Getting Lost in Guimaras
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They say that we learn through our mistakes. Hell yeah, we sure did when we visited Guimaras earlier this month!
Not that Guimaras was horrible. It was AWESOME. But what the Poor Traveler learned was that if you want to avoid unnecessary spending, you should plan your trip ahead even when you are backpacking. Especially if you are backpacking.
A few months back, the Poor Traveler and another poor friend availed of one budget airline’s promo and got a pretty 50% off their fare. “Let’s go to Guimaras,” we exclaimed “so we could get a taste of the sweetest mango in the world.” How’s that for a goal? We were able to secure a pair of tickets to Iloilo, then Cebu, then Manila for PhP3,100. That’s already for both of us, which makes it 1550 each — three cities! Sweet, huh?
On October 3, Saturday, our itchy feet led us to Guimaras. The easiest way to get to Guimaras was via Iloilo City. When we landed, the first thing we noticed was that the Ilonggos were so courteous and charming. Hmm, aright, that wasn’t really the first thing we noticed. Rather, it was the airport. It was just so beautiful, we had not seen any provincial airport more delightful.
But what was more delightful was when we noticed that the Ilonggos were so courteous and oh so charming. The moment a van/shuttle driver approached us at the front of the port, he greeted us with a smile and led us to where he was parked. We spent a few minutes waiting for the van to be full and then we drove to Iloilo City. Fare was P50, cheap for a long yet comfortable ride. The van dropped us off at SM Iloilo but the driver did not leave until we got a cab. In fact, the van driver even went of his way to call a cab for us. It was really a kind gesture and honestly, unexpected. The Poor Traveler had never been treated by a driver like that.
When we hopped in the taxi, the driver asked us where to go. “To the pier, sir. We’re going to Guimaras,” was our answer. He asked for the specific resort in Guimaras we would stay in and said we had booked for a room at Baras Beach Resort. And then we were given another favor, he told us exactly how to get there. Sweet drivers in Ilonggo, anyone? The cab ride cost us P100, including the tip, which he did not ask for.
The Poor Traveler and his poor friend then explored the sea port to look for the ferry heading for Guimaras but we just couldn’t find it. Heck, there were no signboards. And we were too shy to ask! Another lesson there, never be afraid to ask for directions. It doesn’t make you stupid, it makes your life a lot easier.
One man noticed how “lost” we were and pointed us to the right direction. Another kind, helpful Ilonggo right there!
Before we boarded the boat, we called the Baras Beach Resort and a woman told us to proceed to Puyo Wharf after, where they would pick us up and take us to the resort.
The boat ride to Guimaras took about 15 minutes and cost P13 per person. We docked at Jordan port. From there, we rented a tricycle to Puyo Wharf for P250. A jeepney would be much cheaper but we wanted a private ride.
When we arrived at Puyo Wharf, we were surprised how deserted the place was. No one was there but us! Poor us! We would’ve thought it was scary but the beauty of the place was just too strong for any fear to exist.
And since the guys from Baras told us they would pick us up, we waited.
And we waited.
And we waited.
And we waited some more.
But it was almost two hours and the guys from Baras was still saying the boat was coming. We couldn’t see any boat approaching and we were growing impatient, about to cry over the wasted time spent waiting rather than swimming. Poor us.
We said enough is enough, phoned the resort and said we would just check into another resort.
What we did not realize was that we were alone and there was no trike or jeepney at the place and the only way to go to where we last saw a moving vehicle was a narrow street surrounded by tall trees and thick bushes. We were seriously scared because it was as if some kind of monster would come out of the bushes to get us as we walk down the road.
Fortunately, an owner-type jeepney passed by and stopped. The driver asked us if we needed a ride and we hitched. The ride was all worth it. Feeling the rural, non-polluted air against our faces was incredible; it was as if the wind blew all our fears and irks away.
We got off at the intersection and a motorcycle driver offered to take us to Alubihod, a strip of white beaches. We checked into Raymen’s Beach Resort.
