Guide to Carles: Carles, the northernmost municipality in the province of Iloilo, is truly a gem on the island of Panay. Known for its rich fishing grounds, Carles is home to one of the most sought after tourist destinations in the region. The Higantes Group of Islands, otherwise known as Islas de Gigantes, has gained popularity over the years for its majestic limestone forests, pristine waters, white-sand beaches, and out of the ordinary gastronomic finds. All in all, Carles is a definite destination for local and foreign, young and old, solo travelers, group travelers – practically everyone.
“Carles is the northernmost town of Iloilo. It is located at the northern tip of the triangular-shaped Panay island. It is bordered on the North by Jintotolo Channel, on the North West by the Visayan Sea, on the West by the Municipality of Pilar, Capiz, on the South by the Municipality of Balasan, and on the East by Guimaras Strait. It is 146 km away from Iloilo and 13 km away from Balasan. Municipal Water Area is 154, 738 hectares.” – an excerpt from the Iloilo Provincial Government website.
Guide to Carles: And I had the one of a kind opportunity to explore the wonders of Carles. Not just a resort that offers lodging, The New Beach Head Resort gives you the total package to experience and explore the entirety of Carles. The 1.5-hectare property in Barosbos Carles offers airconditioned rooms, cottages and function halls, restaurant and bar, swimming pool, transportation services, as well as island hopping tour services. Book a Stay at The New Beach Head.
The resort has a total of twenty-three airconditioned rooms ranging from Php 1,000 to Php 4,000 for two to eight people, ten cottages at Php 500 rental, one small hall, and one upcoming pavilion that can house up to forty persons. Before delving into what transpired in Carles, here is a glimpse of the room rates at The New Beach Head Resort.
| Room Rates | |
| Good for two | Php 1,000 | deluxe |
| Good for two | Php 1,500 | supreme |
| Good for four | Php 2,000 |
| Good for six | Php 3,000 |
| Good for eight | Php 4,000 |
I had the one of a kind opportunity to explore the wonders of Carles
The 1.5-hectare property in Barosbos Carles offers airconditioned rooms, cottages and function halls, restaurant and bar, swimming pool, transportation services, as well as island hopping tour services.
As mentioned above, Carles is known for its bountiful fishing grounds. It has been named the ‘Alaska of the Philippines’ referring to its biologically diverse marine resources. The Bancal Fish Port is the main fish landing port in the municipality. Some of the commercial marine species harvested in Carles include mackerel, squid, shrimp, and prawn to mention a few. It is also home to one of the mind-blowing seafood delicacies I have ever encountered.
When it comes to extraordinary gastronomic finds, The New Beach Resort also offers an assortment of dishes and delicacies – from pork, chicken, beef, seafood, fish, vegetables, to pansit and even more. The resort is also known for its All-Day Breakfast Silog. The resort’s specialty is the sweet and sour fish. For its breakfast silog, the specialty is the beef tapa and danggit. Below is a glimpse of the resort’s offerings.
For pork, resort offerings include pork nilaga, pork sinigang, kare kare, pork bulalo, pork humba, Bicol express, pork adobo, pork crumbs, lechon kawali, crispy pata, grilled pork, and pork sisig. For chicken: chicken tinola, chicken binacol, fried chicken, chicken in gravy sauce, creamy buttered chicken, chicken adobo, and chicken pineapple. For beef: beef nilaga, beef bulalo, pochero, beef and brocolli, and beef steak. For fish: fish sinigang, sweet and sour fish, grilled fish, creamy kilawin, daing bangus, and tuna sisig. For seafood: shrimp sinigang, steamed shrimp, buttered shrimp, chili garlic shrimp, shrimp tempura, sizzling shrimp, steamed crab, steamed alimango, ginataang alimasag, chili garlic squid, calamares, squid adobo, grilled squid, and sizzling squid.
Grilled Fish
Grilled Pork
Beef Bulalo
Steamed Crab
Beef Tapa All Day Breakfast Silog
I have to say, the highlight of the two days stay at Carles is definitely the island hopping activity. Home to one of the top tourist destinations in the region, Carles is proximal to the Higantes Group of Islands. The Higantes Group of Islands – also called Islas de Gigantes, Islas Gigantes – is an island chain within the larger Western Visayas archipelago. One of the perks for being with The New Beach Head Resort is that they offer island hopping tour services – for three to ten people, the resort can offer a smaller boat at Php 4,500. Meanwhile, for a larger group, the resort can offer its twenty five-seater boat at Php 7,000.
With The New Beach Head Resort, islands in the island hopping tour include the following: Pulupandan Islet, Cabugao Gamay Island, Bantigue Island Sandbar, Antonia Island, Little Boracay, and Tangke Lagoon. All islands are truly worth seeing – pristine waters, white-sand beaches, and individual interesting characteristics. The Tangke Lagoon, for example, highlights its tall limestone formations, monkey habitat, and a lagoon within the island. The Bantique Island Sandbar, meanwhile, has a bounty of exotic marine delicacies. I had a glance of a sea urchin wherein you eat its insides whilst it is still alive! I considered it alive because it was still moving. There was also an instance, at Little Boracay, where I have actually seen – firsthand – a pufferfish, an inflatable sea creature which, when ingested, can be deadly.
One of the perks for being with The New Beach Head Resort is that they offer island hopping tour services – for three to ten people, the resort can offer a smaller boat at Php 4,500. Meanwhile, for a larger group, the resort can offer its twenty five seater boat at Php 7,000.
With The New Beach Head Resort, islands in the island hopping tour include the following: Pulupandan Islet, Cabugao Gamay Island, Bantigue Island Sandbar, Antonia Island, Little Boracay, and Tangke Lagoon. All islands are truly worth seeing – pristine waters, white-sand beaches, and individual interesting characteristics. The Tangke Lagoon, for example, highlights its tall limestone formations, monkey habitat, and a lagoon within the island.
Wasay Wasay
The Bantique Island Sandbar, meanwhile, has a bounty of exotic marine delicacies. I had a glance of a sea urchin wherein you eat its insides whilst it is still alive! I considered it alive because it was still moving. There was also an instance, at Little Boracay, where I have actually seen – firsthand – a puffer fish, an inflatable sea creature which, when ingested, can be deadly.
Sea Urchin, ‘Dessert of the Sea’
Scallops
The New Beach Head Resort assured and ensured an enjoyable experience for its guests – from the accommodation, to the amenities of the resort, to the culinary prowess of the cook, and to the remarkable and memorable island hopping experience that is definitely one of a kind. For more information about The New Beach Head Resort, call +63 917 146 2190, +63 917 724 9907, +63 919 732 2455; or email newbeachheadresort@gmail.com; or via Facebook or Instagram: The New Beach Head Resort.
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- Guide to San Joaquin
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