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Gigantes Island, Carles, Iloilo- Island Hopping Guide: Best Time to Go, How to Go, Where to Stay, Itinerary

by | Dec 16, 2022 | Uncategorized

 

Gigantes Island, Carles, Iloilo Guide- Island Hopping, Best Time to Go, How to Go, Where to Stay, Itinerary

Gigantes island is a group of islands that are located in Carles, in the northern part of Iloilo. It is dotted with palm-fringed islands that have stunning rock formations that are lapped by an indigo-blue sea. Additionally, it has rough-hewn coves, jade-colored lagoons that are bordered by towering karts, and talcum-powder fine sandbars.

Because of its enviable location (it is a part of the coral triangle), the island of Gigantes is home to an astonishing variety of marine life and resources. Fishing provides the majority of the locals’ income. On the beach, with your toes in the sand, you may have some of the freshest seafood you’ve ever had at this kind of place.

Iloilo, Roxas City in Capiz, and Aklan are the three provinces that provide access to Gigantes island (Caticlan and Kalibo). It is necessary for travelers to first make their way to Carles or Estancia. After that, they can take a boat to the Gigantes islands from either the port of Bancal or the port of Estancia, which are the two ports that are nearby.

When is the ideal time of year to go to the island of Gigantes?

The summer season, from late March to early June, is the optimum time to pay a visit. If you are traveling during the rainy season, it is imperative that you check the latest weather information before proceeding on your journey.

Electricity

On the island of Gigantes, resorts, and guesthouses often employ generators to provide their guests with electricity. Depending on where you are staying, there is a specific time of day when the electricity is on. Make advantage of the fact that the power is still on to charge all of your electronic devices, including your camera. In addition to this, it is highly recommended that you bring fully charged power banks as a backup.

Automated Teller Machines (ATMs)

The island of Gigantes does not have any ATMs. Gather as much cash as you can before departing on your trip, as cash is the only acceptable form of payment on the island of Gigantes. ATMs may be found in abundance in the cities of Roxas, Kalibo, and Iloilo respectively.

Safety

Safety on Gigantes island: The island of Gigantes is a secure destination for tourists. But we ask that you pay attention to, and follow by, the local regulations in order to prevent mishaps. Always ensure your safety by donning a life jacket whenever you embark on an island hopping tour. However, the major hospitals are quite a distance away, so you should plan accordingly. It is necessary for you to travel all the way to major cities such as Roxas or Iloilo.

How to go to the island of Gigantes

Gigantes island may be found in Carles town, which is located in the northern part of the province of Iloilo. This is how you get to the island of Gigantes. You can take a flight that does not fly a stop in either Iloilo or Caticlan on your way to Roxas (Capiz). Then make your way to either Bancal port (the trip to Gigantes Norte island will take you 1.5 hours) or Estancia port (2 hours to Gigantes island). Since Bancal port is located somewhat nearer to Gigantes island, many people choose to depart from there to make the journey to the latter.

To the island of Gigantes from Roxas, Capiz

Compared to Iloilo or Caticlan, the airport in Roxas City, which is located in the province of Capiz, is my top choice because it is situated in a more convenient location in relation to Carles, which serves as the port of embarkation for trips to Gigantes island.

Fly to the Roxas airport by plane. Getting to Roxas is easy thanks to the many airlines that fly there from Manila, Clark, and Cebu.

To get to the integrated bus terminal in Roxas City, take a tricycle. The fare comes to about 150 yen. The whole travel time is approximately 10–15 minutes.

To go to Estancia, you can take a van for the price of $65 or a Ceres bus for $75. The travel time ranges between 1 and 1.5 hours. The first trip is at 6:00 in the pm, and the final trip is also at 6:00 PM.

If you take the van, it will be able to drop you off right at the port at Bancal. If, on the other hand, you decide to take the bus, once you get off at the Estancia bus station, you will need to take a tricycle to Bancal port in Carles for 50 per person or a habal-habal or motorbike for 100. Bancal port in Carles is the most popular departure point for trips to Gigantes island. Travel of this distance should take approximately half a time. If you decide to disembark at the Estancia port instead, which is located closer, the fare is only ten yen and the trip will take about ten minutes.

