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.
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.
The name Bohol was supposedly derived from the word bool which is a place where the treaty of friendship and blood compact between Datu Sikatuna and Miguel Lopez de Legaspi occurred in 1565. This compact was actually a key event that helped the Spanish get a foothold in the entire Philippines.
Just two decades ago, Bohol was among the 20 poorest provinces in the country. Today, Bohol is seen with prospects of a bright economic future thanks to its booming economy and tourism growth.
How to Get There
Bohol is approximately 700 kilometers south of Manila and about 70 kilometers southeast of Cebu City.
From Manila, your best option to get to Bohol is via air travel. The flight takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Currently, there are 3 airlines operating flights between Manila and Bohol. These airlines are Air Asia, Cebu Pacific, and Philippine Airlines. In total, there are 10 daily flights between these destinations offered by the airlines. Update: As of November 28, 2018, flights to Bohol are now arriving at the New Bohol-Panglao International Airport in Panglao Island instead of the old facility in the capital Tagbilaran. Make sure to check or adjust your transport arrangements prior to arrival.
From Cebu City, you can take the fast ferry to the capital, Tagbilaran City. Currently, there are 15 daily trips to Tagbilaran operated by SuperCat and Ocean Jet. The trip takes approximately 2 hours and costs about PHP500. Alternatively, you can take a fast ferry to Tubigon. Tubigon is a port town located northeast of Bohol. Because of its closer proximity to Cebu, travel time takes only 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes. It is also the cheaper option with fare costing about PHP250. There are 16 daily trips to Tubigon operated by Weesam Express, Fast Cat, and Starcraft. Similar to Tagbilaran, Tubigon is well connected to the rest of Bohol and offers easy bus transfers to major tourist areas.
Be sure to check the airline or ferry sites to find the best travel deals to Bohol.
When to Visit
As Bohol is centrally located, it is often shielded from strong typhoons and other weather disturbances that hit the rest of the Philippines. Bohol enjoys a pleasant tropical climate without much variations year-round. Average temperatures vary during the year by only 3 degrees Celsius.
The dry months are December to April but rainfall can still occur. Since it coincides with the holidays and summer months, this period is also the most popular for tourists. These are also the months where the Chocolate Hills are seen in their chocolate colors. Prices of rooms are at its highest and crowds to attractions are at its biggest during these months.
The wet months are June to September with chances of rain occurring in about half of the days in a month. But these months don't make Bohol less attractive. In fact, during these months there are fewer people and congestion on the beaches and other tourist attractions. You might even get accommodation deals when you check for hotels as these months are considered low season.
Where to Stay
Bohol has quite a number of hotels and lodging facilities that cater to various requirements and budgets. Most of these are concentrated in Tagbilaran and Panglao Island while the rest are scattered around the province. In our travels to Bohol, we stayed in hotels around Panglao Island.
For our recent trip, we stayed at the cozy and intimate Veraneante Resort in Barangay Looc, Panglao. Named after the Spanish word for vacationer, this small resort offers amenities and services that a veraneante would need. The accommodations are spacious cottage-style rooms with a private entrance and a veranda. These cottages are complemented with a sky-colored pool, a jacuzzi, an in-house restaurant, and a colorful rustic bar.
The relaxed and tranquil environment of Veraneante Resort is also one of its appeals. Since it is a 10-minute drive to Alona Beach, the resort is laid-back and doesn't feel crowded even with other guests around.
For our previous visit, we stayed at the sprawling and serene South Palms Resort in Dumaluan Beach. The resort boasts of having the longest beachfront in Panglao letting guests delight in rare exclusivity and an uncrowded white sand beach. It also offers 90 contemporary tropical-styled rooms, two swimming pools, a farm-to-table restaurant, a spa in alfresco cabanas, and a fitness/recreation center.
South Palms Resort allowed us to take strolls along its long beach without bumping into other guests and laze around in the pools or hanging beds and hammocks.
As we always do, we compare room rates from the hotel websites to booking sites like Agoda and TravelBook.ph. This way we are able to check for the best deals.
For our stay in Veraneante Resort, we booked a Family Room with breakfast via TravelBook.ph. We were able to get the room for only PHP4,188 per night for a group of 6 persons. This came up to just PHP698 per person.
