DiscoverAntequera
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Top 10 Reasons to Visit Antequera
Reason 01
A Sneak Peak into Antequera
- When you are tired of the city scene and want to take a break, plan your holidays to Antequera, Bohol and have your next relaxing holiday at the mountains that meet you with warm breezes and the river murmuring.
- World Pinoy Flights will guarantee that you reach in time to see the sunrise in the town thus making the trip to the town an easy and cheap one to those who want straightforward routes.
- The town stands at an altitude that provides it with a pleasant climate that allows you to walk in its streets without being overpowered by the heat that is characteristic of most coastal regions.
- You will discover that locals, who are very hospitable, embrace tourists with open arms, and tell them their storeys of ancient weaving traditions that characterise the area.
- When you walk over the bamboo bridges, you will be able to smell fresh coconut flowers, reminding about the agricultural tradition according to which the region is built.
- The simplicity of life at Antequera would make you feel rejuvenated and motivated to visit more destinations within Bohol and yet you have a tight schedule.
- Capital (of the province): Tagbilaran City
- International airport: No international airport in Antequera
- Nearest commonly used: Bohol-Panglao International Airport
- Currency: Philippine Peso (PHP)
- Time zone: UTC+8 (Philippine Standard Time)
- Driving side: Right-hand side
- Main electricity: 220 volts, 60 Hz
- Official / local languages: Cebuano (Boholano), Filipino, English
- Major religion: Predominantly Roman Catholic
Reason 02
Highlights
- The grandest attraction is the Mag-Aso falls which present turquoise falls which fall in crystal clear pools and become a playground both to the body and the soul.
- Local Basket Weaving is an art that has been inherited over time and it presents the cultural beating of the town in elaborate designs.
- The countryside trails and rolling hills provide an ideal background to the people who decide to go on holidays to Antequera, Bohol, where they can treat their cameras to limitless photo opportunities.
- The country is covered with rivers, which intersect, as this provides the traveller with several places where they can take a cool swim in nature.
- The scenery varies in each season with foggy mornings in December to colourful falls in June among other encounters.
- To the visitors who prefer to engage in the traditional activities, the weaving workshops in the town can be used in providing practical lessons on the secrets of the art.
Reason 03
Seasons to Travel
- The best time of the year to visit is between November and May because the temperature hardly goes beyond the comfortable levels and therefore outdoors adventure is the best thing to do.
- It is a cooler season during the months of December to February and the foliage is wet. Early morning walks are mystical as there is a slight mist in the air.
- When you want to plan your holidays in Antequera, Bohol during the wet season of June to October, you have seen the waterfalls in their fullest capacity but you have to take care because the trails are slick.
- Wet months also replenish the farms, and the produce is plenty and thus people are free to share at the markets.
- The dry season gives more time to spend in the day with the opportunity to discover the secret rivers and calm pools of the countryside.
- The friendly town community guarantees that each tourist will feel like he is home and be able to appreciate the beauty of the place without fear of insecurity irrespective of the season.
Reason 04
Worth A Visit
Mag-Aso Falls
- Bohol: Bohol is the best place to visit in case a person is planning a holiday in Antequera, Mag-Aso falls provide a spectacular site, about which the turquoise water falls over the old rocks forming natural amphitheatre.
- There is also the adventure of the visit as a visitor could immerse himself in cool, clear pools at the bottom, which could offer the exhilaration of a swim as well as the serenity of a mountain setting.
- The rainforest around gives a sound of chirping birds and rustling leaves, which adds to the impression of being out of the city life.
- There is a little path that goes to an obscure vantage point, and here one may see the whole waterfall system, and the verdant vegetation which grows with it.
- Local guides recount the indigenous legends associated with the falls and this gives cultural richness to the natural wonder.
- The cool waters can be enjoyed as the guests take a dip on the rocks, having a cool experience as the sun paints golden colours.
Antequera Public Market
- The market is a busy place where craftsmen showcase their handwoven baskets, trays and bags, where every single item is a product of generations of art and design.
- Fresh fruits and vegetables which are grown just at the local farms can be sampled by the shoppers providing a real experience of the agricultural returns of the area.
- The open structure of the market facilitates communication and visitors can know the process of the weaving, the type of materials that are used, e.g. rattan and bamboo.
