What to do in Tibiao

When in Tibiao, Antique

There a number of things you can do when you caught youself in Tibiao. 

* Ride habal-habal (motorcycle) if you want to go around places although public transport like buses and jeepneys are available.  Just hail one and hop in. 

* Visit the Tourism Office to check out the activities that you can do. :)  And don't forget to interact with locals.  It's fun and educational. 

*Go trekking towards the waterfalls, Bugtong waterfalls that is. 

* Be mesmerized by the rice terraces as you head towards the waterfalls. 

*Cross over the bamboo / wooden bridge. 

*Spot carabaos grazing around.  (Carabao, by the way, is the Philippine's National Animal which is a swamp-type domestic water buffalo) 

*Take in and dip the magnificent waterfalls of Bugtong. 

*Head on and indulge yourself in an adrenaline rush adventure, whitewater river kayaking. 

*Take a plunge into the river. 

*Relax your sore muscle from the day's activities by immersing yourself in a warm kawa bath. 

*Appreciate Tibiao River as rain pours. 

We were stuck at one of the nipa huts after our hot bath in the kawa because of the rain.  So instead of rambling around, we approached the "balcony" of the cabin and watched the water gush along the river as the raindrops fall.   

How did we get here:

From Culasi to Tibiao

     Ride a bus plying to Iloilo, alight at Baranggay Importante (or you can ask the conductor to drop you off where the Kawa Bath is famous); the travel time is like more or less an hour. 

Expenses Incurred: 

Bus ride from Culasi to Tibiao (Brgy Importante) - Php 2O/head

Habal-habal ride from the highway to Polly's Place  - Php 70/head, one way 

Bugtong Waterfalls Guide - Php 150/hd

Tourism fee - Php 50/head

White water river kayaking - Php 900/head

Hot kawa bath - Php200/head

Entrance fee at Polly's Place - Php 25/head

Tibiao: Kawa Hot Bath

Antique, named after the enormous red ants found in the island, is one of the provinces located in Western Visayas.  It can be found on the western side, as well, of Panay Island. :) 

the location of the pans when we arrived. 

Well, apart from the waterfalls, Malalison Island, and whitewater kayaking, 

experiencing the hot kawa bath is another reason to see Antique.  

There are many inns where you can enjoy the kawa bath, and the choice is yours.  

For us, we chose the one located beside the river and neighbor of Kayak Inn because they usually don't have a lot of visitors; therefore, I (we) can have my (our) me (us) time.  

I spend the warm bath time contemplating while listening to the strong sound of the river, tweeting birds as if they are singing a beautiful song and the swirling music of the leaves as the wind blows. 

Oh, it is just relaxing.  I can live here. 

Tibiao River, where we did the river kayaking

So how do they prepare the Kawa for the bath?

      Initially, a fire, using firewood or bamboos, is set up under the large and thick casted iron pan called "kawa" to heat it up.  The process usually takes time to prepare, less than an hour maybe, depending on the size of the kawa you're going to use.   Once the heat is on, they will start filling the "tub" with water, just enough to soak your body.  Meanwhile, they will throw in some ornaments like green leaves and flowers to add effects to your bath.  And when the water is warm enough, you can climb in and have the time of your life in it.  

Usually, the warm, soothing bath lasts for like an hour, but because we were the only guests in the inn during our visit, we spend more or less 2 hours.  The caretaker though had to adjust the fire because it was cooling down.  

Side Notes:

* They advised not to take a shower after the bath because of it's medicinal purposes (warm bath + the herbs added).  

* The pan was previously used by the natives to cook muscovado sugar. 

* The pot doesn't heat up quickly so there will be no burn. 

* Price is Php 200/head 

*Entrance fee at Polly's - Php 25/head