Iloilo offers a variety of experiences available for a unique and exciting adventure. The options vary by district. These escapes will surely relax and captivate every visitor to the province. Iloilo combines natural attractions, agricultural and leisure destinations, and a unique cultural heritage where tradition and modernity blend together in perfect harmony,” exclaims Iloilo’s Provincial Tourism Officer Mr. Gilbert Marin.
Tucked in the northeastern coast of Iloilo is the province’s 5th Congressional District. “The whole district prides itself with strings of island beaches that suit all tastes; from sand to gravel to rock to pebble,” informs Marin. At the upper corner of this district, which is considered as the resort destination of the province, is the town of Carles and its outlying islands spread across the Visayan Sea.
Located 21 kilometers northeast from Bancal Port in mainland Carles is the stunning Gigante Group of Islands. Gigante Sur is made up of a string of island beaches that include Antonia Point, Bantigue, Cabugao Dako, Cabugao Gamay, Ojatras, Balbagun, and Tangke.
At Antonia Point, sea worshippers will love the two white-sand beaches lying across each other caressed by blue waters. Bantigue Island is a picturesque long sandbar with a white-sand beach and blue waters. Approximately 7 hectares in size, Cabugao Gamay (meaning “small pomelo”), is a dome-shaped island with a beach of immaculate sands.
Cabugao Dako is likewise ringed by white sands and blue waters. Towering limestone rocks provide an otherworldly accent to the lush terrain and flat beach. Another popular spot is Tangke, a natural saltwater lagoon cradled in the middle of colossal limestone cliffs. Here, the world-weary traveler could take a dip and get lost in a luxuriant primeval paradise.
Southeast of the Gigantes Islands is the idyllic Sicogon Island. Sicogon is a romantic destination of stunning landscapes where the land rises from the sea to an elevation that seemingly reaches for the sky. On its eastern coast, Buaya Beach is laced by white powdery sand and the bracing blue waters of the Visayan Sea. In front is the serene island of Tomaguin (which can be reached by foot during low tide) and at the back Mt. Opao rises dramatically from the forests, its barefaced cliffs providing a striking contrast to the verdant foothills.
“If you are looking for a perfect vacation destination, a weekend getaway, or just a place to kick back and relax, Iloilo is the ideal place to visit,” says Marin.