Sample Itinerary Before Trip: ISLAS DE GIGANTES (Carles, Iloilo)

Planning on an October getaway for two, and we're going D.I.Y. We agreed to each prepare an itinerary for one of our trips and I was assigned to Islas de Gigantes. Plus, we'll go on a one-day side-trip to Bacolod for Masskara Festival before heading to Iloilo. We've never been to Gigantes but the pictures and videos we've seen posted online about this place are very enticing. A friend had already been there and highly recommends it. I was told mobile phone signal would be a struggle, but who wants to be bothered while on vacation, right? So, it's set. We're going!

Map of Islas de Gigantes, Carles, Iloilo by Google Maps

First, some fun facts. Islas de Gigantes is composed of 10 islands but 2 of the largest and most popular are Gigantes Norte and Gigantes Sur. The islands are located on the northernmost part of the province of Iloilo, part of the municipality of Carles in the Visayan Sea. The islands literally named "islands of giants," legend has it that gigantic bones in coffins were found in one of the caves now known as Bakwitan Cave. Its old name was Sabuluag/Salauag, named after the tree species endemic in the islands before it was changed to Gigantes during the Spanish period. Gigantes is also known to be the Scallops Capital of the Philippines because of the abundance of scallops found in its waters.

Below are borrowed online photos of some of the spots we'd like to see and explore:

Tangke Lagoon, Gigantes Sur

Cabugao Gamay, Gigantes Sur

Bantigue Island sandbar, Gigantes Sur

Lighthouse, Gigantes Norte

Bakwitan Cave, Gigantes Norte

Sample Itinerary for Islas de Gigantes

October 17, Saturday

04:30

- Departure (Cebu Northbus Terminal)

- Buy tickets at terminal, light breakfast, buy snacks for the road

- Board on Ceres Bus Liner (Cebu City-Toledo Cebu-Bacolod Negros Occ.)

09:30

- Arrival (Ceres Bus Terminal)

- Proceed to Check Inn Pension Arcade –Bacolod (already made reservations)

10:30

- Leave bags, relax a bit

- Eat at Manukan Country (original Bacolod chicken inasal), Calea (cakes and desserts), etc.

- Purchase Weesam Fast Ferry tickets for next day’s trip to Iloilo

- Buy snacks for next day’s trip, walk around the city

15:00 - Watch Masskara Festival Street Dancing at Bacolod Public Plaza (4 minutes away from Check Inn)

October 18, Sunday

06:00

- Breakfast and prepare for check out

07:35

- Departure (BREDCO Port)

- Board on Weesam Fast Ferry

09:05

- Arrival (Phil. Ports Authority – Port of Iloilo)

- Take a cab to Tagbak Bus Terminal (travel time more or less 30 mins.)

- Board a UV Express van to Estancia, Iloilo (travel time about 2 hours)

13:00

- Arrival at Estancia, Iloilo

- Take a tricycle to reach the banca port going to Islas de Gigantes departing at 13:30 or 14:00

16:00

- Arrival at Islas de Gigantes

- Proceed to Jesa Beach Resort (in Granada, Gigantes Norte, Carles, Iloilo), a fairly new resort with a good view of the sunset, fire dancing performance, bonfire, cabanas by the beach front

- Relax or take a little swim before dinner and go about next day’s tour

* Alternative: Take Gigantes Sur tour package organized by The Gigantes Experience (GX) travel team

October 19, Monday

06:00

- Breakfast

- Prepare for DAY TOUR

October 20, Tuesday