The Philippines’ scale and variety is extaordinary, from soaring mountain peaks, spectacular rice terraces, and deep green forests to romantic, reef-protected islands of all sizes (some still unnamed and little more than palm trees and beaches) ringed by the clearest and warmest of seas that teem with brilliant fish. The Indo-Malay, Chinese, Hispanic (300 years of Spanish colonial rule have left a distinctive mark) and American ancestry of its friendly people is another engaging feature of a nation with over 80 languages!

In the Sulu Sea, south-westwards from the capital of Manila (on Luzon island) stretch the beautiful beaches of Boracay Island, the Bali of the Philippines, a place with all the classic components of the perfect exotic tropical island hideaway. To the south-east, in the Visayan group, are Cebu and its little neighour Mactan island, where the conditions for watersports are superb.