Guimaras

Guimaras is an exotic island off the coast of Iloilo. It is best known for its tranquil beaches, diving spots, religious landmarks, and of course its mangoes, said to be the "sweetest mangoes in the world."



Iloilo City is the primary gateway to Guimaras. From Iloilo City, you can either go to the Ortiz Port ( Ortiz St., Iloilo) for a boat trip to Jordan Port or to Muelle Loney (Iloilo River Wharf) for a boat trip to Buenavista (Guimaras). Estimated travel time : 10-15 minutes.

Guimaras is the youngest and smallest of the six component provinces of the Western Visayas Region (Region 6). Known as the "Mango Country", Guimaras Island has 8,000 hectares of mango orchards managed by corporations and individual growers. The province's mango orchards produce the best mango variety certified as pest-free by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Declared as a full-pledged province on May 22,1992, Guimaras has also been proclaimed as the "island to watch" due to unspoiled natural beauty as for its potential.

The province is composed of five municipalities, namely: Jordan, the provincial capital; Buenavista; Nueva Valencia; and the newly created Sibunag and San Lorenzo. Guimaras occupies about 3% of the region's total land area.

FACTS AND FIGURES
Land Area : 604.6 sq. km (2004)
No. of Municipalities: 5 (As of September, 2003)
No. of Barangays: 98 (As of September, 2003)
Total Population: 141,450 (As of May 1, 2000
census)
Population Growth Rate: 2.43% (1995-2000)
Income Class: Fourth
Consumer Price Index: 120.3 (2004)
Inflation Rate: 6.4 (2004)
No. of Tertiary Schools: 2 (SY 2003-2004)
No. of Licensed Hospitals: 1 (2003)
Telephone Loads: 829 (2003)
Telephone Density: 0.6 per 100 population (2003)
No. of Elementary Schools:
Public: 99 (SY 2003-2004)
Private: 4 (SY 2003-2004)
No. of Secondary Schools:
Public : 15 (SY 2003-2004)
Private: 3 (SY 2003-2004)
No. of Resorts: 25 (2003)
No. of Motor Vehicles Registered: 4,612 (2004)
No. of Establishments (3rd Qtr. 2004)
Business Name Registration: 48
Water Transport Facilities:
123 Pump Boats
5 Ferry Boats
1 Roll on-Roll off (RoRo)


Things to Do and See in Guimaras...

Historical
Buenavista Wharf / McArthur’s Wharf
It was built by Lt. Douglas McArthur in 1903.

Punta Blanco & Camp Jossman
(Tinadtaran, Buenavista). Target range and military camp constructed by the United States Army in 1903.

Natural
Costa Aguada Island Resort

(Sibunag). Located at the crocodile-shaped Inampulugan Island, it has clean white sand beaches, a mini zoo, jungle park. Ideal for horseback riding, snorkeling.

Nagarao Island Resort
(Sibunag). Located at the southern tip of Guimaras; surrounded with sandy beach and growing corals; has 20 cottages, a restaurant and a bar for cold drinks, a fresh water swimming pool. Offers island hopping tours, sailing, excursion, and snorkeling in neighboring islands.

Isla Naburot Resort
(Sinapsapan, Jordan). The island has rich colorful marine life, visible and exotic sealife; special berth for lovers; tranquil hideaway for soothing tense nerves; has 7 native-styled cottages; ideal for fishing, boating, swimming, snorkeling, island hopping, and scuba diving.

Raymen Beach Cottages
(Alubihod, Nueva Valencia). White sand beach and crystal clear water; ideal for swimming, sunbathing.

Baras Beach Resort
(Bgy. Lawi, Jordan). White sand beaches ideal for swimming, boating, and windsurfing; offers a hidden lagoon.

Villa Encarnacion Mountain Resort
(Bgy. Zaldivar, Buenavista). Swimming pool; topmost part offers a commanding view of the whole place.
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Free Lance Beach Cottages
(Poblacion, Nueva Valencia). Ideal for swimming and sunbathing.

Enrico Beach
(Zaldivar, Buenavista). Stretch of white sand beach; abundant supply of cool spring water.

Sunrise Beach
(San Enrique, Buenavista). One-hectare beach with picnic huts and cottages.

Rumagangrang Beach
(Cabalagnan, Nueva Valencia). Offers a clean beach and coves.

Paradise Cove
(Sinapsapan, Jordan). Has a beach house and beach hut.

Tatlong Pulo Resort
(Tando Area, Unisan Island). Some of the diving sites in Guimaras.

Dream Land Beach Huts
(Nauway Island). Features the beautiful natural rock formations at the shoreline of the beach.

Abelardo’s Beach Resort
(Buenavista). Has expansive shoreline and clear water ideal for swimming and snorkeling.

