Popular Tourist Destinations in Antique Philippines

Antique is one of the provinces comprising the island of Panay in Western Visayas. Its capital is San Jose and is located at the western portion of Panay Island, bordering Aklan, Capiz, and Iloilo to the east. Antique faces the Sulu Sea to the west. Eighteen municipalities make up the province: fourteen along the coast, three inland, and one on six islets. Coastal towns are Anini-y, Tobias Fornier, Hamtic, San Jose de Buenavista, Belison, Patnongon, Bugasong, Laua-an, Barbaza, Tibiao, Culasi, Sebaste, Pandan, and Libertad. The inland towns are Sibalom, San Remigio, and Valderrama.

Anually, Antique celebrates Binirayan Festival which literally means “where they landed”. This recalls the story of the ten Bornean datus led by Datu Puti and Datu Sumakwel who settled in Panay in the early 12th century. The festival commemorates a culture that once flourished in the shores of Malandog which became the foundation of Antique’s culture. The Binirayan Festival has become a venue for showcasing Antique’s rich cultural heritage, as well as promoting local products and  tourism opportunities to local and international tourists.

The province has also natural and historical attractions and blessed with beautiful beaches, caves, falls, and churches. 

ANINI-Y CHURCH, a massive white limestone building located in Poblacion Anini-y, 40.46 kms. south of San Jose de Buenavista. 
NOGAS ISLAND, 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. 
 DUYONG BEACH, Pandan, a privately-owned white sand beach overlooking the mountains; ideal for swimming. 
 BATABAT CORAL REEF, Barbaza; 1 km. offshore, a 20-minute ride by pumpboat; varied colored corals can be seen through clear waters. 

How to get there:

Antique is accessible from north by RORO (Roll-On-Roll-Off) from Manila via Caticlan. From Kalibo, Aklan buses ply the route to Pandan and San Jose de Buenavista, the capital town and the main tourism service center in the province. Buses and vans to and from Iloilo take two main roads –the mountain and the coastal road networks.