Guimaras Mangoes

Guimaras is a small island with a large reputation, built entirely on the carabao mango: a slim yellow fruit, thin-skinned and very sweet, grown here in orchards that cover much of the interior. The island enforces a strict quarantine, and bringing mango fruit, seedlings or plant material in from outside is prohibited in order to keep the pest status clean, which is why exports carry the island's name. Roadside stalls sell it fresh by the kilo in season, and the local trade has extended it into dried strips, jam, tarts, ice cream, pizza and even ketchup. A mango festival, Manggahan, runs in May around the harvest.

What you actually see

• The orchards - low mango trees across the island's interior, some farms open to visitors.
• Roadside stalls - fresh fruit by the kilo in season, cheapest away from the pier.
• The processed range - dried strips, jam, tarts and ice cream sold across the island.
• The quarantine rules - the checks that keep outside mango material off the island.

When to go

Peak season is roughly March to June, with the Manggahan festival in May; outside those months fresh fruit is scarce and expensive and you are mostly buying processed products. Cross early from Iloilo, since the boats are frequent but the island is best seen with a full day and a hired tricycle or motorbike.

Honest expectations

Out of season there is very little to the trip, and visitors arriving in October wondering where the mangoes are is a common story. Prices at the pier and at organised stops are noticeably higher than at village stalls. The island is quiet, with basic roads and limited eating options. The boat crossing is short but small and cancelled in rough weather.

Nearby

Iloilo City is fifteen minutes back across the strait; Bacolod on Negros is reachable by a longer ferry.