To be continued…
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Interesting travelogue so far. I was born and grew up in Iloilo until I was 25 years old, but have never been to Guimaras Island I have a lot of relatives in the island but have never met them, Someday, I will visit the island. Currently, I am corresponding with an American friend from Central Illinois, USA who is married to a local Filipina. They reside in Jordan. Based from what he writes, the place is indeed peaceful, pollution-free and away from civilization. Thank you for your complements about the Ilonggos! Looking forward for the continuation of your article about your experiences in Guimaras Island.
Raymen’s Beach Resort’s a cool one to stay at Guimaras… and the new airport in Iloilo is cool, it’s like you’re on the city proper…
I am really amazed how well you narrated your experience in going to Guimaras. Ilonggos are really people who are helpful especially to those who are in need. We are also friendly, accomodating, peaceful and fun loving people. People in the province of Guimaras are also like that for most of those who live in that place trace their roots in the province and city of Iloilo. Guimaras is really so beautiful that there are still places out there like the Yato Island where the beach has white sands comparable to that of Boracay. Thank you for the complements you made about the Ilonggo people… More power!
hi poor traveler,
i LOOOOOve guimaras and i’ve only been there once…to Pasayan Island.. and it was like centuries ago…months before the oil spill…are they still strict with quarantine?…the place is really special..like what i read on your article … deserted but not scary … i’m half ilonggo … and i’m glad you appreciated the beauty of both my mom’s hometown and the guimaras island … God bless you as you travel and inspire travelers like me that it doesn’t need to be that expensive to discover what other culture has to offer …
nice adventure
too bad for Baras Beach resort, they lost a good customer like you. Alubihod is better and way more accessible 
hope you had fun over all.
we had a great time doing sight seeing while in puyo wharf
we’ll definitely visit guimaras again.
thanks for the good words on ilonggos, ill try to share your experience with the tourism officer of guimaras, do come back on january for the dinagyang festival and do side trips to guimaras again, or you may visit conception beaches, pls drop by Leganes town the mecca of Western Visayas, pilgrims flocked the st. vincent shrine every sunday. see yah!
thanks for the good compliments about the ilonggo people. i’m also an ilongga & guimaras is really a nice place, me & my family have been to baras beach thrice, their staff was cool. sorry to hear about your bad experience with the booking thing in baras, all i can say is that they have new manager & she is not as accommodating like peter(the late owner of baras). they just inherit that resort from peter but they didn’t inherit how approachable/accommodating peter is. =(
hello, can anyone give me some tips. because me and my fiance want to do backpacking this coming december. thanks!
you came to the right place! what happened to you at the warf was a was a blessing in disguise. you wouldnt end up in alubihod if the people from baras had picked you up on time. alubihod is such a lovely place if you want clear water, white sands and lots of serenity. ramen resort offeres island hopping for such a cheap price, cottages and air conditioned rooms are cozy and comfortable, you can even buy your own fish from the fishermen by the beach and grill it yourself! i hope you enjoyed your time in guimaras
I’m waiting for the continuation..
Thanks.
my father was born in jordan and grew up in Guimaras island .i always heard him telling us, how beautiful the island when we were growing up.unfortunately we did’t get the chance to visit the place.
can’t wait to read the continuation..:) u got an exciting experience here..^_^
that’s how great illonggos are. proud to be 1 and I’m eager to take thesame experience like you guys. taste of adventure!
baras resort is owned by a friend of mine…a family owned resort…oh well…
Guimaras has many great secrets. We used to go to a friends farm for our fraternity inititation back in the late 70s (a loong time ago, i know), and on this farm is a hidden river and waterfalls. The waterfalls is on the side of a mountain, cascading into pool deep enough that we could climb the sides and dive right in! I prefer the provincial flavor, because you can really get away from civilation, work worries, with a trip out here. I hope your story has a happy ending.
[...] journey may be a bit too tough for us but the destination was all worth it. After getting lost in the beautiful island of Guimaras, the Poor Traveler and his friend finally found a place to [...]