March 18-20,2017
If you've been reading my previous blogs you already know that my province is Iloilo, but going to Isla Gigantes will be my first.
We came to Iloilo with the following goals:
1. Explore Isla Gigantes
2. Have fun (no pressure, no rush)
3. Get tan
The goals listed are achievable right? But due to my busy schedule I forgot to book an agency to facilitate our tour so we just made a DIY itinerary based on what I read from other bloggers. I did not contact any resort/s in the island, I was scared and worried because summer season is fast approaching and that the resorts are full so they can no longer accommodate us and the guy in Bancal port told me that they are celebrating Scallops Festival but the good thing is there are still classes (the kids are not yet allowed to be happy and festive lol!).
Here's our itinerary:
March 18, 2017
7:50am Departure from Manila (NAIA) to Iloilo (IIA)
9:05am Arrived in IIA (no delay!! Can you believe it? Lol!)
Instead of taking a cab to Tagbak Terminal (which cost Php500) we rode the van to SM city Iloilo.
9:20am Departure from IIA to SM city Iloilo
9:45am Arrival in SM City Iloilo
9:50am Departure to Tagbak Terminal (via Cab approx Php120)
10:10am Arrival in Tagbak Terminal
10:15am Departure from Tagbak terminal to Estancia (via van)
I suggest if you are not in a hurry take Ceres bus instead because it has more leg room and not that jam pack (you can sit comfortably) compare to vans and I think it is safer because van drivers drove faster and they have been over taking the wrong way.
We took the van right away without thinking because they were only waiting for 2 passengers (Php150/head). And the last boat to Isla Gigantes will depart at around 2pm and it was 10am already, the way I thought that the traffic going to Estancia was like the same traffic in Manila. (lol!).
1:20pm Arrived in Estancia
When we arrived in Estancia the only idea I had was to ride a tricycle to port, which port? I have no idea. That's why I asked the tricycle driver to drop us off to which ever port as long as it goes to Isla Gigantes.
The tricycle costs Php100/head to Bancal port, but I gave additional 100 because Bancal port was way too far than we expected it.
1:35pm We arrived in Bancal port, the tricycle drop us off in front of Tourism office. I confirmed that the next boat will be in 2:00pm. Yey!
We paid Php75/head for environmental fee and Php80/head one way boat ride to Isla Gigantes. We went there without any plans luckily someone approached us and offered packages from Gigantes Hideaway resort. He even said that the environmental fee, boat fare and habal habal from isla gigantes port to Hideaway resort will be reimbursed.
2:00pm Departed from Bancal port to Isla Gigantes
I must warn you, you will travel an open sea, so expect huge waves. Like literally! lol! But it was fun!!
4:00pm Safely arrived in Isla Gigantes!!
Just a tip, when you arrived there, there are a lot of habal habal drivers that will persuade you to bring to the resort just say no nicely and wait for your tour guide, he has a habal habal as well if you cannot fit in his habal habal then that's the time he will hire a driver.
Habal habal is Php30/head (included in reimbursable).
We finally arrived in Gigantes Hideaway Resort!! As soon as we arrived I asked for their rate. They gave Php3,665/head that includes:
3 days 2 nights accommodation (fan room)Food (1st day: dinner; 2nd day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner; 3rd day: breakfast)Environmental fee, Round trip boat fare boat use in island hoping island hoping (entrance fees in different resorts during island hoping)personal tour guide light house
At first, we were placed in a room it was like a huge house with 3 rooms (I think) you can hear your neighbors we thought we can't sleep there because there are noisy kids from the other room, but thank God we were transferred in a cottage without even asking.
So here's our cottage looks like
Inside..
Once we put down our bags and wash our faces we were immediately called by our tour guide so we can go to the light house.
MORE PHOTOS >>>> HERE <<<<
After exploring the light house it was our free time means we will rest (lol!), our tour guide said he will call us once our dinner is ready.
Here's our dinner on our 1st night in the island.
I just took a video, I forgot it would be better if I just took a flat lay. LOL!
The food was great and also very fresh!! I couldn't ask for more during my stay in the island. Before I forgot, signal wasn't available that's why you have to ask your tour guide to bring you to signal area, you will ride his habal habal going to the signal area. I really like it because somehow we were isolated no social media, no text messages, and no calls. Then we go back to our cottage to rest and sleep for our next day adventure.
March 19, 2017
7:00am Breakfast
8:00am Start of our Island HOPING!!!
We thought the boat that we're using was the same boat going to Isla Gigantes, but we were wrong instead, we will use a smaller boat that can only accommodate 6-8 persons. It was quite scary because like what I've said earlier there were huge waves but I liked it! My boyfriend said "Island hoping na, may free rides pa". LOL!
Antonia Island Beach Resort
You can snorkel, swim, eat, camp, drink, and rest.
MORE PHOTOS >>>> HERE<<<<
Bantigue Sandbar
The sandbar was wide and also long!!! Longest sandbar I've ever went to.
MORE PHOTOS >>>>HERE<<<<
Maruja Flora's Island Paradise Resort
This island is where you can see the famous landscape.
MORE PHOTOS >>>>HERE<<<<
Tangke Lagoon
When we arrived in Tangke Lagoon it feels like we were in El Nido with those beautiful rock formations.
MORE PHOTOS >>>>HERE<<<<
Bulubadiagan Island
Our tour guide said we will be having our lunch in Bulubadiagan and we were on time. Yipee! I did not take any photos in the island except for our food. LOL!
Bakwitan Cave
Once our island hoping was done we thought we were going back to our cottage but we still have to go to the cave. So our tour guide brought us in Bakwitan Cave and the tour guide to the cave was there waiting for us, It is a must that you should have a tour guide when going inside the cave.
We weren't able to make it to the exit because we think it was too dangerous.
MORE PHOTOS >>>>HERE<<<<
After exploring the cave we headed back to our cottage to rest and we waited until our last dinner in the island. :(
March 20, 2017
Our last in paradise. :(
7:00am Call time to eat our breakfast
8:00am We were already in the boat to Estancia
10:00am Departure to Estancia port
12:00nn Arrival in Estancia port
12:30nn Arrival in Estancia Terminal (the travel time to Estancia port to terminal is about 10-15 minutes but it took us 30 minutes because one of the passengers in the tricycle ask the driver to stop by an ATM machine).
1:00pm Departure to Iloilo City, Tagbak Terminal
3:00pm Arrival in Tagbak Terminal
I will definitely be back in this paradise. :)
You might want to check:
- Things to do in Iloilo
- Explore Iloilo: Midway Passi
- Santa Monica Parish Church
- Dinagyang Festival
- Things to do in Bacolod City
- Manggahan Festival in Guimaras
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