GUMASA BEACH

‘’ SMALL BORACAY OF MINDANAO or BORACAY OF SOUTH ‘’

Glan, Sarangani Province

Welcome, I’m Dianne Dannilyn M. Nuqui, Guide for this tour. I’ll tell you all about the
things that you will see. If you have any questions, please ask. It’s my job to answer
them. All my Time is free to talk to you. Our first destination is in Gumasa Beach.
Hopefully you enjoy our trip today.

Tour Guide: Roughly 1.5 hours away from General Santos City lies Glan, the summer
capital of Sarangani province. The laid-back town on Sarangani’s eastern shore is
blessed with beautiful beaches, the most famous of which can be found in Gumasa,
where a six-kilometer powdery white sand beach stretches the length of a crescent-
shaped cove.

Tour Guide: For years, locals have referred to Gumasa Beach as the “Small Boracay of
Mindanao” or “Boracay of South” because of the quality of the sand, crystal-clear waters
and uncrowded shores reminiscent of the famous party island 20 years ago.

Tour Guide: Every summer, Gumasa Beach comes alive with partygoers who flock here
for the annual Sarangani Bay or Sarbay Festival, the biggest beach party in Mindanao.
Now on its 11th year, the summer festival hosts sports competitions, nightly parties,
concerts, beach activities, as well as environmental programs such as mangrove
planting and coastal clean-ups.

Tour Guide: But most of the year, the whole town of Glan remains blissfully quiet and
uncrowded, offering a peaceful escape for local and foreign tourists who just want to
enjoy nature and the chill beach life minus the crowds. Aside from Gumasa Beach, one
can find secluded beaches and coves scattered along the coast in the southernmost tip
of the Philippines.
What to do in Gumasa Beach ?

Chill out on the beach:

Tour Guide: Gumasa boasts of stunning beaches that are perfect for swimming, with
diving and snorkelling spots farther from the shore. The most popular sports and
activities include beach volleyball and beach frisbee. Take a dip in the crystal-clear
waters or bring a hammock or beach mat and just laze about by the beach all day.

Visit Isla Jardin del Mar:

Tour Guide: Though the sand here is not as fine as Gumasa Beach, Isla Jardin del Mar
Beach Resort is the most popular destination for families for day tours, picnics and
swimming and for budget backpackers who want to do beach camping. The 750-meter
long beach has a short hiking trail along the coast leads to a small jetty with rocky
formations along the way, ideal for photo walks. Entrance fee for day tours is P70 for
adults and P30 for children.

Enjoy water sports activities:

Tour Guide: Spend a day taking a tour of the different resorts along the beach by land or
rent a boat to visit the more secluded resorts. Belimac Sumbang Point Beach offers a
stunning snorkeling site just meters from the shore.

Tour Glan town:

Tour Guide: Take a heritage tour of the town landmarks and ancestral houses reflective
of the “Colono architecture of Southern Mindanao” in the Glan town proper. Aside from
the ancestral houses, you can visit the Colono marker, Baywalk area, and walk through
a row of century-old acacia trees.

WHERE TO STAY?

Tour Guide: There are three main resorts located along the stretch of Gumasa Beach,
all owned and managed by individuals from the same family.
Tour Guide: For those who value privacy and want a quiet, uncrowded and secure place
to relax right by the beach, Rosal Beach Resort provides a good choice, with spacious
rooms, well-kept grounds and a central location right in the middle of the
crescentshaped coastline. Aircon rooms for two start at P2,200 (garden) to P3,000
(beachfront). Tents and beach camping are not allowed for the privacy of checked-in
guests.
Tour Guide: For those traveling with families and larger groups, Coco Beach Resort,
which is separated fro Rosal by a small rocky area during high tide, offers the most
number of rooms and open cottages available, making it more popular with families and
day trippers. Room rates range from P1,500 to P4,500.
Tour Guide: White Haven Beach Resort, located at the northern side of the most
popular beach front, is a favorite of those who prefer a quiet and laid back vacation.
They offer family rooms ranging from P2,500 to P4,900 depending on the number of
occupants and backpacker fan rooms for about P750 a night.

NOTE: Make sure to reserve rooms beforehand (downpayment or full payment may be
required) before you plan to visit, as the beach resorts tend to get fully booked,
especially during weekends and peak season.
Tour Guide: Aside from the three main resorts, there are other establishments in
Gumasa’s northern and southern portions separated from the main beach by rocky
outcrops and coves.
Tour Guide: Hacienda Don Juan is a vintage-inspired beach resort with several heritage
houses, a large restaurant and Instagram-worthy beach huts, which is popular with
locals for prenuptial pictorials, private events and weddings. Reservations are required
to visit.
Tour Guide: Isla Jardin del Mar, the only resort hotel in the Gumasa area accredited by
the Department of Tourism, offers the most spacious accommodations for large groups,
with cottages, fan rooms and deluxe aircon villas and family suites. Room rates start at
P1,500 to P5,500 depending on the number of guests, type of room and season.
Tour Guide: Belimac Sumbang Point Beach, situated in a secluded coast reachable by a
short boat ride from the town’s port area, offers a rustic and exclusive beach resort with
pristine waters and unspoiled mountain scenery. They have several aircon rooms and
open-air cottages that just open up to the sea.
Tour Guide: Those on a budget can opt to stay in the poblacion area and visit the beach
on a day trip instead. Some options in the poblacion area include:
 Lucy's Pension House, Poblacion
 Juanita's Inn, Poblacion
 Glan Training Center, Poblacion
 Ming's Bed & Breakfast
  Carlito's Cafe, Glan-Padidu
 Familia Ruiz Memorabilia, Poblacion

WHERE TO EAT ?

Tour Guide: The resorts along Gumasa Beach have their own in-house cafeterias
serving complimentary breakfast and a few short orders, but it's best to head to the
poblacion or other pitstop restaurants along the highway to sample the flavors of the
region.
Tour Guide: Isla Jardin del Mar has a large restaurant serving Filipino fare, beach
favorites and seafood specialties.
Tour Guide: Belmar Ecopark & Restaurant is a popular pitstop restaurant where you can
enjoy a filling meal and get a view of Sarangani Bay on your way to Gumasa Beach.
One of their specialties is the Buko Halo-Halo, the local take on the popular summer
dessert served in a coconut shell with buko salvaro, a biscuit-like wafer made from
coconut meat.
Tour Guide: Ka Jose Beach Resort is a cozy family-run resort fronting a black sand
beach, which offers a chill hangout for barkadas and families who just want to enjoy the
breeze with appetizers and refreshing drinks.
Tour Guide: For those craving for desserts and comfort food, be sure to check out
Sweet Banks and Chef Nico’s for their signature Sikwate & Puto Maya and light but
filling pasta dishes and rice meals.
Tour Guide: Babes Chow, a budget-friendly al fresco restaurant behind the town marker
in the Baywalk area, is a good place to hang out after taking a tour of the town's historic
landmarks. Try their humba (braised pork dish), a town specialty, lumpiang ubod
making use of coconut, sinigang, calamares, halo-halo and fresh fruit shakes.
Tour Guide: Around the plaza area, you can also find lots of good local eateries serving
budget-friendly specialties like Chicken ala Bukid from Freddo’s and pork and chicken
barbecue (which cost just P8 a stick) from Oro BBQ.

WHAT TO BUY ?

Tour Guide: You can find the usual beach souvenirs including t-shirts, keychains and
woven products for sale in shops and resorts in Glan, including Rosal Beach Resort and
Sweets Bank.