Luzon / Mindanao / Palawan / Visayas

The Republic of the Philippines or popularly known by many as the Philippines is one of the most spectacular tropical countries in Asia. An archipelago nation formed by an amazing count of 7,107 islands with a total land area of 307,055 sq. km is home to 68 million people. Spanning 1,840 km from north to south and 1,100 km from east to west, the Philippines offer a variety of places to visit with boundless treasures and unforgettable experiences.

Being part of the East Indies, the Philippines is a vast island group lying on the south and east of mainland Asia. Taiwan is to the northwest coast while Borneo is to the south of the country. Luzon, the Visayas, Mindanao and Palawan make up the four main island groups in the Philippines.

Luzon
The largest and northernmost island group in the Philippines is over 100,000 sq. km in size. As such, it is home to about half of the country's population. Luzon, basically, divided into north and south has many tourist attractions. On top of that, this island group also dominates the country's cultural and economic affairs.

Mindanao
Together with Sulu forms the second largest island group, which is at the southernmost of the country's 11 main islands. Oddly shaped, Mindanao's landscape is dominated by mountain chains running from north to south. Containing about 80% of the country's iron reserves, Mindanao is one of the richest islands in the Philippines. In the agriculture industry, over half of the country's pineapple, corn, coffee, copra, cocoa and abaca (hemp) is produced by the island of Mindanao. Apart from being one of the richest islands in terms of natural resources, Mindanao is also rich in offering many attractive tourist spots such as Davao and Cagayan de Oro.

Davao
Known as the window to the island of Mindanao, Davao is a province that has much to offer visitors. A province bursting with life and vibrant color, Davao has been named one of the "25 best destinations" by the Philippine Tourism Board. Marked with rolling hills and fertile valleys, it is not unusual that this predominantly mountainous region is home to a fantastic species of flora and fauna. Thanks to Mother Nature, Davao is safe from typhoon which is also an important factor contributing to the marvelous blossoming of nature.

Due to its rich texture of culture, history and tradition, Davao has become one of the most enchanting and popular destinations among tourists. In this province of diversity, one can witness Bagobos and Mandayas in full regalia or beautiful Muslim girls dressed in colorful malongs (fabric).

Blessed with 244,000 hectare of land, Davao City, probably the world's biggest city is also a city of growth. A city bustling with many financial activities, Davao can easily experience an amazing growth.

Cagayan de Oro
The capital of Misamis Oriental Province is a developing commercial and pleasure as well as educational center. Cradled between the gentle waters of Macabalan Bay and the ancient mountains of Mindanao's interior, this old coastal settlement is the normal jumping-off point for the start of an exciting adventure in northern Mindanao.

Bisected by the Cagayan River, the large city of Cagayan de Oro boasts countless banks, shopping malls and government offices. Many years ago, the Spanish colonists added the words' De Oro' meaning 'of gold' to the name Cagayan. Although the Spanish were referring to the specks of gold they had discovered in the Cagayan River in those days, however, today, the terms have come to describe the 'golden friendship' offered by an old-fashioned city that is popular for its hospitality and warm people.

Palawan
Lying in the southwest of the Philippines separating the Sulu Sea from the South China Sea is 400 km in length and 40 km in width. A perfect combination of beautiful beaches, friendly inhabitants and pristine natural scenery has made Palawan an attractive island.

Palawan is ideal for the adventurous visitors as the mountainous jungle offers exciting jungle expeditions, the beautiful beaches offer a great diving experience and the Tabon caves is great for cave exploring.

The Visayas
Perhaps, the most popularly known islands for travelers to the Philippines is the Visayas. This tightly packed island group is made up of seven major islands namely Negros, Panay, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Samar and Masbate. Tourists often flock to Cebu and the northwest tip of Panay, the little island called Boracay and thus making these two places the most visited islands in the Visayas.

Cebu
The oldest city in the island republic is also the commercial and education center of the Visayas as well as the hub of air and sea travel throughout the South. In a city amidst overwhelming industrial growth, the unique blend of ancestral heritage and modern business environment have propelled Cebu to international recognition. Standing as the country's top business and tourist destination, it hardly comes as a surprise that Cebu has been crowned as the Queen City of the South. Be it business or pleasure, visitors will find contentment in the office buildings and beach resorts in Cebu.

Surrounded by a colorful past, Cebu offers visitors plenty to see. In this old city, one can find Colon Street, the oldest street in the Philippines that houses malls, office buildings, museums, theaters and monuments. Apart from that, the oldest fortress in the country which is Fort Santiago Pedro, the Liloan Lighthouse and Bantayan sa Hari can also be found in Cebu.

Moving away from the increasing sophistication of the city, Cebu also features many pristine rainforests that have become a haven for wildlife and of course, the ideal place for a perfect picnic. Among the more popular spots are the 15,393-hectare Central Cebu National Park, the Cawasan Falls, the 696-hectare Sudlon National Park as well as the Balok-Balok Mineral Springs.

Boracay
An island in the northwest tip of Panay is a paradise for many sun-worshippers from all over the world. Shaped like a slender butterfly, Boracay is sheltered from the fierce easterly typhoons. Blessed with all the elements of a tropical paradise, the thousand-hectare area of Boracay is laced with tropical palms and flowering plants, sugar-fine white sand and crystal blue waters swimming with exotic marine life.

Although Boracay used to be the country's best kept secret, nevertheless, it is now a melting pot for many beach lovers and sun-worshippers as words spread like wildfire about this paradise on earth. Apart from the beautiful scenery, Boracay also offers great dining with a diversity of culinary fare from the native cuisine to French, Spanish and Italian, just to name a few. Accompanying the delectable cuisine is the famous array of fruit juices like green tart mango, coconut milk and sweet yellow mango which is worth a try