Experience Antique: Bugang River Bamboo Rafting and Banca Cruise

A trip to the province of Antique would be more exciting if you visit the municipality of Pandan and experience bamboo rafting and banca cruise along Bugang river. This river is one of the cleanest rivers in the Philippines with crystal clear waters flowing underneath a canopy of emerald forest cover. It is nature at its best!

An interesting feature of this adventure is that you can start from the Malumpati health spring where you can enjoy a cool dip into the river and take a trek to the very source of the river itself, the Malumpati Head spring.

Pandan is just about 30 kms from Caticlan, Aklan. So if you are planning to visit Boracay and want something more out of your vacation,you might as well visit the place.

a more detailed narrative of this adventure can be found here.

The Alluring Province of Antique

I always imagine Antique as a place of pristine beauty. I've been there only twice and I never get to explore the province until I got invited to a media familiarization tour last Tuesday, thanks to Katahum Tours operator, Flord Nicson J. Calawag.

It was supposed to be a 5-day tour of Antique but since I had a Humanities 1 fieldtrip in Negros last weekend and a class on Monday, I was forced to travel only on Tuesday with a colleague, Prof. Marie Joy Rosal.

We were able to catch up with the group in Mararison (Malalison ) Island and the rest was history.

Antique is now one of my favorite travel destinations. It must be the rivers, the calm, mystical head spring and the crystal clear waters of Bugang river, the tall trees, the cavernous Maanghit cave, the sunset at Pucio Point, fresh seafoods and  more.

Rafting at the Malumpati Health Spring, Pandan Antique. The resort is clean with cottages. I took a short dip here before doing the river rafting and the experience was all worth it!

The fabled Bugang river head spring. It is said that its depth hasn't been fathomed, yet.

The Bluish head spring of the Bugang river. No photoshop tricks here!

Klelia, an Italian blogger, takes a bite of the sweet star apple.

Hanging Bridge, heading back to the Malumpati Health Spring.

Klelia thought the bridge was a temple. :D

Bamboo rafting along the Bugang river. Look at the water. It's so, freakin' clear!

The mouth of Maanghit cave, Libertad Antique. View from the inside.

Sunset at Pucio Point, Libertad, Antique. And that sexy silhouette belongs to Flord Nicson J. Calawag. :)