As I view the photos on my iPad, I see one of our getaways when we're in the Philippines. So I decided to share with you our spontaneous adventure. When my husband craves a beach, nothing can stop him. He wanted to go to one of the islands in Iloilo Province. We packed our bags and immediately put them in the car. We left the house at 11 in the evening, but the RORO boat going to Iloilo will depart at 3 A.M. We napped in the car while waiting for the boat to depart. We reached the Dumangas port in Iloilo at around 6 A.M. Travel again on the road for 2 1/2 hrs to the Municipality of Carles. The place is the Islas de Gigantes.
It is an island in Carles, Iloilo. Known for its white sand, clear blue waters and rock formations. It has hidden lagoons and incredible views that unveil the island's rocky charm. It’s a peaceful place, ideal for calming or going on an island hopping adventure.
When we arrived at the Carles port, luckily we found immediately a pumpboat to rent for our island hopping. As we stepped on the boat, we were so excited about what the islands would give us. Even, we don't have enough sleep but our energy is at its highest level. My husband and our youngest son went to the edge of the boat for a snapped. As I looked at them, I was quite nervous that they might fall, so I told the boatman to stop for a while.
The boatman told us that our first stop would be the Tangke Lagoon. As we approached the island, we couldn’t help but stunned by the tall cliffs that came into view. The sight was both great and calming. The spiky rocks rise proudly above the clear turquoise waters.
Our boat docked just in front of that rugged cliff and we stepped down to the crystal water to enter Tangke Lagoon. We had to carefully climb over some rugged rocks to get inside, adding a bit of thrill. As I stepped onto one, I lost my balance and almost slipped. But thankfully, my husband was quick to catch me. We couldn’t help but laugh, turning the near accident into a fun memory, grateful for his fast reflexes. We continued climbing, with his hand in mine, excited to see the still waters waiting on the other side.
It was low tide when we reached the other side. But the beauty of the place still took our breath away. The clear waters of Tangke Lagoon, surrounded by cliffs that make the scenery truly amazing. I looked around and found a spot where we could pose and get nice pictures. We stayed for a while to grasp the serenity of the place. The boatman told us that we had to move to another island.
The next stop was the Cabugay Gamay island. This is one of the best parts of the trip. As we were near the island, we saw some pumpboats docking in the area. There were some people earlier than us. As we docked, we were amazed by the island. It had everything you'd want in a tropical escape. The white sand, clear blue water and a rocky hill you can climb for a great view. We stepped down on the boat to go to the viewpoint. The heat of the sun was extreme, but we didn't mind it. The pathway to the viewpoint was a pile of stones like stairs. As we made our way up, I stopped and made some poses for a snap and the more the view opened up, teasing us with glimpses of the island’s beauty. Reaching the top was truly rewarding. The view of Cabugao Gamay’s sandbar extending between two lush hills was absolutely stunning, like a postcard come to life. We stayed for a while to swim.
The next stop was Antonia Beach. We had our lunch here, and mostly seafood was served. The simple setup, with the ocean as our view and the sea atmosphere as our companion. A quiet place of powdery white sand and clear blue waters perched between limestone cliffs.
We also went to Bantigue Sandbar, we walked barefoot on soft white sand with water on both sides, like a path made just for dreamers.
We took fun photos while swimming and they perfectly captured the joy of being in the clear, refreshing waters of Islas de Gigantes. Simply enjoying the calm sea, our smiles said it all.
Photos taken using Samsung S21
Collage using Canva
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