After the new year, me and my friends thought of visiting Guisi, an upcoming tourist destination in Guimaras. I have been there before but there’s just something about the place that haunts me to go back over and over. Its natural beauty is just superb and to top it off is a magnificent display of Spanish-colonial heritage in the form of an 18th century lighthouse. No wonder the Provincial Gov’t of Guimaras (with the help of the Canadian Urban Institute) is putting high priority in promoting Guisi.
From Iloilo City we rode a 15-min pumpboat ride (P11) to Jordan, Guimaras via the Ortiz Port in Iloilo City. In Jordan Wharf, there is a small shed where a tourist assistance outpost is located. They could arrange transportation to any destination in Guimaras and the best part is that they already have fixed rates so you won’t ever have to experience being overcharged by opportunist drivers. We opted to commute to Guisi by riding a Nueva Valencia Jeep (P40), which took us straight to Guisi in an hour. From the main road, it’s a 3 minute walk downhill to the beach resort.
There, you’ll be able to see the cottages, white-sand beach, clear waters, blue sky, and rock formations … a very refreshing sight after a long commute.
Here are some of the pictures I took during the trip:
Guisi white sand beach with tall coconut trees
During my first visit this dog was just a cute puppy, now its all grown up ^_^
Mountain ranges of Southern Iloilo and Antique
Clear waters with the 18th century lighthouse in the distance
Rock formations
Conceptualized this photo while one of my friends was sitting on the beach
In the afternoon, we decided to go island hopping :)
We were able to get a great view of the sunset while we were in the boat
The sunsets in Guisi are always so beautiful!
It was already a bit dark when we returned
Cooking grub for dinner
The next day, I was able to take pictures of the lighthouse and the ruins of a Spanish outpost.
A good view of the beach below could be seen
Just Love being around old buildings and architectures. Makes me think about interesting things that has happened there before
In the Philippine Ilonggo dialect, ambot ah literally means "I don't know." After graduating in college, I decided to hold off pursuing my profession and embarked on a free spirited journey of adventure and self-discovery. My travels have led me to many places across the Philippine Islands and South East Asia. I don't know where this path will take me but I'm certain I'll get a lifetime of stories out of it.
I wonder what camera do you use … you always take a good pic.
I’m using a point and shoot lang, Canon Powershot A700
Hi Marcos! Such a wonderful blog you have! I have read that you are also the one behind explore iloilo. BTW, what course are you taking at WVSU?
About this blog, may I know the status of the Oil Spill in Guimaras? I was in Iloilo reviewing for my CPA board exam when it happened but went to Makati to practice my profession. Okay na ang oil spill damamge dira?
Maayo gid kay nakita ko ining blog mo, at least daw indi man ko mahidlaw sa Iloilo… kanami sang mga pics mo!
Nag subscribe man ako diri, but i dunno if you reply, mabaton ko sa email. Thanks in advance! What a great Ilonggo pride you are. You are aking a great success! Congratulations!
Hello redrogue,
Thanks :D Yes I’m also the one behind Explore Iloilo and am taking up nursing in WVSU (graduating na).
Even during the height of the oil spill the areas in Nueva Valencia such as in Guisi and Alubihod were not heavily affected. In fact, The first time I went to Guisi was within one month of the oil spill and I never saw any evidence of it. But by this time, tourists don’t have to worry about the oil spill because its long gone, Guimaras is getting back on its feet and slowly progressive once more.
Thanks for the reply Marcus. I hope I have discovered your site earlier, because before ako naghalin sa Philippines, plan ko mapa guimaras to spend vacation..
Nagsearch ako about sa status of the oil spill but could not find specific info. When I was still a student., I really wanted to visit Nagarao island. But I don’t know if it’s still as beautiful as before.
Thanks for the reply again.
I am happy to know that youngsters in my province and city are as good as you and also gladita…. I have visited her site when I saw as your friend.
Ahh. Also want to Visit Nagarao, heard the place is beautiful ugaling dollar rate kuno so maybe that Island can wait for a while until I can visit it.
Grabe nami nami gid ya kuha pirmi sang cam mo :)
Thanks Junelle, guina photoshop ko man also mga pics ko so it turns out better looking.
Wow marc galing mo talga….I dont know bakit nursing kinuha mong course sana nag journalism ka or IT he he he.
:D Thanks gd patrick. I’m thinking, I can always learn to do those in another time. hehe
Hi, Marcus. West grad mn ako sng 1992 pa. Ari kodi ga obra sa Chicago, kg ari gdko subng sa hosp pero twhay lng. I happened to come across this site and like all else, was impressed of your brilliance. What you are doing will bring you up higher in life. Just thought to maybe give you these encouraging words since I can’t give you a pat in the shoulder to say, “Congratulations and More Power!” I’m proud of you….I’m taking notes of the places/beaches you featured and hoping to visit these places one day. Aside from just visiting Boracay. Thanks….
hi marcus..wow nami sang place..wish ko man mkakadto da :)
classmates kmi gle ni jan mark sang high school..
your website is great! congratulations, you really did a good job here!
Keep it up!
Godblessyou!
Thanks kristijel. I’m glad that through my pics more people are being enticed to visit these places.
I’m surprised to hear these comments, that what I’m doing is having an impact even half-way around the globe. Thanks guid Mike DelaCruz for your kind words and encouragement. I’m actually going to be a nurse, I’m in my 4th year right now and will be graduating on March.
hi! !!!
i visit your website!!!!
i really like your pics!!!!
one of this future,maybe i can visit all your taken pics!!!
ako ni gani pacass mo(miho)
good luck!!!!
