HOW TO GET FROM

Bancal to Gigantes Island

Island Hopping Tour

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Islas de Gigantes Guide

Getting to Gigantes Island From Bancal

The primary entry point to Gigantes from mainland Panay are the municipalities of Carles and Estancia, which can be reached by land from all of mainland Panay Island’s major transportation hubs, including Iloilo International Airport, Kalibo International Airport, Roxas City Airport, and Boracay Airport (in Caticlan).

The easiest and quickest method to get to the Gigantes Islands is through Bancal Port in the town of Carles.

Every day a passenger boat travels from Carles and Estancia to Gigantes. Please note that there is a possibility that you may be left behind as the boat may leave earlier than expected, when all seats become fully occupied by passengers ahead of their scheduled departure.

So it would be wise to, either:

Get accommodation in Bancal if you do not want to be stressed with catching up on the boat schedule. After all, the usual starting point for island hopping would be at the Bancal Port in Carles, Iloilo;
Or contact a travel agency (we can help you get one) that can give you assurance that you will be able to spend your vacation on the stunning Island of Gigantes without being left behind by a boat in mainland Iloilo. Travel agencies can arrange for you private trips and book your accommodation in Gigantes as lodging houses are also limited.

Make sure to pay the environmental charge at the tourism office before boarding the boat. At the port of Bancal, pay PhP 75 for the environmental fee at the Tourism Office.

It will take around one and a half hours to get from Bancal to the Gigantes Islands.

The following are the several options that you can reach Gigantes island if you are departing from Bancal port: The travel takes roughly a time and a half and a half:

You are able to go on a tour of Gigantes island by chartering a boat for the day.
Now you have the option to go to Gigantes island on a guided tour with a group.
You may take the passenger boat from Bancal Port to get to Lango beach in Gigantes Norte, which is where the majority of the homestays are. The passenger boat departs the port of Bancal at 10 in the morning and arrives at Gigantes Norte around 11:30 in the morning. The fare is PHP 100, and the trip should take approximately one hour and a half.

In the event that you are too late to catch the public boat in Bancal, you have the option of taking the shuttle express from the port of Bancal to Gigantes Norte. The cost is PHP 300. The following is a breakdown of the schedule:

The hours for Monday through Thursday are as follows: 7:00 pm, 10:00 a.m., 3:00 pm, and 4:30 p.m.
From Friday through Sunday, the hours will be as follows: 8:30 am and 12:30 pm

When planning a trip to Gigantes, remember that the boat only runs Bancal for Gigantes Norte Island once daily. Therefore, we suggest you arrive at the port early.

Fortunately, the tour operators offer special tours to individuals who purchase tour packages at the prearranged time.

Rates for Boat Rental:

For up to 10 people, a small boat costs 3,500 pesos.
Medium Boat for 11 to 15 People, P5,000
Big Boat: P6,000; seats 16–30 people

To get to and around Gigantes instead, tourists can charter a boat from either seaport. There are no public transportation options in Gigantes, therefore you must charter a boat in order to go between the islands. Narrow inland roads connect the many villages on the larger islands, Gigantes Norte and Gigantes Sur.

Spend time relaxing on one of the many white sand beaches and sandbars in Gigantes. The most fantastic beaches may be found at Antonia, Cabugaw Gamay Island, and Bantigue, which are all only accessible by boat from the resorts. In addition, the main islands of Gigantes Norte and Gigantes Sur may have sandy beaches.

To go around Gigantes on DIY, take a public boat to Lango beach in Gigantes Norte, and from there, hire a boat to take you to Antonia beach or Cabugao Gamay island, where you can stay for the night. If you want to do this, you can get to Lago beach in Gigantes Norte first (see the directions above for how to get there), and then from there, you can hire a boat to carry you to the island where you want to spend the night. You will need to rent a boat in order to explore the surrounding islands while you are in Gigantes.