At the port of Bancal, the environmental charge costs 75, and you can pay it at the tourism office.

The following are the several options in which you can reach Gigantes island after arriving at Bancal port or Estancia port: Travel time is around 1 hour and 30 minutes:

  • Gigantes island can be navigated by private boat tour, which can be arranged through a charter service.
  • You have the option to go to Gigantes island on a guided excursion with a group.

The majority of the homestays are located on Lango beach in Gigantes Norte, and you can get there by taking a passenger boat from either the Bancal port or the Estancia port. After that, you will be able to hire a boat from that island and go island hopping around Gigantes. Passenger boarding begins at 10:00 am in the port of Bancal, and the boat arrives at Gigantes Norte around 11:30 am. The same boat then sets sail for Bancal port at 2:00 pm and arrives there at 3:30 pm on the same day. The fare is one hundred yen, and the trip takes roughly an hour. In addition, there is a public boat that sails from Estancia port to Gigantes Norte every day at 1:00 pm. The fare is $80 and the travel time is approximately 2 hours. The same boat sails from Gigantes Norte to Estancia port at one in the pm. If you decide to go with this alternative, you will need to spend at least two to three days on Gigantes Norte and then travel to the several other islands that make up Gigantes.

In the event that you are late for the public boat, you have the option of taking the shuttle express from the port of Bancal to Gigantes Norte. The fare is three hundred pesos. The schedule looks like this:

  • The hours for Monday through Thursday are as follows: 7:00 am, 10:00 am, 3:00 pm, and 4:30 pm
  • Friday to Sunday, at 8:30 am and 12:30 pm

Take a public boat to Lango beach in Gigantes Norte, and from there, hire a boat to travel to either Antonia beach or Cabugao Gamay island, where you can spend the night. If you want to do this, you should get to Lago beach in Gigantes Norte first (see the directions above for how to get there), and then from there, you should hire a boat to carry you to the island where you want to spend the night. You will need to rent a boat in order to visit the surrounding islands while in Gigantes.

Iloilo to Gigantes island

You can also fly direct to the Iloilo airport from Manila, Clark, or Cebu if you are coming from those cities. If you are flying in from Singapore or Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, you also have the option of flying directly to Iloilo through Manila. Iloilo is a longer journey than Roxas; however, there are more flights to Iloilo, and they are less expensive. If you decide to go with this alternative, the following is how you can get to the island of Gigantes from the city of Iloilo:
Fly a plane to the Iloilo international airport.

You may reach the city of Iloilo by taking a bus or van from the Iloilo airport.

Tagbak terminal is located in Jaro, Iloilo. You can get there by cab or jeepney.

Take a van to Estancia or Carles for 200 ceros, or a ceres bus for 190 ceros. The trip takes around three to four hours to complete.

Arrive in Balasan, Estancia, and from there, take a tricycle (for 50 pesos) or a habal-habal or motorbike (for 100 to 150 pesos) to the Bancal port in Carles.

At the port of Bancal, the tourism office is where you may pay the environmental charge of 75 pesos.

In order to reach Gigantes island, there are a few different options that can be taken from Bancal port. Travel time is around 1 hour and 30 minutes:

  • Sign up for a tour that will take you to Gigantes island.
  • Gigantes island is a great place to go island hopping, so hire a boat and get out there! Those looking to do a do-it-yourself tour of Gigantes island will find this to be excellent.
  • Ride the public boat from either the Bancal port or the Estancia port to Lango beach in Gigantes Norte. You’ll find a large number of homestays there. You may island hop about the Gigantes by chartering a boat at Gigantes Norte. The public boat leaves the port of Bancal around ten in the morning and arrives in Gigantes Norte at approximately eleven thirty in the morning. At 2:00 in the afternoon, the same boat departs for the port of Bancal, and it returns at 3:30. There is another public boat that leaves the Estancia port for Gigantes Norte at 1 PM. At the very least, you’ll need two or three days to stay in Gigantes Norte and explore the other islands that makeup Gigantes.

