Introducing The Visayas
Several threshold events in the history of the nation occurred in the Visayas. Magellan landed off the Cebu coast in 1521, marking the Philippines' first contact with Europeans, and MacArthur fulfilled his vow to return to the country during WWII, landing near Tacloban on Leyte.
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This is the part of the country that fits the clichés of the sun-soaked, gin-stained Edenic paradise. The beaches are white and palm fringed, the locals fish in the turquoise waters, and the heat is so enervating that all exertion is called into question.
You can hopscotch the region on a virtual armada of seagoing vessels, from humble bangka to modern ferries. You can travel from Cebu, the Philippines' raucous and cosmopolitan second city, to Boracay on the northwestern tip of Panay, the raucous and cosmopolitan beach resort. Numerous smaller, more subdued beaches can be found around the Cebu and Negros islands and on Panglao Island off Bohol, a worthy destination itself. Lesser travelled islands such as Siquior and Romblon offer more privacy and the chance to get into the lethargic flow, and for those wishing to stop time altogether there are the thousands of tiny islands unmarked on most maps, their names known only to locals.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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RE: Travelling in Visayas
by surfboy 13 September 2011
Most of the places mentioned have websites and can be contacted that way. I never prebook- just carry a cellphone and text day before…
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Re: Travelling in Visayas
by royandlou 13 September 2011
Surfboy - thanks for reply. It is a big relief for us to find accomodations are available at well below the 2000 pesos mark, we have obvious…
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RE: Travelling in Visayas
by surfboy 13 September 2011
On Panay you could head to either Kalibo (Ati Athan in January) or Roxas, then down to Iloilo. From there you could cross over to Guimaras…
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The Visayas
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The Visayas Overview
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Our Top Picks For The Visayas
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1 White Beach
Soaking up the island rhythms of White Beach on Boracay
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2 Padre Burgos
Swimming alongside whale sharks in the waters around Padre Burgos in southern Leyte
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3 Guimaras
Checking out the magnoliaceous vistas from the mountain-biking trails onGuimaras
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4 Siquijor
Making an appointment with a healer onSiquijor if you're feeling under the weather
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5 Sibuyan Island
Being one of the few to see wildlife on remoteSibuyan Island
Our favourite The Visayas Blogs (beta)
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Dolphin Superpod
Blog: ContemporaryNomad - 4 October 2010
Ripples throughout the picture only hint at the number of dolphins below the surface. Returning from our dive trip to Calanggaman Island, we had yet another stroke of extraordinary luck. Well before we arrived on the scene, we could make out chaotic splashing on the horizon and what appeared to be animals leaping out of [...]
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Touchdown
Blog: ContemporaryNomad - 1 October 2010
While enjoying pina coladas at our dive resort in Malapascua, we suddenly noticed people running to the beach and pointing excitedly out into the water. Cocktail in hand, we ran over to join the group on the beach just in time to witness two funnel clouds forming off in the distance over the ocean. Within [...]
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Life among the Palms
Blog: ContemporaryNomad - 30 September 2010
Tony spent the whole day today testing out this hammock. Will our work never end?! Seriously, I don’t know if he can keep up this grueling pace. Share this post:
