“Caves in Tigum, Buruanga, Aklan”

From the white Haciendbeach of Boracay Aklan another trailing activities are await when you visited Hacienda Maria which is located in Sitio Sapsapon, Brgy. Tigum, Buruanga, Aklan. Minutes away from Poblacion Buruanga, Hacienda Maria is an accessible tourist destination that may reach by closed Van, Motorcycle and other means of transportation.

Hacienda Maria's Activities:

1. CAVES

2. WATERFALLS

3. LAMBANOG MAKING

4. SOOTHING HOT POT JACUZZI

“Hacienda Maria the best activity in Boracay”

We visited Hacienda Maria with high expectations due to the good reviews on social media. Our verdict? The place is a good side trip for visiting foreign tourists. One needs a good vehicle in going to Hacienda Maria since it is situated some 2 kms. from the highway and the road was narrow and steep at some point. The upside is that you'll feel refreshed upon reaching the place. It is laid back and the people are so warm. The main sites are the caves, waterfalls, and the "Hot Pot Jacuzzi". We only visited the waterfalls and the kawa-kawa (hot pot) as the caves are on the hills.
We hired a guide in going to the falls as it is about a kilometer from the reception area. Unluckily for us, the falls barely had water cascading from it source as it is summer time and had not rained for weeks. So we just took pictures and moved back to the kawa-kawa area. Nobody was using the hot pots as the tour groups from Boracay have yet to arrive. It was a novel idea and thought we'd try one hot pot but we still had many sites to explore so off we went. 
Management could improve the place and offer alternatives especially when dry season sets in and the waterfalls barely have water trickling from above.

It is my 4th time in Boracay. I feel quite bored because what the hotel and the travel agency's activities offering here are the same water sports and tour which I tried two or three times already! At night I am passing by Pat's Bar at the beach front and I notice they are showing the video of Hacienda Maria, i got curious about this activity, since I'm an outdoor man I inquired about it and the next morning I'm already on tour. It is not in Boracay Island but on the island of Panay, 40 minutes away from Caticlan. It is a big contrast from Boracay because while we are travelling to the place you can see very beautiful nature along the way, a very rustic way of life. We arrive at the park and the local guide inform us what we are going to do and experience. We visited two caves, it is very beautiful, it is newly open place that's why there are no signs of vandalism yet. ( hopefully they will preserve it). It is a heaven for selfie lovers because you can have a picture in different formation of stalactites and stalagmites. You'll spend an hour inside the caves, but if you like to have a picture or selfies then two hours is not enough for you. After the caves we walk to the waterfalls, along the way you can see the beauty of nature, coconut plantation, and on the mountain is the jungle. The waterfalls is so clean! you can swim, jump or just sit and listen to the sound of nature, it is like doing an outdoor activity and spa at the same time. After that we try the Lambanog demo ( coco spirit production). I'm not an alchohol drinker but when i tried the pure lambanog it is so smooth and delicious, I even try the different flavors of it, the pineapple, mango and pandan flavor. After that we have lunch where the local community serve and cook for us. They serve the typical home made dishes, chicken adobo, pork soup with banana and sweet potato, grilled fish, vegetables and fruits.It is very delicious! After lunch we tried the hot pot jackuzzi, at first I'm hesitant to try it because people from tropical country prefer the something cold not hot, but when i try it, I ended up sitting on the hot pot pot at least one hour, it is like a steam bath in nature, while the wind gently blows and the birds are singing, you will surely forgot the time that passing by. After the hot pot jacuzzi, my group tried the cock fighting, my group with arabs, malaysian and australian loves it!
What a day tour!!! I surely recomend to try it! If you live all of your life in the city or in work you only face with the computer or your super stress, try this activity and you will be detached for a day from your stressful reality. 
It is a community based eco tourism, it is a win win tour, you will end up satisfied or amazed, the poor coco farmer will earn for their living, and you help conserve the environment. Thanks to Al Santos, our tour guide for conducting the tour and implanting to us that tourism is also a way to alleviate poverty in this area.