Guimaras
The sweetest mangoes in the world, an island you reach in 15 minutes, and almost no other tourists · Western Visayas, Philippines
Photo: paulshaffner / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Guimaras is the easiest detour in the Philippines that most travellers skip entirely. The island sits 700 metres off the coast of Iloilo City — a 15-minute pump-boat crossing from Ortiz Wharf — and it is the mango capital of the country, producing the Carabao variety that consistently wins international taste competitions and that Filipinos cite, with complete sincerity, as the sweetest mango on earth. The mangoes here taste measurably different from mangoes anywhere else in the Philippines: richer, less fibrous, with a honey-and-citrus depth that makes the Manila supermarket variety taste like it was grown on a different planet. Beyond the mangoes, Guimaras has quiet beaches, a Trappist monastery producing homemade cashew products and mango wine, a small island-hopping circuit around its satellite islets, and the kind of slow pace that comes from being an island where the primary traffic is a tractor loaded with mangoes. It rewards a night or two.
Things to do in Guimaras
Mango Farm Visit and Fruit Tasting
The mango farms around Jordan, McLain, and Nueva Valencia are open to visitors during the April–June harvest season. Farms typically charge PHP 100–150 for entry and a tasting session — you eat as many mangoes as you want directly at the tree. Outside peak season, farm visits can still be arranged but the dramatic in-season experience (thousands of ripening mangoes on every tree) is not replicable. Most tricycle drivers know which farms are currently in harvest and will bring you there without fuss.
Alubijod Beach
The most accessible beach on Guimaras is Alubijod (also spelled Alobijod), a calm cove of pale sand in Nueva Valencia municipality (PHP 50 entrance, 45 minutes from Jordan). The water is clear and shallow, good for swimming and snorkeling along the reef edge. Small beach cottages rent for PHP 200–300 for a day-use. Weekdays the beach is nearly deserted; weekends bring Iloilo families. A simple restaurant at the beach serves grilled fish and rice.
Trappist Monastery
The Abbey of Our Lady of the Philippines is a working Trappist monastery on a hillside overlooking the sea, 40 minutes from Jordan. The monks produce goods sold in the monastery store: cashew nut brittle (PHP 80–150), mango pastilles, mango jam, mango wine, and handmade chocolate. The monastery itself is open to day visitors; the grounds have a peaceful garden with a view over the water. Mass is held at specific hours (posted at the gate) and visitors are welcome. It is one of the most unexpectedly serene stops in the Western Visayas.
Island-Hopping to Naujan, Taklong, and the Smaller Islets
Guimaras has satellite islands and islets with good snorkeling and quiet beaches. Most island-hopping tours cover Taklong Island (marine reserve, good coral), Guisi Lighthouse (colonial-era lighthouse on a point with sea views), and the Lavigan Beach and Roca Encantada islet. Boat charter from Jordan or Alubijod Wharf costs PHP 1,500–2,500 for a half-day, split among the group. A full circuit covers 4–5 stops.
Roca Encantada
The old mansion on a small island off the coast of Guimaras, built by the Lopez family (a prominent Philippine political dynasty) in the early 20th century and now partially in ruin, is accessible by short banca from the main island. The structure has a distinctive Gothic tower visible from the sea. The island around it has a small beach and snorkeling. Whether Roca Encantada qualifies as "enchanted" depends on your tolerance for romantic ruin aesthetics, but the setting on a private islet with views of Guimaras Bay makes it worth the 20-minute banca.
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🗓️ Best time to visit Guimaras
The mango season is April through June — peak harvest, abundant fruit at lowest prices, and the MassKara and Manggahan festivals around May. Outside mango season the island still has mangoes (smaller, sometimes less sweet) but the farms are less dramatic. The dry season November through May is the best general visiting period. June through October brings rain but the island is still accessible and less crowded.
✈️ How to get to Guimaras
From Iloilo City: take a tricycle to Ortiz Wharf or Parola Wharf on the Iloilo River (PHP 30–50) then a pump-boat to Jordan Wharf, Guimaras (PHP 14–18 per person, 15 minutes — one of the shortest inter-island crossings in the Philippines). Boats run every 15–30 minutes from 5 AM to 9 PM. From Jordan Wharf, multicabs, tricycles, and habal-habal serve the rest of the island. Most attractions are 20–45 minutes from Jordan by road.
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Frequently asked questions — Guimaras
When is mango season in Guimaras?
Peak mango harvest is April through June. March has early season fruit; July still has some production but quantity drops sharply. The Manggahan Festival, celebrating the mango harvest, is held annually in May in Jordan — a week of events, food stalls, and competitions centred on the Carabao mango.
Can I day-trip to Guimaras from Iloilo?
Yes — easily. The 15-minute crossing and manageable island size make Guimaras the most natural day trip from Iloilo City. A full day (8 AM to 5 PM) covers the mango farms, Alubijod Beach, and the Trappist Monastery comfortably with a tricycle charter (PHP 800–1,200 for a full-day circuit). Staying overnight is even better — the island is quiet at night and mornings are calm.
Is there a 2019 oil spill risk when swimming at Guimaras?
The 2006 Guimaras oil spill (not 2019) affected the southern coast. Subsequent cleanup and monitoring have cleared the affected areas; Alubijod Beach (northwest coast) was not impacted. Current water quality at the main swimming beaches is safe. Ask locals or the tourism office if you have specific concerns about a particular beach area.
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First time in Guimaras?
Quick essentials so you can hit the ground running.
Standard Philippines visa-free entry. No special permits for Guimaras.
ATMs in Jordan town (BDO) and some other town centres. Bring PHP cash from Iloilo for beach fees, farm visits, monastery purchases, and habal-habal transport. Most transactions are small (PHP 20–500). GCash accepted at larger establishments in Jordan.
No malaria risk. Dengue present — use repellent. Very safe island with minimal health risks beyond standard tropical sun exposure.
Guimaras is cheap: PHP 800–1,500/day covering meals (PHP 300–500 for excellent local seafood and mango desserts), transport (PHP 200–400 for tricycle charter), and beach access (PHP 50). A night in a basic guesthouse adds PHP 400–800. An overnight stay is under PHP 2,500 per person all-in.
One of the safest islands in the Philippines for independent travel. The pump-boat crossing is calm in dry season and only takes 15 minutes. Standard care with valuables in Jordan market area. No significant safety concerns.