Iloilo hides a surprising number of trails for a single province, and Igbaras is one of the places where hikers tend to drift back again and again. Most people know it for the popular peaks like Mt. Napulak, Mt. Lingguhob, Mt. Taripis, but the town has quieter corners too. If you want something offbeat or a quick breather from city life, day hikes and hidden waterfalls are always waiting.

Last weekend I joined an organized hike to Igpigus “Kiput” River Canyon in Igbaras. If you’re new to exploring the countryside in the Philippines, joining hiking communities on Facebook is honestly the easiest way to start. You’ll find local recommendations, trail updates, guides, and the occasional debate that teaches you what not to do. Since I’m based in Iloilo, I follow groups like Iloilo Hiking Community and Hike Ta Panay on Facebook. For this trip, I signed up with Five Tersty Trekkers, and so far, they’re the best group I’ve hiked with.

From Iloilo City, Igbaras is about an hour’s ride, and the jump-off point in Brgy. Igpigus is roughly 15 minutes from the town’s tourism office. A guide is required, and hikers must register with the tourism center. Our organizers handled all the arrangements, so we headed straight to the jump-off where the local barangay official welcomed us and had our briefing on safety reminders and trail expectations, the usual pre-hike pep talk.

From there it was an easy hour of trekking before the river canyon revealed itself—massive walls, cool water, and the kind of silence that feels earned. There’s a short rock-climbing section (nothing too wild, just enough to wake your muscles), and then you’re free to settle in. We spent the rest of the afternoon taking photos, swimming, and having our packed lunches. It’s a simple experience, but the quiet and scenery make the trip feel refreshing.

If you’re planning a quick escape around Iloilo, Igpigus River Canyon is a great place to start. I also shared a short reel of this trip on my socials—if you want a glimpse of the trail and river before you go, you can check it out below.