Two days is enough to see the best of Guimaras without rushing. Spend the first day on land in the north and centre, sleep in the south, and give the second day to the sea.
Day one: the north and the hills. Take an early boat from Parola to Jordan wharf and stop at the tourism assistance desk to hire a tricycle for the day. Climb Balaan Bukid first, before the heat: the 1.7 km pilgrim path to the cross takes 30 to 45 minutes. Then visit the Trappist abbey in San Miguel for its quiet church and the monks' mango jams and baked goods. Nearby, the Bureau of Plant Industry's crop research centre, still known locally as the mango research centre, welcomes walk-in visitors.
In the afternoon, choose north or east. North to Buenavista for Roca Encantada, the Lopez family's 1910 house on its rock, and the old coral-stone church of Navalas; or east to the wind turbines of San Lorenzo. Then head south to Nueva Valencia for the night; from Jordan it is about 45 to 60 minutes by tricycle.
Day two: the southern coast. Start at Alubihod beach, where boatmen offer island-hopping loops of about three hours. Common stops are Ave Maria Islet, Natago and Baras. Boats are hired by the hour for a group (2023 rates were about ₱600 for the first hour and ₱200 for each extra hour for up to ten people; check locally). If you want to see the mangroves and sandbars of the Taklong and Tandog islands natural park, arrange that trip separately with the park office.
After lunch, ride about 30 minutes south to Guisi: walk the grounds of the 1894 lighthouse ruins, then swim in the cove below. Leave Guisi by mid-afternoon to reach Jordan wharf, about an hour away, in good time for a boat back to Iloilo.
Good to know. Carry enough cash for boat hire and small site fees. Bring water, sun protection and a dry bag for the boat. In the rainy months from June to October, keep a spare half-day in case boats are cancelled.
