Guidebook for Malay
Parks & Nature
Nabaoy River is a place of outstanding natural beauty. Kids can swim and ride a bamboo raft, adults can enjoy a cold beer. Hiking trails exist beyond the river into the mountains and offer beautiful scenery, secluded pools to swim in and peace and quiet.
Just avoid the weekends if you can: karaoke and lots of people!
Nabaoy
Nabaoy River is a place of outstanding natural beauty. Kids can swim and ride a bamboo raft, adults can enjoy a cold beer. Hiking trails exist beyond the river into the mountains and offer beautiful scenery, secluded pools to swim in and peace and quiet.
Just avoid the weekends if you can: karaoke and lots of people!
Outstanding sunset white beach without the crowds of Boracay. Sail a paraw there from Balusbos or take a motorbike or tricycle. Take cold beer and food: there is basically noting on the beach! You can cook your own BBQ there and soak in the sun. Beach is great and safe for swimming at high tide.
If you come via boat, watch out for the low tide, or you might get stranded!
Bel-is
Outstanding sunset white beach without the crowds of Boracay. Sail a paraw there from Balusbos or take a motorbike or tricycle. Take cold beer and food: there is basically noting on the beach! You can cook your own BBQ there and soak in the sun. Beach is great and safe for swimming at high tide.
If you come via boat, watch out for the low tide, or you might get stranded!
Turn off the main road in Dumlog and travel on a twisting road for about 15 minutes into the hills and visit Agnaga Falls, a stunning water fall and natural pool for swimming. If you're brave enough, climb up onto the rocks and leap off the waterfall into the pool! Just be careful where you jump!
Avoid weekends when it can get a bit crowded.
Dumlog
Turn off the main road in Dumlog and travel on a twisting road for about 15 minutes into the hills and visit Agnaga Falls, a stunning water fall and natural pool for swimming. If you're brave enough, climb up onto the rocks and leap off the waterfall into the pool! Just be careful where you jump!
Avoid weekends when it can get a bit crowded.
Hinugtan Beach is a beautiful, white sand sunset beach ideal for swimming. A new road being built for a water park is increasing numbers there but it is still beautiful so go while you still can!
There are some small resorts there with cottages to rent and food and drink. Pretty basic, but fun.
Hinugtan Beach Resort
Hinugtan Beach is a beautiful, white sand sunset beach ideal for swimming. A new road being built for a water park is increasing numbers there but it is still beautiful so go while you still can!
There are some small resorts there with cottages to rent and food and drink. Pretty basic, but fun.
Tibiao is an undiscovered gem on Panay's southern west coast. Inland with deep gorges, rice paddies and strong rivers, it is a little like a mini Ubud in Bali, but without the traffic and the tourists. Hiking is practically limitless.
Tibiao
Tibiao is an undiscovered gem on Panay's southern west coast. Inland with deep gorges, rice paddies and strong rivers, it is a little like a mini Ubud in Bali, but without the traffic and the tourists. Hiking is practically limitless.
Pandan in Antique boasts a long white sand beach with several beach resorts with decent accommodation. Quiet, peaceful, beautiful sunsets, Pandan can be accessed and enjoyed in a day trip or overnight. Well worth a visit
Pandan
Pandan in Antique boasts a long white sand beach with several beach resorts with decent accommodation. Quiet, peaceful, beautiful sunsets, Pandan can be accessed and enjoyed in a day trip or overnight. Well worth a visit
Kids love to splash around in the cold springs!
Avoid weekends when it can get very busy!
Hurom-Hurom Cold Spring Resort
Kids love to splash around in the cold springs!
Avoid weekends when it can get very busy!
Naasug and Palhee Beach are nearby to Malay. Clean, white sandy beaches with a few resorts. Also, visit the Barako Distillery , which distills its own gin and vodka.
Naasug
Naasug and Palhee Beach are nearby to Malay. Clean, white sandy beaches with a few resorts. Also, visit the Barako Distillery , which distills its own gin and vodka.
