkable white-sand beach in the amidst the typical Ilocano coast characterized by rocky and dark-sandy beaches.

One of resorts in Saud Beach

Pagudpud is actually composed of two beaches – the Saud and the “Blue Lagoon”.  The Saud beach is more accessible and has more facilities compared to the Blue Lagoon. The two beaches do not stretch like Boracay but it reminds of of Dakak – cove with tall mountains and cliffs. One travel writer named Pagudpud as one of the best beaches in Asia but I don’t know specifically which beach he was pertaining to.

The Blue Lagoon is quite far from the main road and twenty minutes from Saud Beach. I love the rock formations along the way and it was such a misfortune that it was already dark when we arrived there. Still, you can see that it such a pristine beach and I was resenting that we don’t have much time.

Blue Lagoon is less commercialized that Saud Beach and it is located in the Maira-Ira Point. It reminds of Guisi Beach in Guimaras for its serenity and tranquility. I just hope they can halt the commercialization in the area.

For photos of Blue Lagoon, I found a nice blog. Click here.

Guimaras island has captured the interests for both local and international tourists with its unspoiled scenery and landscape and of course its, secluded beaches yet to be explored and discovered.  If  you are visiting this island for the first time with a tight budget, Alubijod is the place to go.

As someone who has been to this island many times and met people who’ve been there, Alubijod is always their local destination in Guimaras. For one, this small cove of white-sand beach was perhaps one of the first to be “commercialized” with three resorts lined along its short coast.  Local tourists, simply call is as “poor man’s Boracay” making it the most popular beach in Guimaras for young travelers.

I have been to Guimaras four times already and my first three visits was with Alubijod.  Personally, I would try to explore other resorts other than those in Alubijod but still I recommend first-timers to choose Alubijod. Why?

First, there are many things that you can do in Alubijod without taking so much time planning your itinerary. Aside from swimming, resorts like Raymen’s Beach Resort have their own restaurants. Island hopping is one of the fun-filled activities that you can do in Guimaras and you can easily rent a motorboat along Alubijod.

If you want to explore the other parts of Guimaras, there are many tricycles that you can rent just outside the resorts of Alubijod. Lastly, it is cheap to stay here compared to other resorts in the island; its affordability is the main reason why many people would choose to stay here while in the island of Guimaras

Getting there

From Iloilo City, take a 15-minute boat ride from Ortiz port going to Jordan. Alubijod is located in Nueva Valencia which is 45-60 minutes away from Jordan Wharf, Guimaras by tricycle, jeepney or multicab.

You can also charter one boat directly to Alubihod from Iloilo City which would take 1 hour.

Resorts in Alubijod

You can choose to stay among the three resorts found in the area. I just found out during my last trip to the island last July that the resorts were owned by cousins.

Raymen’s Beach Resort – (033) 338-3177/ 09185207271

Rico Beach Resort – 09184210943

Alubijod Cove – (033) 396-0028

Last thoughts

There are cottages that you can rent overnight if you are really in a tight budget or in the mood for some backpacking adventures. A word of advice though, during peak season this place would tend to get noisy especially at night with guests singing their favorite videoke songs.

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Finally, I was able to spend some quality and enjoyable time in Dakak. I love the beach and in one of the posts about top beaches in the Philippines, I was dreaming of Dakak. ..

Getting there

We only stayed in Dakak for a day since they       were fully-booked. Dakak is located in              Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte;                          just 8 kilometers from the famous Rizal Shrine.

Its distance from Manila or Cebu makes it less popular, but I tell you – it’s all worth it!

There are direct flights to Dipolog City and the resort can meet you with their shuttle to the resort. Dipolog is only less than thirty minutes from Dakak. Dipolog is only less than an hour away from Manila or Cebu by Air.

Peaceful, tranquil and calm

During the Holy Week,when most people are off    from work for some most-awaited vacation, they often choose Boracay which as result, was totally crowded.

But in Dakak when it was also fully-booked, you   will be amazed how spacious the whole place is. The  beach is too wide for all guests and it seems that you are the only checking in!

Dakak is a beach resort and park that covers a total of 15 hectares..yes that large. With this wide territory, you dont have to leave this resort for other activities to do. What’s lacking is a mall – but since we are looking for a getaway, who needs a mall?

Aside from the beach, it has a casino, golf course, swimming pools, souvenier shops, restaraunts and many more. It’s like a little haceinda with well manicured bermuda grass and tall coconut trees. If you have kids, let their energy flow by running around with birds joining them!

