Aklan: Beyond a Famous Beach
Kalibo’s festival and mangroves reveal another side of the province associated with Boracay.
Boracay has made Aklan familiar to travelers around the world, but the province’s identity extends well beyond its best-known island. On the mainland, Kalibo offers a different encounter with local culture and environment.
The Ati-Atihan festival brings music, dancing and devotion into the town’s streets. It is one of Aklan’s most recognizable cultural celebrations, with community participation central to the atmosphere and meaning of the event.
Kalibo is also home to the Bakhawan mangrove area, a reminder of the importance of coastal ecosystems. Seen alongside the province’s beaches and towns, it adds another dimension to the visit. Aklan can be appreciated through celebration, conservation and everyday life, rather than only through the image of a resort shoreline.
Further reading
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