Union Beach (just past Caticlan airport in Navas) is a long, white sand beach ideal for kiting and windsurfing. During the Amihan monsoon (November to March), the wind howls and a perfect cross wind makes the whole beach ideal for kiting and wind surfing. A very good place for beginners. It's like Bulabog Beach on Boracay without the sewage and the crowds!
There are several kite schools with accommodation and f&b options.
Union
Union Beach (just past Caticlan airport in Navas) is a long, white sand beach ideal for kiting and windsurfing. During the Amihan monsoon (November to March), the wind howls and a perfect cross wind makes the whole beach ideal for kiting and wind surfing. A very good place for beginners. It's like Bulabog Beach on Boracay without the sewage and the crowds!
There are several kite schools with accommodation and f&b options.
Arts & Culture
Unique "living" museum that will show you how local Filipinos lived centuries ago. Visit a local home, ride a Carabao, plant and harvest rice, try local snacks, enjoy local handicrafts and meet the friendly locals. Great for kids!
6 locals recommend
Motag Living Museum
Unique "living" museum that will show you how local Filipinos lived centuries ago. Visit a local home, ride a Carabao, plant and harvest rice, try local snacks, enjoy local handicrafts and meet the friendly locals. Great for kids!
Malay town is a small, sleepy, pleasant town with a town square and an old church (San Isidrio). There is a statue of Jose Rizal, first hero of the Philippines, in the square.
During the Ati-Atihan festival (around Chinese New Year), Malay town teems with people, with brightly coloured dancers and drummers from local Barangays, celebrating this ancient festival.
Also nearby in Malay is Pangihan Cave which boats eight interconnecting chambers and inhabited by hundreds of bats!
Malay
Malay town is a small, sleepy, pleasant town with a town square and an old church (San Isidrio). There is a statue of Jose Rizal, first hero of the Philippines, in the square.
During the Ati-Atihan festival (around Chinese New Year), Malay town teems with people, with brightly coloured dancers and drummers from local Barangays, celebrating this ancient festival.
Also nearby in Malay is Pangihan Cave which boats eight interconnecting chambers and inhabited by hundreds of bats!
Essentials
Head to Caticlan market for local produce including fresh fish, meat and fruit and vegetables. Remember to dress casually, comfortably and conservatively. It's a real locals place!
If you want basic groceries, toiletries and medication etc., try Mercury Drug Store next to the Jetty Port in Caticlan. There are also a number of other grocery stores and Sari Sari stores in Caticlan.
If you want western foodstuffs and wine etc., you'll need to head to Boracay.
Caticlan
Head to Caticlan market for local produce including fresh fish, meat and fruit and vegetables. Remember to dress casually, comfortably and conservatively. It's a real locals place!
If you want basic groceries, toiletries and medication etc., try Mercury Drug Store next to the Jetty Port in Caticlan. There are also a number of other grocery stores and Sari Sari stores in Caticlan.
If you want western foodstuffs and wine etc., you'll need to head to Boracay.
If you're after anything over the basics, such as good coffee and tea, wine, delicatessen foods, etc. head to Heidiland Deli on Boracay Island.
9 locals recommend
Heidiland Deli
If you're after anything over the basics, such as good coffee and tea, wine, delicatessen foods, etc. head to Heidiland Deli on Boracay Island.
Food Scene
Decent pizzas, basic drinks, right on the beach front. Very laid back (when the karaoke machine isn't on!)
Piźzahouse by Darki
Decent pizzas, basic drinks, right on the beach front. Very laid back (when the karaoke machine isn't on!)
Tucked in by the beach at Motag, Hang Out is a good place for a quiet sunset drink and a snack or two. Motag beach is also good for swimming.
Hangout Beach Resort
Tucked in by the beach at Motag, Hang Out is a good place for a quiet sunset drink and a snack or two. Motag beach is also good for swimming.
A local favourite for Filipino foods, Island Choice is a no frills cafe that serves tasty Filipino food at good prices.
Island choice Restaurant caticlan
A local favourite for Filipino foods, Island Choice is a no frills cafe that serves tasty Filipino food at good prices.