Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE VISAYAS
GUIMARAS
The mango plantations
Kokomojo Farms
T
033 337 7620 or
T
02 759 2302 •
National Mango Research and Development Center
T
033 237 0912
You could hardly leave Guimaras without a visit to one of the
mango plantations
. All
have just the right soil, elevation and exposure to the elements to produce succulent
fruit ready for the main harvest season in April and May. The most visitor-friendly
plantation on the island is
Kokomojo Farms
, near Millan, roughly in the centre of
Guimaras, where the owners will show you around personally if you call ahead.
If your interest in mangoes runs deep, you can also visit the
National Mango Research
and Development Center
, just west of San Miguel on the road to Lawi.
6
Offshore islands
Bangkas can be arranged at Hoskyn port or through any of the resorts for around P300/hr
Exploring the beautiful islands and islets in the south of Guimaras makes a good
day-trip. Off the southeast coast there's
Sereray Island
and
Nao-wai Island
, both with
tiny sandy coves where you can picnic and swim. Off the southwest coast is
Taklong
Island
, a marine reserve whose mangroves and beds of sea grass are breeding grounds
for hundreds of marine species.
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
GUIMARAS
To/from Panay
Frequent bangkas (P15) leave
Ortiz
wharf in Iloilo City
for Hoskyn port on the west coast of
Guimaras (20min). Some resorts can send a bangka to
collect you at Iloilo, which usually adds about P1500 to your
accommodation bill.
To/from Negros
There is a daily bangka (P70) from
Valladolid, south of Bacolod, to Cabalagnan on Guimaras'
south coast, and more frequent services from Pulupandan,
north of Valladolid, to Suclaran (P60) on the east coast.
Tourist Information
On arrival at Hoskyn port look for
the Guimaras Tourism Assistance kiosk (daily 7.30am-
4.30pm;
T
033 238 1500).
GETTING AROUND
By jeepney
Open-sided minivans and jeepneys make
regular circuits of the island's major towns and ports and
can be useful for touring the island if you're not laden down
with luggage. Jeepneys charge P12 per section; the journey
from Jordan to Nueva Valencia (90min) costs P45.
By tricycle and habal-habal
Since many of the resorts lie
off the main jeepney and minivan routes, hiring a tricycle or
habal-habal is the most convenient option for getting to your
accommodation. They can be hired for short journeys, and if
you like the driver, for day-trips - expect to pay P700-1000
for a full day's tricycle hire, depending on where you go.
By motorbike and bicycle
To get the most out of
exploring the island by two wheels it's worth enquiring
about a guide at the tourism assistance kiosk in Hoskyn.
Some resorts rent out mountain bikes for around P300/day
and
Vallee Verde Mountain Spring Resort
has motorbikes for
rent (P600/day). For better bikes and a guided ride contact
Panay Adventure Travel & Tours, based in Iloilo (see p.331).
Tours cost US$55/person and include round-trip transfers,
bike hire, guide and lunch.
ACCOMMODATION
Guimaras is small enough that it doesn't matter too much where you base yourself. Even if you choose the solitude of a
resort on one of the smaller islands nearby, it's easy to hop on a bangka back to Guimaras itself if you want to explore.
Raymen Resort
Alubihod, Nueva Valencia
T
033 396
0383,
W
raymenresort.com.
On the island's southwest
coast,
Raymen Resort
has clean a/c rooms with TV (from
P1350) and hot showers in a building set back from the
beach, as well as cheaper fan rooms. For meals there's
a simple canteen (set meals P85). The resort is 40min by
road south from Jordan (P400 by tricycle), or P3000 if you
charter a ba
ngka if
from Iloilo. Avoid weekends if you don't
like karaoke.
P700
Valle Verde Mountain Spring Resort
Off the San
Miguel-Nueva Valencia road
T
0918 730 3446,
MAINLAND
Baras Beach Resort
10km from San Miguel on the
island's west coast
T
0927 480 1027.
A pretty little
hideaway
on a sheltered inlet, with fan cottages on stilts
just a few steps away from the ocean and overlooking
the bay. The food, almost all of it grown or caught by the
staff, is good; there's not much of an à la carte menu, but
there are ample buffet lunches and dinners for around
P200. To get there either call ahead to arrange a pick-up or
take a b
angka
(about P300) from Puyo wharf in Nueva
Valencia.
P1000
