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Boracay & Western Visayas
Includes Why Go? Boracay...... 211 In general, the western Visayas attracts three types of visi- Panay...... 225 tors. The most common is the vacationer drawn by Boracay’s Roxas (Capiz)...... 228 gorgeous White Beach, and the commercial hubbub that Antique Province...... 230 surrounds it: a collection of resorts, restaurants, bars, and tour promoters all lined up along one great stretch of sand. Iloilo...... 232 As the latest tour group from Asia will attest, it’s the per- Guimaras...... 237 fect place for that selfie in the waves. Next comes the diver Negros...... 240 drawn to world-class undersea destinations, from Romblon Silay...... 246 Island in the north to Apo Island in the south. Finally, there’s Sugar Beach...... 251 the off-the-beaten-track traveller braving endless miles of roadside shacks to discover the region’s discrete rewards, Apo Island...... 253 including mountain trekking and cave exploration, pockets Valencia & Around...... 259 of vibrant nightlife, some fascinating architectural history, Siquijor...... 261 alluring beach resorts, and oases of fine food. Thus the key Romblon question: have you packed your compass, your snorkel, or Province...... 266 your selfie stick?
Best Nightlife ¨¨Area 51 Secret Party When to Go Facility (p223) ¨¨KGBar (p245) ¨¨Red Paprika (p236) ¨¨Bar 360 (p232)
Best Beach Resorts ¨¨Discovery Shores (p218) ¨¨Cabugan Adventure Dec–Apr Best Jun–Oct Risky. Oct–Jun High Resort (p239) diving conditions. Tropical storms tourist season. ¨¨Kookoo’s Nest (p252) and occasional Bring wallet to typhoons makes Boracay. ¨¨Aglicay Beach Resort this the off-season (p269) for a reason. Pilar City Cebu Iligan Iligan CEBU Ticao Island Island Milagros Masbate; Tabuelan CEBU Bantayan San Isidro Ozamis; Island Lagundi Bantayan S E A Larena Siquijor Tagbilaran San Jacinto Sipaway Island Donsol Toledo Dapitan Islands Gigante Palompon Moalboal Masbate V I S A Y A N Tangil Sagay Siquijor Oslob Cagayan de Oro SIQUIJOR MASBATE Mandaon Escalante Balud ILOILO Bato Cadiz San Carlos Jintotolo Island Claveria Island Burias Apo Tampi Silay k Island Bacolod Dumaguete Guihulngan MASBATE NEGROS
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Cajidiocan C Roxas NEGROS lo ORIENTAL
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J Dumangas NEGROS Magdiwang San Z OCCIDENTAL 50 km S E A S E Sipalay Jordan Island Fernando Iloilo 25 miles Guimaras CAPI PANAY Town Romblon ROMBLON S I B U Y A N A U Y I B S GUIMARAS Kalibo Lucena Island Danjugan Island Romblon Nueva Valencia AKLAN ISLANDS ROMBLON River Santa Fe San Boracay Malumpati Looc Odiongan Island Tablas Carabao Island San José (Antique) G U L F Agustin P A N A Y S U L U S E A 0 0 Caticlan Roxas Batangas; Manila Roxas Cuyo Islands & Puerto Princesa E xplore xplore
Stroll the famous the famous Stroll E Ride a motorcycle Ride a motorcycle Sample fruit at Sample Kayak around around Kayak Beam down to the to down Beam Tour the historic the historic Tour Snorkel the Snorkel Refresh yourself yourself Refresh expat the expat Crash Trace the Trace
Area 51 Secret Party Party 51 Secret Area a (p223), Facility classic. Boracay sugar mansions of mansions of sugar (p246). Silay colourful reef at Apo at reef colourful Island (p253). in the cool mountain mountain in the cool resorts of Mt Natural Kanlaon (246). Park happy hour in happy charming Romblon (p270). Town aquamarine River Malumpati its to back (p230) in source mysterious Panay. the jungle of b a 9 8 7 6 5 4
3
Highlights 2 Visayas 1 Western Boracay & White Beach Path in Path Beach White . Boracay unspoiled Sipaway Island (p250) by motorcycle. along the coastal road road along the coastal of Siquijor (p263). the organic Spring the organic (p237) Bloom Farm on Guimaras. Danjugan Island Danjugan an (p250), & dream. ecotourist’s Western Visayas Highlights
Boracay & Western Visayas 210