Things To Do In Jordan, Guimaras: Best Of Land And Water

1. Visit the Trappist Monastery

There is a Trappist Monastery located in the town of Jordan in Guimaras. This monastery is managed by monks, famous for their discipline, of the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance. Their grounds are open to visitors and you can even visit their prayer areas. While they may be known for their strictness, the people in the monastery are still friendly and kind to the people they meet. They also offer guest houses to anyone who feels they need to take a break from their daily life. If you do drop by, you can get souvenirs and food from their shop, which is their source of money.

Trappist Monastery

Address: Brgy. San Miguel, Jordan, Guimaras

Access: 20-30 minute jeepney ride from the Jordan Port

Contact: +63 9285024756/+63 9274634465

Website: Trappist Monastery

2. Don't miss out on the beach and lighthouse

There is a beach in Guimaras called the Guisi Beach, which is located in a natural enclave. The beach presents its visitors a stunning landscape of the beach, rock formations, emerald green waters, and in addition, an 18th-century lighthouse. The lighthouse is the second oldest in the Philippines, and requires a 15-minute trek uphill to see it up close. Unfortunately, the lighthouse wasn’t preserved but the view of the sea from its area is simply stunning.

Guisi Beach and Lighthouse

Website: Guisi Beach and Lighthouse

3. Feel the power of the wind at the San Lorenzo Windmills

Recently, windmills have been built around the Philippines. One of those is in the town of San Lorenzo, Guimaras - a 30-minute drive from the capital of Guimaras. Rising at 80 meters (262 feet) tall and 40 meters (131 feet) wide, seeing the windmill could be overwhelming at first due to its gigantic size. These windmills are able to supply the energy needed for the whole province, the remaining is used by its neighboring provinces, Iloilo and Negros Oriental. These windmills are not only providing the province alternative energy, but are also becoming a tourist destination in Guimaras. If you’re interested in a visit, you can always arrange for transportation in the Guimaras Tourism Office located near the port.

4. Drop by the mango plantations

Guimaras is known for its mangoes, which is why making a visit to its mango plantations is a must! One of the mango plantations that is being visited by people is the Southern Orchard Plantation, the second biggest mango plantation in Guimaras. The plantation is about 220 hectares (543 acres) big, with 14,000 mango trees. It is just a 15-minute jeepney ride from the Jordan port.

Mangoes have truly become an identifying feature for Guimaras. The province holds a month-long Manggahan (mangoes in Filipino) Festival. Traditionally, this was done as thanksgiving for the rich harvest of the mangoes but nowadays, it is also a way of promoting the mango industry in Guimaras. Various activities are held during the month of May to celebrate the festival, anyone who wants to see such a festive celebration is welcome to join them.

Manggahan Festival

Contact: +63 335812114

Facebook: Manggahan Festival

5. Learn more about marine life

If you’re interested in marine culture, there is a research center in Guimaras that studies and breeds different species of marine animals. It is called the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) which is located at the Igang Marine Station. Approaching the station, you can already see the fish pens and cages from afar, which contain different kinds of fish such as the grouper, sea bass, and red snapper. SEAFDEC has different facilities such as the Floating Laboratory and Shrimp Farm. Other than studying and breeding marine species, they also provide training to fish farmers and given livelihood projects to nearby communities

SEAFDEC - Igang Marine Station

Address: Brgy. Igang, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras

Contact: +63 333307000

Website: SEAFDEC - Igang Marine Station

6. Visit the islands

Ave Maria Islet is just a small white beach islet found in Jordan, Guimaras. If you’re up for some swimming and snorkeling, this beach is perfect for a day trip. However, one of the main attractions in Guimaras is the Turtle Island, which is just across Ave Maria Islet. It was named Turtle Island because the island is known to be the sea turtles’ sanctuary. Upon reaching the island, the locals will ask you for a fee for the maintenance of the island. Going to the island does not guarantee that you will be able to see a sea turtle as they are seasonal, but you can always visit the Lawi Marine Turtle Rescue Center in Brgy. Lawi.

Turtle Island

Address: Lawi, Jordan, Guimaras

Access: 30-minute boat ride from Alubihod Bay, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras

Contact: +63 335241703

7. Explore caves

If you enjoy exploring caves, then you’d probably enjoy Guimaras. Guimaras has a number of caves that tourists can explore, all of them varying in accessibility and size. The most visited is the Baras Cave, which houses fruit bats. Other caves, such as Biri Cave and Bucoy Cave - both in Jordan - can only be accessed by crawling. Capitoguan Cave, also in Jordan, is a bat sanctuary and is about 250 meters (820 feet) long and the entrance is 12 meters (39 feet) tall. Higante Cave, found on top of a hill in Jordan, was said to have been inhabited by a giant, hence its name.

There are a lot of caves in Guimaras and some are still unexplored. Guimaras offers a variety of caves that can cater to the different preferences of visitors.

Guimaras Caves

Website: Guimaras Caves

There's a lot more to do!

Guimaras offers a diversity of activities and tourist spots that visitors of all ages can enjoy on the island. Some destinations are still not yet known by other people unless a little research is done, but fortunately, more and more people are now becoming interested in visiting Guimaras. There is so much to do in Guimaras that anyone who visits won’t get bored and at the same time, will get to relax and just enjoy soaking up the experience of being in a strange land.