Travel Guide: Antique

Antique is a province of the Philippines located in the region of Western Visayas. Just a couple of hours away from the gateway to Boracay, the country’s most famous beach party destination, Antique offers a different kind of getaway. “Off-the-beaten-path” is the description that immediately comes to mind. This laid-back province comprised of 18 municipalities (no cities!) has a lot to offer for those looking for raw and rugged adventures.

They’ve got it all for you, including riverside jungle hot tubs, beautiful uncrowded beaches, rice terraces hidden in remote mountain villages, multi-level waterfalls, clear rivers and springs, mountain highlands and stunning karst cliffs.

I first visited Antique in 2016 through an invitation by Katahum Tours. Back then, getting here involved long land travel from neighboring provinces like Iloilo. But now, tourists and locals can get to the province faster by flying with Philippine Airlines (PAL) which recently launched direct flights to San Jose in Antique via Clark.

For those interested in visiting this underrated province, here’s a rundown of how to get there, the best things to do, where to go, where to eat, what to buy and where to stay in the province of Antique.

Where exactly is Antique?

Antique is located on the western portion of Panay Island, bordering Aklan, Capiz, and Iloilo to the east in the Philippines. It faces the Sulu Sea to the west. It’s one of the six provinces that make up Western Visayas or Region VI and one of the four provinces in the island of Panay.

How to get to Antique

By air / land

Compared to its neighbors on Panay Island, Antique still remains a bit off the tourist radar. In 2019, Philippine Airlines (PAL) launched direct flights from Clark in Pampanga to San Jose de Buenavista, the capital town and main tourism center in the province.

• Via Aklan: Multiple airlines fly from Manila and other major hubs in the Philippines to Caticlan and the Kalibo International Airport in Aklan. From Kalibo, take a tricycle to the Kalibo bus terminal and ride a Ceres Bus to Antique. From Kalibo, buses ply the route to Pandan and San Jose de Buenavista. Travel time to Antique is 2-3 hours from Boracay or Kalibo.
• Via Iloilo: Multiple airlines fly from Manila and other major hubs in the Philippines to the Iloilo International Airport in Iloilo. From the airport, take a van to Molo Terminal (P50.00). Then take another van (P110.00) or jeepney to Antique. From Iloilo, buses and vans take two main roads: the mountain and coastal road. Travel time to Antique is 3-4 hours from Iloilo.

NOTE: The direct flight to Antique offers a faster entry point to those traveling to towns in Southern Iloilo including Miagao (home of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Miagao Church).

By sea

It’s also possible to get to Antique via land travel from Aklan (Caticlan) or Iloilo and by Roll-On Roll-Off Ferry from Manila via Caticlan. There are two major seaports in the province: the Lipata seaport in Culasi and San Jose seaport in the capital town.

Getting around town

Tricycles are the main mode of transportation in all towns of Antique. Buses and jeepneys provide service for inter-town travel. As of 2019, commercial motorcycle rentals are not yet available in the province, though they arrangements may be made with locals for rentals of their personal units.

Tour Operator: Katahum Tours

Because of the remote location and distance between tourist spots in different towns, it’s convenient to avail of package tours. Katahum Tours offers tours and van transport service for those who want a hassle-free way to get around. Katahum is a Visayan word that means beautiful. The tour operator specializes in eco-tours which advocates for sustainable management of natural resources, environmental education and the preservation of cultural treasures.

They offer various packages and can tailor-fit tours according to your needs. If you’re booking tours with them, please mention that you read about them on TRAVEL UP. 🙂

• Website: www.katahum.com
• Facebook: Katahum Tours
• Email: fate@katahum.com or katahumtoursantique@gmail.com
• Mobile: +63920 126 1205 (Smart) or +63917 450 3121 (Globe)

Where to go / What to do in Antique

Kawa Bath

If there’s one activity that has put Antique on the tourist radar, it’s the Kawa Hot Bath, a unique spa experience where you soak in a cauldron or jungle hot tub sprinkled with flowers and leaves over a fire. The large vats were originally used by the locals for cooking brown sugar but have since become a sought-after attraction for tourists.

There are several places around the province where you can try out this fun spa activity. Calawag Mountain Resort in Tibiao offers different flavors of the Kawa Bath including salt, milk, coffee, wine and beer! Price ranges from P299 to P599 per person for 30 minutes depending on the flavor of your bath.

• Kawa Salt Bath – P299+ per person/30 mins
• Kawa Calawag Bath – P399+ per person/30 mins
• Kawa Coffee Bath – P399+ per person/30 mins
• Kawa Milk Bath – P399+ per person/30 mins
• Kawa Beer Bath – P399+ per person/30 mins
• Kawa Wine Bath – P599+ per person/30 mins

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kara Santos | TRAVEL UP (@karasantos) on May 10, 2019 at 9:49pm PDT

Mararison Island

If you want to go island-hopping and relax at the beach, one of the easier islands you can visit from the mainland of Antique is Mararison or Malalison. The island is reachable by a 15-minute boat ride from the town of Culasi. This 55-hectare hook-shaped island is blessed with refined cream sand and coral beach ideal for swimming and beach trips.

