Islas de Gigantes
Gigantes Island Tour + Travel Guide
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BEST THINGS TO DO IN ILOILO
Islas de Gigantes Travel Guide
Gigantes Island
When you’re in the province of Iloilo, one of the best things to do is to go island hopping in the Islas de Gigantes, or Gigantes Island, which is located in the municipality of Carles. If you enjoy the beaches and islands of other popular tourist destinations in the Philippines, then you should include Islas de Gigantes in your travel goals for your trip to the Philippines. Islas de Gigantes is a collection of islands off the coast of mainland Iloilo. It is home to isolated beaches with white sand, breathtaking rock formations, and extensive sandbars.
Gigantes Islands got its name from the local legend that giant bones were discovered in one of its caverns. This area is also famous for its seafood, which is both fresh and affordable.
Tours to Gigantes Island may be booked throughout the whole year, providing you with a diverse selection of opportunities for vacationing. It is important to keep in mind, however, that the optimum time to go island hopping in the Philippines is between the months of November and May, which are the drier summer months. You don’t need to be concerned so much about the possibility of weather-related issues interfering with your visit to the island during these months because typhoons are uncommon during this time of year.
If you have time to spare going to and around the province, you might be able to witness one of the greatest festivals in the Philippines, the colorful Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo City, which takes place during the first month of the year.
How to Get from Iloilo City to the Islas de Gigantes
You can take a direct flight with Philippine Airlines or Cebu Pacific to the Iloilo International Airport in Iloilo City if you are coming from Manila in Luzon, Cebu in Visayas, Davao/Cagayan de Oro in Mindanao, or Puerto Princesa in Palawan.
To go to Islas de Gigantes, ride a taxi to Tagbak Terminal in Jaro District. You can board a bus or a van going to Carles from Tagbak Terminal. Ride a Ceres Liner bus or a commuter van heading in the direction of Carles from the Tagbak Terminal.
If you travel by bus, the trip might take you between 3.5 and 4 hours; but if you take a van, it might take you only 2.5 to 3 hours.
Stop off at the Bancal Port in the town of Carles; from there, you’ll board an outrigger boat to travel to the island of Gigantes. The travel takes roughly one and a half hours to complete.
If you plan to stay in Iloilo City, you can still join the island hopping in Gigantes which usually starts at 8 am from the Port of Bancal. Make sure to ride the 1st trip, 4:00 a.m., van to Carles. Contact a Tour Agency that can assist you in securing a return trip to Iloilo at 5 pm (by van). This required advance booking for the island hopping and the return trip to Iloilo City.
How to Get from Roxas City to the Islas de Gigantes
You may also get to Gigantes Island from Manila by taking a direct flight to the Roxas Airport in Roxas City, which is located in the province of Capiz. You’ll be able to cut down on the amount of time it takes to go to Gigantes Island (compared to Iloilo City), which is located 74 kilometers away, and is just around an hour and a half away.
Take a Ceres bus from the Lawaan Transport Terminal. Ride the bus headed to Estancia town proper.
Before reaching Estancia Town proper, stop at Balasan, and from there, you can charter a tricycle to bring you to Bancal, in Carles.
Get yourself to Bancal Port, where you may board a pump boat that will take you to Gigantes Island, and then go forward from there.
Itinerary Highlights for Visiting the Top Attractions on the Islas de Gigantes Islands
Island hopping will take you to stunning islands/beaches while you’re in Gigantes Island. It is the best way for you to see some of the most lovely places in the area.
Cabugao Gamay Island
This island is famous for several reasons, one of which is its elongated shape, which has dense vegetation on one end and stunning rock formations on the other end. The local word for small is “gamay”. Despite its small size, this island is the top attraction of Carles. If you want to have a peaceful time while on the island, you can either go for a swim in the aquamarine seas or lay down on the white sandbar that sits in the middle of the island.
Because of the unique perspective on the island of Cabugao Gamay, which allows visitors to take pictures of themselves with a stunning panorama of the surrounding area in the background, the island is sometimes referred to as the “selfie island.”
Tangke Saltwater Lagoon
The natural pool of Gigantes Islands may be found nestled away in a secluded spot behind some tall limestone cliffs.
Bantigue Island
Another place to go swimming or sunbathing is Bantigue Island, which is known for its extensive stretch of powdery white sandbar.
Tinagong Dagat
This remote region, whose name literally translates to “hidden beach” in English, has been likened to Boracay Island on account of its powdery, white sand, which is a hallmark of the latter.
Antonia Beach
The big stones that are apparently stacked on top of one another along the beach coastlines are the most distinctive aspect of this island.
