Guimaras is a small island province in the Western Visayas, tucked between Panay and Negros in the Panay Gulf. It is one of the Philippines' least-visited provinces, which is part of its appeal — the roads are quiet, the beaches uncrowded, and the pace of life genuinely relaxed.
The island is famous throughout the Philippines for producing what many consider the country's finest mangoes — sweet, fibrous, and eaten in extraordinary quantities during the April–June harvest. The annual Manggahan Festival in May celebrates the harvest with street dances and mango contests. The northern coast has clear water and small islands good for snorkelling; the interior is a patchwork of mango orchards and rice paddies. Ferries to Guimaras depart from Jordan Wharf near Iloilo City, a 15-minute crossing.