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Guide to Bohol Island
Guide to Bohol Island - Things to do and see on Bohol and How to Get to Bohol Island
Today I'm going to take you to the Philippines, in particular to explore the island of Bohol in the Central Visayas which are almost in the middle of the Philippines.
If you prefer to see for yourself then go ahead and watch my Guide to Bohol Island video now, otherwise read on below.
Guide to Bohol Island - How to Get to Bohol Island in the Philippines
First things first, before you can explore the beautiful island of Bohol you need to get there.
Getting to Bohol is quite simple from Cebu which is where I would recommend you base yourself if you are visiting the Philippines on holiday, there is a regular fast ferry service from Cebu city to Tagbilaran which is the main city on Bohol Island.
Ocean Jet have several ferries every day from Cebu City to Bohol Island, the journey only takes two hours and when I was there the cost was 800 php per person one way for general deck or 1,000 php for the business class deck.
How to Get to Bohol from Cebu
Getting to Bohol is quite simple from Cebu which is where I would recommend you base yourself if you are visiting the Philippines on holiday, there is a regular fast ferry service from Cebu city to Tagbilaran which is the main city on Bohol Island.
Ocean Jet have several ferries every day from Cebu City to Bohol Island, the journey only takes two hours and when I was there the cost was 800 php per person one way for general deck or 1,000 php for the business class deck .
http://www.oceanjet.net/
How to Get to Bohol from Manila
If you are travelling from further afield such as from Manila then your best option will probably be to fly in, there are regular flights between Manila and Tagbilaran City on Bohol Island. Try Cebu Pacific Airlines https://www.cebupacificair.com/ or Philippines Airlines (PAL).
Getting around Bohol Island
On arrival at Tagbilaran you will of course need transport to your accommodation. There are taxis,mainly in the form of trikes, and there's even a place to rent motorbikes at the port in Tagbilaran, which leads us to the next point, where to stay on Bohol.
Guide to Bohol Island - Where to Stay on Bohol Island Philippines
Now by far the most popular reason for visiting Bohol, as with much of the Philippines, are its beautiful beaches, and the best beaches are found in the south down on Panglao Island.
When you arrive at Tagbilaran it's about a 40-minute trike taxi ride to Panglao, and I recommend staying as close to a Alona Beach as possible.
Alona Beach Panglao Island
Not only is Alona Beach a lovely and lively beach, but from here you can organise everything that there is to do on Bohol Island.
During the day you can relax on Alona beach, get a massage, take a boat trip, have a swim and enjoy a drink and after sunset the beach and surrounding area lights up with cafés, bars, restaurants and entertainment.
Guide to Bohol Island - Things to Do on Bohol Island Philippines
Once you've settled in to your hotel on Alona Beach everything else on Bohol Island you can do in a day trip from Panglao Island.
The Chocolate Hills of Bohol Island
One of the more famous things to see are the Chocolate Hills, these are limestone hills that dot the landscape around Carmen. In the summer the grass on these hills turns brown making them look like balls of chocolate, it's like you're inside a box of ferrero rochers surrounded by chocolate hills.
Bohol Tarsier Sanctuary
Next up is a visit to see Asia's smallest primate, the sleepy tarsier. An endangered species these tiny nocturnal creatures are now being protected in sanctuaries all over the Philippines where you can admire these cute animals. They are very sensitive to light and sound so there is no camera flash permitted and you must remain as quiet as possible while admiring these miniature primates.
Loboc River Cruise across Bohol Island
For those who want to relax and watch the landscape glide by consider a Loboc river cruise. Yhis is generally a two hour cruise down the Loboc river through the heart of Bohol while you enjoy a buffet lunch and admire the passing scenery.
Be aware though these are quite large boats which can carry quite a lot of people and often have a singer on board to entertain you so don't expect a peaceful quiet trip, but do expect an entertaining one.
Day Trips / Boat Trips to Virgin Island or Balicasag Island
For a more relaxing day you can organize boat trips to some of the surrounding islands like Virgin Island or Balicasag Island, both of these small islands make great day trips.
Scuba Diving and Snorkelling around Bohol Island
Scuba diving is also available with several dive shops along Alona Beach organizing dive trips to the best reefs around the island.
Bila Man Made Forest Bohol
Any instagrammers will want to head to the man-made forest near Bila,this forest is two kilometres long and made up of tall mahogany trees which tower up and over the road creating a beautiful and very photographic alley of trees. You can walk amongst the trees and breathe the forest air and of course take that compulsory selfie under the green canopy.
Hinagdanon Cave Bohol
If you don't mind leaving the fresh air behind for a little while visit the Hinagdanon cave, a beautiful limestone cave where shafts of light pour in from the holes in the ceiling illuminating the pools of water below. There is an illuminated path down into the cave but it could be slippery so take care.
Go off the Tourist Trail and Explore Bohol Island
If you're happy to rent a motorbike then I can highly recommend going on your own adventure tour to explore the island and its daily life. There is lovely scenery to admire and the local people are always friendly. Go off the tourist trail and you will find villages, churches, rice fields, and local life to explore.
More Things to Do and See on Bohol
While these are some of the main attractions of Bohol there are lots of other things to see and do around the island. There are several lovely beaches along the south coast and depending on your personal interests here's a list of other places to visit and things that you can do on Bohol.
- Visit the Bee Farm
- Visit the Butterfly Centre
- Visit Loboc Church
- Walk across the Bamboo Hanging Bridge (if you dare!)
- Visit Bohol Museum
- Visit the snake park
- Firefly Watching
What do you think of Bohol? Amongst the many beautiful islands to visit in the Philippines will it make your list? Send me a DM on instagram to let me know where you would like to visit.
© 2021 Travel With Simon. All rights reserved.
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