- Local sellers tend to provide them with demonstrations, which makes a mere purchase a learning process emphasising the cultural locality of the town.
- The colourful wealth of woven designs is a feast to the eyes which is enhanced by the ground fragrance of spices and fresh foods.
- The daily business environment is so friendly that the market is an ideal place to begin the day and the atmosphere is full of the scent of tropical fruits and bartering.
Rural Landscapes
- The wide and green hills around Antequera are conducive to walks whose panoramic views are beyond the horizon.
- These terrains have different plants, including tall coconut palms and thick pine trees that provide a habitat to the wildlife in the area.
- Native birds can be seen flying around the trees by the visitors and this creates a vivid soundtrack to the peaceful landscape.
- The slopes are also moderate and suitable either on bicycles or horseback rides as a relaxing means of visiting the natural landscape of the area.
- On the paths, one can find small streams flowing in between the fields tempting to spontaneous picnics and contemplations.
- The seasonal light shifting between seasons makes the hills come alive, and the colours in summer are golden and in winter soft pastels.
Local Basket Weaving (Wickerworks)
- Wickerworks has a reputation of having complex designs of baskets with the local artisans weaving rattan fibres into detailed designs of the baskets to depict cultural motifs.
- The workshop has a gallery of completed works including utility storage baskets as well as decorative artistic works, which demonstrate the adaptability of the craft.
- Tourists are able to observe how it is woven as the skilled hands work to twist, fold and bind the fibres into strains.
- Practical lessons enable tourists to experience the fun of weaving themselves, which makes them understand the amount of patience and accuracy needed.
- The workshops are usually sustainable with the rattan being sourced locally and harvested in a sustainable manner to save the environment.
- Having prepared, visitors can take a customised basket as a souvenir, taking with him to Antequera a fragment of the artistic heritage of this city.
Reason 05
Discover More
Hidden Cascades
- Above Mag-Aso falls, there is a group of several un-marked cascades, to which an adventurous traveller may resort, where in the moss-grown rocks a secret pool is to be found.
- The smaller falls tend to be less visited and thus one can have a close experience with the nature in peaceful environment.
- Going on holidays to Antequera, Bohol to go and see these secrets cascades is like discovering something new and the excitement of learning about untampered beauty.
- Ferns and orchids are planted along the paths to these falls, forming a sweet canopy which adds to the sense of smell.
- A large number of locals actually take people through these locations and offer safe passages besides folklore on the origin of each waterfall.
- Hikers are able to relax on smooth rocks after a refreshing swim where the only sound they hear is the dripping water echoing through the forest.
Weaving Demonstrations
- The weaving is demonstrated by local artisans in the community hall whereby the tourists can observe delicate practises that have been put down through centuries.
- The participants have a chance to get to know the meaning of each pattern, which can be a local myth or a thing of nature.
- These interactive sessions make it easier to engage and engage more in the process making a mere observation an unforgettable cultural experience.
- Even first time visitors feel happy in understanding the rhythm of weaving that reflects the calmness of the town.
- At the end of the workshops, most of the workshops provide the completed product as a souvenir, making the visitors even further linked to the craft.
- The bright colours of woven fibres contrast with the green background to form impressive imagery to the photography enthusiasts.
Countryside Villages
- The visit to the forgotten villages near Antequera depicts an array of lives which are based on farming and weaving, with each family taking part in the identity of the town.
- The visitors will be able to taste the homemade tortillas and fresh fish and feel the true flavours of rural Bohol.
- The architecture of the villages which includes the use of bamboo walls and thatched roofs is the result of sustainable building techniques reflective of the tropical climatic conditions.
- As tourists walk through the lanes, they come across local festivals that celebrate harvests which have the lively music and dance.
- Farmers tend to invite visitors to their farms, who tell them about their experience in growing crops and keeping animals.
- Through these interactions, one gets a better insight into the daily rhythm that makes the community alive.
Scenic Drives
- The picturesque tour of the coast and the hills provide a view with an incredible reach which is pleasant to the eye, and relaxing to the mind.
- The path is through coconut groves, rice paddies and little rivers which are gleaming under the sun of afternoon.
- The drivers will have time to stop at the lookout points and take photos of rolling landscapes with the aid of the distant sea.
