The much awaited ISLA GIGANTES!
(This trip is part of my Panay Island 2)
WHAT TO DO IN THE ISLAND?
1. Visit the lighthouse. I suggest to go here after you arrive in the island (if you travel through public pumpboat). This should be your first activity to save time since you will be arriving in the afternoon. Just hire a motorbike that will bring you there. There is an entrance fee per group if you want to go on top of it.
2. Spend an afternoon and sunset here at PASEL/PASIL/PUZZLE beach (whatever). I visited this place after the island hopping tour.
3. Pose and have your photos taken at the famous tree house of hideaway tourist inn.
4. Indulge yourself from the abundant supply of seafoods, especially scallops for just 180php per meal.
5. The highlight of gigantes is ofcourse the island hopping.
5. The highlight of gigantes is ofcourse the island hopping.
If you are adventurous enough, try the cliff diving at tangke island.
This is what to expect inside the tangke island.
Never forget to pose at the most popular spot in isla gigantes, Cabugao island.
Last stop: Snake sandbar
THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN VISITING
ISLA GIGANTES:
1. The jump off point for Isla gigantes is Estancia, Iloilo. This is 2 hours away from Roxas City Capiz and 4 hours away from Iloilo City. Be at the port on or before 12NN so you could secure a good seat on the boat. Do nt forget to pass by the tourism office for you to be guided of the right boat where you will ride. Departure time is at 1PM.
2. If you wish to stay at Hideaway tourist inn, please contact them in advance. Indicate as well if you want to stay in the main island or in the extension island which is 10-15 minutes away via boat (free of charge). You may choose to stay in a tent, cavana or room in the extension island.
3. Hideaway tourist inn is giving a package for all their services; food, island hopping, room accommodation.
4. An attendant will be assigned to you and this is a must. The attendant will serve as your guide, servant, personal assistant and many more. The tip for the attendant may be included in the package but you are free to add more.
5. There is a weak cellphone signal in the island.
6. There is a small burger stand outside hideaway tourist inn if you wish not to avail the meal, a sari sari store, and if you will walk farther (but that's not really far for me) you will see BBQ stand owned by a local.
7. If you are just commuting or a solo backpacker, the suggested length of stay in the island is 3 days two nights. On your first day since you wil be arriving around 4PM already, the activity that can be done is limited. Island hopping will be done on tne 2nd day. On the third day, the only thing that you can do is to eat breakfast because the departure time of teh boat going back to Estancia Iloilo is at 8AM.
2. If you wish to stay at Hideaway tourist inn, please contact them in advance. Indicate as well if you want to stay in the main island or in the extension island which is 10-15 minutes away via boat (free of charge). You may choose to stay in a tent, cavana or room in the extension island.
3. Hideaway tourist inn is giving a package for all their services; food, island hopping, room accommodation.
4. An attendant will be assigned to you and this is a must. The attendant will serve as your guide, servant, personal assistant and many more. The tip for the attendant may be included in the package but you are free to add more.
5. There is a weak cellphone signal in the island.
6. There is a small burger stand outside hideaway tourist inn if you wish not to avail the meal, a sari sari store, and if you will walk farther (but that's not really far for me) you will see BBQ stand owned by a local.
7. If you are just commuting or a solo backpacker, the suggested length of stay in the island is 3 days two nights. On your first day since you wil be arriving around 4PM already, the activity that can be done is limited. Island hopping will be done on tne 2nd day. On the third day, the only thing that you can do is to eat breakfast because the departure time of teh boat going back to Estancia Iloilo is at 8AM.
ITINERARY and EXPENSES:
Day 4 (4/16/16) ROXAS-ESTANCIA ILOILO-ISLA GIGANTES
0600 lakad lakad, punta sa roxas circle
0700 breakfast at mang tinapay, 70php
0800 check out, tryc to ceres terminal, 30php
0830 bus to estancia iloilo, 80php. Mag bus n lng kau, ms maluwag at mura, at maaga p aalis
1030 arrival at estancia, ride a tryc to the port, 15php, reg, fee sa port, 5php
1100 nilagay n ang bag sa boat. Iba iba ang boat n sasakyan depende kung san k magstay sa gigantes. Ngstay ako sa hideaway tourist inn. Lunch muna, hanap ng karinderya sa palengke, 110php kasama buko pandan shake
1300 departure, boat to gigantes island, 80php
1500 arrival, may libreng sundo ppunta sa hideaway
1600 check in at hideaway tourist inn. Pedeng package ang kunin, pwedeng hindi. Di sya beachfront pero my extension silang isang island. 3d 2n ang standard na stay sa gigantes to enjoy the place. Island hopping is a must. Nakiusap ako na ijoin tour n lng ako sa iba na naghahanap ng kashare sa bangka. Lahat ng bisita ay may nakaassign na attendant n magaasikaso ng laht ng kelangan mo.
