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Travels and personal perspectives on Iloilo and Panay Island
Nogas Island, Anini-y, Antique Province, Philippines
Tags: Anini-y, Antique, Antique, Beaches near Iloilo City, bird watching Philippines, birding Philippines, Boy Saldaña, Mangrove Philippines, Marine Reserve Philippines, Nogas Island Antique Philippines, Scuba Iloilo City, snorkeling Iloilo City, Wildlife Preserve Philippines
Why you may want to visit Nogas Island, Antique Province, Philippines!
We first saw Nogas Island from the Antique shore at Sira-an hot springs nearly a year ago. Nogas was an enticing prospect, an uninhabited marine reserve of an island surrounded by white sand beaches. So in January 2008 we finally had the chance for a visit. We left our home in Molo, Iloilo City before eight in the morning but our progress was not speedy as we stopped to buy the wonderful bibinkas (a coconut specialty) at the “Bingkahan Mohon” in Oton — highly, highly recommended. It is right near the junction with the road which heads to Mandurriao. The next stop was the always enjoyable public market in Miagao where we bought more fruit and snacks. We bought our take-out lunch at an eatery in Tiolas, where we also spied and bought a beautiful four kilogram speckled grouper to be picked up on our way back. The eatery is Magpatao-Hay. It’s on the left before Tiolas. It a real Filipino place with dirt floors but nice people and good food. They catch their own fish just offshore of the eatery. Full of provisions we got underway once again. We turned of toward Anini-y at Tiolas. Had we continued on the main road we would have crossed the mountains and ended up at Antique’s capitol, San Jose.
There is also a bus from Iloilo City to Sira-an Hot Springs and to Anini-y, jumping off point for Nogas Island While we haven’t ridden it ourselves, it looks to be a fast-paced adventure. We understand that it leaves from the bus terminal in Molo on San Pedro Street, a block or two east of Molo Plaza. You’ll have to find and speak with bus terminal manager to find the schedule.
The first bit of the road to Anini-y, through Tiolas, was paved and quite pretty. There are a few resorts, some just picnic shelters, one or two others offering overnight accommodations. The beaches in this section seem to consist of smooth pebbles. After a few kilometers, paved roads disappear except for random stretches. The roads and bridges are under perpetual repair and very rough. We stopped at a family owned dive shack right where the rugged Cresta del Gallo mountain dives to the sea. It’s a spectacular spot. Finally we came to Sira-an Hot Springs (covered my another of my accounts) and proceeded to another basic but very pretty private dive camp on the mainland beach opposite Nogas. We enjoyed the lunch we had bought in Tiolas while the pump boat was being prepared for our trip to Nogas Island. The round trip fee was P500. The boatman we used can be found by turning down a dirt track immediately (on Anini-y side) beyond the old cemetery (see photo above) located between Sira-an Hot Springs and Anini-y.
TIP: The boat service to Nogas Island and scuba lessons, equipment and accomodations can be arranged in advance through Boy Saldaña – mobile numbers: 0920-952-8869 and 0917-305-0699. Saldaña’s dive center and boats can be found by turning down a dirt track immediately (on Anini-y side) beyond the old cemetery located between Sira-an Hot Springs and Anini-y. The website is http://www.thedivehouse.com/
Anini-y Cemetery - turn left immediately beyond the cemetery
You'll park near this pretty bahay kubo to take the pump boat to Nogas Island
Leaving for Nogas Island (seen in distance) from Sira-an, Antique
Nogas Island Entrance Sign, Nogas Island, Antique Province, Philippines
Beginning of path to Nogas Island Light House, Antique Province, Philippines
Fabulous Frangipani-lined Path to Light House, Nogas Island, Antique Province, Philippines
After unloading we strolled the path from the beach to the lighthouse. What a surprise and delight that path is! We don’t know who gets the credit but many years ago each side of the path were planted with fragrant Frangipani bushes, now near trees — locally called Calachuchi. The trees have grown to create a flowering bower over the entire path. Continuing on past the lighthouse we ran into an impressive and spooky balete tree and then impenetrable mangrove wetlands so we turned back.
Carol on Nogas Island Light House Path, Antique Province, Philippines
Frangipani Trees and Nogas Island Light House, Antique Province, Philippines
Nogas Island Light Station
Banyan Tree (Ficus benghalenis), known locally as "Balete"
Walking back to the Beach, Nogas Island, Antique Province, Philippines
St. John de Nepomuceno Church in Anini-y from Nogas Island, Antique Province, Philippines
Local divers say that the reefs at Nogas are the best ones accessible from Iloilo City.
