ILOILO-BACOLOD-GUIMARAS TRAVEL GUIDE : DETAILED ITINERARY & BUDGET FOR 5D/4N
A random working day when my BFF Trina called me one afternoon telling me that she booked us a ticket to Iloilo on a cheap ticket fare. I didn’t know anything about this escapade for once, our itinerary was basically out of spontaneity, we losed our money splurging too much, to the point that we can’t even pay our hotel rooms in Iloilo back then. I realized that traveling like this isn’t the ideal one for me — it created panic at some point but we’re glad we just got over it. I decided to write this adventure as my FIRST TRAVEL BLOG ever so I can share with everyone how planning could really be helpful in your future travels.
So read on…
Iloilo City ones known as the City of Love. A province located at the Western Visayas in the Philippines. A virgin island and an underrated tourist destination I must say. This trip of mine is very special to me, as I was able to discover my love for travel and the opportunity for me to write and start a blog page for my experiences. It was this trip that made me realize that there is more to discover in the Philippines and that there is no other time to do it but now.
This trip was jam packed with everything you’ll think about visiting at the famous sites, looking at the landmarks, eating at the most sought restaurants in town and so much more!!! Initially, we spent each night and sleep at Ilo-ilo City primarily in Sarabia Manor Hotel and leave our things in the hotel each morning for our day trippin.
In this blog I’ll show you how we managed to cover all of it in our 5D / 4N itinerary trip.
HOW TO GO TO CITY ILO-ILO CITY PROPER FROM ILOILO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT?
- From the airport, you may ride at any van transfer services available on site. Basically they offer same price and rates for the trip at P150.00 | travel time 1 – 1/2 hour
GOING BACK TO AIRPORT :
- Van services are available at SM Iloilo Terminal going straight to Airport.
*budget expense is based from my own travel
Day 1 of 5 | Manila to Iloilo
Overview in Iloilo : In Iloilo City most of the famous sites are churches, museums and heritage areas, even the municipality looks amazing and fascinating. What is good about this place is the fact that it is the center of other famous tourist locations such as Bacolod, Guimaras and Isla Gigantes. Check out my food selection below as well. Churches and sites around the city proper can be reached by walking around and riding thru jeepneys.
Read my full blog here: Ilo-ilo City Day Tour
DETAILED ITINERARY WITH EXPENSES :
Day 2 of 5 | Iloilo City to Isla De Gigantes
Overview in Isla De Gigantes : Islas de Gigantes is an island chain within the larger Western Visayas archipelago in the Visayan Sea. It is part of the municipality of Carles, Iloilo. Enjoy the serene view, fresh seafood, snorkeling and activities that you enjoy most.
ALSO READ : Isla de Gigantes | DIY Trip
HOW TO GO TO ISLA DE GIGANTES FROM ILO-ILO CITY PROPER? :
- ride a cab going to Tagbac Terminal
- from Tagbac Terminal ride a Van Service drop off at : (travel time 2 – 2 1/2 hour)
- 1st option – Estancia Terminal – if you’ll be heading the public boat service going to Isla De Gigantes for P200
- 2nd option – Carles Terminal – if you’ll be hiring a private boat service going to Isla De Gigantes with the Island Hopping package
- Boat Transfer from port to Isla De Gigantes ( another 2 hours)
GOING BACK TO ILOILO CITY FROM ISLA DE GIGANTES :
- You may opt to stay for overnight at Isla De Gigantes or return at Carles Port after the Island Hopping
- Bus are available straight from Carles Port | last trip at 5PM (make sure to catch it or else you have to stay until the next day to be back)
- Bus from Carles takes 3 – 3 1/2 hours travel time since it is a passenger bus. It goes straight to Ilo-ilo City Terminal
- Ride a jeepney going to SM Iloilo or any part of the city proper you are staying
CABUGAO ISLAND 
FRESH SCALLOPS IN SAND BAR 
ANTONIA’S BEACH 
TANGKE LAGOON
Day 3 of 5 | Iloilo City to Bacolod
Overview in Bacolod : Hailed as the City of Smiles, a quick Bacolod Trip would always be a good idea to be part of your itinerary. Rich with piaya and various delicacy such as sugarcanes and chicken inasal be sure to try them all and fall in love with what Bacolod has to offer.
RELATED : Bacolod City Day Tour
HOW TO GO TO BACOLOD FROM ILO-ILO CITY? :
- Ride a cab all the way to Supercat Terminal (our cab cost P120 pesos for a 30 minute ride)
- Ride a ro-ro for a 45 minutes travel time (P 460.00 for 2 way trip)
- Arrived at Bacolod Terminal (main landmark in front of the terminal is SM Bacolod and the Manokan Country)
THE RUINS, BACOLOD 
FREE TOUR GUIDE IN THE RUINS 
MANOKAN COUNTRY
Day 4 of 5 | Iloilo City to Guimaras
Overview in Guimaras : Guimaras City part of the Western Visayas is where the sweet mangoes are known for. What’s best about this place is the places you could visit, site to see and adventure to experience. It was a whole day of tricycle ride to tour you around Guimaras. Make sure to fill your supply with pasalubongs as Guimaras offers the cheapest compare with Ilo-ilo.