Pulupandan Islet
When you approach Pulupandan Islet and see a solitary coconut tree standing in the middle of this rather tiny island, you will know that you have arrived at your destination.
Islas de Gigantes Island Hints and Reminders for Your Upcoming Vacation
As Gigantes Island is located in a very rural area, you should anticipate having poor reception on your phone or internet connection. Because there aren’t many banks, ATMs, or convenience stores on the island, it’s probably advisable to bring enough cash and other travel necessities with you before you ever set foot on the island.
Make sure you wear your life vest and pay attention to the directions that your tour guide gives you regarding safety.
Attractions
Tours
- Joiners’ Package
- Private Tour
- Iloilo-Gigantes Tour
- Roxas-Gigantes Tour
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Getting to Carles
Getting to Gigantes
Where to Stay
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Isla Gigantes Travel Guide
Islas de Gigantes Island Tour + Travel Guide
Gigantes Island Guide
Island Tour + Travel Guide
The Islas de Gigantes are a stunning set of islands that may be located in the eastern part of the province. The North Gigante Island, the South Gigante Island, the Cabugao Grande Island, the Cabugao Gamay Island, and the Bantigue Islet are all components of this archipelago.
We took a van from the proper part of Iloilo City to get to Bancal, which is in the municipality of Carless and is where the port for traveling to the islands may be located. Along the route, we got to see both the island of Panay’s mountains and its plains. Even though it was bright outside and we had high hopes for a pleasant day, as soon as we arrived at Carles, it began to storm heavily with rain.
A threatening storm can be inferred from the dense and ominous appearance of the clouds. But that did not prevent us from continuing on our journey. The winds picked up, and the waves were so powerful that we could feel the strain they were putting on our boat’s floats. The waves were also becoming increasingly turbulent. It’s the equivalent of going on a roller coaster without a harness. This is without a doubt the most thrilling and nerve-racking boat ride I’ve ever been on.
Gigantes Norte
After navigating through the waves for an hour, we finally arrived at Gigantes Norte, where we made reservations for our lodging. Before beginning our tour of the islands, we spent the night at that island. Despite the fact that there was a risk of a heavy rainstorm, we decided to swim in the water in front of the resort. The water is incredibly clear, and the sand is white. That night, for dinner, we had scallops, which were the star of the show. We are keeping our fingers crossed that the weather will improve the next day. When we opened our eyes in the morning, we were filled with gratitude that the Lord had heard and answered our prayer from the night before. We got a sunny day!
Antonia Beach
Antonia Beach is a twin beach that provides visitors with views of the waters that surround the island from two distinct vantage points. It is a beach where you can observe rock formations made of limestone.
At Antonia Beach, one may unwind and take it easy while taking in the breathtaking scenery that surrounds them. This magnificent beach can be found in a remote part of Gigantes Sur. The sand is completely white and the atmosphere is spotless, while the water in the ocean is a brilliant shade of turquoise. The beach is perfect for activities such as swimming, snorkeling, picnicking, and camping.
Cabugao Gamay
The island of Cabugao Gamay is the most visited of all the islands that make up the Islas de Gigantes. It is displayed on the majority of travel websites and Instagram accounts. Every tourist has the opportunity to climb to a viewing point that provides a panoramic view of the entire island, including its limestone rock formations, beaches with white sand, and tropical vegetation, as well as the blue-turquoise waters that encircle the island. You’ll wish that you were cast away on this beautiful deserted island instead.
Never let the battery on your mobile phone miss when you are visiting the Islas de Gigantes because you could end up missing out on one of the most significant parts of your life if you do. Guests are encouraged and it is not frowned upon to take selfies while they are on the islands. You can even climb the giant rocks to get a picture-perfect perspective of the islands’ breathtaking scenery, which includes both the land and the water.
Bantigue Sandbar
An incredible stretch of white sandbar can be found on the island of Bantigue, which is where powerful waves make a breathtaking impact on the sand. As we took in our surroundings, we couldn’t help but be appreciative of the tranquility we were enjoying. We ate our lunch at a quaint little cottage just before we left the islet. Once more, the delectable scallops served as the centerpiece of the feast. We devoured a basket full of scallops and various types of seafood.
Tangke Lagoon
The Tangke Salt Water Lagoon is a natural saltwater lagoon that lies in a secret area among the cliffs of the Gigantes Islands. Here, you can swim and enjoy the natural surroundings while you are there. Along the coast of Gigantes Sur may be found the enchanted lagoon that is hidden behind the towering granite cliffs.
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