When it comes to island destinations in the Philippines, Boracay and Palawan are the reigning giants of tourism, their names echoing across the globe. But tucked away in the northern end of Iloilo, another giant is slowly awakening — the Gigantes Islands.
Gigantes, as many locals call it, is a group of 10 islands off the northeastern tip of Panay Island and is under the jurisdiction of the town of Carles in Iloilo. We have been here twice, but we still can’t get enough of its massive beauty! But why are they called Islas de Gigantes? Many speculations exist, but there are two that are repeatedly told.
According to some stories, when the Spanish dropped their anchors here, they discovered huge bones they believed belonged to giants. There’s also a legend that says these islands, along with others in Capiz, are the body parts of an ancient giant who was punished by the gods. Upon his death, his body parts were scattered across the sea, eventually forming these islands. In Capiz, there’s Mantalinga Island, thought to represent the giant’s eyes (mata) and ears (tainga).
So, are you ready to meet the giant?
WHAT'S IN THIS GUIDE?
How to Get to Gigantes Islands
While part of Iloilo, it’s much closer to Roxas City Airport in Capiz — about an hour and 45 minutes away from Carles compared to Iloilo International Airport, which is three to four hours away.
We’ve tried both routes. Our first trip was via Iloilo City, which meant waking up early to catch our tour on time. The second time around, we took Roxas Airport as our jump-off point. No matter which route you pick, your goal is to get to Bancal Port, which is the most convenient departure point to Gigantes. From here, you’ll find plenty of boats offering island hopping tours.
Roxas City to Gigantes Islands
If you are coming from Roxas City, here’s how to get there:
- Go to Lawaan Transport Terminal.
- Board the bus bound for Estancia, Iloilo.
- Alight in Balasan, which is a town before Estancia
- Ride a tricycle to Bancal Port in Carles.
- Upon your arrival at Bancal Port, you are required to register.
- After that, you will be instructed to wait for your designated boat.
Fare: Approximately P150
Travel Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes
Where to Stay in Roxas City
If you’re still in search of a place to stay for your trip, here are some highly-rated hotels in Roxas City that you can consider booking.
Top Hotels on Agoda
- SAN ANTONIO RESORT
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - THE BEACHHOUSE AND BAR
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - OLIVE HOSTEL ROXAS CITY
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - RUDOLFO SUITES
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - SKY GARDEN HOTEL BY REDDOORZ
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here!
Top Hotels on Hotels.com
- ESPACIO VERDE RESORT
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - ROXAS PRESIDENT’S INN
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - PETE’S INN
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - ALUNSINA HOTEL AND SPA
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - KAPIS MANSIONS HOTEL
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here!
Find more Roxas City Hotels!
Iloilo City to Gigantes Islands
If you choose Iloilo City as your departure point, here’s how to get there:
- Head to Tagbak Terminal in Jaro.
- Board a van to Bancal Port. Make sure to get on a passenger van heading straight to Bancal Port.
- Upon your arrival at Bancal Port, you need to register.
- Finally, wait for the boarding announcement for your designated boat.
Note: There’s no fixed schedule for van departures. They will leave once all seats are filled. If you booked an early morning joiner tour for Gigantes Islands, you have to catch the first trip — usually scheduled at around 4:00 AM.
Fare: Approximately P200
Travel Time: 3-4 hours
Where to Stay in Iloilo City
Still looking for a place to stay for your trip? Check out these top-rated hotels in Iloilo City based on user reviews online.
Top Hotels on Agoda
- SEDA ATRIA
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - ZURI HOTEL
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - RICHMONDE HOTEL ILOILO
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT ILOILO
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - INJAP TOWER HOTEL
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here!
Top Hotels on Hotels.com
- PARK INN BY RADISSON ILOILO
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - CIRCLE INN – ILOILO CITY CENTER
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - GRAND XING IMPERIAL HOTEL
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - DAYS HOTEL ILOILO
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - GOLDBERRY LITE ILOILO
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here!
Find more Iloilo Hotels!
Gigantes Island Tour Packages
We strongly recommend booking in advance to secure your slot, especially if you’re visiting during the summer or peak season. Tour operators offering these packages usually take care of everything for you, including boat transfers, entrance fees, and lunch.
Although there are overnight packages available, most visitors only go for a day trip because it’s possible to cover the highlights in just one day. And by the end of the tour, your eyes — and your tummies — will definitely be full.
Join-in Tour vs Private Tour
- Private Tour. If you’re traveling with a big group or you just want full control of your time, the best option for you is to get a private tour package.
- Join-in Tour. If you’re on a budget, go for a joiner tour! Whether you’re traveling alone or with someone, you’ll save money by sharing the boat with other tourists.
During our team’s first trip here, we opted to book a joiner tour, covering lunch, boat ride, entrance fees, and guide fees. Nowadays, the package runs for P1,099/person. We booked from Gigantes Islands Travel and Tours, among the most trusted operator in the area. It is managed by Rhett Paul Bolivar. If you want to book with them, you can check out the details on their website. You can also contact them through any of the following contact information below:
Gigantes Islands Travel and Tours
- Facebook: facebook.com/Gigantesislandtour/
- Mobile: +63 998 981 6812 | +63 977 146 4759
- Website: www.gigantesislands.com
For joiner tours, you’ll usually meet up at Bancal Port, so how to get here is up to you. However, if enough travelers are coming from the same area, the tour operator may arrange a land transfer for an additional fee.
If you are coming from Iloilo and want a hassle-free trip, you can find tour packages for Gigantes that include land transfers between Iloilo City and Carles. You can book either a private or joiner tour in advance online via Klook!
✅ BOOK JOIN-IN DAY TOUR FROM ILOILO HERE!