Mararison has picturesque hilltops that visitors can trek to. By navigating the well-marked footpaths, you can reach various secluded coves and small beach areas around the island.

Because of the limited water supply on the island, Mararison is best visited on day tours. However, those willing to rough it out may opt to stay overnight at homestays in the community, no-frills beach resorts or camp out on the beach.

Seco Island

One of the more challenging places to visit in Antique is Seco Island. Named after the Kinaray-a word for “elbow” because of its shape, Seco Island is a 1.5 km island paradise with fine white sand, a beautiful beach with clear waters and a striking sandbar reachable by a 2.5-3 hour boat ride from Tibiao.

The island has been named a Marine Protected Area (MPA) through a local ordinance. All activities on the island are regulated including the entry and exit of tourist and fishermen alike.

The area is ideal for camping, beach outings, and kitesurfing. However, the island can only be visited during day trips during the summer season as the current getting there and back can be really strong.

Nogas Island

Nogas Island is a 24-hectare government naval reservation island in Antique accessible by a 20-minute boat ride from the shoreline of Anin-y town proper.

The small island contains areas for swimming and snorkeling, several rustic picnic huts and a lovely trail framed by kalachuchi trees that forms a tree tunnel leading to a lighthouse. You can also find giant fruit bats and a gnarly century-old balete tree within the forest of this island.

Aningalan Highlands Strawberry Garden

Did you know that you can go strawberry picking in Antique? Barangay Aningalan in San Remigio has been dubbed the “Little Baguio” of Antique Province. The town is known as the “vegetable basket” of Panay Island. Located 880 meters above sea-level, the Aningalan Highlands has strawberry gardens grown from seedlings from Baguio and Benguet. They also grow chayote, cabbage, lettuce and other fruits.

Because of its higher elevation, the temperature here is much cooler. The landscape is ideal for outdoor adventures like hiking, mountain biking, camping, and spelunking.

While you’re in the area, you can also visit sites where Rafflesia grows in the wild, a sunflower farm, viewing decks, Igbaclag Cave, and Danao Lake. Other activities include zipline, balsa ride and horseback riding.

Environmental Fee: P50.00/pax
Entrance Fee: P50.00/pax

Igbaclag Cave

The remaining forests in San Remegio including the Igbaclag Cave form an essential connection between Sibalom Natural park and the forests of the central Panay mountain range further north.

Adventure seekers can scramble over the jagged rocks to get a spectacular view of the mountain ranges.

Igpasungaw Falls

Located in Sebaste, Antique, this spot offers a refreshing getaway with more than 9 levels of cascades where you can take a dip.

Getting here is an easy 30-45 minutes trek from the main road. Contact: Jessie Estolloso, Tourism Officer, 0912-4988994

Bugtong Bato Falls

Another waterfall you can trek to is Bugtong Bato Falls, a 7-tiered waterfall accessible through a 20-minute walk or foot trail. However, this is best visited during the rainy season to see the waterfall in its full glory.

Visitors have to hike through rice fields and local communities to get to these cascades. Only the first three waterfalls are usually visited. The third one has a secluded and deep basin where you can take a dip.

Bugang River / Naranjo Water Park

Bugang River is one of the cleanest rivers in the Philippines. Naranjo Water Park is a waterpark along Bugang River where visitors can do various low-impact ecotourism water activities like stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, pedal boating, and river cruising. Contact: Bong Venus, Tourism Officer, 0918-4489348

Malumpati Cold Spring

Malumpati Cold Spring, which feeds into the Bugang River is popular among locals for swimming and picnics. Visitors challenge themselves by jumping off from the diving platforms from various heights. For a more relaxing cruise, you can ride an inner tube and float around the cool waters.

Dioso Farm Mountain Spring Retreat

For those who want more privacy, the Dioso Farm and Mountain Spring Retreat offers an alternative to the Malumpati getaway. This secluded farm offers activities like vegetable and fruit picking. You can lounge in a kawa (cauldron) bath or take a dip in their freshwater spring pool to unwind.

The farm has lots of picnic tables and cottages with hammocks where you’ll want to just lounge about and relax all day with a book in hand.

Antique Rice Terraces

A recently rediscovered hidden 600-hectare wide rice plantation in Brgy. Fullon, San Remigio, a remote mountain village reachable by a 4-5 hour hike.

This cluster of rice terraces spread in a combined area of 600 hectares has been preserved by the Iraynon Bukidnon, an indigenous group in Barangay (village) General Fullon, and is deemed a cultural treasure.

Getting here requires an 18 km hike on foot from the town of Valderama to San Remigio, crossing five mountains.

Rafflesia

The Rafflesia Speciosa is a flower endemic to Panay Island. There are 28 species of Rafflesia in the world found in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand & the Philippines. These are quite rare and are known to bloom for only 3-5 days at a time.