The beach

The beach is of powdery sand and the water               is totally safe and calm. As a mother,                        I was so secured with my son wading in the          waters on his own. It was the first time that                 I was watching my child alone but still                 managed to lay down and relax.

The calmness of the water is due to the fact that Dakak is a cove hence, it is a well-sheltered beach. And at night, it is lit up adding romance in the air during dinner!

Since the beach is very wide, the management placed signage to guide guests to the swimming area and to which part water-sports are done. Yup, you can do sailing, scuba-diving, snorkeling, kayakng amng others in Dakak.

Hate the heat? Lined up along the beach front are  shady trees ( I think it’s talisay trees) to protect you from the sun if you dont want to much of it. They have hammocks for you to totally relax and enjoy the scenery.

Service

My husband gave the biggest tip he ever gave to the attendants in Dakak. Most of them are locals and their service is genuine. They make you feel like guests to their own home – polite and well-mannered.

Aside from that, one distinction of Dakak is there security- very tight. Guests can’t come and go. You must make sure your rservation is properly booked or else, you cannot enter the premises. The main gate is far from the main lobby and the rest of the resort.

As a whole, I cant wait to go back to Dakak.  Soul-searching, on honeymoon or simply to find the perfect holiday destination–Dakak is the place!

The Philippines is gifted with many white-sand beaches which made this country a favorite holiday destination among tourists. But even the locals patronize their own beaches with its cool and clear waters.

I have traveled many places and I am proud of what our beaches in the Philippines has to offer. My list is based on my personal judgment ( and I think most of you will agree) and I only include beaches that I personally have visited.

There are some beaches that I have been to that is not included in my list like Bohol ( sorry) since we went there on a very stormy day and I didn’t have a nice time. Likewise, there are some beautiful beaches that I’m still longing to visit like in Palawan and Dakak.

So, here are my top five favorite beaches.

1. Antulang Beach Resort

Never heard of this place? Frankly speaking, only few people have been here and this place speaks of luxury holidays. Room rates are way higher than other resorts and the location is quite far. And because of this, Antulang Beach Resort is the favorite place among Filipino celebrities.

On my case, I have been to this place thrice and I still long to visit the beach once again. It is located an hour from Dumaguete City in Negros Occidental, the best place to get there is to have your own car hire since the resort is far from the main road.

What I love about this beach is their location and privacy. The beach is very private and you can just soak up in the sun all-day. Plus, the staff are very friendly and they are really sincere in their service.

2. White Island Camiguin

Camiguin is an hour and a half ferry ride from Cagayan de Oro City in Mindanao. If you are based in Cebu City, you can take an overnight trip in a ship to Camiguin Island. This island is known as the island ” born from fire” referring to its volcanic origin.

Hence, the beaches in the main island is rocky with some small pebbles but the famous ones is Mantigue Island and White Island which are located off the shore of the main island.

The White Island is very small and you have to hire a small banca ( small fishing boat) to bring you to the island.  You will feel like a cast away once you are there, you are in the middle of the sea. But the island is pure white sand and the waters are very clear.

3. Guimaras Island

This small island is famous for producing the sweetest mango in the country and suffered an oil-spill many years ago. But this island has a very nice beach if you dont have the time to go to Boracay. The easiest way to get here is to take a boat from Iloilo City for about 45 minutes and hire a local jeepney or motorcycle to the nearest beach.

The most famous is Raymen’s Beach Resort which is 40 minutes from the port of Guimaras Island ( Jordan port). The beach is very small but it is not crowded given its white sand and clear waters. Plus, staying in this resort is very cheap and there are boat trips available if you want to visit other islets.

4. Boracay

Maybe you are already raising your eyebrow, why I placed this paradise island on the 4th place. Well, based on my personal criteria, I love beaches

that are less crowded and Boracay over the years became a “mass tourist spot”. There are many times that the place is too crowded and it is very noisy with all the bars and discotheques around.

Still, I cannot deny the beauty of this island. The sand are very soft like powder;I say, the best in the world. Also, this white sand stretches to more than a kilometer.

There you have it, my personal and most loved beaches in the country. These beaches doesn’t require a fortune for you to travel so go ahead and pack your bags and enjoy the sun and the sand in the Philippines!

