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Swimming at a stunning Isla Gigantes sandbar

Emerald waters, red banca, glorious white sandbar!
Emerald waters, red banca, glorious white sandbar!

Should I swim at this side? Or at the opposite side? Or at the tailend of the sandbar? Or in the middle? Farther? Seems a difficult decision but what I did was rush and jump at all sides, swim, frolic and just have a good time with the beach all to myself!

Bantigue Island sandbar is a stunning spectacle, a tongue of land that extends to the sea, jutting out its white (or creamy) sand in pristine waters. But, depending on which side are you and the strength of the waves, you always have the option of floating in the calmer water.

The sand may not be as powdery white as that of Boracay’s White Beach, but man, the water is just cool that I had the time of my life just floating around and doing childlike somersaults or submerge and swim. And swim. And swim. Then I head to the sand, and then jump to the other side! I was just so happy even if I was all alone in the water, the banca crew and my guide just watched and smiled!

But I can’t just have enough of it that, after a swim at Antonia’s Beach, got frustrated with Cabugao Dako and photographed sea snakes at the Tangke Lagoon, I told my guide to go back to this sandbar where I spent an hour before heading back to the resort.

This was indeed, one of the highlights at my sojourn in Isla Gigantes. The water is just unforgettable that I sometimes just watch the video below with my feet at the shore and the sea coming and going. It was so memorable!

Motorized outrigger boat (banca) docked at the sand.
Motorized outrigger boat (banca) docked at the sand.
White sand, white sand and more white sand with  postcard pretty views of Cabugao Dako and Isla Gigantes Sur
White sand, white sand and more white sand with postcard pretty views of Cabugao Dako and Isla Gigantes Sur
Not as powdery and as white as Boracay's White Beach, but, god, the water is just cool!
Not as powdery and as white as Boracay’s White Beach, but, god, the water is just cool!
Should I swim in this part? Or at the other side? Or at the end?
Should I swim in this part? Or at the other side? Or at the end?
The sandbar is a tongue of land jutting out from Bantigue Island
The sandbar is a tongue of land jutting out from Bantigue Island. Before typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), the islands at the background had lush vegeatation.
Almost! just a few feet more and its a frolic at this stunning sand bar!
Almost! just a few feet more and its a frolic at this stunning sand bar!

HOW TO GET THERE From Iloilo, or Roxas City, hop on a bus or van going to Carles. From there, motorized outrigger boats (motorized banca) ply Carles Port to either Isla Gigantes Norte or Isla Gigantes Sur. Bantigue Island Sandbar is part of the Isla Gigantes day tour which can be availed at resorts within the Isla Gigantes group of islands. Better to go during summer when the seas are calm.

3 thoughts on “Swimming at a stunning Isla Gigantes sandbar”

  1. Mike Laagan

    water was not as colorful as this when i was there. it was still low tide ang clouds were all over. have to go back here!

  2. rico

    Read all your white beaches articles. Of all those white beaches, which ones have the most corrals/fish and clearest waters? Please do a list of the best white beaches FOR snorkelers like me (not scuba diving). Thanks.

  3. Rico, will keep that in mind. Thanx sa suggestion.

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