Weighing 10.4 tons, the Panay Bell in Sta. Monica Church in Panay is an unusual introduction to Capiz. The province can also be explored through its coastlines, an artificial lake, mangrove-lined shores, caves, and religious traditions. You can plan your trip around the experiences that interest you most.
Coast, lake, and cave waters
Baybay Beach in Roxas City is a twelve-kilometer-long beach with black sand. Activities available there include swimming, snorkeling, boating, kayaking, and skimboarding. Also in Roxas City, Ayagao Beach lies on the Sibuyan Sea and offers sunset views. The two beaches provide different perspectives on the coast: Baybay stands out for its length and range of water sports, while Ayagao is associated with its seaside location and sunset views.
Marugo Lake in Barangay San Antonio in Tapaz offers a different waterside setting. The 18.62-hectare artificial lake is fed by mountain water. Activities here include swimming, kayaking, boating, and fishing. Those interested in waterscapes can therefore visit an inland lake as well as the coast.
At the Palina Greenbelt Ecopark in Cagay, Roxas City, mangroves line the riverbanks for more than a kilometer, not including the tributaries. Fish cages are located in the river, and guests can buy and prepare the seafood themselves. The Suhot Cave and Spring in Dumalag offers a different natural setting, with interconnected caves and a clear, ice-cold pool fed by a rock spring.
Church and cultural insights
Sta. Monica Church in Panay was built from coral blocks in 1774, and its walls are nine feet thick. The Panay Bell inside measures seven feet in diameter and five feet in height. It is considered the largest Catholic church bell in Southeast Asia. The dimensions of the church and bell make this a special destination for anyone interested in the history and architecture of Capiz.
Nature and local culture come together at the Capiz Ecology Park and Cultural Village in Cuartero. The 16-hectare ecopark includes traditional Filipino houses and endemic plant species, including shrubs, bamboo, and trees. As an open-air museum, it offers guided tours of local culture and history. The grounds also include the Institute of Living Traditions, which is dedicated to preserving and promoting regional cultural heritage.
Traditional skills and food are also among the experiences on offer in the park: visitors can learn about basket weaving and find out how local specialties such as baye-baye and ibus are prepared. Cooking demonstrations complement these activities. The visit can therefore be explored not only through its houses and plants, but also through its crafts and food culture.
Rituals and pilgrimage sites
In Basiao, Ivisan, Pasalum takes place every year on May 31. This religious tradition honoring the Santo Niño includes a procession on the water: at each stop, the Santo Niño’s feet are dipped in seawater. In Pilar, the Agtalin Shrine draws worshippers to a Mass in the chapel beneath the statue on the first Saturday of every month. The Sacred Heart of Jesus Shrine in Roxas City is also a pilgrimage site, as well as a place for meditation and quiet reflection.
These examples represent different forms of religious experience in Capiz: an annual water-based ritual, a monthly Mass, and a shrine associated with meditation. If you are interested in religious traditions, these locations and dates provide a specific focus for planning your trip.
Getting to Tapaz
Tapaz can be reached overland from Roxas City and Iloilo by public minibuses and buses. As you consider the experiences the province offers, you can choose among different interests: the coast and water sports, history and culture, or religious traditions at the locations mentioned.
Discover more destinations: Dao, Roxas City, Aklan, Iloilo, Antique, Negros Occidental.
Return to the main travel overview: Western Visayas.