Nogas Island - surrounded by pretty sand beaches and flourishing Mangroves, Antique Province, Philippines
Carol Exploring Nogas Island Mangroves, Antique Province, Philippines
Mangroves Taking Root on Nogas Island Beach, Antique Province, Philippines
Is this pineapple-looking fruit a Bromeliad? Can you help? Nogas Island, Antique Province, Philippines
We say goodbye to our helpers. Nogas Island, Antique Province, Philippines
Comments, corrections and additional information on Anini-y and Nogas Island are appreciated. Leave a comment below or e-mail to: hammerslag@gmail.com
As noted above, Nogas is a popular birders destination. Arm yourself with a guidebook and help support goiloilo.com by buying this Philippine birding guide:
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Posted by GOIloilo on 11.04.08 12:49PM under Anini-y, Antique, Antique Province, Nature, Environment, Nogas Island
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Posted by Trip Report: From Iloilo City to Boracay via Antique Province at goILOILO.com on 11.30.08 6:50 pm
[...] San Jose, Antique. (The left fork begin a wonderful but rough road along the coast to Anini-y, Nogas Island and eventually to San Jose, Antique. This a great trip in itself, if you have the [...]
Posted by Trip Resort: Sira-an Hot Springs Resort, Anini-y, Antique at goILOILO.com on 12.10.08 9:25 pm
[...] Philippines White sand beach of Nogas Island visible from Sira-an Resort. More on Nogas Island here. Looking toward Anini-y poblacion from Sira-an, Antique Province Sira-an also offers ocean [...]
Posted by qin on 03.25.09 11:57 am
hi!
can i use some of your pictures of your trip to nogas island? i am doing this montage with theme” comfort in strangeness”. i have posted a draft on my multiply account but i want more pictures to capture the eperiences of the people who have been to nogas island. thank you in advance
Posted by roxanne on 05.19.09 2:55 pm
hi ang ganda tlga ng antique sarap umuwi.
Posted by mhel on 07.12.09 11:12 am
proud ako n taga anini-y..ang ganda talga,,,uwi n kau sa atin…antique…
Posted by mhel on 07.12.09 11:17 am
hello….ang ganda talga ng ANTIQUE, gusto ko ng umuwi sa atin bayan….marami kayong nkktang mgagandang tanawing….see u n lng sa no gas island…..
Posted by Nogas Island, Anini-y, Antique Province, Philippines at goILOILO.com | Home - lighthouses on 07.13.09 5:47 am
[...] here: Nogas Island, Anini-y, Antique Province, Philippines at goILOILO.com Posted in Lighthouse, Lighthouse Painting. Tags: digital-photo, including-hiking, Lighthouse, [...]
Posted by lovely on 07.22.09 12:28 pm
hehehehe nakakamis maligo sa sira.an and nagas.
Posted by Erliza Guanco on 08.03.09 5:57 pm
Hi to everybody! me and my family was been in NOGAS island last 1995. it was very virgin island at that time. i saw lot of different kinds of fishes. for me its a paradise in a small town of Antique. i am “Antiquenos” from Atabay, San Jose. this October when i go home for vacation- from Italy, i want to visit it again. SEE YOU ALL SOON! Liza
Posted by Anini-y, Antique Province, Philippines at goILOILO.com on 08.26.09 2:59 pm
[...] Note: Just beyond the cemetery is a dirt road. Take that road to catch a boat to Nogas Island. See http://goiloilo.com/nogas-island/ [...]
Posted by Valerie on 09.25.09 1:40 pm
Nice pics!
I visited this tranquil island 6 years ago for our field research when I was still a History student in UP Visayas. I’m planning to bring my husband there next month..such a wonderful place to unwind….
Posted by KOIT on 10.23.09 7:30 pm
nami gid kang banwa naton!™
Posted by richard on 11.24.09 2:39 pm
.place is so nice like seashore i want to visit Nogas island because i haven’t come there since birth……..
Posted by orlando padulla on 12.10.09 10:15 pm
i graduated from st. andrew’s high school
living in sira-an nato, anini-y antique
message:
anini-y is a one of the most beautiful town in province of antique. MABUHAY KAYONG LAHAT DYAN!
PLS. SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT OF THIS TOWN
I MISS TO STAY THERE!
THNX A LOT!
Posted by analiza arquisola on 01.03.10 7:27 pm
hi… nami gid man ang anini-y antique.. hindi q gid ra baylo ang lugar nga ginbhulan q.. bisan diin aq maagto.. mablik gid ako… for those wu want to visit agto dun kamu.. u would’nt regret talaga promiseu will enjoy the place esp the siraan hot spring,, nogas island is lyk a pradise.. all the view’s u love it tlga at ung fud..