After going to a nice beach resort in Nueva Valencia, it was time for us to explore what the rest of the Guimaras province had to offer. Hiring a multicab and a driver for the entire day, we headed back to the northern part of the island to do some touring.
Trappist Monastery
Midway from Nueva Valencia to our hotel in Jordan was a peaceful residence for monks. Aside from a retreat guest house, they also offer some home made products, mostly mango-based.
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We grabbed as much as we could, having been 'stuck' in an island for a very limited selection for food. Must try includes their mango biscocho, mango otap, mango flavored barquillos, dried pineapple which was really good. You could probably get these from shops at the Iloilo airport but getting them from here was a lot cheaper.
Shirven hotel
We checked in to our hotel at around 1130am. The main advantage of this hotel is its close proximity to the attractions in Guimaras especially in Jordan. The staff were very accommodating and friendly as well.
Pinewoods Bee Park
We had our lunch at this really cute and charming park just a few minutes from our hotel. One hour before our schedule for lunch, we called them up so they would have time to prepare. From what I've heard, they serve honey-based food for lunch or dinner.
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The place had a really nice and refreshing ambience. The food was excellent and really inexpensive compared to its quality. They also sell bottles of fresh honey for guests to take home.
We were greeted with a warm welcome, a brief tour of the bees and how they harvest honey.
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Oro Verde Mango Plantation
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In our attempt to bring home some Guimaras mangoes renowned to be the world's sweetest, our next stop was the largest mango plantation in Guimaras. We wanted to tour around an actual mango plantation as well. But we were surprised and quite dissappointed to find out mangoes were still off season. The caretaker told us the plantation were not as active as before since 2 years ago because of Agrarian Reform.
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Neptune Pitmann's Garden
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Quite similar to Sonya's Garden, only they have far more variety of plants. For only, Php50, one gets a walking tour around the garden, as well as the cottages, rooms and facilities they offer should one wishes to stay there. They also have a spa and offer a one-hour whole body massage for around 200 bucks. If only we had enough time.
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| It was a very interesting, educational and colorful tour. It would take such great passion to put up a garden with enormous variety of flora and fauna along with catchy details that all harmoniously fit together. |
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| The rooms are very chic and worth the Php800 per person. |
Roca Encantada
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This ancestral mansion owned by the Lopez's offers a nice and calming view of the ocean. We were charged 50 bucks for the entrance. But no one was there to tour us, and they said we could not enter the house. we just stayed at the balcony and enjoyed the view for a little while.
McArthur's Wharf for Sunset Viewing
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We planned to go to Balaan Bukid (the 'Mt. Samat' of Guimaras) but the sun was beginning to set, and it would take at least 40 minutes to get there from Buenavista. So we went to McArthur's wharf instead to shoot some sunset photos.
Finally, a dinner at a seafood restaurant on our way to the hotel wrapped up our day 2 in Guimaras. It was time well spent. Guimaras is truly a beautiful place to have a vacation - you have impeccable beaches next to gardens and farms, with great and incredibly affordable food. I can go back any minute.
Expenses Guide:
| Price per group (6) | Price per head | |
| multicab rental (whole day) | 2000 | |
| mangoes (5kg) | 460 | |
| Entrance fee - Neptune Pitmann's Garden | 50 | |
| Entrance fee - Roca Encantada | 50 | |
| Dinner | 746 | |
| Shirven Hotel family rooms | 1500 | |
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