Island Hopping in Guimaras

We woke up at 6:00 AM to catch the sunset but unfortunately it was a bit cloudy that day. We just had our breakfast at the canteen by having cup noodles and coffee. Afterwards, we fixed our things and made ourselves ready for our island hopping.

Time check, 8:30 AM. We inquired for island hopping rates besides the resort. Regular rate is PHP 400.00 for the first hour and PHP 150 for the succeeding hour. Deal!

Our first destination, Lawi Marine Turtle Rescue Center.

We got a close encounter with the sea turtle. It’s quite heavy and I was so careful not to drop it.

Sea turtles (superfamily Chelonioidea) are marine reptiles that inhabit all of the world’s oceans except the Arctic. They are almost always submerged in water, and, therefore, have developed an anaerobic system of respiration. Although all sea turtles breathe air, under dire circumstances they may divert to anaerobic respiration for long periods of time. – wikipedia.

I felt pity when I saw the staff feeding one of the sea turtle. The sea turtle is too old and lost its appetite for food. So here’s how they fed it. 🙁

Lawi Marine Turtle Rescue Center 2
Afterwards, we moved on to our next destination which is Ave Maria Island.
Ave Maria Island 1

People can do snorkeling here but since I had contact lens on, I wasn’t able to do so. My friend took a dip on the beach and I just took pictures of the island, and discovered its beauty. The shore is a bit rocky (with parts that are full of rocks) but there are parts with fine sands.

Ave Maria Island 2Ave Maria Island 3

Next is Baras Cave. It’s a small dark cave but boat can fit in.

Baras Cave

Just 5 minutes boat ride away from Baras Cave is the Baras Beach. The place that I’ve been waiting for. I didn’t took a dip / swim in any of the places that we’ve been too during the island hopping since I’m saving it for Baras beach. 🙂

Baras Beach

When we arrived at the Baras Beach, we plunged into the water. Wow ang lamig! Ang hangin din! The sea bed is rugged and rocky. Mejo nakakasugat. Since di ko na kinaya ang lamig, umahon na ako. Hahaha! Umahon na din mga friends ko.

By the way, there’s also a resort at the beach which is Baras Beach Resort.

Afterwards, we moved on to our next destination. We passed by this private resort at Natago Beach. People are allowed to enter the island however, it was exclusive for the resort’s guests that day. Sayang ang ganda pa naman nung beach… Sarap magswimming kahit nilalamig na ako. 🙂

Natago Beach Natago Island

Time check, 11:00 AM! Susunduin kami ni Kuya Gerald, our driver / tour guide ng 11:30 pero go pa rin kami sa next destination namin, SEAFDEC.

I thought it was just a 10 – 15 minutes away from the Baras Beach but I was wrong. It took us an hour to get there. Ang layo, literal na kabilang isla pa.

The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) is an intergovernmental organization established in December 1967 for the purpose of promoting sustainable fisheries development in the region.  – seafdec.org

The ICD-SA is the Institutional capacity development for sustainable aquaculture project launched in 2006 to hasten the transfer to and adoption by coastal villagers of appropriate technologies that would enhance the productivity of aquatic resources and at the same time safeguard the fragile balance of the aquatic ecology. – seafdec.org.ph

SEAFDEC 1

When we arrived, sinalubong kami agad ng guard. Takbo sya, pero ako di ko kayang tumakbo sa ganito baka liparin ako sa lakas ng hangin. 🙂

Then an officer came, he toured us around the area.

The boatman was correct, there’s a big fish in the area. It’s my first time to see fishes on that sizes. Milkfish na pang 1 week na ulam. 🙂

According to the officer, they don’t sell the big fishes, pinapaitlugan nila ito. These fishes can produce hundred thousands of eggs in one period. Wow! (correct me if I’m wrong, yun ung natandaan kong sinabi nung officer) 🙂

SEAFDEC 2

The officer showed us a clam shell / shell, he told us that it cost thousands for a kilo. Mostly nasa mga Chinese Restaurants.

After awhile, I thought the tour has already ended. I was already worried since it’s already 12:00 PM. And check out time na din namin sa resort. But no, we still went to the other side to check out the other marine species.

SEAFDEC 3SEAFDEC 4
Dahil kakapicture naiwanan ako ng mga kasama ko so I ran papunta sa kanila. Then I suddenly stopped when a dog is on my way, hahaha! Good thing he’s harmless. 🙂
The officer showed us sea horses. Wow, sea horse…

Sea horse

Time check, 12:30 PM. I asked my friends that we needed to go, and so we did. We paid for the entrance fee plus don’t forget to give a tip. 🙂

SEAFDEC 5

It was an amazing tour at SEAFDEC. It gave us information and amazing facts about sea species. An educational tour after all. From the SEAFDEC, it took us about 30 – 45 minutes boat ride going to Raymen Beach Resort. It was not just a boat ride but a rio grande ride at the sea. 🙂

Boat - Island Hopping
Ang lakas ng alon, feeling ko I’m on a Rio Grande of EK. Mas extreme pa kasi  hindi lang sa boat humahampas ang alon kundi sa mga mukha namin. 🙂
After the wavy boat ride, natatanaw na namin ang resort. And thank God, we got home safe after all. 🙂

We paid the boatmen PHP 1,000 (4 hours island tour). And I ran quickly to the resort because it’s already 1:30 PM and we’re behind our schedule.

On my way back to the resort, Kuya Gerald called me. He was there at one of the cottages waiting, and I told him sorry for the late schedule and he said it was ok.

As soon as we arrived to our room, we promptly fixed our things and had a quick shower.

At 2:00 PM, we left the resort. Good thing the resort didn’t charge us for the extra hours of our stay. 🙂

Thank you Raymen Beach Resort!

Raymen Beach Resort

We went to Trappist Monastery first to buy some pasalubong. Then headed to Jordan Port. It took us 45 minutes to get there from Alubihod Beach. We paid Kuya Gerald PHP 450 for the service and for all the waiting. 🙂

If you have plans of having a vacation at Guimaras soon, I recommend Kuya Gerald as your driver / guide on your Island tour, 09084748122.

Guimaras is a spectacular and an enjoyable island. I was charmed, it was lovely. It was LOVE!

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14 Responses

  1. marxtermind says:

    @Christian, thanks for visiting my site! Enjoy your Guimaras trip! 🙂

  2. marxtermind says:

    @Christian, thanks for visiting my site! Enjoy your Guimaras trip! 🙂

  3. Will take note of that number, punta rin kami guimaras ulit at the end of the year =]

  4. Will take note of that number, punta rin kami guimaras ulit at the end of the year =]

  5. marxtermind says:

    Kuya Gerald's # – 09084748122!

  6. marxtermind says:

    Kuya Gerald's # – 09084748122!

  7. blissfulguro says:

    sakto andito pala hinahanap kong number ni kuya gerald..woohoo!

    kaya lang napansin ko marx kulang ng isang digit, hehe, itetext ko na sana eh… (excited?!?!)

  8. blissfulguro says:

    sakto andito pala hinahanap kong number ni kuya gerald..woohoo!

    kaya lang napansin ko marx kulang ng isang digit, hehe, itetext ko na sana eh… (excited?!?!)

  9. marxtermind says:

    Ian, Hi, thank you! Have fun on your trip! 🙂

  10. marxtermind says:

    Ian, Hi, thank you! Have fun on your trip! 🙂

  11. Ian says:

    your Guimaras series is helpful on my trip there…

  12. Ian says:

    your Guimaras series is helpful on my trip there…

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