God Bless you!!!
tani IT na lang gin kuha mo nga course!!!
nice shots. my friends are planning to visit guisi beach this coming may 7.
Cool. Good luck on your trip Shukran. Don’t forget to go boating.
i accidentally open your website and was amazed with the photos you have. i do love photography. how i wish i can go to the places you featured in your website. it brings new life to my dying passion in photography. congrats and more power.
Thanks. I’m honored that I was able to affect someone else’s life at the opposite side of the monitor :)
Hi Marc,
I also went to guisi with my bakads. I really love that place, its 1 of the most unforgetable place that we visit. I also want to share with you my experience there. At first i didn’t amaze the place we went there at night so we dont see any unique features of the place. But we saw some amazing thing during that night. (para syang glow in the dark na kulay neon). That’s really amazing if you experience that!.Tapos agawan kami lahat sa kakahanap pa ng iba. And I also have a name in the left side of the island sa maliit na cave. (JEN & MIKE). Thanks for for pics. MAybe when i go back to iloilo i try to visit the place again.
Please email me some picture of the place na napuntahan mo para mapuntahan ko.
Thanks thanks.
Ey jen, glad to know you also enjoyed Guisi. Just drop by my blog including exploreiloilo.com and my flickr account because I usually post my adventures there.
Hi. My husband and I are so into visiting lighthouses in the Philippines. Last night, sort of a spur of the moment, we booked flights to Iloilo aiming at going to Guisi Point. Your site exploreiloilo and all the links related to it have been very helpful so far… more and more we are so excited to take the trip.
Thanks for all the info and the pix, we really appreciate it and hopefully many more adventure-seekers will be enjoined to visit Guimaras and the whole of Iloilo.=)
your welcome :) Happy exploring na lang! and have a safe trip tin.
Do you happen to be a graduate of SSC? Anyways, It’s completely amazing how you were able to capture such awesome pictures with an ordinary digicam. I actually thought you used a DSLR. Nice work, dude!
Thanks guid. Uu, taga SSC ako. A point and shoot can suffice for most shots if the person knows how to tinker with their camera especially the manual controls (If the camera has them) :)
hi! i have been reading your post and it helped me a lot. I’ve been to Guimaras once and we opted to stay at Raymen’s beach resort. Have you been there? I think I should try to visit Guisi beach too :-) Is it more advisable to go to Guisi? or can you suggest some other places?
If you’ve already been to Raymen, then going to Guisi next time would be okay so that you’ll get to see other parts of Guimaras. Villa Igang (the cove adjacent to Alubihod) and Baras Beach Resort (5 mins boat ride from Alubihod), are also among the places in Guimaras that I like.
i really enjoyed reading your blogs and viewing your pics… very nice… i really admired such person like you… u helped us ilonggos to discover more the beautiful sceneries here in iloilo…. Im proud to be an Ilonggo… Mabuhay kita tanan!:)
i love it! it helped me a lot deciding about my guimaras escapade later on! thanks a lot! :)
No problem, have a safe and enjoyable trip in Guimaras!
thankie! I had a blast! the place was really really good! by the way, I like your blog! lain gd man ya ang mga Illonggos! hehe :)
thanks schatzi
i’ve been in guisi beach years back and found it to be as beautiful as boracay. white sand beach, fresh air and a “not yet developed” accomodation facilities. I hope when come back
in the future these facilities will be better.
i arrived at the place at roughly 5 p.m. There were a number of groups of local visitors already leaving the beach. And sad to say, I was the lone visitor left. So i spent the night
with some beer together with the land owner and my motorcycle driver/guide.
Spending the rest of the days was unfogettable. Town and beach hopping were great. Mango eating was nearly unstoppable. Bike riding was smooth. And the whole package was
unforgettable.
Come to Guimaras, particularly, Guisi beach. One of the best!
rhum
January 15, 2012, I was back in Guisi beach and noted some drastic changes in the physical
character of the beach. 1. there was sand shifting which the owner described it as a natural process in beach appearance. Sands on the right side of the shore shifted to the left side (lighthouse side) leaving fist-sized stones visible and hurting to the feet. This phenomenon happens every 6 months which start from november to May and from May to November,as the owner explained to me. Wherever the wind blows from any direction, the waves create some “pushing” effect and goes where the wind blows. Some tourists mistakenly regarded it as “white sand robbery” where they presumed sands were dug out from the shore and brought to places where it was needed. Right now Guisi beach was experiencing this sand shifting. Let’s see if the sands have shifted completely by May.
2. I have noticed there was a shore shrinkage. Before, the beach area was wide,approximately 10 – 12 meters from the stairs of the first “terrace”, now it was just a mere 6-8 and the slope was getting steeper. I’m sure it was not low tide because cavities of the stone formations were half empty. 3. The shore were littered with empty boxes/ cases and other garbage. 4. The wooden house was gone and now stood a concrete one, still unfinished. There are also concrete and bamboo cottages at the back. 5. A wayward monkey is there, chained at the center of the cottages area to be viewed, fed and teased. 6. There already is a karaoke where visitors can sing their hearts out and don’t experience being stoned by the locals for noisy evenings unlike before. 7. There is a competitor beside owned by a jap. One thing that didn’t change was the unavailability of a small table, a garbage can, hangers, and a glass. Hospitality was still at it’s best. – - -rhum – - -
cool name rhum sellers, haha. Interesting observations, I noticed the beachfront shrinking as well and the increasing prominence of the rocks at the shore. We also experienced getting hushed by the resort management because the residents living uphill were complaining about the noise, lol.
I was amazed the first time I visited Guisi Beach. I just hope the recent “changes” of the beach’s natural features are not permanent.