For South Palms Resort, we booked the Signature Beach Holiday Package directly with the hotel. We booked Deluxe Pool View Rooms with breakfast for a promo rate of PHP5,888 per night.
Read our reviews of these resorts:
South Palms Resort: Living Up to Expectations?
Veraneante Resort: A Good Off-the-Grid Hideaway in Panglao
Getting Around
There are a few different ways to get around Bohol, but if it's one of your first times visiting, you might have difficulty figuring out the best transport option for you.
One of the most popular ways to get around Bohol is via private van service. If you will arrive early in the morning and you will not be able to check in to your hotel until after 2:00PM, we suggest that you book a van service to pick you up from either the airport or the seaport. Do a countryside tour of Bohol first and have the van transfer you to your hotel afterward. This will last for 6 to 8 hours and you'll get to see the most popular sites of the province on your first day. We chose this option as we were scheduled to arrive in Bohol before 9:00AM. We booked the service a few days before our flight and we customized the route to select places we wanted to see. We got a 16-seater van through Bohol Car Van Rental and Tours for PHP2,500.
Aside from booking a van service, there are three other ways of going around Bohol - tricycle, jeepney, or bus.
The most common mode of transportation within Tagbilaran City and the towns of Bohol are the tricycles. These tricycles are best taken for short trips since their license to operate is limited to smaller areas and distances. They are available everywhere and hailing one takes only a few minutes. These tricycles are also available from Tagbilaran Seaport and outside the gates of the New Bohol-Panglao International Airport. They can take you to anywhere in the city and Panglao Island. Make sure to check the fare before riding to avoid being swindled by dishonest drivers. Fares within Tagbilaran should not cost more than PHP50 for the entire tricycle while fares to Panglao Island should cost between PHP250 to PHP400. Anything more than these rates are rip-offs.
The tricycles are complemented by the bigger jeepneys and buses. These transportation options leave from designated terminals and travel mostly inter-town.
Southern Star Bus Company is servicing the New Bohol-Panglao International Airport. It offers bus services from the airport to other areas in Panglao and to Tagbilaran City. From the airport, the bus route is Airport - Tawala - Alona - Daorong - Sawang Market Panglao - Tunga - Island City Mall - Dao Integrated Bus Terminal. From Tagbilaran City, the bus route is Dao Integrated Bus Terminal - Island City Mall - Tunga - Airport. The bus service runs from 5:45AM to 6:00PM at 45-minute intervals. This is also a better option than taking the tricycle from the airport as it is more comfortable and it only costs PHP50 per person.
Since the opening of the new airport, ride-sharing services are also being explored and TNVS providers are invited to look at the potential of Bohol as a new market.
Things to Do
1. Take a mandatory stop at the Chocolate Hills
As they say, you have never been to Bohol if you have not visited the Chocolate Hills. Probably the most iconic of all Bohol attractions, 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.
The hills cannot be climbed and visitors can only marvel at their beauty and the mystery of their formation. The hills can be viewed from two lookout locations - the Chocolate Hills Complex in Carmen or the Sagbayan Peak in Sagbayan. The hills can be visited all year-round with equally impressive views of the landscape in brown colors resembling chocolate kisses during the dry season and in vivid green colors for the rest of the year.
Read: Chocolate Hills: A Stunning Natural Wonder
2. Meet the Philippine Tarsier
Another icon of Bohol is the Philippine Tarsier. With a tiny body the size of a human fist, bat-like ears, and disproportionately large eyes, the tarsier is one of the most peculiar and intriguing animals in the world. These features may look scary for some but the tarsier is harmless and is actually vulnerable to human activities.
This nocturnal, solitary, and extremely shy animal can also be found in the islands of Leyte, Samar, and Mindanao. However, the biggest concentration of Philippine Tarsiers in the wild is in the town of Corella in Bohol. This is where the Philippine Tarsier Foundation set up an 8.4-hectare forested sanctuary for the animal.
Although we visited the Tarsier Conservation Area in Loboc, we have just recently found out that it is not an official sanctuary and that its set-up may be unsustainable and of poor conditions. Visit The Philippine Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary in Corella instead and get a glimpse of the tarsiers in their natural environment.
