Woxy Wanders

On my 2nd day in Iloilo City I decided to leave it again. I prebooked a 2days-1night group tour with Gigantes Island Tours and Services for Php 1699, inclusive of  guide fee, 1 night stay in a room, lunch, dinner, and breakfast (day 2). For convenience, I also opted for the van service directly picking me up from the hotel to the Bancal port. The van arrived at around 4AM and it took us about 5 hours to get to the port since the driver had a hard time to locate the other passengers. At the port, we took our breakfast then straight to the boat.

Boat to Gigantes Islands

It was raining when we got to the first island, Pulupandan. It's a small island with one small tree in the middle. I asked the guides to take photos of me by the rocks. The great thing about traveling solo while joining a group tour is that the guides take care more of you for you to not feel alone.

Pulupandan Island

Woxy in Pulupandan Island

Seashell by the seashore

Our next stop was a pebble-y sandbar called Bantigue Island. Here I took more photos than Pulupandan. Also, I met a group of people from a different boat who took photos with me. You won't believe how amaze people are with solo travelers.

Bantigue Sand bar

Sand is Bantigue Sand bar

Woxy in Bantigue Sandbar

For lunch, we went to Gigantes Sur where we would also be staying for the night. After placing our bags in our designated rooms, we took our lunch. I was with a group of friends from Manila who were also in the group tour. They were very nice and accommodating, not at all cringe-y talking to them as an introvert.

New found friends in Gigantes

Our lunch was chicken binakol, rice, and lots of scallops. It all tasted fresh, I could still hear the tilaok of the chicken (just kidding!).

Tangke Lagoon

After lunch we headed to Tangke lagoon. By that time the sun was blazing and so it was harder to take photos, but I thought, heck I was already there. And according to an awesome philosopher, "Tiis ganda na lang te!" (endure the pain for beauty)

Tangke Lagoon

Woxy in Tangke Lagoon

Woxy in Tangke Lagoon

Cabugay Gamay

This was the most picturesque among the islands, that most photos of Gigantes Islands was of this island when in fact it is not the Gigantes Island (Sur or Norte). When we got there, the first thing I noticed was the photos with travel quotes placed on coconut trees.

Cabugay Gamay Gigantes Island

To get that popular shot, we needed to climb in the stairs up to the mini mountain (I'm not sure what that is called). Our guides told us to head there immediately since once the other boats arrived, we would have to wait in line to take photos. Two of the girls in our group tour encouraged me to pose in my two-piece which was so awesome. I could feel the girl power/spirit-ish during that moment that I felt confident flaunting my body.

Cabugay Gamay

Woxy in Cabugay Gamay

Antonia Beach

Antonia Beach

Woxy underwater

Floating Woxy

We ate rock oysters which costed Php 200 per tray. I joined the group of friends I was with earlier so I can share the expenses but they treated me instead. I remembered thinking I was allergic to most seafood and eating this may kill me and heck it killed me and brought me to heaven coz it's tasty! (yes I am overreacting)

Rock Oysters

Woxy with the wock oysters

Gigantes Sur

Our last stop was Gigantes Sur, by the residential area. I stayed in one of the rooms in a house which was too big for a solo traveler. We had dinner: crabs and fish (I'm allergic to crabs and I didn't bring an anti-histamin so I didn't take a chance)

After dinner, I fixed my stuff and headed outside to mingle with the locals (best part!). They were practicing their performance for tomorrow's fiesta. It was nice meeting and chatting with them. Their happiness and simplicity amazed me that I almost didn't want to leave.

Gigantes Sur residents

Gigantes Sur residents

Gigantes Sur residents

DAY 2

The next day, we were greeted with a sad news that we had to leave earlier and not do the spelunking since the trail was slippery due to rainfall. Honestly I was more saddened by the fact that we had to leave before the celebration of their fiesta. Some kids were asking me to stay until after the dance competition but there was no guarantee that there would be another boat heading back to Bancal port by the afternoon, plus I already booked a room in Iloilo City. My heart was crushed and I suppressed my tears (I was overly emotional since I would be having my period. Gosh! I hate having uterus!)

Gigantes Sur

At the port, I still joined the group of friends, which were my housemate in Gigantes Sur. After showering, we rented a van to SM Iloilo. There were buses bound to Iloilo City but I didn't want to wait a long time. When we got to the city, I bid farewell to my new found friends and headed to my next adventure.

Woxy in Gigantes Island tour

Notes:

• Date of my travel was June 2018. This was very late coz I am a lazy little cat
• Gigantes Tour Contact (Sir Paul) - +639989816812
• The group tour I booked also offers 1 day tour for Php 999
• During rainy season, there were small jellyfishes in the shores of every island  
• There are shower rooms in Bancal port you can rent for 20 pesos
• It was high tide during the morning in Gigantes Sur so we needed to rent a small bangka to our bigger boat. Payment was 100 per person
• Bring anti-histamine and loperamide if you're like me who has allergies and a weak stomach

Total Expenses:

1699 - 2d1n tour with  Gigantes Island Tours and Services 
250 - Van from Ong Bun (hotel) to Bancal port
200 - Van from Bancal port to SM Iloilo
100 - Small bangka fare
50 - Breakfast at the port
2299- Total

This trip is part of my 5 day Iloilo-Guimaras-Gigantes trip. Have you been to Gigantes Island? Did you enjoy the seafood? Are you allergic to seafood? No? You lucky bastards!