Islas de Gigantes
Gigantes Islands Travel Guide and Tips (Plus Full Itinerary)
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BEST THINGS TO DO IN ILOILO
GIGANTES ISLAND
Travel Guide and Tips Plus Full Itinerary
A Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors to the Gigantes Islands
Not only is the province of Iloilo abundant in history and culture, but it is also well known for the natural structures and beautiful beaches that can be seen there. The Gigantes Islands sometimes referred to as Islas de Gigantes, are one of the places that travelers can’t miss when in Iloilo. It occupies the most northern section of the province of Iloilo and is a component of the municipality of Carles in the province of Iloilo in the Philippines.
The Islas de Gigantes is replete with pristine beaches of pure white sand, incredible rock formations, delicious locally caught seafood (particularly scallops), and a great lot more. After the destruction caused by Typhoon Haiyan, also known as Super Typhoon Yolanda, the residents claim that the media finally got a chance to view the island’s natural beauty for the first time.
It is impossible to get a full visit to Gigantes without going on an island hopping tour and seeing some of the magnificent and gorgeous islands there. The island of Cabugao Gamay, popularly referred to as Selfie Island, is consistently ranked as one of the top choices among islands. This is the location in the Gigantes Group of Islands that receives the most photographs. It has sands that are white and pristine, water that is turquoise, and remarkable rock formations.
The Tangke Saltwater Lagoon is yet another location that offers wonderful photographic opportunities. It is a sheltered lagoon that is encircled by rock formations and provides a swimming location that has waters that are both clear and shallow. It is recommended that you pay this location a visit throughout the week. Weekends and holidays tend to have the most foot traffic.
The majority of visitors will begin their island-hopping adventure on Pulupandan Islet. This unassumingly humble island features a scattering of cozy huts that serve as the fishermen’s final stop before venturing out to sea.
It’s a good thing that lunch with complimentary scallops is included in most tour packages in Gigantes.
To Do
Island hopping, swimming, free diving, caving, spelunking, rock climbing, boating, and food trips are just some of the activities that are available to you. The islands provide a wide variety of trip and sea pursuits that are likely to keep you entertained throughout your lot in Gigantes.
Where to Stay
Near the Gigantes Islands, there is a wide variety of lodging options that are suitable for those on a limited budget. The majority of these resorts are located in Estancia and Carles respectively.
Chateau de Aow provides decent accommodations in an atmosphere reminiscent of a home. The area with the hammocks is one of my absolute favorites here at the resort. It is the greatest spot to kick back and relax while lying in the cozy and brightly colored hammock that is provided.
Solina Beach and Nature Resort is a good place to stay if you are looking for the best resort that Carles has to offer. At the moent, it is the very first and only luxury lodging option available in Carles, Iloilo, and it is well situated as a departure point for tours to the Gigantes Islands. You may also be interested in checking out the New Beach Head Resort, which is another option.
How to Reach the Islas de Gigantes
Traveling by land from Iloilo to Carles, which is the starting point for travel trips, can take up to four hours, although traveling from Roxas City takes only one hour and a half to two hours..
From the city of Iloilo to Carles
Travel to the city of Iloilo via airplane. The journey from Manila to Iloilo City takes more than an hour to complete.
- Take a van or a cab to travel to Tagbak Terminal in Jaro district.
- Take a bus or a van heading in the direction of the Bancal Port in Carles from the Tagbak Terminal. Fare is around P300 – P350 per passenger depending on the transportation vehicle you use. The trip takes between 3.5 and 4 hours when traveling by bus. When traveling by van, the trip should only take about 2.5 to 3 hours.
Starting in Capiz City and ending in Carles, Iloilo
Fly to Roxas City, which is located in Capiz. The travel from Manila to Roxas City takes around an hour and a half to complete.
- Ride a tricycle to Roxas City Integrated Transport Terminal. The fare ranges between P100 and P150. Travel time is 10-15 minutes.
- Ride a bus from Ceres heading in the direction of Estancia, then get off the bus in Balasan. The price of a ticket on the Ceres bus is around P100. Travel time is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. You can also ride a van going in the direction of Carles and get off at the Balasan stop. The time needed to travel by van is around 1 hour and 30 minutes. Van travel begins at 6 in the morning and continues until 6 in the evening.
- From Balasan, take a tricycle for 150-200 pesos or a motorcycle taxi known as a habal-habal for one hundred to one fifty pesos all the way to the Bancal port in Carles.
To Carles, Iloilo from Caticlan (Boracay) and Kalibo
To get to Kalibo from the Caticlan Port, you can take a bus or a van. The travel time is between 1 and 2 hours.
To go to Roxas City from Kalibo, take a van or bus operated by Ceres Liner. The travel time is between 1 and 2 hours.
3D/2N Gigantes Island Itinerary
This is a sample itinerary only.
