Gigantes Norte vs. Gigantes Sur: Which Island to Visit First in Carles?

When you finally make it to the peaceful shores of Carles, Iloilo, one question hits almost every traveler heading to Islas de Gigantes for the first time:

Should I explore Gigantes Norte first or Gigantes Sur?

Both island groups are beautiful, raw, and full of that “unspoiled Philippines” charm — rugged cliffs, blue lagoons, creamy white beaches, and seafood feasts everywhere. But they also have different personalities. One feels like a laid-back fishing village dreamscape. The other feels like a wild natural playground made for explorers.

This guide will help you decide where to start so you make the most of your Carles island adventure — whether you're joining a day tour, staying overnight, or building a DIY multi-day island itinerary.

Let’s break down the vibes, highlights, experiences, and travel tips for each side.

Quick Overview

If you're short on time and need the fastest answer:

• Gigantes Norte — best for local immersion, quiet coastal life, lighthouse views, soul-restoring calm, and sunrise lovers
• Gigantes Sur — best for adventure, lagoons, iconic viewpoints, sandbars, and island-hopping highlights

But the truth? The ideal trip includes both. If you can, plan 2–3 days for the full Gigantes magic.

Meet the Islands: The Heart of Northern Iloilo

Islas de Gigantes is made up of two main inhabited islands:

• Gigantes Norte (North Gigantes Island)
• Gigantes Sur (South Gigantes Island)

Surrounding them are smaller islets, sandbars, coves, caves, and fishing villages. Locals are kind, life is slow and simple, and nature is the star.

Before choosing which one to explore first, let’s get to know each side.

Gigantes Norte: Peace, Sunrises & Fishing Village Charm

Gigantes Norte is the quieter sister — perfect for travelers who like to slow down and absorb island life. It’s where time feels softer. Locals mend fishing nets at sunrise. Kids run barefoot by the shore. Boats sway gently beside wooden docks.

Staying here feels like stepping into a postcard before tourism hype existed.

Top Highlights in Gigantes Norte

• North Gigantes Lighthouse — panoramic coastal views, peaceful hikes, dramatic sunsets
• Traditional fishing villages — authentic island culture
• Hidden coves and rocky inlets — quiet moments guaranteed
• Friendly locals offering scallops and fresh seafood

Gigantes Norte is ideal if you love quiet mornings and real island living.

Who Should Start With Gigantes Norte?

• Couples looking for peaceful time together
• Travelers who enjoy local culture and slow travel
• Photography fans chasing sunrise and village life shots
• Writers, artists, and anyone who likes places with soul

Atmosphere: Calm, authentic, quietly beautiful.

Best Start Point For: Relaxing trips, long stays, budget travelers, romantic getaways.

Gigantes Sur: Adventure Trails, Lagoons & Iconic Spots

Gigantes Sur is the star of most island-hopping photos — dramatic limestone formations, emerald lagoons, golden sandbars, and the famous ridge view at Cabugao Gamay.

If Gigantes Norte whispers serenity, Gigantes Sur sings an adventure anthem.

Top Highlights in Gigantes Sur

• Cabugao Gamay Viewpoint — the iconic Gigantes photo spot
• Antonia Beach — snorkeling, cliff spots, calm waters
• Tangke Lagoon — magical limestone-walled saltwater pool
• Seafood lunch stops — roasted scallops at their freshest
• Bantigue Sandbar — dreamy sunrise or midday strolls

Who Should Start With Gigantes Sur?

• First-time Gigantes visitors
• Adventure travelers
• Families & barkadas looking for activities
• Drone and GoPro lovers

Atmosphere: Energetic, scenic, perfect for island-hopping days.

Best Start Point For: Day tours, short trips, content-creators, explorers.

Side-By-Side Comparison

Category	Gigantes Norte	Gigantes Sur
Vibe	Serene, village charm	Adventure, iconic spots
Best For	Relaxation, culture	Island-hopping thrills
Top View	Lighthouse	Cabugao Gamay
Nature Feel	Raw coastline	Lagoons, sandbars, cliffs
Food	Local family meals	Tour seafood feasts

Verdict: Choose Gigantes Sur first if it’s your first visit. Go Gigantes Norte first if you're coming back or crave calm.

