Surprised by Alubihod Beach in Guimaras

The last time I've been to Alubihod Beach in Nueva Valencia, Guimaras was probably about ten years ago. I've been here for several times already so I wasn't really excited to see the beach after all those years. However, the memories of how it looks are still fresh in my mind -- the beach is short, just a bit better than the ones we have in Iloilo but not half as good as Boracay. Having been to the best beaches in the country such as El Nido and Caramoan, Alubihod Beach was nowhere in my list of top ten. Heck, there are even better beaches in Guimaras than Alubihod.

After a quick but wonderful trip to Guisi Beach, my tricycle driver took me to our next destination, Alubihod Beach, the most popular jump-off point for the island hopping activity. This was the main reason why I pushed through with this day trip to Guimaras -- to experience island hopping which, to my knowledge, was never offered way back. We used to visit this beach for our high school excursions or weekend getaway with friends only. It is very accessible from Iloilo City and more affordable as compared to Boracay.

The trip from Guisi to Alubihod took about 30 minutes. We arrived at Raymen Beach Resort, one of the most popular resorts in Guimaras located in Alubihod, at around 1:30 PM. My tricycle driver/tour guide accompanied me to the registration area for island hopping but I said I needed to take my lunch first. I placed my order at the resort's restaurant and was told that the food will be served in 20 minutes (which is way too long for someone who is starving already!). So despite my rumbling stomach, I took the opportunity to go to the beach to take some photos while lunch was being prepared. Besides, I didn't want to waste any time.

As I slowly walked down to the beach while passing through the beachfront cottages, the memories of my trips to this place started to come out. From being feeling hungry, I was in awe upon seeing the beach for the first time again. I couldn't believe the images of Alubihod that are in my mind were a lot different from what I'm seeing at that very moment. A lot has changed about Alubihod Beach -- the sand looks whiter and finer and the water, more pristine.

I don't know why my impression of this beach has changed tremendously. I've been to some of the top beaches in the country and those have certainly heightened my standard for a good beach. Probably those who have seen this place for the first time may not be impressed, but for someone who had seen it ten years ago, seeing Alubihod Beach once again was such a wondrous surprise. It's more beautiful now than ever!

Did Alubihod Beach changed naturally over time? Or did I just ignore and not appreciate its beauty before? These were my questions but one thing I'm happy about is how Alubihod Beach is well-maintained despite it being touristy. It could get very crowded every weekend and the sprouting of new resorts will draw more tourists for sure. Perhaps how the locals take care of the beach is the main reason why it never lost its pristine beauty over the years.

If you plan to stay overnight or for a few days in Alubihod Beach, here's the contact information of one of the beachfront resorts:

Raymen Beach Resort
Poblacion, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras
Telephone No.: (033) 396-0252    
Secondary No.: (033) 396-0383    
Mobile number: 09185207271

Room rate starts at P600 for double fan room and P1,350 for double aircon room. They also have picnic huts for rent for day trippers at P400 and functions rooms.


Read more about my Guimaras escapade:

• Part 1 - My Solo Day Trip in Guimaras
• Part 2 - Guisi Lighthouse: Historical and Sightseeing Spot in Guimaras
• Part 3 - Guisi Beach: Guimaras' Well-Kept Secret
• Part 4 - Surprised by Alubihod Beach in Guimaras
• Part 5 - Island Hopping Tour in Guimaras

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