Islas de Gigantes

If you are planning to visit the beautiful Gigantes islands in Iloilo, finding a cheap yet complete Islas de Gigantes tour package is quite hard. There are a number of tour agencies offering Islas de Gigantes tour packages. Sadly, these tours can be as expensive as 7,000 per person.

Gigantes Hideaway Tourist Inn Resort’s Tour Package

Being budget travelers, Jen and I were determined to find the cheapest Islas de Gigantes tour package, luckily, we have found Islandgirltraveler’s blog featuring Gigantes Hideaway Tourist Inn Resort, a cheap accommodation in Islas de Gigantes. A commenter mentioned that he booked for a solo traveller tour package at an affordable price. We immediately contacted Sir Joel Decano, Gigantes Hideaway Tourist Inn owner. We asked for a quote for two persons and were surprised by the 3 days and 2 nights Islas de Gigantes tour package price.

gigantes hideaway resort — Gigantes Hideaway Tourist Inn Resort

2 nights and 3 days full board all in expenses good for 2 PAX package rate is 2,970 Pesos per person. Well, rates can be cheaper than 2,970 Pesos for group tours. Good deal, right?

Islas de Gigantes tour package includes the following:

Round trip Passenger boat ride from Estancia to/from Islas de Gigantes
private boat for island hopping tour in 5-6 islands
islands entrance fees
3 day and 2 night accommodation at Gigantes Hifeaway Tourist Inn
local island guide
cave guide
5 meals (family service seafood meals/unlimited rice/unlimited coffee),
motorbike fare for 3 days time

Basically, once you get to Estancia port or Carles port, gateway to Islas de Gigantes, you will just spend 10 Pesos for the terminal fee. The rest is included in the tour package! See my post on How to Get to Islas de Gigantes From Manila.

Islas de Gigantes Tour Package Itinerary

Day 1:

3:00 PM – Arrival at Islas de Gigantes
7:00 PM – dinner (Meal 1)

Day 2:

6:00 AM – Islas de Gigantes lighthouse
7:00 AM – Breakfast (Meal 2)
8:00 AM – 12 PM – Island Hopping
12:00 PM – Lunch (Meal 3)
12:00 PM – 3 PM – Island hopping
3:00 PM – 5 PM – Caving
7:00 PM – Dinner (Meal 4)

Day 3:

7:00 AM – Breakfast (Meal 5)
8:00 PM – boat leaves Islas de Gigantes

Bakwitan cave isla de iantes — Bakwitan Cave

Cabugao gamay — Cabugao Gamay, the famous Islas de Gigantes island

A photo posted by Ed Puno (@onearmedwanderer) on Aug 20, 2016 at 3:43am PDT

Antonia Island Isla de giantes — Our tour guide, Jed at Antonia’s Island

3 Reasons why choose Gigantes Hideaway’s Islas de Gigantes tour package

Cheapest Islas de Gigantes tour package – This Islas de Gigantes tour package is by far the cheapest we have seen online. There are numerous travel agencies offering tour packages, however we find them too expensive. Gigantes Hideaway’s tour package may not include airport transfers from Iloilo City or Roxas City to Estancia or Carles port. Nonetheless, it is definitely cheaper and more fun if you commute from the airport to the ports of Estancia or Carles. See my post on How to Get to Islas de Gigantes From Manila. Additionally, the tour package is inclusive of sumptuous and generous servings of scallops and other seafood! Rice and coffee are unlimited too!

A photo posted by Ed Puno (@onearmedwanderer) on Aug 14, 2016 at 5:38am PDT

Personal guides – Unlike other tours, Gigantes Hideaway’s tour package includes personal guides. The moment you reach the Estancia port or Carles port, someone from the resort will meet and guide you the passenger boat. Once you arrive in Islas de Gigantes, your local and personal tour guide is waiting for you and will serve as your guide throughout your stay in Islas de Gigantes.

cheap tour package islas de gigantes

Private tour – Whether you travel solo, with a special someone or with your friends, you need not to worry about your privacy. You will not be forced to join a group of strangers while touring the islands. You will get to have your private bout during island hopping. A private cave guide. A private habal-habal service throughout your stay in the Islas de Gigantes. What more can you ask for?

Gigantes Hideaway Tourist Inn Contact Number

Joel de Cano – +63 9184685006

7 Comments

1. Fly from Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Roxas City, Capiz Province

Islas de Gigantes is located in the Northern part of Iloilo, however, if you will fly from Manila to Iloilo City, the total travel time (air and land travel) to Islas de Gigantes could take up to 7 hours. Geographically, Iloilo City is farther to Islas de Gigantes compared to Roxas City. Thus, the fastest way to get to the beautiful Islas de Gigantes is via Roxas City in Capiz which could take up to 5 hrs and 30 mins (air and land travel).

Flight from Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Roxas City is 1 hr and 10 minutes. You may book your flight ahead of time thru Philippine Airlines or the low cost and budget local airline – Cebu Pacific .

Tip: Book the earliest flight from Manila to Roxas City to catch the 1 PM boat trip from Estancia, Iloilo to Islas de Gigantes.

2. From Roxas City airport, ride a tricycle going to Ceres bus terminal

Roxas City Airport

There are no jeepneys or taxis around the Roxas City city airport as the primary mode of transportation in the city are tricycles. Once your arrive in the airport, look for the tricycle terminal and tell the driver that you are going to Ceres bus terminal. Note that there are no standard tricycle tariff rates in Roxas City. In our case, we paid 200 from Roxas City Airport to Ceres bus terminal. Travel time is approximately 20 minutes.

Tips: Roxas City is known as the seafood capital of the Philippines. You may want to spend a night in Roxas City and indulge yourself to a seafood treat in Baybay. To avoid pricey tricycle fares around the city, visit my separate post How to travel like a local in Roxas City – soon.

3. In Ceres bus terminal, take a bus or a van going to Estancia in Iloilo

Ceres Bus Terminal

Bus fare from Roxas City, Capiz to Estancia in Iloilo is 81 Pesos and travel time could take from an hour and 40 minutes to 2 hours. Note that there are no air-conditioned buses to Estancia. Alternatively, taking a van to Estancia is faster. Fare is 75 and travel time is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. Note that vans are non-air-conditioned too.

5. Ride a passenger boat from Estancia Port to Islas de Gigantes

Port of Estancia in Iloilo

In Estancia Port, pay 10 pesos for the terminal fee. Inform the tourism officer that you are going to Islas de Gigantes. Fare is 60 Pesos and the total travel time is 2 hours. Note that there is only 1 trip a day from Estancia Port to Islas de Gigantes. The boat promptly leaves at 1:00 PM. If in case you miss the 1:00 PM trio, hiring a private boat to Islas de Gigantes costs 4,500 Pesos.

Tip: Gigantes Hideaway resort’s Islas de Gigantes tour package includes the passenger boat ride fare from Estancia port to Islas de Gigantes. A personnel of the resort will meet you in the Estancia Port and will guide you to the passenger boat. Blog entry about the tour package will be posted soon.

Cheapest Islas de Gigantes Tour Package