Suggested Itineraries

For First-Time Travelers (2 Days)

• Day 1 — Gigantes Sur: Cabugao Gamay, Bantigue Sandbar, Tangke Lagoon
• Day 2 — Gigantes Norte: Lighthouse + village life + seafood day

For Chill Seekers (3 Days)

• Day 1: Arrive in Carles, sunset by shore
• Day 2: Gigantes Sur island hopping
• Day 3: Gigantes Norte lighthouse + coffee + slow travel day

For Backpackers

• Stay with a local family
• Eat at small eateries & try “paluto” scallops
• DIY island hop + join group tours for savings

Where to Book Your Tours

Reliable operators for island hopping:

• Gigantes Island Tour
• Island Hopping Tour
• Island Hopping Package
• Travel & Tours Agency

Tip: Use travel credit cards when booking to enjoy perks like points, cashback, and travel protection.

Where to Stay

Most travelers choose:

• Bancal Port area for convenience
• Gigantes Norte homestays for village life
• Gigantes Sur beachfront cottages for nature access

Accommodation guide available at CarlesIloilo.com.

Essential Travel Tips

• 🕢 Start island hopping early
• 📶 Expect limited signal in some areas
• 💸 Bring cash — few ATMs
• 🏝️ Keep the islands clean — leave no trace
• 📔 Download offline maps
• ☀️ Bring sunblock + flip-flops + refillable bottle
• 🛟 Consider travel insurance

Which One Should YOU Visit First?

• First-time visitor? → Gigantes Sur first
• Returning traveler? → Gigantes Norte first
• Love calm mornings? → Norte
• Love dramatic views & lagoons? → Sur
• Have 2+ days? → Do both

Bottom line: Gigantes Sur gives the “wow.” Gigantes Norte gives the “peace.” Together? They give a travel memory that sticks.

You Don’t Choose a Winner — You Choose a Feeling

You don’t really “pick” between Gigantes Norte and Gigantes Sur. You match where you start with who you are today:

Do you need quiet, slow mornings and time to breathe? Start with Norte.

Do you feel excited and ready to explore right away? Go Sur first.

But whether it’s sunrise over fishing boats or a climb up a limestone viewpoint, the islands welcome you with the same promise:

Here, life feels softer. The world feels bigger. And you feel more alive.

See itinerary suggestions, travel tips, and real traveler notes only at CarlesIloilo.com.

See you on the islands — and may your first view be as breathtaking as your last one here.

Waves of Wellness: Yoga, Mindfulness, and Slow Travel in the Islands of Iloilo

Some journeys are made for photographs. Others are made for the soul. The islands off Iloilo — especially the peaceful fishing communities surrounding Gigantes island — are where travelers come not only to see the world, but to breathe with it.

Soft waves lap at sandy shores. Coconut leaves sway like gentle metronomes. Fishermen hum old Visayan songs as they mend nets in the sun. Time stretches, slows, then dissolves into the sound of the sea.

Welcome to the wellness side of Western Visayas — where yoga mats meet ocean breeze, where meditation happens beneath palm trees, and where slow travel isn’t just a style… it’s a state of being.

Island Calm: Why Iloilo Is Ideal for Wellness Travel

Iloilo isn’t loud about its beauty. It doesn’t shout, it invites. While places like Siargao ride the wave of surf culture and Palawan dazzles with cinematic cliffs, the Gigantes region offers quiet — the kind that seeps into your bones and stays.

Here, mornings are meant for barefoot beach walks. Afternoons for hammock naps. Evenings for stargazing and gentle conversations with locals who truly understand what it means to live close to nature.

Wellness here feels natural — never forced.

Mindful Moments in Gigantes

Spread your mat at sunrise on Cabugao Gamay and watch the sky shift from lavender to honey. Meditate near the shore as boats glide past. Journal under limestone cliffs on Isla Gigantes, listening to the hush of the tide.

This is not a resort-style wellness retreat. It’s raw, real, and deeply grounding.

Great places for quiet reflection:

• Hidden coves near Gigantes Norte
• Beachfront hammocks in Carles fishing villages
• Sandy corners on Antonia Beach
• Calm lagoons at off-peak hours

If you’ve ever dreamed of meditating in a place where silence has texture, you’ll find it here.

Slow Living in Carles

In Carles, time moves differently. Fisherfolk wake with the tide, children run barefoot on warm sand, and travelers find themselves slowing down without effort.

