Boracay’s Secret Wellness Ritual: The Kawa Bath Experience

① The Leading Resort Destination in the Philippines, Boracay

Boracay is the leading resort island in the Philippines. The emerald-colored sea and beautiful sunsets of Boracay are one of the top three beaches in the world. It is no wonder that Boracay is a popular vacation destination for Korean tourists.

The most famous spot in Boracay is “White Beach.” This dazzling beach spans approximately 2.5 miles, offering various activities. Enjoying various marine activities at White Beach and watching the sunset, you get the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure. Especially at White Beach, there are many sunset sailing at sunset. You can enjoy the mesmerizing sunset as the sun dips beneath the horizon.

With various attractions, Boracay also presents the exotic culture of the Philippines. Among them is a unique spa treatment that heats a human-sized water bowl with an open flame.

In Boracay, you can experience the Kawa Spa. “Kawa” means cauldron in the Filipino language, Tagalog. The Kawa Spa, where you enter a large cauldron to enjoy a spa, is a representative cultural experience of Boracay Island.

Traditional Filipino bathing culture puts lemons, ginger, edible flowers, etc., into a human-sized cauldron.
It is known to help blood circulation and prevent aging. Also, it has the effect of removing toxins from the body and calming muscles.

They fix a large cauldron between rocks, and when a person enters, they light a fire under the logs to warm it up. Of course, the cauldron is very sturdy and large to hold people.

② Exotic Spa in a Cauldron

It may look creepy. The person resembles a chicken in a soup, being cooked alive. Although the sight may be humorous, soaking in warm water distracts your fatigue.

The Kawa Spa is also famous among people in the Panay Island region of the Philippines. People around the Tibiao River used the cauldron in sugar factories to make muscovado (unrefined brown sugar with molasses) by hand. When the cauldrons got old, they didn’t throw them away but reused them for baths. This was the start of their unique bathing culture.

Upon visiting, it is easy to notice several cauldrons in place. Although several people can enter a large cauldron, it is typical to have one person enter a single cauldron. Soaking in a warm cauldron continues for about 40 minutes. The water temperature is usually around 40 degrees Celcius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), but it can be adjusted for a hotter temperature.

Since enjoying a warm spa and looking at the natural scenery can be done simultaneously, it has become popular for tourists.

The Kawa Spa is also famous among locals in the Philippines. It is a good spot for a romantic date. It is attracting attention as a popular travel destination in the Philippines on social media.

Most tourists visit the Malumpati Blue Lagoon before visiting the Kawa Spa. The Malumpati Blue Lagoon is widely visited for its emerald color. You can swim, dive, and enjoy tubing on the valley water. After enjoying water activities at the Malumpati Blue Lagoon, you can visit the Kawa Spa to relieve fatigue.

Tourists have left reviews such as “The facilities are a bit old, but it’s warm and good as if you’re in a hot spring,” “The view is good, and the massage is great,” “When you’re in the cauldron, the breeze is cool and warm, so it’s good,” “It’s an exotic experience that can only be done in the Philippines.”

③ You Can Also Experience it in Manila

You can also experience the Kawa Spa in Manila. You can enjoy the Kawa Spa in Tagaytay, which is known as a suburban travel destination in Manila. Tagaytay is a famous travel destination for locals. You can see the scenery of Taal Lake and Taal Volcano. It is a scenic spot and is loved by Manila locals as a weekend outing spot.

La VeryOl’s Kawa Spa is a place in Tagaytay where you can experience the cauldron spa. The Kawa Spa in Tagaytay allows you to enjoy the scenery of Taal Volcano. Because the scenery is breathtaking, locals also visit for a spa.

Enjoy the cauldron bath in the clear air and beautiful natural scenery. Using the Kawa Spa for one person is about $9. You can take a milk spa and choose various oils if you pay an additional fee. If you add an hour of massage, it costs about $22.