Traveling to Isla de Gigantes, Carles Iloilo

Isla de Gigantes ,Carles Iloilo Province

Date of Visit: February 25, 2014

Traveling to Isla de Gigantes Norte, Carles Iloilo

It ‘s my 4^th Consecutive Year in Iloilo Province and Im asking myself why I keep coming back to Iloilo? Maybe some of unfinished business with this province  and that business was  going to my Dream Destination in this province-The Cabugao Gamay Island which is  part of Gigantes Islands at Carles Northern Part of Iloilo.

After Super Typhoon Haiyan(Yolanda),we were worried  and having second thoughts if we still push through with this trip. We read some blogs which were outdated and others posting before and after pictures of Gigantes which is unreliable. We kept on monitoring what are the developments especially from Estancia, Thank God we have Joel Decano (Municipal Tourism Officer of Carles) keeping us updated!

I wrote this entry first (Batanes as one of my Backlogs)to help my fellow tourists be updated and encourage to visit the island and help our brothers in Iloilo to boost their Tourism Industry again.

Here’s our Itinerary

Duration: 5 Days/4Nights (Gigantes-Guimaras-Iloilo City Tour)

PAX: 5 Persons

Airline: Tiger Airways (P1561 RT with 25kgs Baggage (ILO-MNL for Pasalubong Purposes)

             *My 1^st time with Tiger Airways Philippines (Cheap Flight Fares/On Time Departure/ Has spacious seats and leg room for  5’11” tall like me compared to other Airbus Airlines).Check for promo flights here.

            *Flight Details: Feb 25,2014 -5:55AM-7:10AM (MNL-ILO); March 1,2014 -8:15-9:30 AM (ILO-MNL)

Iloilo Airport (Hello Again!) by 710-730AM

-Van Ride to SM Mandurriao (P50 each)

                -Or you can take a taxi from the Airport to Tagbak Terminal (a little bit pricey)

-Taxi Ride from SM Mandurriao to La Paz Public Market (P80/5=P16each)

La Paz Public Market by 830-930 AM

                -Breakfast at Netongs Lapaz Batchoy (My 2^nd time here)

                -Had Coffee at  Madge’s Café (both featured at Biyahe ni Drew:Iloilo)

-Jeepney Ride from LaPaz Public Market to Tagbak Bus Terminal (P11each )

              Tagbak Terminal 

            –Ceres Buses to Estancia (Both AC and Non AC)- 4-5 Hours Trip      

                                    -Van Ride to Estancia (Non AC)- 2 to 2.5 Hours Trip

*You need to be at the Estancia Port before 2PM (Schedule of the ONLY Ferry Ride to Gigantes Norte) or you can hire your own boat which is pricey,but if you’re in a big group it is doable.Just contact Joel Decano for your inquiries.(+639184685006)

*Alternate Route is from Roxas City,Capiz: From Roxas City Airport, go to Roxas City Bus Terminal and take Estancia Bound Buses or Vans (Travel Time is shorter than from Iloilo City)

-Van Ride From Iloilo City to Estancia (P150each) with 1 StopOver (CR Break)

*At the Municipality of Estancia you will still notice the wrath of Yolanda. Life Goes On #BangonIloilo

-Tricycle Ride from Estancia Terminal to Port of Estancia (P10each)

Port of Estancia by 1230PM

                *At the Port of Estancia while waiting for our Guide,we bought some supplies (Water, ChiCha etc.),took our Lunch and had some chit-chat with a local and shared her stories what happened that day when Yolanda hit the Municipality. She told us that most of the casualties were fishermen ,some of the establishments including her store were destroyed and pointed us her estimates of the length and height of the Storm Surge.We felt sorry for her stories! Life Goes On #BangonIloilo

* Joefer (+639199739477),our guide, brother of Joel Decano (Municipal Tourism Officer of Carles- +639184685006) who has an office based in Estancia,fetched us at the port and reserved seats for our ferry ride(THE ONLY RIDE) to Gigantes Norte that will leave every 2PM.