HOW TO GO TO GUIMARAS FROM ILO-ILO? :
- ride a cab going to Parola Port (cab only cost P60 pesos travel time of 15 minutes)
- from Parola Port you may ride a passenger boat ride going to Jordan Wharf – Guimaras (cost P14 per person | travel time of 25 – 30 minutes going to Guimaras)
- boat ride in Parola ports operates from 8am – 5pm and it leaves even every 30 minutes once the boat is full
- Arrived at Jordan Wharf – Guimaras
From there, you may ask the terminal for the tricycle offers they have for the locals. Primarily cost P1,200 for one day tour around all the sites in Guimaras.
RELATED : Guimaras : Discover the land of mangoes
RAYMEN BEACH RESORT 
GUIMARAS 
GUIMARAS
It basically felt like a field trip in Guimaras, they have everything you’ll need for a travel. A museum, beach and resort, snorkeling and island hopping, site seeing food that is worth the try.
The last day was basically a pasalubong and last minute shopping in Ilo-ilo then went ahead to the airport to catch our flight.
If you are a foodie traveller like me, you may want to check out the following too :
WHERE TO EAT IN YOUR B-I-G ESCAPADE :
- TATOY’S MANOKAN in Ilo-Ilo City Proper – they offers the best BAKED TALABA I ever tasted!!! Perfect for lunch or dinner time in big group to enjoy more meals.
- MADGE CAFE – stop looking for a Starbucks Cafe and try one of the famous coffee shop in Ilo-ilo, situated along the market and city proper. Famous celebrities and personalities make sure to visit this hidden gem. They offer great servings of cold or hot coffee.
- PUNOT RESTAURANT – a casual / fine dining experience along Esplanade just beside SM Iloilo lies this resto house. The pasta and sisig was great and worth the visit after a long day.
- DESSERTS IN THE SKY just along Ilo-ilo City proper – if you are up for a quick frappe and dessert night always include this resto in your itineary
- TED’S LAPAZ BATCHOY in Ilo-ilo – You’ll see that Ilo-ilo offers the best batchoy. It is available almost everywhere around Ilo-ilo.
- FRESH SCALLOPS from Bantigue Sand Bar (Isla De Gigantes) – who wants fresh seafoods for lunch? Got these fresh scallops straight from the sea and was only boiled an hour prior our lunch. They served it with cooked rice and a special vinegar in it which makes it pretty more special. Ordered 200 pcs scallops since it is P1 per piece 😀
- MANOKAN COUNTRY from Bacolod – never missed Chicken Inasal where the best were served. Just along the Manokan Country lies different food stalls offering chicken inasal at a very cheap price.
- PITSTOP in Guimaras – never missed out the delicacy of Guimaras — the mangoes! Tried this Mango Pizza and Mango flavored spaghetti in the middle of our trip.
On a final note, there were still a lot of places to check out to this B-I-G Escapade! More food resto to check out and more landmarks to enjoy with. Let me know if you have more to add in this blog, I’ll be happy to update it as well.
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ILOVENATS 
I never heard of Iloilo city before! Yet it looks like the kind of city we’d love to visit: delicious food, awesome beaches and so much to see! Isla de Gigantes looks awesome too, I think I’d stay overnight for sure!
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I’ll be honest, I don’t know much about the Philippines, and hadn’t heard of Iloilo City, but I love all the food pictures! The Islas de Gigantes look so idyllic, I’d probably want to stay a couple of days here! The Ruins are interesting – what are they the ruins of? The mango spaghetti sounds weird, but I’d try it!
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I had no idea about the cities you mention in your post – ILOILO, BACOLOD, GUIMARAS – I am still wondering how do locals pronounce these names. They all seem quaint places where you can relax a bit while relishing things like local mangoes. I have always had Indian Mangoes only, I wonder how would the Philipino mangoes taste?
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I am not surprised that there is yet another offbeat hidden gem in Philippines. There are so many, its not even funny! When I was planning my trip to Philippines, I was researching and I was overwhelmed with all the information because there are numerous islands, cities and towns and so much diversity! As with this place also which you’ve mentioned, I can see historical buildings alongside gorgeous waters and there are such places hidden everywhere in the country! It’s a pity I don’t have much time, I probably will have to go back for another trip sometime!
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A great informative and detailed post. We are totally unfamiliar with this region and the Philippines in general. The ruins look interesting and all those food pics look wonderful too.
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For a moment Guimaras confused me with the one in Portugal. 🙂 This city too has plenty of sights worth seeing. Mango pizza and mango flavored spaghetti sounds so tempting.
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This is quite a fun filled and detailed itinerary. I love the fact that Iloilo City is known as the City of Love 🙂 I visited the Philipiines two years ago and loved it. I wish I had the time to explore more islands. The mango pizza sounds interesting!!
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It sounds like you had an amazing time in Iloilo City – I may just steal your itinerary if you don’t mind!! Isla De Gigantes in particular sounds like a place to look forward to – I’m very big on watersports, and seafood. So I would probably opt to stay overnight here. Thanks for the tips! Fresh scallops from Bantigue Sand Bar look divine.
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You certainly had a busy schedule. I love that Bacolod is known as the City of Smiles. The Isla de Gigantes looks gorgeous, especially Cabugao Island. That water is so crystal clear.
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Great and detailed itinerary! Especially the timetables are super useful. The dishes look delicious, especially the mango spaghetti and the Chicken Inasal! Hopefully I will make it to the Philippines soon!
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Hi! Would like to inquire the best itinerary if Bacolod ang arrival namin? Our BIG tour will be this July 3-7, 2019. Thank you!
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