10 years ago I used to say that once I set foot in Guimaras then I can die. Those were the days when I’m dying of envy when my uncle would often show us pictures and tell us stories about how beautiful Iloilo and Guimaras is and how sweet and lovely the locals are, and oh yeah, the mangoes too! 
10 years after, February 2010, after my trek in Igbaras, Iloilo, there I was riding a padyak heading towards the port to Guimaras! 
I paid for the fare in port Ortiz Port to Jordan, Guimaras. I was given a number to board a large outrigger boat that has a capacity of more or less 25 passengers and is equipped with life jackets . All the while I thought once I get to Jordan, I could just walk and swim in a white sand beach nearby…but I was wrong.
I inquired at the tourism booth for the best place to visit for a 1st timer in Guimaras. The lady manning the booth pointed out Nueva Valencia on the map, only problem is, it’s a 45 minute ride via jeep, and I have to wait for other passengers…and I have less than 2 hours left to catch the sunset. Tricycle drivers swarmed me, all hungry to take me there for a special rate, I took the cheapest offer of course!
The tricycle stopped at Raymen Beach Resort at sitio Alubihod in Nueva Valencia. The beach front of the resort is white sand with clear blue waters and is teeming with small scale resorts, some henna tattoos, and handmade tribal accessories sold by the local artisans themselves. Ahhhh…finally Guimaras beach!.. But I was looking for something more. I wanted to see Guimaras’ breath taking sunset. 
The driver tipped me that I can do island hopping for Php 400 starting for the 1st hour. That’s quite cheap! I boarded the small outrigger boat with the driver, the boatmen and the 2 kids. 
Despite being famous, Guimaras has maintained it’s serenity.
The boat then entered a narrow mouth of a limestone cave with emerald waters inside!
After the impressive cave tour, the boat docked into Pawcaf”s Pawikan caring and feeding station where one can find baby fishes of different sorts and pawikan. Those poor babies are then freed into the vast sea once they grow up.
Our last stop is Baras Beach Resort which is located in one of the islands with Balinese-inspired cottages sitting on it’s cliff. Cottages costs Php1,500 and could accommodate 5-6 people.
Balinese-inspired cottages in Baras
One of the boatmen escorted me to the cliff…
show me the light
I love Guimaras… it’s topography and calmness offered me a much needed respite from my chaotic life back in the city.
Unfortunately, the sun is hiding at the back of the hill, as the boat started it’s engine back to Alubihod, it’s rays glared through my eyes. I had to accept that I won’t be able to see the beautiful sunset…
but somewhere in the midst of an island and the horizon between the sky and an enormous sea in a moving outrigger boat…
I caught the sunset in Guimaras.
sunset in Guimaras
and I found more. 
free me
life in mono
a lonely or a lovely tree?
Credits:
Thank you again to Marcos for all the help in my Panay Island trip and to to the following people:
my good driver and the boatman/guide
and my lil travel buddies!
How to Get to Guimaras:
From Ortiz port in Iloilo City,you can ride a boat bound to Jordan,Guimaras.
From Jordan there are jeepneys that can take you to Alubihod in Nueva Valencia town, you can also hire a tricycle for special trips and you can hire a boat for island hoping there.
inside the limestone cave in Guimaras
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2010 Gael Hilotin
About the Blogger : Gael is a Filipina solo traveler, a dream chaser and a student of life. Her (mis) adventures are documented on this blog. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
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As your trademark, breathtaking photos. Although it has always been my belief that pictures won’t come close to giving justice to the scenery, yours proved me wrong.
Guimaras has a special place in my heart too. I will always remember the sweet lingering scent in the air, heartwarming locals, pristine beaches and the simplicity of life.
Continue exploring,Pinay. And through it all, we, too can be to places you’ve been.
thank you Rose! I hope to travel with you! =)
more more!
nabitin ako.. Ü
haha kase naman, d ko namalayan eh na-publish ko pala ang draft! paggising ko nagulat nlng aq dhil naka post na xa sa FB q.
Grabe ka talaga, starting the day with trekking in Igbaras (Southern Iloilo), watching the sunset during an island hopping trip in Guimaras, and still manage to go back to the city by sundown. I was so impressed when you told me about your trip. Tapos with the bright yellow dress in the cave … hehe
aw…. nice beach!!! i so wanna go to the beach right now… it’s winter here in brazil…cool @.@
and i wish i can go to a beach in Brazil during the summer! thnx for dropping by Fufu!
hi there hows it going
i’ve been to guimaras and iloilo 2yrs ago to visit some friends… such a beautiful place, serene.. i might go back again
napaka serene nung sunset shot! lufet talga
Gael! Need help.I’ve been trying to catch you in the office to ask you about this.hehe We’re heading to Guimaras in November.Any suggestions how we can maximize Iloilo City and Guimaras Island in 3days? I’ve been thinking of staying at Raymen.Is it easy go around the island from that area?And is Guimaras bigger than Boracay? Sorry dami kong tanong hehe
Thanks!
