If there was one place that has been long overdue in my travel list, it would be the province of Iloilo.
Sparking my interest after making a video about it for work back in 2018, I was easily captivated by this Visayan province because of its beautiful and well-preserved Spanish colonial buildings and heritage sites that made my architecture-fan heart happy and want to fly to the place immediately. However, story of the latter materializing took a while because of lack of companion and my parents disapproving of my solo traveling until I learned that one of my previous colleagues and her friends are flying to the place the following year serving as go signal for this anticipated trip.
With more than a year of planning, I was able to study and meticulously pick out the places that I really want to visit and see in the City of Love. Aside from the city itself, my friend and I also included trips to the picturesque Isla de Gigantes and some famous tourist spots in the southern part of the province. I also wanted to include a visit to the town of Leon to see Iloilo’s Little Baguio but due to time constraints, decided to exclude this and save it for my next trip. After some couple of research and necessary bookings, we were able to come up with our three-day itinerary and for our first day we decided to go to northern part of Iloilo.
DAY 1 – Northern Iloilo
12:25AM – ETA in Iloilo
12:30AM to 1:00AM – Travel to Airbnb from airport
1:00AM – Arrive in Airbnb
1:00AM to 4:00AM – Rest
4:00AM to 8:00PM – Travel to Bancal Port
8:00AM to 8:30AM – Change into swimming attire; Quick breakfast
8:30AM – Call time for Isla de Gigantes tour
8:30AM to 4:10PM – Isla de Gigantes tour
4:10PM to 4:30PM – Wash up and change clothes
4:30PM to 8:30PM – Travel to Iloilo City
8:30PM to 9:30PM – Dinner at Breakthrough @ SM City Iloilo
9:30PM onwards – Go back to hotel and rest
We arrived in Iloilo International Airport past midnight where we rode a cab going to our booked Airbnb in the city that took us around 30 minutes to reach. Upon arrival and agreed, we immediately looked for the security guard who the owner entrusted to take care of our bags since our booked room is still occupied by another guest with an overlapping schedule with us. After changing our clothes and realizing that we don’t have a place to stay in the Airbnb’s premises during the time, we then started our early travel to our first stop for the day which was Isla de Gigantes.
Located in the northern municipality of Carles, Isla de Gigantes is Iloilo’s famous tourist spot known for its picturesque fine-sand islands and distinct blue waters. A newcomer in the usual century-old attractions in the province, the discovery of Gigantes was accidental when rescue officers spotted its beautiful islands while on a mission after the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda (a.k.a. Typhoon Haiyan) to nearby provinces in 2013. Ever since, the place started gaining popularity and became a must-visit when traveling to Iloilo.
From the city, Isla de Gigantes can be reached by taking a bus or van bound to Carles in Tagbak Terminal in Jaro District. For our trip and since we’ve arrived very early in the place, we took the 2AM van bound for Bancal Port, the jump-off point to Gigantes, which costs ₱250 per head. Travel time can take up to four hours but due to the early time, our trip was cut short to around 2.5 hours.
Various tour organizers offer package trips to Isla de Gigantes which what we opted when we visited the tourist spot. However, in case you come unprepared, there are also local organizers in Bancal Port that will offer you trips to the place. A handful of eateries can also be found in the port for travelers who would like to have a quick snack before starting their day. It was also here where we had our breakfast with a complementing view of the sea.
After our 8:30AM call time and registering in the tourism office, we finally boarded the boat that we will be taking to visit the five islands in our list. First stop was Pulupandan Islet which is located 30 minutes away from the port.
Characterized by the lone palm tree that stands in the middle of the place, Pulupandan is one of the first islands that will welcome visitors upon their start of their Gigantes tour. Aside from the palm tree, there’s also surrounding rock formations found the place and nipa huts that seem to become a shelter of fishermen when the weather is bad. Honestly, there’s nothing really special about this small islet but if you’ve been wanting to see and experience the island life literally, Pulupandan would be a delight for you.
Several minutes away from Pulupandan Islet is the star of Gigantes Islands that is Cabugao Gamay.
The most photographed among all of the islands found in the place, Cabugao Gamay became the image of both Gigantes and the municipality of Carles because of its beautiful overlooking view that features the clear blue waters of its surrounding sea. Aside from the viewing deck that offers those Instagram-worthy shots, there are also shell and stone displays located below that are up for photo ops. Swimming is also allowed to fully experience the beauty of the place.
Already visible from Cabugao Gamay was our third stop for the day that is called Bantigue Sandbar. Being my first time to see a sandbar, I was keen to visit this place which offered a panoramic view of the sea and the nearby islands and experience watching small waves come in all directions when standing at the edge of the sandbar. It was also here where I fully observed how clear and distinctly blue Gigantes waters are. Tourists who would like to take home scallops can buy ones here for ₱1 per piece.
After minutes of swimming and taking in the beauty of Bantigue, we then proceeded to our fourth destination for the day which was Antonia Beach.
More established and commercialized compared to the first three islands, Antonia Beach boasts of surrounding limestone formations similar to the ones found in Palawan. Hungry visitors could also dine in the place as there is a resort serving foods in the area. Snorkeling is a popular activity in the beach to catch a glimpse of some sea creatures living beneath its waters. If relaxing is your idea of spending time in the beach, small nipa pavilions are also available to use in the area.
We spent our time in the beach lounging and catching some Zs in one of the place’s nipa pavilions before being called by our tour guide for our next and last destination of the tour which was Lantangan Beach. The first four islands were more beautiful than in our next stop but the thought of our complementing tour lunch being served here made me look forward of seeing this place.
Unlike in the previous islands, our boat did not dock in the shore as it was too shallow for anchoring, hence, we needed to get off and walk to reach the land. The water’s temperature rose as we got nearer and when we’ve finally reached the shore, our tour guide directed us to go inside a nipa house where our lunch was waiting for us. Delight registered on my face when I saw the handful of seafood meals served right before us.
Fresh from the sea, I particularly enjoyed both the steamed and dried scallops that tasted well when dipped in a chili vinegar and when partnered with hot rice. There was also a serving of wasing-wasing, fried fish whose name I wasn’t able to ask and a bowl chicken soup that seemed to taste like a tinola (Filipino chicken soup) minus the veggies. I actually enjoyed our seafood feast in the place that when a kid approached us and offered dried scallops, I did not hesitate of buying one to take home.
After a hearty meal and paying our remaining balance for the tour, we walked back to our boat and headed back to Bancal Port where we officially ended our Gigantes tour and washed up before being taken back to the city by the tour’s third-party van service. Fare costs ₱260 which dropped us off directly in front of our Airbnb after four hours of travel.
Our supposed part two of seafood feast at Breakthrough was postponed due to its distance as we were expecting to be dropped off from our tour at SM City Iloilo. Hence, we just decided instead to grab dinner at the nearby Atria Park District and explore the area before finally returning to our Airbnb and to gain energy for our second day in Iloilo.
Any thoughts?