Gigantes Hideaway Tourist Inn: Where to Stay in Gigantes Islands

Gigantes Hideaway Tourist Inn (also called Gigantes Hideaway Resort) is one of the first resorts in Gigantes Islands to offer convenient island hopping packages. As such, it became a favorite accommodation especially among budget travelers.

It’s located in Barangay Asluman in Gigantes Norte Island, one of the 2 large islands in the area.

Hali and I stayed here during our Iloilo-Guimaras trip sometime in 2015. We booked the resort’s package that includes accommodation, meals, and private island hopping. Even though our trip was marred with bad weather, we were not disappointed with our stay in Gigantes Hideaway Tourist Inn.

Our Stay in Gigantes Hideaway Tourist Inn

From the port, a staff from the resort escorted us to the passenger boat that leaves for Gigantes Norte. We were dropped off at Barangay Asluman. From there, we rode habal-habals to Gigantes Hideaway Tourist Inn.

One of the first things I noticed is that there was a lot of empty scallop shells scattered across the island. I supposed this counts as their garbage? I love sea shells but have stopped taking them home after learning about sustainability, so this piqued my interest. The shells have ornate thorns and could probably be recycled for souvenirs.

We arrived at the resort. I immediately liked the quicky sea-themed decoration. Most buildings are made from wood and there are sea shell lamps that are used at night.

Accommodations include basic or airconditioned rooms. It’s also possible to stay in the treehouse in the balete tree. There are open cottages where you can hang out and enjoy a cup of coffee. The dining area is located outside and this is where they serve fresh seafood.

We stayed in a nipa hut with fan. My only complaint is that there were insects at night. There is a mosquito net in the room, but since we weren’t aware of the insects we didn’t use it on the first time. I think it’s best to bring an insect repellent to be on the safe side or book an airconditioned room if you’re a picky guest.

Gigantes Hideaway Tourist Inn is a beachfront resort, but the shore here is not ideal for swimming. We had to get past small mounds of scallop shells to get to the beach and the water is not clear. There are bakawan trees that serve as cushion during storms, so the resort infrastructure is protected from damages.

Another good thing about Gigantes Hideaway Tourist Inn is that the meals they serve consist mainly of seafood, which depends on the catch for the day. Gigantes Islands is famous for its scallops. There are 2 types of scallops found in this area: tikab-tikab (queen scallop) and bukol-bukol. We had steamed and sisig scallops, steamed and buttered crabs, fried calamares and squid in sweetened sauce, as well as fried fish and vegetables. Moreover, the servings were generous so we couldn’t finish all the food in one sitting. Not that we’re complaining!

Oh and there’s also all-day free coffee. If you want other drinks, there’s a sari-sari store beside the inn.

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As for the tour, we were provided with our own tour guide, Kuya Nonong. Kuya Nonong was very helpful and he would often hold the camera to take pictures of us as requested during our island hopping tour in Gigantes Islands. We gave him an extra tip for being attentive to our needs before leaving the island.

Overall, we had a satisfying stay in Gigantes Hideaway Tourist Inn.

About Gigantes Hideaway Tourist Inn

Gigantes Hideaway Tourist Inn is one of the oldest accommodations in Gigantes Islands. Today, it remains a budget-friendly stay for backpackers.

The resort also offers all-in packages including island hopping tour.

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Reminders and Tips

• Mobile signal is almost non-existent in the island.
• Electricity runs from 6AM to 6PM. Charge your phone and cameras then.
• It’s best to reserve in advance particularly during summer months (peak season).
• There are no “fancy” accommodations in Gigantes Islands. Gigantes Hideaway Tourist Inn offers basic accommodations, so don’t expect much. As mentioned above, the beach front is not ideal for swimming so if that is an issue you might want to book in another resort instead.
• Gigantes Hideaway Tourist Inn has a sister resort in Bulobadiang Island which also offers rooms and camping tents.

Contact

Gigantes Hideaway Tourist Inn: 09184685006 / Facebook

Have you been here, what’s your experience? Have any other resort recommendations in Gigantes Islands?

Read about our backpacking trip to Iloilo and Guimaras. Here are other articles about this trip:

• Guide to Tibiao (Antique)
• Island Hopping in Gigantes Islands (Iloiilo)
• Day Trip in Guimaras
• Guisi Lighthouse in Guimaras