If you are late for the public boat, you have the option of taking the shuttle express that sails between Bancal port and Gigantes Norte for the cost of 300 pesos. The schedule looks like this:

  • The hours for Monday through Thursday are as follows: 7:00 am, 10:00 am, 3:00 pm, and 4:30 pm
  • Beginning on Friday at 8:30 am and ending on Sunday at 12:30 pm

After arriving at Lango beach in Gigantes Norte via a public boat, you can then charter a boat to either Antonia island or Cabugao Gamay island, where you can spend the night. If you decide to spend the night on one of these islands, you will first need to take a public boat to Lago beach in Gigantes Norte (see the directions given above for more information on how to get there), and then you will need to hire a private boat to take you to the island where you will be staying. You will need to charter a boat in order to visit the surrounding islands while on Gigantes.

Caticlan/Kalibo to Gigantes Island

Boracay, Caticlan, or Kalibo are all excellent jumping-off points for a day trip to the island of Gigantes. Nevertheless, it calls for transfers. This is how it is done:

  • You can go to Kalibo by taking a bus from Caticlan or an airport transfer. Travel time is approximately two hours. Make your reservation in this location today.
  • When you get to Kalibo, catch a bus or van to Roxas City in Capiz.
  • You should get off at the Roxas integrated bus station.
  • Ride a bus or van to Carles or Estancia.

Navigate in Gigantes

You have the option of going on a self-guided tour of Gigantes island or signing up for a group tour package that includes Gigantes island hopping.

  • The Gigantes island group excursion (private or join in). Lunch, water, admission fees, and a tour guide are often included in all of the Gigantes island hopping packages.
  • Rent a boat at Bancal port or Estancia port. You have the option of renting a boat in the event that you choose to handle things on your own. It is advisable to do this with a group of at least four people so that you can share the cost of the entrance fees, boat rental, and guide fees.

Boat Rental Rates

  • ₱3500 for a small boat that can hold one to ten people.
  • ₱5,000 for a boat that can accommodate 11 to 15 people.
  • The cost for a large boat seating 16 to 30 people is ₱6,000.

Fees

  • Guide fee – ₱500
  • Environmental fee – ₱75

Entrance Fees

  • Island of Antonia – ₱40
  • Tangke Lagoon – ₱20
  • Cabugao Gamay – ₱50

 

To get to Gigantes Norte, use the public boat from either the port of Bancal or the port of Estancia.

If you want to spend the night in Gigantes Norte, which is where the vast majority of homestays are located, below is the schedule for the public boat that departs from Bancal port and Estancia port. After that, hire a boat from that location to go island hopping around Gigantes island.

Important: Before continuing, make sure that you have paid the environmental fee. The caretakers on the islands that you will be visiting while island hopping in Gigantes may ask to see your ticket for the environmental fee before allowing you to enter the island.

Boat Rates

  • Bancal port to Gigantes Norte, departing at 10:00 a.m., with a price of 100 pesos per head
  • Gigantes Norte to Bancal port, one hundred pesos () per person, departure at 2:00 p.m.
  • Estancia port to Gigantes Norte – ₱80 per head, departing at 01:00 pm
  • Gigantes Norte to Estancia port – ₱80 per head

Points of Interest

The island of Gigantes is characterized by its towering limestone cliffs, palm-fringed beaches that are washed by a tumultuous mixture of turquoise water, and other elements that are stereotypical of tropical islands. The activities available here are perfect for those travelers who like to take things easy. The following is a list of a few of the most well-known tourist destinations that can be found on the island of Gigantes and are generally part of an island-hopping tour:

Bantigue sandbar

  • No charge for admission
  • This splendor is only revealed when the tide is particularly low. Because the orange light casts a dramatic glow over this sandbar, my favorite time to visit Bantigue island is just before sunset. However, this is typically the first stop on the majority of Gigantes Island package trips. This may be due to the harrowing waves and the powerful current that are present in the afternoon.

