Gorgeous Guimaras

I have an ongoing love affair with UNESCO World Heritage sites so last December I asked Glenn if he wanted to go to Iloilo. I convinced him that we can kill two birds with one stone by witnessing the Dinagyang festival and checking out Guimaras Island. He gets his beach time while I get to visit Miag-ao church, a UNESCO site. Admittedly, he spoils me so he worked his magic and got us promo tickets thru Philippine Airlines. We flew to Iloilo International Airport on January 21 on a 5am flight. The airport is several kilometres from the city proper so a cab is quite expensive (in my standards anyway). We went straight to Ortiz port and paid 250 php. We took a ferry for a 15 minute ride to the island of Guimaras for only 13 php.

Boats at Ortiz port, Iloilo

 

We arrived in Jordan port and immediately went to the makeshift tourist office. Available transportation is tricycle or a multicab. Since the resort that we will be staying is quite far, we opted to hire a multicab for 600 php. That included several stops like the Trappist Monastery and a Mango plantation overlooking the bay. A trip is not complete without a church visit so I asked the driver to make a stop at the Trappist chapel. We also met a friendly monk who gave us rock samples upon learning that Glenn is a geologist. And since Glenn has this thing for pasalubongs, we ended up buying lots of goodies at the Trappist Monastic Products store. I have to say that their Mango jam is deliciously addicting.

Chapel at the Trappist Monastery

Goodies at Trappist Monastic Products

Before going to the resort the driver made another stop at a spot that overlooks the bay and suggested that we pose for a picture.

Lush landscape

 

After which we continued our journey to Nueva Valencia, Guimaras where Guisi Beach is located. We stayed at Kenyama Beach Resort for 2500 php for their deluxe room. Quite expensive considering that the building and the rooms wasn’t that outstanding. But we were the only guests so I guess that makes up for it. And their place has a fantastic view of Guisi beach.

Lone building of Kenyama Beach Resort

After an afternoon nap we took a walk in the beach just in time for the sunset. 

Deserted Guisi Beach

The photographer is a geologist, hence the outcrop background

 

The following morning we left Guisi beach but not before visiting Guisi lighthouse. The old and new lighthouse stood near each other to guide seafarers.

Old Guisi Lighthouse