Day 3: Tibiao, Antique - Solo Backpacking Western Visayas

October 2017 - Tibiao, Antique - Philippines

Iloilo City -- After having our breakfast together, I went with Yse and I got off first in Jaro and took another 2 rides to get to the Molo Terminal. There, I boarded a bus bound to Caticlan. From what I read from other blogs, travel time would be 2-3 hours. That day, my destination was Tibiao, Antique.  Along the way, there were immense traffic stuck up. There were portions of the road being blocked due to road work and having only one way to get through. After an hour and a half of travel, which seemed to be very long already, we were still in Iloilo. I also didn’t know that San Joaquin is very far from Iloilo city.  I asked the driver how long would it take to get to Tibiao and I was surprised to hear that he said, 3 more hours. It was already 10 am and I would be there by 1 pm. It rained hard in some parts of Antique and I prayed for it to stop once I get to Tibiao. Thank heavens, for it was all dried up when I got off the bus and reached Brgy. Importante. I took a “habal-habal” ride to Kayak Inn. ("Habal-habal" is a motorbike with driver for rent). The ride going to the inn was very nice and beautiful. There were some huts at the side of the road and I enjoyed to see the mountains from afar.

Kayak Inn

When we reached the inn, I was welcomed by an attendant. I wanted to do a little trekking and get to see the waterfalls before having the Kawa bath and asked about it but I was advised that the trail was very muddy and slippery going there. I was a bit disappointed, I didn’t mind about the slippery trail but I just thought that I have limited time. So I decided to go for the Kawa Bath only. I requested for lunch too and they obliged to cook for me. I watched as they were preparing and filling the cauldron with water. They lit the fire to make the water hot and put some herbs and flowers which gave it a fragrant scent. 

Fragrant Flowers

After a while, they asked me to try if the water was just right. It was too hot for me and they had to put more water in it. Finally, I tried to get settled in the cauldron. At first, it was very hot for me but as minutes passed, it started to feel relaxing. I enjoyed staying soaked in a hot bath for 30 minutes and then I got to eat my oh-so-late lunch. 

Enjoying the Kawa Bath

Afterwards, I managed to clean up and paid my dues then, I went back to the main road by a “habal-habal” ride. It was indeed a short while to spend in Tibiao, Antique but I did love the Kawa Bath and it was undeniably worth coming for.

*Transportation Expenses:

Molo, Iloilo - Tibiao, Antique
- Ceres Ordinary Bus = 160 Php

Brgy. Importante Waiting Shed - Kayak Inn

- Habal-habal = 70 Php

Environmental Fee = 50 Php

Kawa Bath = 250 Php



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