Brgy. Aningalan, dubbed as the “Antique’s highlands” and “summer capital of Antique”, is the home of the critically-endangered Rafflesia speciosa and endangered Rafflesia lobata. Contact: Charity Sanchez, Tourism Officer, 0908-5663379

Heritage sites

For history and culture buffs, Antique has several notable churches. The Anini-y Church or Parish of St. John de Nepomuceno is the last standing colonial church in the Province of Antique. While most of the colonial churches in Iloilo, Cebu and Bohol were heavily damaged during the 1948 Lady Caycay earthquake (7.8 magnitude) with its epicenter between the municipalities of Anini-y and Tobias Fornier in Antique), this church remained miraculously preserved.

Other notable heritage sites and landmarks you might want to visit as well include:

• Bantayog ng Wika in San Jose: a column that contains an etching of Andres Bonifacio’s poem, Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Bayan written in baybayin script.
• Malandog River: the place of the 1st Malay Settlement in Hamtic, Antique
• General Leandron Fullon National Shrine

Where to eat in Antique

There aren’t a lot of commercial restaurants or fast food joints in Antique. Some inns, resorts and hotels have their own in-house restaurants, and you can always get a taste of local and budget-friendly dishes from carinderias and homegrown eateries.

Alpas

For those looking for a unique and rustic dining experience, be sure to visit the newly opened Alpas in Tobias Fornier (formerly Dao). This restaurant specializes in sustainable gourmet dining in a unique rural setting: a beautiful all-bamboo restaurant.

Alpas also runs an organic garden, beachfront guesthouse and sells souvenirs sourced from local artists in their gift shop. For reservations, please call +639393582092. Check out their webpage: https://www.alpasph.com/

Calawag Mountain Resort

Located in the highlands of Tibiao, Calawag Mountain Resort offers various ecotourism activities and has a riverside restaurant ideal for groups. Enjoy the unique ambiance while dining and dipping your feet in the river.

Their boodle lunch (P249 per person) is composed of a choice of chicken papisik, chicken adobo, grilled fish or pork and served with mixed vegetables, pancit, rice, ice cream or fruits and drinks. Dinner for larger groups can be arranged.

Pandan Beach Resort

Pandan Beach Resort’s in-house restaurant offers a range of delicious home cooked meals including vegetable lumpia, pancit, arroz caldo, pasta, and more in a relaxing al fresco beachfront setting.

They also run an outdoor bar that serves cocktails like Tequila Sunrise, Blue Lagoon, White Russian, Cosmopolitan, Long Island Iced Tea, Margarita and more.

Dioso Farm Mountain Spring Retreat

Visitors spending the day at Dioso Farm Mountain Spring Resort in Sta. Fe, Pandan (which is also run by the same people behind Pandan Beach Resort) can opt to bring their own food for picnics, but the farm can also arrange delicious meals of local fare by request.

Farm entrance: PHP 30.00/pax
Patuyaw lunch: PHP 250.00/pax

Mamma Mia Italian Restaurant

An authentic Italian restaurant in Tibiao, Antique that serves really delicious pizza and pasta dishes. This pizzeria run by Daniel Orsini from Milan, Italy sources ingredients all the way from Italy, using cheese like Mozzarella, Parmesan, Gorgonzola and Asiago.

Naranjo Water Park

The restaurant at Naranjo Water Park serves short orders and Filipino dishes including exotic dishes: crocodile sisig and ostrich salpicao (meat is sourced from Cagayan de Oro).

What to buy in Antique

The age-old weaving art of patadyong is still alive in Antique. The patadyong, pre-Spanish clothing item or loose skirt worn by Filipino women particularly in the lowland regions of the Visayas, is considered the most popular product of the municipality.

Other quality handloom woven products like bags, handkerchiefs and textiles used for clothes are sold at the Pangabuhian Weaving and Fiber Processing Center in Brgy. Malabor in Tibiao and the Bagtason Loomweavers Association in Brgy. Bagtason, Bugasong, Antique. Contact: Mario Manzano, Manager, 0906-8438687

The province of Antique is rich in mineral deposits. Along the highway in San Remigio and Sibalom, you can stop by a few stores that sell unique gem and decorative stone crafts and trinkets. You can also buy crystals and uncut stones at Eliza’s Gem Store, in Brgy. Aningalan, San Remigio, Antique.

Where to stay in Antique

• Calawag Mountain Resort (Tibiao)
• Kawa Inn (Tibiao)
• Pandan Beach Resort (Pandan)
• Aningalan Highlands Strawberry Garden (San Remegio)
• Enrique de Mararison (Mararison)
• Alpas Guesthouse (Tobias Fornier)
• Anna Sophie Hostel (Culasi)
• Dalaag Campsite & Resort (Tobias Fornier)
• Sira-an Hot Spring and Health Resort (Anini-y)
• Esprutingkle Business Hotel (San Jose de Buenavista)

NOTE: This travel guide was compiled from two trips to Antique in 2016 and 2019 and made possible by Katahum Tours and Philippine Air Lines (PAL).