Postcard pretty beach at Isla Gigantes

Categories Places
Pristine, turquoise waters, white sandy beach and a rocky outcrop
Pristine, turquoise waters, white sandy beach and a rocky outcrop

My Isla Gigantes trip in Iloilo last February was one of the best vacation I had in years! I was unplugged (offline) and was there just to enjoy the sea, go caving and reflect as I started a new decade in my life. One of the hightlights of that trip? Island hopping over several pristine and beautiful white sand beaches in islets with friendly fishes, a sandbar and a lagoon.

Cabugao Dako (kabugao is Hiligaynon for pomelo) is one of the interesting islets that I had visited with a pretty beach at Isla Gigantes. While swimming at the sandbar, I was already intrigued by how it looked: dome like and covered with vegetation, a rocky outcrop jutting out from the sea several meters from the islet and is connected by a beautiful white sand with coconuts growing over the sand.

It was only when we came in closer that its full beauty unfolded. The turquoise water was just so inviting and as one approaches the beach, the corals, just a few feet below the surface were evident. When we did dock, the sand was just white but not as fine as I thought because of pebbles, pieces of corals and shells and other stones. This though didn’t deter me.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to swim because the caretaker wasn’t there (a P50 fee is collected, by the way) that I just proceeded back to Bantigue sandbar.

Very inviting beach with cool waters
Very inviting beach with cool waters
View of the rocky outcrop of Cabugao Dako
View of the rocky outcrop of Cabugao Dako
The white sand beach, clear waters
The white sand beach, clear waters
Coconot palms, balmy afternoon, azure sky
Coconut palms, balmy afternoon, azure sky
Huge rocks naturally piled at the beach of Cabugao Dako
Huge rocks naturally piled at the beach of Cabugao Dako
Cabugao Dako islet as seen from Bantigue Island and sandbar. Taken with a super telephoto lens.
Cabugao Dako islet as seen from Bantigue Island and sandbar. Taken with a super telephoto lens.

Cabugao Dako is part of the island hopping day tour that is available at Isla Gigantes in Carles, Iloilo. From Iloilo, take a bus to Estancia port and take a motorized outrigger to Isla GIgantes Sur where one can arrange day tours.

I'm a Travel and Architecture photographer, blogger and writer based in Cebu, the Philippines.

A true blue Cebuano, I make stunning images and meaningful stories. My work has been published in various coffee table books as well as local and international publications including Geo (Germany), Sunday Times Magazine (London), done photo assignments for Mabuhay and written posts in Smile.

My personal Photography work has been exhibited around Asia and Europe including Paris in France, Germany, The Netherlands, South Korea, China and around the ASEAN regional capitals.

I am a peripatetic traveler and have been to all 81 Philippine provinces and abroad.

Check out my portfolio site at StanCabigas.

4 thoughts on “Postcard pretty beach at Isla Gigantes

  1. Reydan Duldulao says:

    Ganda!

  2. Beautiful photos! ‘Wished to visit this part of Iloilo on a next trip there… these photos are so stunning!

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