I also went to Guimaras last August to try out their mangoes, but I only found out in the market that it was off season! The lanzones were sweet, though, so the trip wasn’t a total letdown. Thank you for this post. Next time I go there I’ll be sure to go island hopping and hopefully snap pictures that are as beautiful as yours are.
your welcome sout! thnx for dropping by!
Fantastic photos. I’m a kano living in Guimaras for over a year with my beautiful Filipina wife, and the scenery offers me some great photo ops. It’s laid back and peaceful here. A great place to visit or live.
i grew up in guimaras,and im 100% guimarasnon..i am so touched with the pictures and the way you expressed your feelings to my hometown..i now realized how beautiful and peaceful it is,i’m always longing to go back home for my heart is always there.. my family ,my friends,and people i knew since birth..thank you so much for your pages. even i sorrounded with modern life in western country my heart is always in my hometown. theres no place like home…
thank you so much and God bless you!!!!
awww…thank you for dropping by!
I am deeply touched, thnx for leaving a mark on my post. So true, Guimaras is one of my favorite islands, serene and captivating.
Awesome photos!
I went on a solo backpacking trip to Iloilo last week. I ended up staying for two days in Guimaras. I spent my mornings sitting under a buribituon tree (the crushed fruit of which is incidentally used by locals to cure cysts) as I read a book, chatted with the boatmen and locals, and simply marveled at the beautiful scenery.”
Btw, si kuya rin ang driver ko.
wow! another must see… kahapon may seat sale airphilexpress and I saw iloilo worth 179 + tax. Asked a few kung ano bang meron dun at wala akong napala. I should have browsed your site first. huhuhuhu =( hindi ko tuloy na-avail. Anyway thanks for this nice post. Sana maka kita ako ulit for next year.
guimaras is alluring, yet sinister in its own way.
wish i saw those pawikans when we went there in guimaras. though wayback childhood days, we used to butcher and eat it, as my lola ran an exotic seafood restaurant. she used to cook sharks, eels, octopus, and yes sadly, the endangered pawikans.
Hello, travel agent ? Book me a ticket to Guimaras….its in The Philippines , travelling as soon as possible!…lol…An imaginary phone conversation but one that I hpope becomes a reality soon . A great post and I loved your pics.
Ang galing galing naman. Salute!
I went to guimaras and iloilo din. Maganda talaga dyan. I visited din yung guimaras national park and rest house ng mga lopez. May kunting swimming sa Abe maria island, Noeva Valencia ang malapit sa port yung Jordan maraming beach kaya lang masyado ng malayo.
hey.
i hope we can change emails. we have plans visiting guimaras this april 2011.
Indi ako nakapag island hopping during our stay in Guimaras, dahil sa post mo, I’ll make sure to do it next time =]
How much did you pay for the tricycle to raymen and how many hours did you spent for the island hopping? Thanks!
I paid Php400, should be Php250 1 way so dapat Php500 but since i arrived late na, he gave me a disocunt of Php100, it was quick though kase hapon na xa. You can take a jeep (30minutes to Raymen). But the 1 day trike tour is around 1.5k daw po good for 3-4 people, madameng areas na ang covered. 1hour of island hopping starts at Php400. and additional Php100 for every hour, boat is good for 4 people so sulit xa if group kayo. =)
Hi Dear-
If you have contacts in Guimaras as my husband and I will go there this coming weekend pls let me know. cheap island hopping, nice resort to stay..We would want it beachfront and made reservations at Kenyama. Let me know if its a nice place to stay. This is like our second honeymoon. I hope you can advise. Thanks!
Hi Cherry,
Sorry had to delete your cell# here to prevent it frm being exposed to bad entities. anyway, I have no contact po in Guimaras, I went there by myself and just hired the boat. The trike driver brought me to Raymen beach resort, where the tout for island hopping approached me. But I chcked Kenyama, the room looks pretty nice and clean in the photos naman po. Usual rate for island hopping is Php400 for the 1st hour then Php100 for every each hour thereafter. I was able to complete the island hopping in 2 hours only, so it cost me Php500 for the boat excluding the tip. Sorry wasn’t able to help you.
Enjoy your honeymoon!
cheers,
gael
oh wow!
sa raymen din kami nag-stay.
i’ve been to Guimaras thrice. It’s near in Iloilo so it’s not much of hassle.
Yeah. i so agree with you. Ilonggos and Guimarasnon people are sweet and hospitable.
The mangoes too.
I’ve been to Guimaras early this year with my friends…si Kuya din driver namin..he’s so friendly and accommodating. He took us to the lighthouse, Raymen beach resort but sad to say we run out of time to visit Balaang Bukid and we haven’t tried the island hopping because we’ve preferred to see the lighthouse
Super stunning photos, makes me want to fly to Iloilo and catch a boat to Guimaras right now.
Hi,
May I ask the contact number of your tour guide?
Thanks!
hi RA. I lost his # already bec my phone went dead last month.
But you can see him on the port sometimes. and most of the trike drivers there are nice naman. have fun! 
dati sumisigaw ako kapag nakikita ko ang magaganda mong shot ng sunsets and sunrise… but your serene shots of Guimaras sunset is different..the shots made me silent.iba ka talaga Pinay..
haha salamat Mela.