I first learned about Guisi Beach when I was planning for a getaway with my best friends two weeks ago. As a host, I wanted to bring my friends to a very special place; a place that doesn’t have any trace of mass tourism and that if when we upload our pictures in social networking sites like Facebook, no one can claim that they have been there too.

unspoiled scenery of Guimaras

We have decided to take a holiday in Guimaras Island,Guimaras Island a very green and lush island worldly famous for having the sweetest mango on earth. lies just off the coast of Iloilo City of the Visayas group of islands in the Philippines. The island is itself still a well-preserved landscape; most tourists opt for Boracay Island, though undeniably one of the best beaches in the country is already a mass-tourism infested destination in the Philippines. But there are few people mostly local tourists from neighboring places like Iloilo and Bacolod who have been in this island.

As I googled some interesting places to see in Guimaras, I stumbled upon Guisi Beach. Most people who have been in Guimaras often stay in resorts along Alubihod Cove, a white-sand beach in the island but I want something different this time for my friends and this beach is the right one. The instant I saw some photos of Guisi beach in a travel blog, I felt the immediate attraction. I wanted to pack my bags and head off to the beach right away. I was seduced by this beach and so are my friends. When I sent some links about Guisi Beach to my photographer friend he was tempted to buy a new lens for his camera to capture every inch of the beach.

Though there are some destinations that are only good in photos, I was very confident with Guisi Beach – what you see, you’ll get more and I didn’t fail me.

Journey to Guisi Beach

wanderlusts

The beach is located in Barangay Dolores (barangay is a local political unit in the Philippines like a county) in the town of Nueva Valencia of Guimaras Island. From the main port of the island, Jordan (pronounced as “Hur-dan”) it would take more than an hour. From the center of Nueva Valencia where most resorts are located, it would take more than 30 minutes. It is facing Panay Gulf and is on the southern end of Guimaras.

We went to the beach from our resort in Villa Igang which is located in the town center of Nueva Valencia at exactly 1 o’clock in the afternoon. From our resort, we have to walk to the popular resort of Raymen’s Beach Resort where there are many tricycles or side-car motorcycles which are common modes of transportation in the Philippines. We hired one for 300 pesos (less than $7) for a round trip journey to Guisi; the driver will also wait for us from one until five in the afternoon.

We traveled from muddy to rocky roads to Guisi Beach especially when we already pass the national roads. There was even one point that we have to traverse an uphill and the motorcycle can’t carry us all. Hence, we have to hop out of the motorcycle and catch our breath as we walk uphill.

Finally, after more than 30 minutes we heard a loud yet relaxing splashing of the waves. It turns out that from our stop, we have to walk down on slippery stepping stones going to the beach. It was drizzling when we came due to a low pressure that hit the Philippines during that time that caused scattered rains.

Every step I made, though very uncomfortable with my wet and slippery flip flops, my heart was throbbing with too much glee. Closer and closer I can see the big waves and the icy blue color of the beach. And finally, there she is – Guisi Beach.

Life is a Beach

The weather that day explained the big waves when we arrived but it didn’t deter me and my friends from admiring Guisi Beach. In fact, the big waves added more drama to whole place.

The moment we settled in our cottage which we rented out for 300 pesos, I grabbed my pen and started writing. Isaac, the official photographer of the group was like a hyperactive child walking around clicking his camera catching the waves and the surf. He was totally taken away by the beach; he can’t rest his hands and eyes for getting the best shots or even get his photographic masterpiece. My girlfriends, Pitch, Joanne and Cyril went straight to the beach and enjoy strolling in their bikinis that made the jaws of the locals drop.

The first word that came to me when I first saw the beach was “marvelous” and I said it to myself the moment I laid my eyes on Guisi Beach. All of us were totally awestruck like avid fans seeing their idols for the first time in flesh. It is extremely breathtaking with its virginal state, totally untouched by tourism. I can say that this beach is a traveler’s paradise that can put many known beaches into shame.

I have been to many white-sand beaches in the Philippines and I didn’t expect that the sand to be soft since it is not powdery white. It has this faint golden hue that blends with the cliffs and the limestone origin of Guimaras Island. I love walking along the beach barefoot and was mesmerized with its exotic charm. All you need a cold drink and just lie down on the beach for hours.

Guisi beach has the clearest water I have seen in my entire life. Clear with no single trace of trash or debris floating. Even along the shore, you can see some marine animals like fishes, starfish along with some weeds and sea moss. Even in deeper part of the beach, you can still see the bottom with some small fishes swarming around your feet.

