When we travel, there are many factors we consider, such as the accessibility of the destination to civilization, room rates, affordability of food, and activities offered. However, not all destinations can provide all of these factors, and there is often a trade-off. For example, some destinations may be affordable but have limited amenities, while others may be more expensive but offer luxurious experiences. Therefore, it is essential to research and choose a destination that best fits your budget and preferences.
Recently, @iamcjestrada, Chiarra, and I went on a four-day, three-night itinerary to the provinces in Region VI, specifically Aklan and Antique, and supposedly to Carabao Island in Region IV-B, located in the province of Romblon but that's for another story.
Our first destination was Calawag Mountain Resort in Tibiao, Antique.
Calawag Mountain Resort
Calawag Mountain Resort is a secluded and rustic retreat located in the town of Tibiao, Antique, Philippines. Situated in the heart of the province, the resort is nestled at the foot of the majestic Mt. Madjaas and surrounded by lush vegetation and scenic landscapes. Its remote location provides a sense of tranquility and isolation, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
The resort is located near a river, which adds to its charm and natural beauty. Guests can enjoy the calming sound of the flowing water and take a dip in the cool and refreshing river during their stay.
|
|
|
|---|---|
|
|
|
However, it is important to note that the resort's location means there is no cellular reception in the area, which can be both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, it allows guests to disconnect from their daily routines and enjoy a peaceful and relaxing vacation. On the other hand, it may be inconvenient for those who need to stay connected with the outside world.
In terms of facilities, the resort offers a range of activities, including trekking to nearby waterfalls, swimming, and river tubing. There are also several options for accommodations, such as cottages with AC or basic fan rooms that are simple yet comfortable. However, it is important to note that the resort is not for everyone, as some guests may find the lack of modern amenities and technology challenging. Nevertheless, for those seeking an authentic and nature-oriented experience, Calawag Mountain Resort can provide a unique and memorable stay.
How to get there
We arrived at Caticlan Airport around 09:20.
|
|
|
|---|---|
|
|
|
If you're arriving at Caticlan Airport, there are tricycles waiting outside the airport. You'll need to purchase a ticket for PHP150.00 (USD 2.75) per tricycle to get to Jetty Port, where the Bus Terminal is located.
|
|
|
|---|
It's more cost-effective to travel in a group, as we did – there were three of us, so we divided the fare by three. Haha!
Once you arrive at the terminal, look for a bus with the sign 'Iloilo via San Jose' or 'Culasi - San Jose' – it will pass through the town of Tibiao.
|
|
|
|---|
The fare for an air-conditioned (AC) bus is PHP200.00 (USD 3.672), while the fare for a regular or non-AC bus is PHP165 (USD 3.029). We departed the terminal at 10:30 and arrived in Brgy. Importante at 13:00. Brgy. Importante is only 84 kilometers from Jetty Port. The normal travel time with no stops should be just 1 hour and 30 minutes, but since we were commuting on a bus, our travel time took 2 hours and 30 minutes. I got super annoyed about the fact that we were behind on our itinerary. Haha!
|
|
|
|---|
From the entrance arc of Brgy. Importante, ride a motorcycle to the resort. The motorcycle can only accommodate one passenger and costs PHP90.00 (USD 1.652) per trip. You'll also be asked to stop at a small booth to pay PHP50.00 (USD 1) per person for the environmental fee.
I kept nagging about how overpriced the fare was for just a 4-kilometer distance on a smooth cemented road. After dropping us off, we asked the driver to pick us up the next morning at 7:00 am since we couldn't text or call them due to poor reception.
Upon arrival, we checked-in, as we had made reservations prior to our trip. We booked a fan room with a river view that had a single bed and a double-sized bed for PHP399.00 (USD 7.325) per person.
The room we got was decent for its price, and the shared bathroom and toilet were only a few meters away. Although the room was poorly maintained, towels were provided, so it was okay.
|
|
|
|---|
At 14:00, we were starving, so we ordered food from the resort during check-in. We ordered grilled pork, chicken, and three cups of rice, which cost us almost ~PHP1,000.00 (USD 18.358). It's crazy how expensive their one cup of cooked rice is, as for PHP50.00, you can buy one kilogram of raw rice.
If I remember correctly, the price of the pork was around ~PHP300.00 (USD 5.52). We had our lunch by the river, and despite the prices, we still managed to enjoy it and somehow forget about the cost. But if you know me, I love to complain when things are overpriced.
