Photo credits to: www.myphilippinelife.com
Hailed as the Marble Central of
Panay, the province of Antique is one of the six (6) provinces compromising
Western Visayas and one of the four (4) provinces in the Panay Island. Antique
is also known as the province of land where the mountains meet the sea because of
its elongated stretch of land occupying the entire western side of the island.
It is bounded by the rugged central mountains of Panay and the Sulu Sea on
west.
However,
the steep slopes and the rugged, long mountain ranges of Antique have isolated
it from the rest of the provinces of Panay. Hence, they have developed their
own distinct language called Kinaray-a. Kinaray-a
is characterized by the predominance of r’s and schwa sounds spoken with
lilting gentle intonation.
Nowadays, tourism
industry in Antique is growing because of its mountains, eco-parks, rivers and
waterfalls fit for thrill seekers and nature lovers. Tibiao is one of the
municipalities geared up to be an eco-adventure destination. It is easily
accessible by land from any point of Panay.
Kayak Inn is an adventure camp designed to
blend with the nature. It lies above the banks of Tibiao River, with native
bamboo huts with veranda equipped with a private comfort room and obscured by
the age-old trees of the lush mountain forest.
Known as an eco-adventure
destination it offers several exciting activities to delight thrill seeking and
nature loving tourist. And these are: endure the rapids of Tibiao River,
commune with the rain forest and trek the seven-tiered Bugtong Bato Waterfalls,
experience the unique hot kawa bath, etc.
White Water River Kayaking
The Tibiao River is one of the best
white water rivers in the country. It boasts of crystal clear waters suitable
for white water kayaking at various grades of difficulty. Courses are available
for those interested to experience this challenging recreational outdoor
activity.
Basic kayaking course or grade 1 is
introduced for the first timers. Mastering paddling a kayak in calm waters and
finding the correct balance are the basic key points. Grade 2 course are fit
for those kayaker who wants to experience a higher level of skill paddling
through the rapids and big stones. Grade 3 and 4 course are for those
professionals who want to enjoy an adrenaline rush adventure in the strong
currents surpassing the big boulders and difficult maneuvers.
On the entire duration of the
kayaking, there are assigned guides to each kayak in case of flip over. These
guides literally run through the sides of the river as the kayaker go along.
They look over and splash through waters if they sense that the kayaker is in
need of rescue.
Trek to Bugtong Bato Waterfalls
Our country is blessed with rich and
stunning waterfalls hidden deep in our forests. In Barangay Tuno, Tibiao,
Antique a multi-tiered waterfalls calls Bugtong Bato is a must visit for
adventure enthusiasts. It is hidden in the lush green scenery wherein locals
and even tourist go there for picnics and swimming. However, out of the seven
(7) tiers, only three (3) are accessible.
A dip in the first tier of the waterfall is
rewarding enough, but the adventure doesn’t stop there. You have to reach the 2nd
and 3rd tiers to get the full experience of Bugtong Bato. It would
require to climb a steep steel staircase and pull yourself up with a rope tied
to the rocks.
The name of the waterfalls came from
the words bugtong (one) bato (rock or ston) that can be seen far below the
first tier. Getting to the waterfalls is accessible by less than an hour walk
and the trek to Bugtong Bato would cost P 100.00 per guide as local guide’s
fee.
Kawa Hot Bath
Enjoy a unique relaxation experience
in Tibiao by bathing using a kawa (a
large vat or frying pan). It is garnished with aromatic herbal leaves and
warmed by the blazing firewood’s underneath just enough for the body to relax,
just like a Jacuzzi which brings images of a witch cooking her human captive.
Originally, the kawa is
used in making muscovado sugar. It is
made of thick cast iron that does not easily get hot. So, there’s no need to
worry about getting cooked. But if you think the water temperature is already
turning you into a broth, just turn on the water faucet beside the kawa.
Other Activities:
- Zipline
- Zorbing down the Tibiao River
- Canyoneering
- Crossing a hanging bridge
How To Get There:
Tibiao, Antique
is approximately 3 to 4 hours away from Iloilo City or 2 to 3 hours away from
Caticlan, Aklan. Buses and vans are available plying to Iloilo/Caticlan and
vice versa via San Jose Buenavista route can take you directly to Tibiao,
Antique. Alight at Barangay Importante in Tibiao and from there, take a habal-habal going to Kayak Inn.
For inquries and reservations, you may contact Ate Sheila or Kuya Edwin Endrico of Kayak Inn. at 09287790776 or 09215701947.
For inquries and reservations, you may contact Ate Sheila or Kuya Edwin Endrico of Kayak Inn. at 09287790776 or 09215701947.
Tips:
- Bring enough food, water and other necessities since only limited supplies are available in the area (sari-sari store type).
- No/limited telecommunication signal but you can try hanging your mobile phone on a higher surface. You may be able to receive some text messages.
For more photos kindly visit: The Land Where The Mountains Meet The Sea: Antique
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