Do you want a hideaway that is not too far but is distant enough from your daily cares and offers relief from your stressful urban life?

And something different from your usual Negros weekend destinations? Try the neighboring island of Guimaras and among the top choices is Baras Beach Resort in Jordan town which is a sheltered inlet on the west coast of the island.

So secluded is the place that it can be truly your ideal hideaway as Baras is not accessibly by road. You get to the inlet through various points -- either through a pumpboat, a banca ride or a small boat.

Baras offers a rustic setting with enough opportunites for adventure and relaxation. Visitors can go snorkeling, swimming, hiking aroud the resort mahogany plantation and spelunking, explore coral formations or engage int heir favorite pastimes – like table tennis, pool, darts, volleyball and basketball.

Or they can do canoe paddling and dinghy rowing or go island hopping as there are plenty of neighboring areas that are interesting enough, like the SEAFDEC Research Station or the Taklong Island Marine Reserve. Or they can take a jeepney ride to the Trappist Monastery for meditative moments.

Nelia Araneta, resort co-owner, said the resort has wooden cottages that offer large, comfortable beds and modern-tiled comfort rooms. The resor menu offers European, Filipino and other Asian dishes in addition to curries, seafood and charcoal-grilled delights that are the popular choices of visitors.

Baras accommodation rates range from P700 to P1,200. Inquiries may be done through Cell Phone No. 0917-241-1422, 0910-210-1768 or 0927-480-1027.