The Visayas is a group of islands between Luzon and Mindanao . The main islands are Samar , Panay , Negros , Cebu, Bohol and Leyte , the latter famous as the island first sighted by the Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan in the 16th century and as the landing point for the American liberation forces in 1944.

Travel back in time through the quaint towns of Iloilo , with its centuries-old churches, period houses, hand-embroidered and hand-loomed fabrics, and peaceful, windswept beaches. Traipse through the sugarcane fields of Negros Occidental, once the sugar capital of Asia , or tree off on a golfer's holiday in greens nestled among the cane plantations. Marvel at the Chocolate Hills of

Bohol ; then walk through man-made forests, home of the endangered tarsier, the world's oldest insect eating mammal.

In Cebu, Boom City of the South, you can go on a cultural tour of the many scenic attractions of the historic province, hunts for bargains in handicrafts, preserved foods and guitars, or delve into the roots of this oldest Spanish settlement in the country.

Kalibo in Aklan is also the jump-off point to the famous island paradise of Boracay, known for its acclaimed four-kilometer stretch of powder-fine white sand. While enjoying the heat of the sun, it is best to undertake a pleasurable visit to Mandala Spa which is considered as one of the finest Asian destination spas, and indulge in it's award-winning holistic spa therapies in a safe and exclusive tropical sanctuary. Truly a gratifying luxury to rejuvenate body, mind and soul.

Like the emerald jewels scattered in the warm seas of the Philippines, the islands of the Visayas beckon with the allure of sun, sea and sand - ideal settings for island-hopping vacations and let yourselves experience its modern-day pursuits while uncovering the past.