Bohol

Bohol Island

Bohol is an island paradise in the Philippines famous for its while sand beaches, the Chocolate Hills and the Tarsier, the smallest primate in the world. It is located in the Visayas island group in central Philippines. Surrounded by beautiful beaches and corral reefs, Bohol is a travel destination for tourist & travelers who love nature. The Chocolate Hills is nominated as one of the "New 7 Wonders of Nature". Vote for Tubataha here.

Bohol is also renowned for its wonderful dive spots. Foreign and local divers come to Bohol to see the breathtaking underwater corral reefs around the islands. The more popular beaches of Bohol are Alona, Dumaluan, Bikini, Momo & Doljo beaches. With the help of the Department of Tourism and the local government, the beautiful Balicasag Island is now being developed for tourism with careful consideration of the environment. Needless to say, water sports is very popular in these islands. Aside from the beaches, another attraction of Bohol are its numerous caves (there are more than 1,400 to explore). Most famous of which is the Hinagdanan Cave on Panglao island. The cave directs to an underground pond with many stalactites & stalagmites.

In addition to Bohol's beaches, caves, and awesome Chocolate Hills, that visitors come to admire, it boast many monuments & magnificent churches built during the Spanish era. Every town in Bohol has its own church and each has a unique and interesting design and architecture. It will take days to see them all. If you wish to see some but have limited time, you can start with the Tagbilaran Cathedral at the capital then go to the nearby towns of Baclayon, Clarin, Maribojoc, Dauis,  Loay & Loboc. A cheap way to get around the island is through the "habal-habal". It is a motorcycle for hire that serves as a "taxi' on the island.

Other Attractions & Activities in Bohol:

▪ Dolphin & whale watching at Pamilacan Island - aside from the half day dolphin & whale watching tour, the island features a white sand beach and a 200 year old Spanish fort.

▪ Site of the Blood Compact . The place where the Chief of Bohol (Sikatuna) signified the friendship and acceptance of the Spanish Leader Legaspi.

▪ Loboc River Cruise - a scenic ride on a large bamboo raft while having lunch on the Loboc River. A relaxing and enjoyable way to spend the day.

▪ Tarsier Trail. A sanctuary for the Tarsiers where these tiny primates are at home with people. Visitors can actually touch and hold the Tarsiers. The Tarsiers are nocturnal, they hunt & eat insects at night.

▪ Panglao Islands. Just a short boat ride away, Panglao offers an array of beaches, resorts and dive camps to choose from and offers different accommodations for different tastes & budgets.

▪ Punta Cruz Watchtower. A high point in Bohol with an impressive view the Cebu Strait (the strait between Bohol & Cebu).

How to get to Bohol:

There are two ways to get to Bohol (Tagbilaran). From Manila, you have a choice of going by air or by boat. By air you have a choice of airlines to fly: PAL, Cebu Pacific & Air Philippines. By boat, you can take the Supper Ferry from the Port of Manila. The boat ride from Manila to Tagbilaran is approximately 25 hours.