Carmel by the Sea Resort
(Buenavista). Features golden sand beach, clear water ideal for bathing, swimming, and water sports.

Villa Fe Daliran Cave and Summer Resort
(Brgy. Old Poblacion, Buenavista). It is accessible by jeepney or tricycle from Buenavista Wharf in 10 to 15 minutes.

Suli Cave (Sitio Boro-Boro, Dagsaan, Buenavista). This cave is located along the shore passing through different holes. If you explore further, the holes will lead you to the scenic lake.
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Hurot-Hurot Cave
(Brgy. Espinosa). It has two openings, 1 ½ x2 meters and 2x1 meters. It is 50 meters more or less in length.

Higante Cave
Located at a lot owned by Mr. & Mrs. Nemesio Galve in Bgy. Espinosa, Jordan. It has 3 entrances, 3x4 ft. wide, 2x3 ft. wide, 2x3 ft. wide. It is 200 meters long more or less and could be found on top of the hill. Nipa huts are available with a good glimpse of Iloilo Strait. Has an abundant of stalagmites and stalactites.

Capitoguan Cave
Found at Bgy. Balcon Maravilla. A big cave full of bats and a good source of guano, a fertilizer for plants.

Buho Ramirez Cave
(Bgy. Lawi). It is a small cave but the entire entrance is going down more or less about 40-50 ft. deep. It has 3 openings with gushing water. Studies show that it could be a good source of spring water that can supply 2 barangays with 429 households.

Religious
Trappist Monastery (Bgy. San Miguel, Jordan)

The only trappist monastery in the Philippines run by the order of Cistersians of the Strict Observance.

Balaan Bukid Shrine (Bgy. Hoskyn, Jordan).

Where a large cross and a chapel were constructed on top of a mountain. Offers a scenic view of Iloilo City across Guimaras Strait.

Navalas Church (Navalas, Buenavista)
The oldest existing Roman Catholic Church in the province of Guimaras that has survived the ravages of time.

Navalas Church
(Navalas, Buenavista) The oldest existing Roman Catholic church in the province of Guimaras that has survived the ravages of time.

Man-Made
Roca Encantada
(Buenavista). Summer house of the Lopez family built in 1910 on top of a huge rock.

Lopezville
(Buenavista). A panoramic vacation house of the Lopez family; offers a picturesque view of Iloilo City.

Good Shepherd's Fold Academy (Buenavista)
45-hectare orphanage; offers high school, vocational training, practical arts, and sciences; built in 1946.

SEAFDEC Research Station
(Bgy. Magamay, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras). Where different kinds of fish are studied for the improvement of their species.
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Festivals
Ang Pagtaltal sa Guimaras

A Lenten presentation staged by the townspeople of Jordan patterned after Oberammergau in South Bavaria, Germany. The final act of the play shows Jesus being taken off and laid on his mother’s lap. The trip is climaxed by a visit to Balaan Bukid (Holy Mountain). It is a pilgrimage site for the Catholics.

Paraw Regatta
The Iloilo-Guimaras Paraw Regatta is open to any sea-worthy paraw solely dependent on the wind for its power for motion, subject to the specific requirements and qualifications of each category. Held every 1st Sunday of March.

Mountain Bike Festival
A multi-event team sports (mountain biking, coastal and mountain trekking, a call to rediscover, and adventure). Guimaras Mountain Bike Association (GUIMBA) spearheads Governor’s Cup Mountain Bike and Downhill Competitions. The mission is to promote bicycling as a sport, environmentalism as a way of life, and Guimaras as an ecotourism destination.

Manggahan Sa Guimaras Festival
An identity festival commemorating the annual provincehood anniversary every 22nd day of May depicting the cultural heritage of the province with emphasis on the promotion of Guimaras as “mango country”. A week-long celebration showcasing Guimaras products, cuisine, and services. Highlighted with the Search for Miss Guimaras and Miss Manggahan.

Special Interest
Diving
The Small Island Agricultural Support Services Program (SMISLE) took effort to under water world in order to identify the best of the island's sites for diving. They found out that most of the cora reefs were destroyed by dynamite fishing, but with the joint effort of the vigilant people in the coastal areas and the Bantay Dagat, Guimaras will have a lot of potential areas for diving.

Mountainbiking
Despite being located on a flat coastal plain with few of the terrain features most people associate with extreme cycling, loilo City is home to one of the country's most dedicated mountainbiking groups, the Iloilo Mountain Bike Association (IMBA). Their principal playground is Guimaras, a rugged 580sq. km formation of coral rock just across Iloilo harbour, a 20 min. boat ride from the city. Guimaras is noted for plantations of mango trees, locally believed to produce the finest fruit in the country, and the excellent beaches dotting the outer shore. The island is also home to one of the country's wildest mountain bike races.

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