Read: Tarsier Conservation Area: Not Exactly A Conservation Sanctuary
3. Make a pilgrimage to Baclayon Church
The La Purisima Concepcion de la Virgen Maria Parish or more commonly known as the Baclayon Church in the town of Baclayon in Bohol is considered as one of the oldest stone churches in the Philippines. The church is built out of coral stones bound together by mortar and egg white. It takes the shape of a cruciform and is facing the sea.
The church was badly damaged when a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Bohol in 2013. It was reconstructed by the National Museum of the Philippines from 2013 to 2017. It was officially reopened in February 2018.
See this beautiful place of worship and intertwine your visit with prayers and feelings of gratitude.
Read: Baclayon Church: Beauty in Faith
4. Explore the Bohol Bee Farm
Take the time to explore one of the hotspots in the province, the Bohol Bee Farm. This 6-hectare resort is a tropical countryside hideaway dedicated to bee cultivation, organic farming, and sustainable lifestyle.
Over the years, the resort has grown to be a one-stop destination. There is a restaurant, a coffee shop, a spa, a hotel, a dive shop, a pasalubong center, a crafts center, and several function rooms.
Read: Bohol Bee Farm: What's The Buzz About?
5. Take a cruise along Loboc River
The Loboc River is one of the most popular attractions in Bohol. This incredibly clean and beautiful river flows through the towns of Carmen, Batuan, Bilar, Loboc, and Loay. A great part of it flows through uninhabited areas teeming with life and abundant vegetation.
Visitors to the river can take a scenic trip upriver onboard floating restaurants or through paddleboards. Make sure to add either of these activities when you visit Bohol.
6. Be mystified at the Bilar man-made forest
The Bilar man-made forest was part of the Loboc Watershed Reforestation Project some 30 years ago. When going or coming from the Chocolate Hills, it is hard to miss as you'll enter a curvy road flanked by nothing but a seemingly endless rows of trees.
It is a famous tourist attraction especially for those who would want to take beautiful photos and get awed at what humans can do. However, take the time to notice the eerily still and quiet forest. It will be unlike anything you'll experience in the Philippines. It is said that the trees planted here are not native to the country. As such it is unable to sustain the life of local species of insects, birds, and mammals.
7. Enjoy the tropical paradise of Panglao Island
Panglao Island, located southwest of mainland Bohol, is famous among beach enthusiasts. It is blessed with a number of beautiful white sand beaches and clear turquoise water. Alona Beach is by far the most popular but other nearby beaches like Danao, Dumaluan, Doljo, and Momo are also great alternatives.
As it attracts a lot of tourists, Panglao has plenty of accommodations, restaurants, bars, shops, and offers a vibrant nightlife.
Furthermore, Panglao Island is a great starting point to explore Bohol's colorful sea life and endless underwater gardens. Excellent diving sites include Balicasag Island, Pamilacan Island, Cabilao Island, and Doljo Point.
Budget
There are a lot of Bohol packages offered by travel agencies with prices starting from PHP5,000 per person. For this recent trip, however, we went on an exclusive DIY trip and saved a lot. We spent approximately PHP4,065 per person for a 3D2N trip inclusive of the hotel stay in Veraneante Resort, meals at various restaurants, admission fees to attractions, round trip flights, private van service for the tours, airport transfer service, and pasalubong shopping. Read Bohol: A Budget Travel Guide for Juans.
Note: This guide is designed based on our personal experience and we hope this is of use to Juans who plan to travel for the first time to Bohol.
Are you planning a trip to Bohol? Leave your questions below and we'll try to help out. If you find this useful, please share on social media. Thanks!
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 |
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.
The name Bohol was supposedly derived from the word bool which is a place where the treaty of friendship and blood compact between Datu Sikatuna and Miguel Lopez de Legaspi occurred in 1565. This compact was actually a key event that helped the Spanish get a foothold in the entire Philippines.
Just two decades ago, Bohol was among the 20 poorest provinces in the country. Today, Bohol is seen with prospects of a bright economic future thanks to its booming economy and tourism growth.
How to Get There
Bohol is approximately 700 kilometers south of Manila and about 70 kilometers southeast of Cebu City.