✅ BOOK PRIVATE DAY TOUR FROM ILOILO HERE!
Gigantes Things to Do: Island Hopping Stops
Each island or stop has its own unique charm, but not all 10 will be included in tour packages. From the port, it can take nearly two hours to reach the first island. But don’t worry — after the first stop, the following stops are usually close to each other.
Most of these islands collect entrance fees, ranging from P20 to P50. But if you’ve booked a tour package, you won’t have to worry about that.
Depending on the tour operators, the islands you visit and the order of stops can vary. Most of the time, they will provide you with an itinerary so you know what to expect. Here are the usual stops on the tour.
Pulupandan Islet
First up, Pulupandan Islet. Because it’s one of the nearest islands, this is often the first (or last) stop. Viewed from Google Maps as Ojastras Island or Pandan Island, this tiny island is surrounded by fair sand and has jagged rock formations on both its southern and northern tips. On our last visit, we only had these coconut trees and a hut for shade. It was such a charming little island!
Cabugao Gamay
Next up is the iconic Cabugao Gamay, the most photographed spot in the area.
This view? Those photos taken on top of a hill overlooking the beach that you usually see on the internet? This is THAT spot! Seriously, just look at that view! Words are not enough to describe how breathtaking this place is.
The line for photos at this spot can get quite long, so if you find only a few people when you arrive, seize the opportunity to take your photos here. Make this your priority. We’re telling you — you won’t regret it.
You’ll also find other spots with incredible views, such as the one along the stairway and the area with the trees. You can also get creative with your shots!
Bantigue Island
You definitely don’t want to skip the next stop because…lunch! The location depends on the tour operator, but it is often here on Bantigue Island. This island has a local community that offers fresh and delicious seafood, particularly shellfish. It also has a sandbar that is usually part of the itinerary.
Lantangan Beach
If you booked with Gigantes Islands Travel & Tours, you’ll probably have your lunch here at Lantangan Beach, where they serve UNLI scallops! Yep, that’s unlimited scallops! This is your seafood heaven. Enjoy indulging in as many scallops as you can while taking in the relaxing view of the beach.
Regardless of which tour company you choose, expect your lunch to be seafood-heavy, featuring fish, shrimp, squid, crabs, and, of course, scallops. There are usually meat options available if seafood is not really your thing. Oftentimes, this lunch stop doubles as your toilet break, so this is your chance to release whatever is weighing you down. LOL
Antonia Beach
Antonia Beach is mesmerizing, with its shore blanketed by white sand and punctuated by rocky cliffs on one side. Here, you can enjoy various activities like banana boat rides.
Tangke Lagoon
Out of all the stops, Tangke Lagoon really stole our hearts. As you approach the makeshift jetty, which also serves as your entrance to the lagoon, you won’t spot the lagoon right away. But as soon as you go past the rocky entrance, you will be greeted by the clear turquoise water, nestled within the towering karst cliffs.
We were not planning to swim at first, but once we saw that water, we simply couldn’t resist! Just a heads-up: the water is shallow near the entrance, but it gets deeper the further you go. If you can’t swim or are not a strong swimmer, it’s best to wear your life vest.
Mini Boracay
On our second island hopping trip here, we also stopped at this small stretch of sand called Mini Boracay. This narrow but scenic pocket of sand features large rocks perfect for photo ops. The highlight here is this rock that resembles a gorilla’s profile — can you see it?
There are still many attractions here in Gigantes that were not included in our itinerary, like the Pawikan Cave and the Bakwitan Cave. But that’s for another trip!
Important Reminders
- Safety first. Always wear your life vest when on a boat, especially if you don’t know how to swim. Pay attention to the advice given by the boatmen, as they are more familiar with the islands. If they tell you the water is deep in certain areas, believe them.
- Bring sun protection. It’s important to protect your skin and eyes from harmful UV rays. Remember to pack your sunglasses and reef-safe sunscreen. You can also bring a hat or wear a long-sleeved rashguard.
- Take a restroom break when possible. As mentioned earlier, not all stops have restrooms available, so if you see one, go take that break! There are a few shower rooms at Bancal Port, but the line can get too long.
- Food options. If you get hungry before or after the tour, you can grab a quick meal at a carinderia or eatery at Bancal Port. You can also bring your own snacks.
- Practice the Leave No Trace principle. Be a responsible tourist. Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but photos, and kill nothing but time. Also, observe proper garbage disposal; if there are no trash bins available, take your trash with you.
Sample Itinerary
Here’s a sample day tour itinerary for a Gigantes Island Hopping trip. Feel free to make adjustments based on your preferences.
Day Tour Itinerary
– Travel to Bancal Port in Carles, Iloilo:
From Roxas City (Capiz), P150/person
From Iloilo City, P200/person
– Island hopping tour: Join-in Rate, P1099/person
– Lunch
– Continue island hopping tour
– Head back to Bancal Port
– Freshen up at Bancal Port
– Return to Roxas City or Iloilo City, P150-200/person
– Hotel check-in
This itinerary will cost you around P2,000 including a bit of allowance for miscellaneous expenses.
Carles Emergency Numbers
Below are some local emergency hotlines in the Municipality of Carles in Iloilo:
- Carles Municipal Police Station
Mobile: +63 998 598 6203 - PNP Maritime Group – Carles
Mobile: +63 917 814 8776 | +63 920 535 0650 - Bureau of Fire Protection Carles
Mobile: +63 954 400 8764 - Carles Rural Health Unit
Mobile: +63 946 949 0532 | +63 994 704 8381 | +63 999 430 6655 - MDRRMO Carles Response & Emergency Squad
Mobile: +63 948 073 9517 - Philippine Coast Guard – Carles
Mobile: +63 956 995 4619
Updates Log
2025 06 30 – First uploaded
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