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Archipelago in the Philippines
Photo: JL 09, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Visayas are a major island and cultural grouping in the midsection of the Philippines. Nearly every part of the region has some fine beaches along its coasts, some fine diving areas including many coral reefs teeming with life, and some interesting historic buildings, mostly from the Spanish colonial period (1560s-1890s), in the cities and some towns. Most of the larger islands have mountains near the center, most of them volcanic in origin though few are active now.
The region's main air hub is Mactan-Cebu International Airport. It has domestic flights to most airports in the Philippines, international flights to many in the Asia/Pacific region, and a few to places beyond that.
Read in the guideThere are ferries nearly anywhere in the Visayas, with the port in Cebu City as the main hub and smaller ports all over the region. There are also lots of buses, many of which ride ferries for parts of their routes.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Bacolod City · International · BCD
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the provincial capital of Negros Occidental and home of the MassKara Festival where it got its nickname "The City of Smiles". It is the center of the Metro Bacolod urban area, the largest in Negros and second in the Visayas.
the capital of Samar.
the capital of Cebu Province and the regional center of Central Visayas. It anchors the sprawling Metro Cebu urban area. It is home of the Sinulog festival and the centuries-old Magellan Shrine. It is nicknamed the 'Queen City of the South".
the provincial capital of Negros Oriental, with a clean sea-front boulevard and several universities. This "City of Gentle People" is a popular destination for both tourism and retirement.
known as the "City of Love" in the Philippines. Known for its festival, the Dinagyang.
main ferry port of its region
the regional center of Eastern Visayas and the capital of the province of Leyte. It is home of the famous Pintados Festival and the San Juanico Bridge that connects Leyte to Samar.
the provincial capital and main transport hub of Bohol.
the capital of Capiz. Seafood of assorted kinds is popular in this midsized coastal city.
a diving destination near Dumaguete; has a large, protected coral reef
a major resort island at the northwest corner of the Visayas.
an island group near Cebu
small island with good beaches, diving, reefs and sharks
once mainly a backpacker destination, it has good diving and has been developed to welcome a broader range of visitors
a popular destination for bird watchers, also has a large protected coral reef area
a major resort area near the provincial capital.
a quiet off-the-beaten-path area with fine beaches
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