From Manila, your best option to get to Bohol is via air travel. The flight takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Currently, there are 3 airlines operating flights between Manila and Bohol. These airlines are Air Asia, Cebu Pacific, and Philippine Airlines. In total, there are 10 daily flights between these destinations offered by the airlines. Update: As of November 28, 2018, flights to Bohol are now arriving at the New Bohol-Panglao International Airport in Panglao Island instead of the old facility in the capital Tagbilaran. Make sure to check or adjust your transport arrangements prior to arrival.
From Cebu City, you can take the fast ferry to the capital, Tagbilaran City. Currently, there are 15 daily trips to Tagbilaran operated by SuperCat and Ocean Jet. The trip takes approximately 2 hours and costs about PHP500. Alternatively, you can take a fast ferry to Tubigon. Tubigon is a port town located northeast of Bohol. Because of its closer proximity to Cebu, travel time takes only 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes. It is also the cheaper option with fare costing about PHP250. There are 16 daily trips to Tubigon operated by Weesam Express, Fast Cat, and Starcraft. Similar to Tagbilaran, Tubigon is well connected to the rest of Bohol and offers easy bus transfers to major tourist areas.
Be sure to check the airline or ferry sites to find the best travel deals to Bohol.
When to Visit
As Bohol is centrally located, it is often shielded from strong typhoons and other weather disturbances that hit the rest of the Philippines. Bohol enjoys a pleasant tropical climate without much variations year-round. Average temperatures vary during the year by only 3 degrees Celsius.
The dry months are December to April but rainfall can still occur. Since it coincides with the holidays and summer months, this period is also the most popular for tourists. These are also the months where the Chocolate Hills are seen in their chocolate colors. Prices of rooms are at its highest and crowds to attractions are at its biggest during these months.
The wet months are June to September with chances of rain occurring in about half of the days in a month. But these months don't make Bohol less attractive. In fact, during these months there are fewer people and congestion on the beaches and other tourist attractions. You might even get accommodation deals when you check for hotels as these months are considered low season.
Where to Stay
Bohol has quite a number of hotels and lodging facilities that cater to various requirements and budgets. Most of these are concentrated in Tagbilaran and Panglao Island while the rest are scattered around the province. In our travels to Bohol, we stayed in hotels around Panglao Island.
 |
| The cozy and intimate Veraneante Resort in Panglao |
The relaxed and tranquil environment of Veraneante Resort is also one of its appeals. Since it is a 10-minute drive to Alona Beach, the resort is laid-back and doesn't feel crowded even with other guests around.
 |
| The beachfront of the sprawling South Palms Resort in Panglao |
South Palms Resort allowed us to take strolls along its long beach without bumping into other guests and laze around in the pools or hanging beds and hammocks.
As we always do, we compare room rates from the hotel websites to booking sites like Agoda and TravelBook.ph. This way we are able to check for the best deals.
For our stay in Veraneante Resort, we booked a Family Room with breakfast via TravelBook.ph. We were able to get the room for only PHP4,188 per night for a group of 6 persons. This came up to just PHP698 per person.
For South Palms Resort, we booked the Signature Beach Holiday Package directly with the hotel. We booked Deluxe Pool View Rooms with breakfast for a promo rate of PHP5,888 per night.
Read our reviews of these resorts:
South Palms Resort: Living Up to Expectations?
Veraneante Resort: A Good Off-the-Grid Hideaway in Panglao
There are a few different ways to get around Bohol, but if it's one of your first times visiting, you might have difficulty figuring out the best transport option for you.
One of the most popular ways to get around Bohol is via private van service. If you will arrive early in the morning and you will not be able to check in to your hotel until after 2:00PM, we suggest that you book a van service to pick you up from either the airport or the seaport. Do a countryside tour of Bohol first and have the van transfer you to your hotel afterward. This will last for 6 to 8 hours and you'll get to see the most popular sites of the province on your first day. We chose this option as we were scheduled to arrive in Bohol before 9:00AM. We booked the service a few days before our flight and we customized the route to select places we wanted to see. We got a 16-seater van through Bohol Car Van Rental and Tours for PHP2,500.
 |
| Rey of Bohol Car Van Rentals and Tour |
The most common mode of transportation within Tagbilaran City and the towns of Bohol are the tricycles. These tricycles are best taken for short trips since their license to operate is limited to smaller areas and distances. They are available everywhere and hailing one takes only a few minutes. These tricycles are also available from Tagbilaran Seaport and outside the gates of the New Bohol-Panglao International Airport. They can take you to anywhere in the city and Panglao Island. Make sure to check the fare before riding to avoid being swindled by dishonest drivers. Fares within Tagbilaran should not cost more than PHP50 for the entire tricycle while fares to Panglao Island should cost between PHP250 to PHP400. Anything more than these rates are rip-offs.
