bantigue sandbar -- my 3rd sandbarCarles, Iloilo
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Among the 3 sandbars I've been to, Bantigue is the longest and the thinnest. If you walk the entire stretch, it will take you about 3-5 minutes to reach the other end. They say that the sandbar can stretch even farther to form an S-shape during low tide, as well as expand wider. We were there at 4:00 PM and high tide is at 4:30 PM so we were a bit too late to witness the sandbar's true form. 
Bantigue's long and slender sandbar
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The sandbar is located south of Cabugao Gamay and east of Cabugao Dako or Cabugao Grande. From Antonia Beach, you can actually see the sandbar from afar. And even at that distance, you will appreciate its grandiose form. |
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Unlike other islands in Isla de Gigantes, Bantigue sandbar has a brownish color. The locals said it used to be very white before typhoon Yolanda happened. The color of the sand has not gone back to its original whitish color until now. |
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Based on my observation, the right side of the sandbar has fine powdery sand so it's comfortable to sit down and laze your legs on the shore. However, it's quite difficult to swim in as it suddenly becomes deep not far from the shore. The sand on the left side is filled with rocks, seashells and dead corals and might not be very comfortable to sit on. But it's a better side to swim in. Guess you can't have both together. |
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Some locals live in the island. Several houses and a store can be seen from the sandbar. You can explore the island if you have time. It's not big anyway. When we were there, we did nothing but lounge and swim. Guess we were too tired to walk around since this was our last stop. |
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In the afternoon, kids from the nearby community come out to play by the sandbar. They swam and played with us. Although we could not understand a thing they were saying, they enjoyed being photographed. Before we left, my friend gave them goodies which they thankfully accepted. In a matter of seconds, they huddled up on the sand and shared the goodies with their friends. Touching. |
damage/expenses*All-in-all, I spent less than P2,000 for the trip to Isla de Gigantes.
** The rate will depend on number of pax and services included. Please inquire through their Facebook page.
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how to get to isla de gigantes:First, you need to go to Estancia port. If you are flying from somewhere outside Panay Island, there are several gateways to Estancia: one is via Roxas City and the other one is via Iloilo City. Roxas City is only about 2 hours to Estancia while Iloilo City will take about 3-4 hours.
From Roxas City: Ride Estancia-bound Ceres bus or L300 from the Roxas terminal. The trip will end only at the Estancia bus terminal so you'll need to ride a tricycle going to Estancia port. From Iloilo City: From Iloilo City, go to Tagbak Terminal in Jaro District and ride a bus/van to Estancia. Again, trip will end at the Estancia bus terminal so you'll need to ride a tricycle going to Estancia port. From Estancia Port: Estancia Port is the most popular jump off point going to Gigantes Norte or Sur. From the port, you will need to ride a passenger boat which travels to Gigantes once at 2PM daily. The same boat goes back to Estancia port once daily, too, at 9AM. You can also opt to hire a private boat at a more expensive price. key contactOur trip was made possible by The Gigantes Experience, which you could contact through their official Facebook page.
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