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Bacolod-Iloilo-Guimaras (BIG) Itinerary and DIY Travel Guide (5-day trip)

The “BIG” (Bacolod-Iloilo-Guimaras) adventure is one of the most-listed must-try adventures in the Philippines. It’s also one of the bests, I guess, as you can actually visit more than 20 spots from two different provinces in three days, plus more water and mountain adventures in different islands around the provinces. Not to mention the really good food in Visayas! Here’s our BIG itinerary and travel guide to help you on your trip!

Aside from leisure and work, one reason why I love going to places is that it helps me with my way of thinking and honestly, feeling. And while traveling can be mostly exciting and fun, it’s so much more than posing for pictures and trying out some unfamiliar delicacies like I always share here or on social media.

Hey there! My name’s May and you can view more about me here.  I travel a lot for both work and leisure. Thanks to being an auditor and a content creator and, of course, to my love for travel, I barely feel I’m actually at work when traveling. And if  I’m actually off work, I usually am with friends or family, discovering places and trying out new food. I’m juggling three jobs – the two mentioned + being a single mom. You think it’s easy? Of course not! But what glues me together is my passion and love for these three. More about my story here.

I love sharing what I know and how I do things, so if you haven’t read these yet, visit the following pages to view:

In case you’re interested how fun my Romblon trip was, read more of my stories here! >> The BIGG Adventure

Traveling is not just a great content for a blog. For me, traveling is one hell of a stress-buster. There are times I cannot help but feel pressured by work or being a mom or a family provider, and with that I always I knew I needed some new environment to refresh my mind. Well, I won’t be able to be the “superwoman” I am if I’m super stressed out, right?

So after the looong week(s) of working harder for some monitoring at work, and even though my daughter is still at a veeeery young age, I needed to go away and regain my energy and courage and…my superpowers. So thanks, lolo and lola, for taking over as Mnemo’s 5-day parents.

Pre-travel Guide

How to get there?

We started our BIG week as I wanted to start with a more “chill” itinerary for the first day: Iloilo City Tour. To get to Iloio City from Manila, you can either book a direct flight or ride a ferry.

The fastest way, of course, is by plane – about 1 hour to 1 hour and a half – via AirAsia, CebuPacific, or PAL. There are direct flights from Manila at around P3,000 to P5,000. But here’s a tip: register a free account from different airlines to get notified for future seat sales. They could offer as low as P1 fare! There are also flights coming from Davao, Cebu, Puerto Princesa, Cagayan de Oro, Hong Kong and Singapore.

From the airport, you can hire a private van (most recommendable for groups), cab, and even Grab. I don’t know why I didn’t consider Grab when I was planning my itinerary, but lesson learned: do a little research if Grab or Uber is operating within your destination. It’s easier to book + more safe.

If you are on a tight budget, you can ride a jeep or multicab. Take the ride from the airport to Bangga Dama in Santa Barbara town (P10*) then ride another jeepney to SM City Iloilo (P16*).

If you are coming from Manila, there are weekly schedules for ferry trips. One way trip would take 8 hours via 2Go Travels. I’m not really sure if there are other lines offering service from Manila, but I highly recommend 2Go in terms of sanitation. service, and they also offer single-journey travel insurances which I think is not very usual among domestic ferry rides.

*rates are as of January 2020.

When is the best time to visit BIG?

It really depends on what you want to do. All year is ideal when you visit each of the islands, but of course if you want to go island hopping, it’s best to go during summer. If you want to avoid the crowd, it’s also nice to visit the islands months before, like February to March. If you want long and cold nights, go have a staycation far from Manila during rainy days. But of course, always mind the convenience and safety of your travels.

Where to stay for accommodation?

I still really think the best place to enjoy most of Iloilo is Richmonde Hotel. If you’re looking for a comfy room and yummy food, Richmonde is one perfect place. Check the latest promos and book here!

Other options would be:
 Courtyard by Marriott Hotel Iloilo
 Sheridan Boutique Resort
 Circle Inn
 Urban Sands Hotel Iloilo
 You can also try these cute Airbnbs within the city.

5-day BIG itinerary

Note: The following itinerary section is in tabs format. You may click the headings to view the contents for each day of the trip. I also shared important contact details below in case you need resources/references for your BIG trip.

Wrap-up

Along the cities and seas and mountains, Bacolod, Iloilo, and Guimaras are indeed a treasure. And it is absolutely a must to include them in your bucket list!

Since I had a very limited time I visited just a few beautiful spots around BIG. I have plans on coming here again soon, and maybe explore more adventures and less-known places.

OMG, can’t wait!

How about you?

Have you experienced the BIG adventure yet? I'm sure your whole trip was full of beautiful stories. Let me know your thoughts and leave a comment below!

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4 Comments

  • www.WanderWoMom.com

    nag ilo ilo kami nitong january that same moment na nagkaron ng covid positive sa pilipinas. super loved it there. dinagyang ang inabot namin. then nag day tour lang kami sa guimaras!

    gigantes naman sana ang puntahan namin next time!

  • theaoctavo

    Ang witty naman BIG! Never knew about that haha when I travel, I always focus on one place. Ewan ko ba, I just really want to explore everything in that place muna. Kaso sometimes limited lang Ang oras. Kudos to this guide! Will definitely take note of all the tips you placed here ♥️

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