Antonia Beach

  • Cost of entry is ₱40
  • Tent rental for two people is ₱250
  • Another famous tourist destination on Gigantes island is the island of Antonia. It has a beach that is made up of grainy cream sand and is lapped by the aquamarine sea. You can also climb the rock formations here in order to have a better view of the surrounding area. Gigantes island, is the best location for going snorkeling. Here you can rent goggles for fifty yen and snorkeling gear for one hundred yen in the event that you forget to bring your own.
  • Additionally, Antonia island is well renowned for the low prices of its seafood. You can splurge on scallops for one pound each piece, and rough oysters for two hundred pounds per colander.
  • Camping and staying here for the night are both permitted. The cost of renting a tent complete with foam and mattress is 250 yen for each individual. The fan rooms, which are located in nipa huts and cost 800 yen per night for two people and 1,200 yen for four people, are also available.

Tangke Lagoon

  • Cost of entry is ₱20
  • The Tangke Lagoon brings back memories of Coron, El Nido, and Caramoan for me. You know the kind of place I’m talking about, where the water in the lagoon is a gorgeous blend of green and blue, and the towering karts just add to the sense of happiness. It is the ideal place for taking pictures on Gigantes island and flying your drone, but you will need to exercise extreme caution because there are go-karts in the area.

Cabugao Gamay

  • The entrance cost is ₱50
  • The powdery white island is Gigantes island’s poster boy. It is the one with the limestone cliff on the left side overlooking the palm tree-punctuated beach and the backdrop of a forest-fringed hill on the other side.
  • At this location, tourists can climb the limestone cliff using the stairs in order to get a great picture op and a panoramic view of the island below. You might also discover a collection of zen stones lying on the beach. It is recommended that swimmers come here since the water is exceptionally pure, and the beach itself is the kind of laid-back spot that travelers adore.

Pulo Pandan

  • No charge for admission
  • The nipa huts can be found on this powdery white sand islet because it is used as a resting place for fishermen from the nearby island of Gigantes. The only tree on the island is a solitary coconut palm, and the nonstop waves beat the rock formations on the shore.

Itinerary With Budget

The following is an example schedule for the island of Gigantes, as well as an example budget. Note that the cost of airfare, transportation between your home city and Carles, lodging, souvenirs, and drinks are not included in the example budget.

If you are traveling with a group of three or four people, you might be able to split the cost of certain expenses with them, such as the fare for the tricycle.

The entire amount spent on Day 1 is ₱575

  • Eta Roxas, in the province of Capiz
  • Tricycle rides to the integrated bus terminal in Roxas City cost 150 pesos each way.
  • Van to Estancia or Carles – ₱75
  • Get off at Balasan and ride a tricycle for the cost of 150.
  • Hotel check-in Dinner – ₱200

The sum of all costs for Day 2 is ₱1,299

  • 06:00 am – breakfast – ₱100
  • Join a joiner’s tour package starting at 7:00 am for only 999 yen (inclusive of entrance fees, tour guide, boat ride, lunch, etc.)
  • The Gigantes island-hopping excursion will begin at 8:00 in the morning.
  • 5:00 pm marks the end of island hopping on the Gigantes island.
  • Dinner – ₱200

The grand total for Day 3 is ₱375

  • 06:00 am – breakfast – ₱100
  • Tricycle to the Estancia bus terminal at check-out, which is at 7:00 in the morning. 200 for return transportation to Roxas City via bus or van. ₱75
  • Departure for Manila

The whole cost, excluding the cost of the plane ticket, hotel accommodation, and any other personal expenses, comes to ₱2,249.

Notes and travel suggestions for the island of Gigantes

  • Because renting a boat to bounce between the islands of Gigantes is fairly pricey, it is recommended that you travel in groups of at least four people in order to split the cost.
  • If you are traveling by yourself, your best bet is to join a tour with a group. Weekends are the greatest time to do this because you are more likely to join other travelers.
  • If you are going to do a do-it-yourself tour of Gigantes island, you need to remember to bring lunch for both your boatman and your guide. Tipping is also very encouraged.
  • For your own protection, you should make it a habit to check the latest weather reports before proceeding out. Always make sure to use a life jacket when on the water, especially when taking by boat.
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