Cebu

Of all the islands that make up the Visayan island group, the province of Cebu is probably the most well known both as a tourist and business destination.

Located in the middle of the Visayan Islands, Cebu comprises 167 islands. The capital, Metropolitan Cebu, is comprised of three cities and six municipalities with a population of more than a million. The oldest city in the Philippines, it is often referred to as the 'Queen City of the South'.

Cebu retains much of its Spanish heritage in its historical and cultural attractions. These include Fort San Pedro, built in 1738, which is now a historical park and Casa Gorordo, once the residence of the first Catholic bishop of Cebu, which is now a museum with 18th century relics.

A replica of Magellan's cross contains the remnants of the original cross which was planted by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan to commemorate the first Filipinos who were converted to Christianity. The Basilica Minore del Santo Nino dates from 1740 and has the oldest religious relic in the Philippines, an antique statue of the Santo Nino (child Jesus) given by Magellan to commemorate a baptism. Handicrafts and every conceivable bargain can be found at the Carbon Market.

Cebu's coastline is dotted with resorts, many within a couple of hours' drive from downtown. Mactan Island has more than a dozen resorts with the more luxurious establishments offering scuba equipment and diving lessons. Facilities for windsurfing, hobie-cat sailing and jet skiing are also available. Among the good dive spots in the province are Buyong Beach, Moalboal, Pescador Island and Badian Island.

Surrounded by other Visayan Islands including Negros, Panay, Leyte, Samar and Bohol, Cebu provides an idyllic starting point for island hopping holidays.

While in the Visayan Islands visit Bohol, the tenth largest island in the Philippines, famous for its Chocolate Hills which are recognised as a Philippine National Geological Monument. They comprise more than 1,000 oval limestone mounds scattered throughout the towns of Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan. Nature enthusiasts will also enjoy a river cruise down the Loboc River through the towns of Loboc, Loay and Bilar, which has a man-made forest that is home to the tarsier, the world's smallest monkey.

Heritage tours of Bohol's capital, Tagbilaran, include the town's plaza with stone buildings and an 18th century Jesuit church. The restored capital building and Bohol Provincial Museum are worth a visit and in Barrio Bool is the site where the Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and the island's chief Sikatuna forged a treaty between their two peoples using their blood as a bond. Baclayon, six kilometres east of town is the oldest church in the country.

Like Cebu, Bohol has a range of resorts, especially in Panglao, and dive spots which teem with marine life. Foremost on the list is Balicasag Island which is a 45-minute trip away from Panglao by pumpboat.

Western Visayan Islands

Iloilo in the western Visayan Islands is an hour away from Manila by plane and has a number of historical monuments including churches and ancestral houses. The Museo Iloilo in Iloilo City holds an extensive collection of Visayan artefacts ranging from prehistoric fossils to religious articles. Most of the Spanish-built churches are found outside the city. Worth a mention are the churches of Tigbauan, Guimbal, San Joaquin and Dingle. Miag-ao Church is the most intriguing as its facade is made up of Philippine carvings.

Every third week of January the streets of Kalibo come alive as the locals celebrate the historic act of barter between visiting Bornean datus and the native aborigines of the region. It is a wild festival and the people blacken themselves with soot, put on aboriginal costumes and dance through the streets to the hypnotic beat of hundreds of drums.

Boracay Island

Boracay Island is famous for its beach which has powder-white sand like icing sugar. The surrounding crystal waters are equally astonishing which is why this seven-kilometre island is so unique. The beach is a living earthscape with every wave depositing sand and removing it daily. The whiteness of the sand is retained by keeping the offshore coral communities healthy. It is also white because there is neither quartz, feldspar or magnetite to colour it.

Majestic tropical palms and climbing bougainvillaea complement the colours of the sand and sea. The vibrant flame colours of the sunset will take your breath away and a full moon transforms the sea into a shimmering work of art. Star-gazing is also popular, and Filipinos believe that taking time to enjoy and savour all the gifts of nature is important. Appreciation for these things they say, 'fattens the heart'.

Boracay's local residents are today often outnumbered by tourists since there are more than 200 accommodation establishments offering plenty of activities including watersports.