Antique: A Hidden Paradise (Part One)

Boracay has been the popular place during summer for both domestic and foreign tourists. Unbeknownst to many, areas nearby Boracay also offers more breathtaking sights for nature trippers as well as fascinating white beach resorts. Unlike Boracay that has been commercialized, these places offer unspoiled natural wonders. One of them is a province called Antique...

Antique is one of the 6 provinces comprising Western Visayas or Region VI, and one of the 4 provinces in the island of Panay. It is an elongated stretch of land occupying the whole length of the western side of the island. It is bounded by the rugged mountains of Panay, composed of the provinces of Aklan in the northeast, Capiz on the east, Iloilo in the southeast and a body of water called the Cuyo East Pass, part of China Sea, on the west (for further information about its Geographical Profile, please check Antique Website).



one of the numerous open caves in LIBERTAD, ANTIQUE... (photo courtesy of Kinaray-a)





Rice Terraces in CAMP 1, FLORES, CULASI, ANTIQUE...the site can be seen along the highway that connects Iloilo and Boracay...
Tourists even said that "it's a good thing that we decided to take the bus! Had we not done it...we wouldn't discover this spectacular ANTIQUE!"
(photo from Kinaray-a)








The Breathtaking Mararison Island of Antique
This island can be found 4 kms. off the coast of Culasi; 15 minutes by pumpboat; long stretch of white sand beach; ideal for beachcombing and spear fishing; presence of "pitcher plant" noted. (photo courtesy of Kinaray-a)





Seco Island is a small island in Tibiao, Antique, resembles a giant floating object due to its white sand. Approximately 1 meter above sea level, it stretches up to 1.5 kms. and 500 meters to its widest and in ideal for island hopping, fishing, scuba diving and culture of “Tambalang” algea (info courtesy of lewdsaint)





crystal clear waters of Seco Island





The Entire Caluya Shoreline
Situated in the northernmost tip of the province of Antique in Western Visayas, the island-municipality of Caluya has seven more islands: Semirara, Sibay, Sibato, Sibolo, Liwagao, Nagubat and Panagatan. (click here for more information about Caluya).






the Caluya Beach Upclose





Nogas Island is a 24-hectare government naval reservation island 3 miles from the shoreline of Anini-y town proper; 20 minutes by sailboat or motorboat; ideal for shell hunting, snorkeling and scuba diving.






Phaidon Beach Resort is a tropical paradise with a golden white sand and unspoiled beach, surrounded by wide mountain ranges, tropical rain forest, caves, rivers, waterfalls, tropical islands, and amazing coral reefs
(Info credits Hotel in Philippines)



(continued to Part 2)