River Tubing
We booked a 2km river tubing experience for PHP499.00 (USD 9.161). At first, I planned to go for the 1km option because PHP499.00 was a bit over my budget, but the 2km ride was the only one available due to low water levels in the river.
|
|
|
|---|
This was my main reason for returning to Calawag Mountain Resort - to do river tubing again. I had already tried it once before and loved the adrenaline rush it gave me and the feeling of satisfaction at the end.
Kawa Bath
After 45 minutes of river tubing, we went back to the resort and soaked ourselves in a large cauldron filled with hot saltwater for PHP299.00 (USD 5.50). Other add-ons, such as milk, beer, and coffee, were also available for an additional PHP100.00 (USD 1.84) on top of the base price of PHP299.00.
|
|
|
|---|---|
|
|
|
We stayed there for over 30 minutes, chatting about anything and taking pictures of ourselves getting partially cooked.
We ended the day with dinner and hopped into our next destination the following day. Due to the travel time to Caticlan, we decided to go directly to Boracay since we wouldn't be able to catch the boat ride to Carabao Island at 9:00.
Is It Worth It?
Yes, despite my negative comments about their food prices and activities, I still believe it is worth returning to the place, although perhaps not anytime soon. I would like my friends and family to experience what I had experienced there, including the serenity and tranquility of the location. It has a retreat-house kind of vibe where you can disconnect from technology and just enjoy conversations about anything while soaking in the river, like old times.
The rewards earned on this comment will go directly to the people( @askari ) sharing the post on Twitter as long as they are registered with @poshtoken. Sign up at https://hiveposh.com.
Lovely journey with plenty of activities to be enjoyed! Either way, enjoying a meal with the feet in water sounds like a crazy experience for me haha
it was a one of a kind experience😄
Great experience! I also want to try the kawa bath. Hindi po na umiinit ilalim niyan,?? 🤣🤣
haha props lang po yung apoy, pero mainit na tubig po talaga nilalagay sa kawa.
Ganahan lagi ko muadto diri. Pwes! 🤩💛
nihapit unta mo kato nag major mos madjaas hahah
Very expensive nga Kuya! Yung 50 pesos na rice pa lang grabe.
Pero napaka nice ng photos at sana makapunta ako diyan soon.
punta ka puhon :-)
The kawa bath looks quite fun. I learnt there are lots of health benefits dipping is salt and mudding. Lovely experience 😊
thank you @ispeak :-)
I love that trip, the nature, the river right there, it must be very special, the photos were beautiful and I laughed a lot as they were cooked in the cauldron, they looked like a soup without a doubt, but you can tell that everything was fun, the prices seem very good, here they are even more expensive.
Greetings and keep on traveling.
It was definitely fun, but the prices were too expensive. For example, in Cebu City, 1 cup of rice costs just PHP10 (USD 0.18), whereas in their location, the price of 1 cup of rice is much higher.
Very expensive in terms of food and prices. But are you allowed to bring food?
I guess it's allowed to bring food, though we didn't ask. Haha, if we had known, we should have just brought food from Caticlan.
That's nice to hear for the future travelers. We can bring food. Hehe!
The place is wonderful Kev I am sold off sa kawa! Been dreaming to do such activities in the future. Price wise, since I don't have the baseline price to compare I cannot say na mahal nga sya or mura.
At times when we travel, we spend much talaga more on experience talaga ang habol namin kaya nakakadrain ng budget lumabas hahah
I was really drained by the price of rice there - it was PHP50 compared to just PHP10 in Cebu. Also, their small serving of grilled pork cost PHP349. Haha
Such a cool place. That swing over the water looks like the perfect place to relax.
yes, the sound of the water in the river is so relaxing :-)
Hiya, @LivingUKTaiwan here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Honorable Mentions in Daily Travel Digest #1825.
Your post has been manually curated by the @pinmapple team. If you like what we're doing, please drop by to check out all the rest of today's great posts and consider supporting other authors like yourself and us so we can keep the project going!
Become part of our travel community:
thank you as always :-)
Congratulations, your post has been added to Pinmapple! 🎉🥳🍍
Did you know you have your own profile map?
And every post has their own map too!
Want to have your post on the map too?
Congratulations @kev.incredible! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain And have been rewarded with New badge(s)
Your next target is to reach 200 comments.
Your next target is to reach 400 upvotes.
Your next target is to reach 3500 upvotes.
You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPTo support your work, I also upvoted your post!
Check out our last posts:
Support the HiveBuzz project. Vote for our proposal!
Wow its only here in Philippines 🥰 very nice vacation place po. Nature lover here ☺️
thank you pooo
$WINE