Order scallops grilled fresh by humble seaside cooks. Sit on a bamboo bench while life unfolds around you — gently, beautifully, honestly.

Slow travel isn’t about doing less. It’s about feeling more. And Carles is the kind of place that lets you feel the world again.

Yoga With the Sea as Your Studio

There are few things more grounding than sun salutations on an island. You don’t need a retreat center — just a quiet patch of sand, a reusable mat, and a heart open to presence.

Practice at dawn when the world is soft. Flow at sunset when the sky burns gold. Or simply breathe deeply — sometimes that’s the best pose of all.

Tip:

Travel with a foldable microfiber mat. It’s light, sand-friendly, and fits in a daypack for island-hopping.

Healing Foods & Island Nourishment

Wellness nourishes both body and spirit, and island meals here do just that. Fresh seafood, local greens, coconut water from the shell, and fruits so sweet they taste like sunshine.

Try:

• Garlic butter scallops
• Kinilaw made with citrus & fresh catch
• Mangoes from nearby Guimaras
• Coconut juice on the shore

Planted-based? Just tell your host — locals happily prepare vegetable dishes using produce from community gardens.

Nature Baths: The Original Therapy

Forget glossy spas. Nature is the therapist here.

• Float in calm turquoise waters
• Walk barefoot on sandbars at Bantigue
• Climb rocky limestone ledges for grounding
• Nap under palm trees with ocean breeze

Every texture — sand, stone, wind, salt — humbles you into presence.

Island-Hopping, Slow-Travel Style

Join an Island Tour or book a curated Island Hopping Package — but move gently. Instead of rushing between spots, choose two or three key stops and linger.

Want to integrate active wellness?

• Swim long coastal stretches
• Snorkel coral gardens mindfully
• Paddleboard when available
• Climb viewpoints for grounding perspective

Prefer stillness? Sit quietly at Antonia Beach or meditate above Tangke Lagoon. True rest often looks like doing nothing — and feeling everything.

Side Trips for Extended Wellness Journeys

Enhance your healing route with mindful stopovers:

• Sicogon island — calm beaches & nature trails
• Boracay — yoga studios & sunset swims
• Port Barton — quiet beaches & acoustic nights
• San Vicente Palawan — long beach meditations
• Coron — mountain hikes & lake dips
• Subterranean River in Puerto Princesa — earth-energy wonder

Wellness isn’t a destination — it’s a chain of gentle choices. And every island offers a new breath.

Best Time for Mindfulness Travel

• January–March: crisp mornings & cool evenings
• April–May: warm, calm seas for floating meditations
• June–August: soulful monsoon quiet, introspective energy

Practical Wellness Tips

• Bring a Kindle or travel journal
• Carry a reusable bottle
• Pack reef-safe sunscreen
• Bring a sarong for meditation & shade
• Turn your phone to “Do Not Disturb” often

And yes — unplug. Your nervous system will thank you.

Budgeting Calmly & Wisely

• Use travel credit cards for miles & perks
• Protect your retreat with Travel insurance
• Spot-book eco cottages near Iloilo ports
• Try local vegetarian plates & fruit sellers

Slow travel reduces costs — and increases joy.

A Simple Wellness Itinerary

1. Day 1 — Arrive in Iloilo, sunset walk along the river
2. Day 2 — Travel to Carles, ocean journaling session
3. Day 3 — Sunrise yoga on Gigantes + lagoon float meditation
4. Day 4 — Barefoot beach morning, hammock day in Sicogon
5. Day 5 — Mango meditation & bike trails in Guimaras

Add Palawan via Travel Booking or join quiet Eco-tours with Tour Agency options.

Why Wellness Finds You Here

You came to see beaches. You stay because you found breath again.

Gigantes doesn't force transformation; it allows it. The salt heals. The wind releases. The sea listens. The silence fills you until all that remains is truth.

And when you leave, you carry that calm with you — like sand that clings to your feet long after the walk is done.

Begin Your Journey

• Use travel credit cards for perks & lounge access
• Secure peace with Travel insurance
• Explore more mindful guides at Travel

Find your breath. Feel your pulse. Let the waves teach you how to move again. In Iloilo’s islands, wellness isn’t an activity — it’s the ocean learning your name.