Guimaras beyond sweet mangoes and beautiful beaches

Going to the beach has always been a refuge of ours when we get too stressed from our busy life in the city. And speaking about beaches, our go-to weekend beach getaway is Guimaras Island, which is just around 15 minutes away from Iloilo City via boat ride.

But the beautiful beaches of Guimaras are now overly exposed; especially that summer has just ended. Guimaras mangoes have already been featured many times with the recently concluded Manggahan Festival.

So, for this weekend’s feature, we have decided to ditch the beach and the sweet mangoes to bring you to our other favorite destinations and attractions in Guimaras.

Weekend side trippers, let us introduce you to Guimaras beyond its world-renowned sweet mangoes and beautiful beaches!

 

Roca Encantada

We used to dream of living in a house on the beach, the mere thought of having the sea as your very own therapeutic pool is very comforting. Imagine the sound of the restless waves crashing on the lonely shore, the salty air, and endless sky. Isn’t it the ultimate escape?

Roca Encantada, or Enchanted Rock is the manifestation of that dream – a beautiful ancestral house nestled on a rock that allows you a panoramic view of the beach. The name Roca Encantada was derived from how the three-floor beach house was built – on top of a large rock by the seashore.

The house was built in 1910 in honor of Doña Presentacion Hofileña Lopez and was declared as a National heritage House by the National Historical Institute on August 14, 2002.

For only P50 entrance fee, you can take unlimited photos anywhere you want in this beach house. But before you reach the best part of the house, you first have to endure the high staircase going to the grand balcony. From there, you can see the enchanting “La Islas de Siete Picados”, providing every visitor a picturesque view of the coast.

Roca Encantada is located in Navalas, Buenavista, Guimaras.

 

Navalas Church

Few kilometers away from Roca Encantada is one of the heritage landmarks of Guimaras, the Navalas Church.

Old but gold, the Parish of St. Isidore the Worker or Navalas Church is believed to be the oldest existing church in Guimaras.

Built circa 1880, it has withstood the test of time. The edifice of the church was made from coral stones and is still intact until today. The interiors, on the other hand, have been reconstructed over the years.

Fronting the church is the church belfry. Unfortunately, the original 4-ft. bell made of copper and gold was stolen by Muslim invaders and believed to have been carted and thrown into the sea near the La Islas de Siete Picados or Isles of the Seven Sins.

Guimaras Wind Farm

One of the man-made attractions in Guimaras is the 54-MW wind farm of Trans-Asia Renewable Energy Corp. (TAREC). It is comparable to Bangui Wind Farm which is also one of the tourist destinations in Ilocos Norte.

The P6.7-billion Guimaras Wind Farm traverses three of five municipalities of the province namely, San Lorenzo, Sibunag and Nueva Valencia.

The wind farm is composed of 27 wind turbines that measure 80 meters tall and 40 meters wide and can generate two megawatts of electricity each, which can accommodate the 13-megawatts power supply demand of the whole province. The excess renewable energy generated by the wind turbines is also used to provide energy to the neighboring island of Panay and Negros.

 

The gigantic wind turbines form a picturesque view, thus, tourists include it in their itinerary to enjoy another unique experience Guimaras can offer.

Just a tip, if you want to see the best view of the wind farm, go to Look out No. 17 located in the town of San Lorenzo.

Guisi Lighthouse

Becoming one of the popular locations for wedding and pre-nuptial shoots, Guisi Lighthouse is more than just a picturesque spot for photoshoots.

Built in the 18^th century during the Spanish colonization, Guisi Lighthouse in Brgy. Dolores, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras served as a guide to the fishermen and sailors passing through the Straits of Iloilo and Guimaras.

Also known as Faro de Punta Luzaran, Guisi Lighthouse is the second oldest lighthouse in the Philippines next to the old lighthouse found in Aparri, Cagayan. One could tell from the rusty ruins of the lighthouse that it has been tested by time but its beauty never fades.

The remains of the structure have become an Instagram worthy background and a good location for you to have a nice view of the Guisi Beach as it is located atop a hill. In fact, in order to reach the lighthouse, you have to trek for 5 to 10 minutes.

With the history that it holds, Guisi Lighthouse is not just a tourist attraction. It is already part of Guimaras’ past and will remain a priceless treasure worthy of to be kept forever.