Baclayon Church: Beauty in Faith

Most tourists may be drawn to Bohol by dreams of seeing its natural wonders and beautiful white sand beaches but unknown to some, Bohol holds some of the oldest churches in the Philippines that are steeped in history. Central to these churches that date back to the early years of the Spanish colonization is the Baclayon Church. 

The beautiful Baclayon Church

Baclayon Church was built in 1595 and is regarded as the second oldest stone church in the country. It took more than 200 local laborers and at least 10 years to complete the construction of the church. It was declared a National Historical Landmark in 1994 and a National Cultural Treasure in 2010. It was heavily damaged in the earthquake of 2013 but was later restored in 2017.

Here's what you need to know about Baclayon Church.

Location
The Baclayon Church is located in the coastal town of Baclayon in the southeastern part of Bohol. It is a heavy-set stone church that lies along the main highway and overlooking the sea. It is approximately 6 kilometers from the provincial capital, Tagbilaran City. 

Bohol Bee Farm: What's The Buzz About?

As our world becomes busier, we tend to yearn for escapes. We long for settings that are entirely different and more scenic than the daily chaotic urban culture we are part of. It is no wonder then that agritourism has started a fad of its own. Agritourism sites offer an escape to the countryside, away from all the hassle and bustle of city life to simpler, greener, healthier, and sustainable spaces. These sites also offer amazing and unique learning experiences, whether it's nature walks, plantation tours, fruit harvesting, organic cooking classes, or wildlife exploration. 

The Philippines, traditionally an agricultural country, has no shortage of sites thriving because of this new tourist interest in farms and eco-tourism havens. One such destination is the Bohol Bee Farm, a beautiful agricultural haven best known for bee cultivation and organic farming. 

The Bohol Bee Farm in Panglao

Here's what you need to know about Bohol Bee Farm.

Location
The Bohol Bee Farm is located within a wooded coastal enclave on the southern side of Panglao Island. It is approximately 8 kilometers from the New Bohol Panglao International Airport and 9 kilometers from the famous tourist strip, Alona Beach. It is near the Panglao Island Circumferential Road so it is easily accessible via public transportation. If you're on a packaged tour or a private van service, you can ask your driver to include Bohol Bee Farm in your itinerary for the day.
     
The Farm and its Features
The farm began in the early 2000s as a one-hectare vegetable garden with a few bee colonies. The owner, Victoria Wallace, sold vegetables, homemade breads, and honey in little glass bottles. Finding a market, she soon opened a restaurant in a cottage and a modest-two room vacation inn. Here she showcased the recipes for her pastries, spreads, and other food items made from ingredients in her organic garden. 

Chocolate Hills: A Stunning Natural Wonder

Beyond the capital city of Tagbilaran, much of Bohol remains refreshingly rural, an island province endowed by nature itself with spectacular beaches, gorgeous waterfalls, forest-fringed rivers, countless caves, vast mangrove reserves, and a rare double barrier reef regarded as the cradle of ocean biodiversity. However, the otherworldly landscape of the Chocolate Hills is quite unlike anything else in the world. As such it is one of the places you really should not miss.

The otherwordly landscape that is the Chocolate Hills

The Chocolate Hills is composed of more than 1,700 nature-perfected conic hills. The hills are scattered over an area covering the towns of Carmen, Batuan, and Sagbayan. There are several popular legends of the origin of the hills. In one story, the hills grew from the tears of Arogo, a giant who had been heartbroken from the death of his love Aloya. In a second story, the hills were the result of the mess brought by two feuding giants who hurled boulders at each other for days. In a third legend, the hills were dried feces of a giant carabao who plagued the town by eating everything on its path. 

Veraneante Resort: A Good Off-the-Grid Hideaway in Panglao

Often described as one of the best island destinations, Panglao is popular with travelers who are usually looking for a beach vacation. As such, there's no shortage of beautiful beachfront resorts from which to choose. However, some people may not automatically opt for a sand-centric property. Finding a good off-the-grid hideaway and staying off the beach has its advantages. You will pay a lot less. You will avoid getting stuck in a hectic tourist area. And you will definitely get that much-needed peace and quiet. 

Veraneante Resort in Panglao Island

Veraneante Resort perfectly fits the bill for a good off-the-beaten-path hideaway. Take a look at our review and start planning your Panglao getaway.

South Palms Resort: Living Up to Expectations?

Considered one of the biggest tourist destinations in the Philippines for beach escapes, Panglao Island in Bohol continues to charm and draw sunseekers from all parts of the country and the world. Its palm-fringed beaches with crystal blue waters and soft white sand are enough to make you feel like you are in paradise, but what's even better are a myriad of fine accommodations right on its water's edge. One of these is South Palms Resort Panglao. This is where we stayed in one of our previous trips to Bohol.

The breathtaking Coast Pool of South Palms Resort

Here's our review of this sprawling beach front property.

Bohol: A Travel Guide for First-Timers

Visayas may be the smallest of the three Philippine island groups but what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in sights and tourist destinations. Home to many natural wonders, beautiful countryside, a seemingly endless scattering of stunning beaches, historical structures, and colorful cultural traditions, it's easy to understand why the Visayas is the country's top tourist destination for both locals and foreigners alike. 

Nestled within the center of Visayas is the province of Bohol, aptly called the "Heart of the Islands". Over the years, Bohol has emerged as a prized destination worth discovering. In 2017 alone, the province has welcomed more than 1.3 million visitors. 

The famous Chocolate Hills of Bohol

Most tourists may be drawn to Bohol by dreams of seeing the Chocolate Hills but there's much more to this central Philippine province than the 1,260 nature-perfected conic hills. Outside these hills are white sand beaches, exotic wildlife, verdant forests, pristine rivers, adventure parks, centuries-old churches, and historical landmarks all just begging to be explored and will entice anyone to keep coming back for more. 

Find out more about seeing Bohol with Two Juanderer's beginner's guide for travelers to this beautiful island province.

The Province
Bohol is an island province within the Central Visayas region. It is located southeast of Cebu and southwest of Leyte. It is composed of an oval-shaped main island and 75 surrounding smaller islands. It has a land area of 4,821 square kilometers and a population of about 1.4 million.