- The terrain is gently rolling and therefore makes the drive enjoyable and exciting to both the novice and skilled drivers.
- Visits to local restaurants will enable the visitors to taste fresh seafood and tropical fruits that offer a wonderful food diversion.
- The horizon becomes pink at sunset and this provides a spectacular end to the day journey.
Reason 06
Culture Traditions
- Weaving is the soul of the local culture as families have orally transmitted the craft over the generations, and that is what has actively been evidenced today.
- The deep Catholic spirituality can be seen with the colourful fiestas where the masses, dances and shared meals unify the community.
- The festivals in the town are harvest festivals, addressing the work of the farmers, and the bounty of the earth.
- The life of the community is based on the ordinary routines: taking care of the fields, weaving baskets, and telling tales by the fire.
- Religion festivals tend to mix Catholic rituals and native traditions, forming a special weave of religion and mythology.
- These customs are not only history-saving but also help to reinforce the relationships between the locals, which gives them a feeling of belonging.
Reason 07
Food Fun Fashion
Food
- The cuisine is based on local vegetables and root crops as well as home-cooked food, and it is filled with fresh and healthy tastes.
- Carinderias offer native Boholano foods like sinigang and adobo and this way, the travellers can experience the island food.
- The local farms provide fresh produce such as mangoes, bananas, and papayas that give natural sweetness that is lingering on the palate.
- Seafood is not wanting; fish, grilled and calamari are used frequently in evenings next to the rivers.
- Cakes such as leche flan and cassava cake are a refreshing change to the savoury meals.
- Local cooking is simple as the community is concerned with natural ingredients and traditional methods
Fun
- A swim in the crystal waters of Mag-Aso Falls and other natural pools is a cool antidote to the heat in the tropics.
- Tourists are free to become part of the weaving society where craftsmen use their hands to create complicated designs.
- Beautiful rural strollings are some of the best places to have picnics as they absorb the calm ambiance.
- Travelling around the local markets could be a venture to buy locally made crafts that can be used as a special souvenir.
- Community festivals are a refreshing mix of music, dancing around, and laughing together.
- Sunset offers its riders scenic driveways allowing riders to unwind as they view the magnificent horizons.
Fashion
- Outdoor clothes should also be light and breathable to ensure exploring the waterfalls and trails of the town without inconvenience.
- Wearing comfortable shoes (closed-toe sandals or hiking shoes) ensures a safe movement over rugged trails and riverbanks.
- Quick-dry outfits and swimwear are suitable in Mag-Aso Falls whereby splashing and soaking comes along with it.
- When going to markets and barangays, modest clothes are appropriate since locals have their way of dressing and behaving.
- Travellers are covered by a wide-brimmed hat or umbrella when it suddenly rain during the wet season.
- Woven bracelets or bags are some of the accessories used to complete the cultural feel, and visitors can take a part of the art of Antequera with them.
Reason 08
Nature Safari
- Waterfalls and rivers also form fertile ecosystem with various plants and animals that provide a source of natural laboratory to the observer.
- Hills and countryside offer eco-walks which emphasise on birdwatching services, and bright flora.
- The forests around the area provide homes to the local wild animals such as colourful parrots and monkeys.
- The change of the seasons gives the landscape contrasting colours, with the greens of spring to the golds of autumn.
- Mid-trail hiking trails offer secluded waterfalls that offer serene and reflective pools that are ideal to meditate on.
- This serene environment promotes mindfulness and the visitor is able to be re-acquainted with the rhythms of nature.
Reason 09
Events Fiestas
- The town holds its big fiesta in May where processions are held to highlight colourful costumes and folk dances that attract people throughout Bohol.
- Cultural foods like grilled tilapia and boiled cassava are served during the celebrations of the great cultural food heritage of the area.
- The celebrations have charitable events including community clean-ups which strengthen the environmental stewardship by the town.
- Smaller but equally spirited fiestas Barangay fiestas enable residents to pay tribute to patron saints through music, games and common meals.
- The dancing that is accompanied by clapping and music by the street performers is very contagious and makes everyone want to join in.
- To the person who wants to be transported into a holidays to Antequera, Bohol experience, there is no better place than visiting such festivals to have a first-hand experience of the long-standing Christian practises and a community spirit in the town.