*Before leaving Estancia Port make sure that you’ll inform everybody (family,relatives,friends etc)that you’ll be out of contact since Gigantes Norte has No Cellphone Signal(This is your Last Chance) .There are selected areas in Gigantes only has  CellphoneSignal – the Top of the Lighthouse, at Cabugao Gamay Island and a Mountainous Area that requires a habal-habal ride (Effort! Makakuha lang ng Signal) 

-Ferry Ride from Estancia to Gigantes Norte (P80 each for 2Hours)

Welcome to Gigantes Norte by 4PM

* Gigantes Norte has no decent port, so you need to cross and hop to other boats just to reach the shore (Good Balancing is a requirement). The challenging part was leaving Gigantes Norte (That will be on my next post. Surprise! I almost freak out!)

-Habal-Habal ride from the Docking Shore to Gigantes Hideaway Inn (Baranggay Asluman) –(P10each)

                - Gigantes Hideaway Tourist Inn (Owned and Managed by Decano Family)

                                -After Yolanda,Until now there is no Electricity in Gigantes Norte. Thank God Hideaway Inn has generator (Electricity – From 6pm to 6am only). No Internet Connection. No Cellphone Signal

                                -Drinking Water at Hideaway Tourist Inn has a distinctive taste but they’re also selling Mineral Water. (In fairness hinde naman sumakit ang tiyan namin)

                                -P200 per person/night (Joefer assigned us to 1 Big Room with 2 QueenSize Beds and 2 Single Beds in a Bungalow Style House)/Common ToiletBath
Accommodation 2 Nights =P2000 /5 =P400 per person for 2 nights

                                -Welcome Drinks (Hot Coffee. Wow! Summer nga naman! Kailangan HOT! :-)), unpacked our things, Freshen Up and preparing for our 1^st tour within the Island –the Sunset at Gigantes Norte Parola

-Habal-Habal Ride from Gigantes Hideaway Tourist Inn to Parola (Back and Forth plus Waiting Time –P60each)

Gigantes Norte Lighthouse 

                                -During our Habal-Habal ride to Parola (Vice Versa), what was very remarkable were the sincere Smiles of Locals especially the kids waving their hands, greeting us their Hi and Hellos and of course You need to extend your hands just to give each of the kids a High Five!

                                -The Parola still operational and the caretaker opened it for us .Despite my Acrophobia, I managed to be on Top just to witness the beautiful sunset. (Deadma sa Takot! Best in Sigaw, Ngatog!). Any amount will do for the Caretaker :-)

 

 

 Dinner Time at Gigantes Hideaway Inn Dining Area by 7-8 PM
 

                                -Before Dinner Time,Kuya Joefer informed us what their menus were for that night and you can also request for a specific viand for those who has seafood allergies (like 2 of my companions,but they're stubborn and still ate small portions of delicious Scallops-“May Antihistamine Kami, Sorry!”  ..."Sorry Your Face! Good Luck! Katherine names niyo Mamaya")since most of their viands are seafoods.(Puede umorder ng Half Kilo. Solved!)

Dinner (Cost)
Sweet and Sour Fish -P140
Sizzling Scallop (Half Kilo)- P120
BBQ Scallop (Half Kilo)- P110
Squid with Chili Sauce (Half Kilo)-P130
Rice- P75
Total: P575 /5 = P115 each (Wow! Seafoods for Less)

Sleeping Time by 9-10PM

                                Since all of our energy were drained from the travel (Land, Sea and Air), 2 of us came from shift (6pm to 3am)last night ,we were all Dead Tired! (But I still managed to drink a bottle of San Miguel Light for only P35 same price in Manila). Excited for our Island Hopping Tour Tomorrow. Lights off! Zzzzz! Best in Snore goes to… (Tuko? who's the Best?..Hahaha)

Other Accommodations in Gigantes Norte

    

*Scallops Front is a Restaurant and also has Accommodations. They have Signal Receiver good for Smart Subscribers only (Based on Experience). Here’s Nico’s number +639303776488(one of the employees of Scallops Front)

 *Las Marias Island Resort +639187564232

Next > Island Hopping Tour (Islas de Gigantes) 

                                                                   
You may also read my Summer KickOff of 2014:
Day I: Traveling to Isla de Gigantes
Day II: Island Hopping at Isla de Gigantes
Day III: Guimaras Countryside Tour
Day IV-V: Guimaras Island Hopping, Iloilo City and Early Flight to Manila