Day 1
- 6 a.m. – Tagbak Terminal in Iloilo City to Carles via bus/van
- 10 a.m. – ETA in Carles
- 10:15 a.m. – Hotel/Resort Check-in in Bancal
- 12 noon – Lunch
- 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. – Half-day tour
Day 2
- 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Gigantes Island Hopping Tour
Day 3
- 9 a.m. – Resort Check-out
- 10 a.m. – enroute to Tagbak Terminal via bus/van from Carles
As packages may change rates and inclusions, please contact your tour agency for packages that suit your needs.
Islas de Gigantes is a wonderful place to go if you want to get away from the people and the hustle and bustle of the Metro so that you can just relax and enjoy the laid-back beach lifestyle. Islas de Gigantes is a destination that cannot be missed on any future travel plans you make.
Joiners’ Package
Day tour for as cheap as Php 999 per head includes a licensed island-hopping boat to the Gigantes Islands, DOT-trained professionals, all entrance and environmental fees, a seafood lunch by the beach, complimentary steamed scallops, and unlimited drinking water.
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- Joiners’ Package
- Private Tour
- Iloilo-Gigantes Tour
- Roxas-Gigantes Tour
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Getting to Gigantes
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Isla Gigantes Travel Guide
Islas de Gigantes Island Tour + Travel Guide
GIGANTES ISLANDS TRAVEL
Guide and Tips
The group of islands known as the Islas de Gigantes can be located approximately 12 kilometers to the east of the town of Estancia. It is considered to be a part of the town of Carless in Iloilo.
The islands are home to a plethora of enticing beaches with pure white sand and various points of interest. Some of the most popular places to visit in Antonia are Bantigue Sand Bar, Cabugao Gamay, and Tanke Saltwater Lagoon.
Those pre-Hispanic burial jars and coffins measuring 8 feet in length were found in Lungon-Lungon Cave and Bakwitan Cave. Even in the modern era, archaeologists have been able to unearth human skeletons and found burial jars in these caves. However, there are additional caves throughout the islands that have not yet been explored.
It would be a shame to leave the island without seeing these interesting locations.
Gigantes Norte is home to a handful of the more conventional types of beach resorts and inns. In addition, there are home stays available to both domestic and international visitors. There is always a selection of fresh sea available, with an emphasis on scallops.
Only from three in the afternoon until eleven at night do residents in this area have access to electricity, which is generated locally.
Island Hopping
If you travel to the Philippines, you will find that island hopping is an activity that is offered virtually everywhere you go on almost every island. The Philippine archipelago is home to a number of stunning tropical islands and sandbars, each of which has its own special appeal and world.
Islas Gigantes is a remote tropical island destination that is only one and a half to two hours away by boat from the Iloilo mainland.
When vacationing in Gigantes, island hopping is an activity that is an absolute “must try.”
Bantigue Island & Sandbar
It is said that Bantingue has monkeys in their natural habitat.
A mesmerizing sandbar that can only be seen on the Bantigue Island when the tide is low. This island is very small. This island is known for having some of the clearest water of any of the other islands’ shores. The winding, long sandbar will ultimately bring you to a collection of homes where the villagers make their home. Scallops that have been steamed are available from the locals for a price of 1 gold piece per scallop.
Cabugao Gamay
The breathtaking island resort of Cabugao is comprised of essentially two rocky protrusions that project into the ocean and are linked together by a sandbar. This island is home to a single resort, and it is typical of those found elsewhere in the Gigantes archipelago in both its simplicity and its affordability. The majority of the people who come to this island are only here for the day or are island hoppers.
The beach is lined with a large number of palm trees, all of which provide some much-appreciated shade during the heat of the day. The picture that you take from the lookout or observation deck on this island will become the most famous one taken on Gigantes and posted on the internet. The short climb up the bamboo staircase will reward you with views that are famous on the internet.
Antonia Beach
There is no such thing as a successful island-hopping tour that does not include a unique beach lunch. At Antonia Beach you can choose from a wide variety of resorts and restaurants serving steamed scallops and crabs. You can gorge yourself on scallops at a price that is significantly lower than what you would pay for the same amount of scallops in any other part of the world. On Gigantes Island, there is a tremendous overabundance of scallops. The cost of each scallop is one pound sterling, with a requirement that each order contain a minimum of one hundred scallops; therefore, it is important that you invite your friends.
Mini Boracay
Mini Boracay is the name that the locals have given to this teeny-tiny stretch of beach because it is so similar to Boracay. Boracay Island is known all over the world for its beach that stretches for three kilometers and has white sand. Mini Boracay, which is located on Gigantes Island, only takes up about 30 square meters of the same sand. However, the locals adore it, and they are quite proud of this rocky stretch of beach. There is even a giant boulder that the children of the area use to dive into the sea.
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