I never thought I would get to drop by Guimaras Island during our stay in Iloilo as our real purpose then was to really visit my aunt who would do her Perpetual Oblation as a sister of the Oblate of the Society of Saint Pius X. So it was with much surprise that my nun aunt asked us if we wanted to visit the island right across the city, I was almost unable to contain my enthusiasm.

Nuns were not supposed to be so adventurous, right? Well I guess that doesn’t apply with my aunt. 
 
We headed off to the Ortiz wharf not so early the next day, breakfast in tow right after hearing mass. The cab ride took us an hour from Jaro Church.

All sorts of vendors greeted us as we alighted from the taxi. Lanzones was in season and basket after baskets lined the street. And then there were the smoked fishes, really perfect for breakfast at the beach.

I was daydreaming of fried rice, fresh tomatoes, scrambled egg, and those crunchy fried salty fishes for breakfast as my bare feet dangled on the white sand of Guimaras. Unfortunately, it was to remain but a dream as we were quite unprepared for this trip and we only bought some sandwiches with us for our morning meal.
 
We paid at the dispatcher before boarding the boat to Guimaras, the fare was surprisingly low at Php12.00 per head. The outrigger boat was quite large, I estimated it could seat at least sixty persons comfortably with a few motorbikes towed at the back too. It was like a bus of sorts between Iloilo and Guimaras.

The island can be clearly seen from the small port and the trip was predictably short, totaling just sixteen minutes by my watch.

We alighted at the busy wharf of Jordan in Guimaras, got mobbed by drivers offering tricycles, multicabs and jeepneys for hire, signed up at their tourist center and chose a multicab (Php800.00 whole day rent) for our Guimaras tour. We towed our bags and Lanzones inside and we were off. My head was spinning, here we come, Guimaras!

 

  Ortiz Wharf, Iloilo City to Jordan Wharf, Guimaras
  Daily Trips from 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM (every 15-30 minutes)
  Regular Fare = Php11/pax
  Chartered Trip = Php350 – 470/trip

  Transportation in Guimaras 
  Vans – Distance (km) X P3.00
  Jeepney and Multicab– 1st 5 km = Php8.00 then succeeding km is P1.25/km
  One-Way Trip Fare – (Fare per passenger x No. of sitting capacity per vehicle)