Ace at his best

Likewise, it is sheltered with big rocky corals that made the whole place very picturesque especially when the waves begin to hit the rocks. Isaac captured these images and they are simply stunning! There are cliffs and caves nearby made of limestone; at the left end of the beach is an 18^th century Spanish Lighthouse, Guisi Lighthouse which is another attraction of the place.

Cottage for 300 pesos per day

There are 6 cottages along the beach which are made of native materials like coconut lumber and leaves as its roof. Hence, the place is still in its primitive stage in terms of attracting tourists. But I guess, it made the beach more alluring to me. There is also a small store that sells food but it is best to bring your own food and drinks since the supplies are not very complete.

Things to do

Aside from swimming, relaxing and admiring the whole place; there are plenty of activities that you can enjoy by yourself or with your friends while in Guisi Beach.

If you are a photography buff,Guimaras this place will leave you restless. The scenery, views and total landscape are worth capturing in your lenses. And when you have your photos, you don’t have to take time to edit them for they are all stunning. Boating trips are very common activities in that usually bring visitors to different islands and caves in Guimaras. Since the wind was so strong when we came, we skipped boating. But on a clear day, you can hire a local fisherman to bring you to nearby caves and admire the high cliffs close to the beach. If you want snorkeling, bring your own snorkeling gears because you can’t rent one in the beach. Guisi Beach is rich in marine animals and you don’t have to go far to see these creatures. In shallow waters close to smooth rocks, there are many fishes that will surely catch your fancy.

The locals

Guisi Beach is patronized by the locals who live nearby and they are very conservative. If you happen to arrive with some locals drinking and singing in the cottages, it is a typical Filipino way of relaxing and hanging out. They may seem aloof towards foreign visitors but don’t be bothered with the locals’ shyness.

Also, don’t expect them to speak or understand English very well. Filipinos are known to be very friendly and can easily converse in English but in this part of the country, only few people can understand and speak English. If you want and need to talk to them, talk slowly and make some gestures. Locals can understand you but might find it hard to talk to you.

Furthermore, since they are very conservative they are not used to seeing people wearing swimwear so it is best to just skip your bikini. You can wear the more covered swimwear like a tank top and a beach shorts if you want to avoid the locals ogling at you. And please don’t sunbathe along the beach topless or else you will start a commotion.

Last words

As much as I wanted to promote the beach, I still wish to visit it in succeeding years just the same as I first saw it. I don’t want it to have the same fate as those of other paradise islands turned into a party place filled with rowdy tourists. This beach is really a tropical Eden, a perfect venue for another Survivor series. I want travelers not tourists to visit Guisi Beach, people who have a high regard for its natural beauty.

I feel proud to have “discovered” this beach all by myself– well with the help of Goggle and to belong to some of the chosen few to have visited this well-kept secret. And selfish as it may seem, I desire that it would remain a “secret” particularly in terms of mass tourism where tourists don’t appreciate and respect the real essence of a certain destination. Guisi Beach is the perfect place to chill, relax and unwind and I hope it will stay that way for the longest time possible.

All photos courtesy of Cyril Cabilao and Ace Francisco

For our Guimaras Island Getaway, I opted to reserve a room in Villa Igang Beach Resort in the town of Nueva Valencia. It was my fourth time in the island and it was my first time to stay in that place; I have stayed in the same resort for my last visits. And I wanted something different – for me and for my friends to stay in Guimaras.

I googled about this resort and I got some nice review especially the comparison between that popular resort where I often stayed. And true to their words, it was perfect choice.

The resort is very small but it gives this homey feeling. I suggest choosing Villa Igang as the place to stay in Guimaras during off-peak like weekdays or not during summer vacation.  When we arrive, they were only few other guests and we even hardly saw each other. In short, it seems that we own the whole resort. And this particular feeling is what most travelers want from any resort.

Another important thing is their service. It felt like a home for us. They were many workers and they are not even the typically hotel and resort staff–gardeners and laborers ( think the resort is expanding) but they were all courteous and very nice. The main staff were very accommodating, letting us get some supplies in their own kitchen in wee hours of the morning!

I highly recommend Villa Igang as one of the resorts to choose and stay in Guimaras. The price is very reasonable, the place is safe, the service is superb and the views are very scenic and picturesque.

For more photos click here

For more information or for room reservation: call (63) 033-336-5507

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