Guimaras

Guimaras is a small island province in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. It is in the strait between two larger islands, Panay and Negros.

Understand
Guimaras is south of Panay and north of Negros. It is close to Iloilo City and was once administered as part of Iloilo Province but is now treated as a separate province. It is one of the smaller provinces, with a land area just over 600 km2 (233 mi2) and population around 175,000 as of the 2015 census.

The island is well known for its sweet mangoes, which are one of the main income sources for most families.

The locals speak the Hiligaynon (Ilongo) language, same as in Iloilo and Bacolod.

Towns

 * Pronounced as Hor-dan, it is the provincial capital of Guimaras.
 * (Naburot Island)

By boat
From Panay Island. Take a 15-minute boat ride from Iloilo City to Jordan, through the Guimaras Strait. As of 2024, most of the Guimaras-bound passenger ferries leave Iloilo from the terminal near CityMall Parola, at the easternmost tip of Iloilo City Proper (at the mouth of Iloilo River); the service is frequent, and is almost round the clock. There are also a few ro-ro ferries (transporting vehicles along with foot passengers) every day, sailing from the RoRo port in LaPaz, on the opposite (left) bank of Iloilo River. (Older guidebooks may send you to Ortiz Wharf in downtown Iloilo, but as of 2024 there are no ferries there, and the wharf itself has been occupied by squatters).

On the Guimaras side, the passenger ferries arrive to one of the two ports, Jordan or Buenavista. The ro-ro vehicle ferries have a separate port, also in Jordan. For schedules and ferries check F.F. Cruz Shipping or Navimar Shipping. Their web sites tend to be somewhat stale though, so at least the schedule has a clearly stated effective date, it may be wise to check the info directly with the company.

The boat trip used to be dangerous, as squalls (pugada or subasko in Hiligaynon) are known to form over the strait during rainy season, and on August 2019, over 30 died after three pump boats capsized under strong winds caused by a severe squall. As of 2024, boats are bigger and more reliable. For many years, plans have existed to replace the boat service with a road bridge across the strait, but every year the planned construction start date is moved further into the future; as of early, no actual construction work seems to take place yet.

From Negros Island. As of 2024, ferries may also run from Negros Island (the port of Pulupundan) to Guimaras. This service started and stopped several times over the last few years; contact Navimar Shipping for the current schedule.

Get around
Unlike the larger islands of Panay and Negros, Guimaras does not have a network of Ceres bus routes. Some jeepneys do operate on the roads between the island's major towns, but at much lower frequencies than, say, in the Iloilo metro area. Most of the public transportation in Guimaras, therefore, is by tricycle.

Upon arriving in Jordan port, proceed to the Tourism Center just a few meters from the drop-off point. From there, you can ask for assistance about budget accommodations and how to get around. There are also several mini-van and tricycle drivers who offer tour rides.

There are several driver-guides who can be contacted prior to arriving in Guimaras:



Buy
There is a souvenir shop located beside the Guimaras Provincial Capitol where you can buy local delicacies.

The best time to buy mangoes is during summer time (mid-April).

Eat
Guimaras' pride are is its mangoes which are known to be among the sweetest. Mangoes are grown in such massive numbers that they are made into dried mangoes, jam and surprisingly, mango ketchup.

Connect
As of 2024, cell phone service is available in many parts of the island, but, generally, not in its farther south-western reaches, where there are no major towns.

Go next
Nearly anyone leaving Guimaras will start with a ferry ride to Iloilo City, or (if the Negros-Guimaras service is operating) to Pulupundan (south of Bacolod). There are no other routes unless you have your own boat or charter one.

Iloilo has an airport, a seaport, and bus connections to anywhere on Panay. It serves as a regional transport hub; from there you can reach anywhere in the Philippines and there are a few international flights as well. One popular destination is the resort island of Boracay, just off Panay and reachable starting with a bus journey from Iloilo to Kalibo.

A short ferry ride from Iloilo gets you to Bacolod, capital of Negros Occidental; from there you can easily reach anywhere on Negros Island or continue to the expat-friendly Dumaguete or the main urban hub of the entire Visayas region, Metro Cebu.