1700 visited the lighthouse. May reg fee na 10php at entrance 100php. Nagawan ng guide ko na makasabay sa ibng grupo, so ala ako binayad. 60php bayad s habal2 roundtrip
1900 heavy dinner. 180php ang full meal (lunch & dinner), . Sagana sa pagkain, bawing bawi sa 180php. Scalop pa more! Pinagsisilbihan kp ng attendant mo
2100 kwentuhan with my guide, inom tanduay ice 45php, videoke
2300 borlog na
Day 5 (4/17/16) ISLA GIGANTES
0700 breakfast ng burger s lbas ng hideaway pr mktipid. 80php ang breakfast
0830 start of island hopping, tangke island highlight ang lagoon at cliff diving. Cabugao island for the famous picture that we see on the blogs. Snake sandbar ba yun, for sandbar. And finally dun s extension island ng hideway for lunch. I paid a total fee of 185php for all the entrances.
1400 lunch, rest
1500 back to the main island to get my wallet.
1700 sunset at puzzle/pasil beach, kau n humusga kung pano tlg sya ipronounce ng local, 60php habal habal roundtrip n
1900 dinner s labas ng mami at hotdog, mejo busog pa, 50php
2000 trineat ko ng chicken at tanduay ice ang guide ko, bday nya pl kasi, 180php
2200 borlog na ulit
Day 6 (4/18/16) ISLA GIGANTES-BORACAY
0700 breakfast, 80php
0800 check out n, 400php s room, 500php s island hopping, 500php kay guide, 40php habal2 punta port
0830 boat back to estancia, 80php
1030 tryc to ceres terminal, 15php
0600 lakad lakad, punta sa roxas circle
0700 breakfast at mang tinapay, 70php
0800 check out, tryc to ceres terminal, 30php
0830 bus to estancia iloilo, 80php. Mag bus n lng kau, ms maluwag at mura, at maaga p aalis
1030 arrival at estancia, ride a tryc to the port, 15php, reg, fee sa port, 5php
1100 nilagay n ang bag sa boat. Iba iba ang boat n sasakyan depende kung san k magstay sa gigantes. Ngstay ako sa hideaway tourist inn. Lunch muna, hanap ng karinderya sa palengke, 110php kasama buko pandan shake
1300 departure, boat to gigantes island, 80php
1500 arrival, may libreng sundo ppunta sa hideaway
1600 check in at hideaway tourist inn. Pedeng package ang kunin, pwedeng hindi. Di sya beachfront pero my extension silang isang island. 3d 2n ang standard na stay sa gigantes to enjoy the place. Island hopping is a must. Nakiusap ako na ijoin tour n lng ako sa iba na naghahanap ng kashare sa bangka. Lahat ng bisita ay may nakaassign na attendant n magaasikaso ng laht ng kelangan mo.
1700 visited the lighthouse. May reg fee na 10php at entrance 100php. Nagawan ng guide ko na makasabay sa ibng grupo, so ala ako binayad. 60php bayad s habal2 roundtrip
1900 heavy dinner. 180php ang full meal (lunch & dinner), . Sagana sa pagkain, bawing bawi sa 180php. Scalop pa more! Pinagsisilbihan kp ng attendant mo
2100 kwentuhan with my guide, inom tanduay ice 45php, videoke
2300 borlog na
Day 5 (4/17/16) ISLA GIGANTES
0700 breakfast ng burger s lbas ng hideaway pr mktipid. 80php ang breakfast
0830 start of island hopping, tangke island highlight ang lagoon at cliff diving. Cabugao island for the famous picture that we see on the blogs. Snake sandbar ba yun, for sandbar. And finally dun s extension island ng hideway for lunch. I paid a total fee of 185php for all the entrances.
1400 lunch, rest
1500 back to the main island to get my wallet.
1700 sunset at puzzle/pasil beach, kau n humusga kung pano tlg sya ipronounce ng local, 60php habal habal roundtrip n
1900 dinner s labas ng mami at hotdog, mejo busog pa, 50php
2000 trineat ko ng chicken at tanduay ice ang guide ko, bday nya pl kasi, 180php
2200 borlog na ulit
Day 6 (4/18/16) ISLA GIGANTES-BORACAY
0700 breakfast, 80php
0800 check out n, 400php s room, 500php s island hopping, 500php kay guide, 40php habal2 punta port
0830 boat back to estancia, 80php
1030 tryc to ceres terminal, 15php