Table of Contents

Introduction

Hey there, fellow lakwatseros and lakwatseras! How are you all doing? What places have you visited lately? I’m excited to hear all about your adventures, so feel free to share yours below. As for me, life has been busy lately, but I’m glad to be back in this space again. If you’ve missed my recent posts, you can check out my Dumaguete-Siquijor-Valencia trip! And if you’re curious about Mindanao, you can read more about it here.

Also, just a quick heads-up, if you’re traveling by plane, Airlines often have seat sales throughout the year, so be sure to keep an eye out for great deals! These flights are budget-friendly without sacrificing quality service. Here are a few airline websites you can check out:

Philippine Airlines
Cebu Pacific
AirAsia

If you’d rather skip the hassle of hunting for cheap flights, you can always rely on Filo Online Ticketing to handle the bookings for you!

Filo Online Ticketing

Going back to this trip of mine, my good friend Jenny and I decided to go on a trip to Antique and Capiz as part of my #Project82. #Project82 is my personal dream goal of visiting all of the provinces in the Philippines. This adventure is part of our Panay Island Trip, since both of these provinces are located on the island. We booked round-trip tickets with AirAsia (Manila to Kalibo), and everything started from there.

Day 1 – Kalibo

We arrived in Kalibo at night and stayed in the central Poblacion area at Aranas Inn. It cost us 600 pesos for one night. After settling in, Jenny and I went out to grab some food near our accommodation. The next morning, we took a van heading to Antique. The fare was 300 pesos per person, and the ride was quite scenic.

Day 2 – Antique

We paid 5,000 pesos for the two of us for the day tour, which came out to 2,500 pesos per person. Before heading out, we had already arranged for a guide, Kuya Lito, who, by the way, looks like Ramon Bautista! We hopped onto his habal-habal (motorcycle), and let me tell you, this is the common mode of transportation in rural areas of the Philippines. It was cozy, but fun. Kuya Lito usually has two guests per motorbike, which was perfect for us.

We stayed at La Escapo Mountain Resort, which, according to Kuya Lito, used to be owned by a former Kapitan of the area. After dropping off our stuff to avoid the hassle, we headed to the Mararison Island (also known as Casa Prante or White Island). Here, we tried crystal kayaking for the first time! We each had 30 minutes to paddle around the clear waters.

Then we trekked up to Lantawan Peak. It was required to hire a guide, and ate (our guide) came along. The trek was about 30 minutes, depending on your pace. The views were breathtaking, with pristine beaches that aren’t yet mainstream. Seriously, it’s worth promoting this hidden gem so more tourists can come and support the locals.

After our trek, we stopped for lunch and enjoyed fresh seafood caught right from the sea. There were locals selling food, and we had some freshly cooked idsa (fish). We stayed for a while, chatting with the locals about their way of life.

In the afternoon, we returned to the resort, but I had a little trouble with their Piso Net (internet), which was super slow. Also, there was poor reception for Globe and Smart in the area, so heads up if you’re planning to work remotely—it’s not ideal. I also tried the famous Kawa Bath, which Antique is known for. I think they were the first to start it, and now others, like those in Tanay, are copying it! It was a relaxing experience.

For dinner, we ordered chicken inasal from their menu (and yes, it was delicious!). The total bill came to 318 pesos for two people, including the refreshing blue lemonade.

Day 3 – Antique to Capiz

The next morning, we did another trek, this time to a mountain peak that took about 30 minutes to reach. From the peak, we got a view of some beautiful rice terraces. It was so peaceful up there.

Next, we went river tubing! We hopped on salbabidas (rubber tubes) and floated down the river. It was more fun during the rainy season because the river is deeper and the tubes glide smoothly over the rocks. We even made a vlog about it.

Afterward, we stopped for a quick photo op at the hanging bridge in Tibiao, before heading to Roxas City, Capiz. We took another van ride, but I can’t remember how much we paid. The driver made a “quick stop” at a karinderya (small eatery) along the way. Apparently, a lot of public transport passes through there. It was an adventure, especially with the heat!

We met a fellow tourist on the way, also doing a day tour, who was rushing to catch a flight. He was with us at Isla Seafood and barely finished his food because he was afraid of missing his plane! By the way, Capiz is known as the seafood capital of the Philippines, and there’s also talk about aswangs (supernatural creatures) here, but I’m not a believer in that stuff.

When we got to Capiz, we didn’t have any accommodation booked because we figured we could find a place when we arrived. But guess what? There was an event in the city, and most hotels were fully booked! Luckily, we found a room at Aura Condotel for 1,700 pesos for one night.

Day 4 – Capiz

Our last day started with a visit to the Ruins of Alcatraz, a place that’s totally Instagrammable! Our guides there were local kids, and we even paid them to keep their spirits high. They were amazing at taking photos! They told us they learned photography from tourists, so huge kudos to them.

We didn’t get to visit Malumpati Cold Spring in Antique, but here are some photos you can check out! If ever you find yourself visiting, don’t forget to pay this a visit—surely, it’s worth it.

On our way back to Kalibo, I almost got into trouble at the airport when the security scanner detected my Swiss knife in my carry-on. I ended up paying over 2,000 pesos for it. Turns out, I had accidentally placed it in my first aid kit. Lesson learned!

Watch my vlog here

Conclusion

Overall, Antique and Capiz were full of surprises and adventures. These provinces may not be as famous as some other destinations in the Philippines, but they definitely deserve more attention. If you’re looking for an off-the-beaten-path experience, these places should be on your list.

For more travel inspiration, tips, and adventure guides, be sure to follow Lakwatsa ni Say! Check out our blog, YouTube channel, and other social media platforms to stay updated on all our exciting travels and hidden destinations. Join the journey, and let’s discover the Philippines together!