The tricycles are complemented by the bigger jeepneys and buses. These transportation options leave from designated terminals and travel mostly inter-town.
Southern Star Bus Company is servicing the New Bohol-Panglao International Airport. It offers bus services from the airport to other areas in Panglao and to Tagbilaran City. From the airport, the bus route is Airport - Tawala - Alona - Daorong - Sawang Market Panglao - Tunga - Island City Mall - Dao Integrated Bus Terminal. From Tagbilaran City, the bus route is Dao Integrated Bus Terminal - Island City Mall - Tunga - Airport. The bus service runs from 5:45AM to 6:00PM at 45-minute intervals. This is also a better option than taking the tricycle from the airport as it is more comfortable and it only costs PHP50 per person.
Since the opening of the new airport, ride-sharing services are also being explored and TNVS providers are invited to look at the potential of Bohol as a new market.
Things to Do
1. Take a mandatory stop at the Chocolate Hills
As they say, you have never been to Bohol if you have not visited the Chocolate Hills. Probably the most iconic of all Bohol attractions, 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.
 |
| Conic hills as far as the eyes can see |
Read: Chocolate Hills: A Stunning Natural Wonder
2. Meet the Philippine Tarsier
Another icon of Bohol is the Philippine Tarsier. With a tiny body the size of a human fist, bat-like ears, and disproportionately large eyes, the tarsier is one of the most peculiar and intriguing animals in the world. These features may look scary for some but the tarsier is harmless and is actually vulnerable to human activities.
This nocturnal, solitary, and extremely shy animal can also be found in the islands of Leyte, Samar, and Mindanao. However, the biggest concentration of Philippine Tarsiers in the wild is in the town of Corella in Bohol. This is where the Philippine Tarsier Foundation set up an 8.4-hectare forested sanctuary for the animal.
 |
| The Philippine Tarsier |
Read: Tarsier Conservation Area: Not Exactly A Conservation Sanctuary
3. Make a pilgrimage to Baclayon Church
The La Purisima Concepcion de la Virgen Maria Parish or more commonly known as the Baclayon Church in the town of Baclayon in Bohol is considered as one of the oldest stone churches in the Philippines. The church is built out of coral stones bound together by mortar and egg white. It takes the shape of a cruciform and is facing the sea.
The church was badly damaged when a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Bohol in 2013. It was reconstructed by the National Museum of the Philippines from 2013 to 2017. It was officially reopened in February 2018.
 |
| The beautiful and ornate main altar of Baclayon Church |
Read: Baclayon Church: Beauty in Faith
4. Explore the Bohol Bee Farm
Take the time to explore one of the hotspots in the province, the Bohol Bee Farm. This 6-hectare resort is a tropical countryside hideaway dedicated to bee cultivation, organic farming, and sustainable lifestyle.
 |
| The countryside hideaway inspired Bohol Bee Farm |
Read: Bohol Bee Farm: What's The Buzz About?
5. Take a cruise along Loboc River
The Loboc River is one of the most popular attractions in Bohol. This incredibly clean and beautiful river flows through the towns of Carmen, Batuan, Bilar, Loboc, and Loay. A great part of it flows through uninhabited areas teeming with life and abundant vegetation.
Visitors to the river can take a scenic trip upriver onboard floating restaurants or through paddleboards. Make sure to add either of these activities when you visit Bohol.
 |
| The incredibly clean and beautiful Loboc River |
The Bilar man-made forest was part of the Loboc Watershed Reforestation Project some 30 years ago. When going or coming from the Chocolate Hills, it is hard to miss as you'll enter a curvy road flanked by nothing but a seemingly endless rows of trees.
 |
| The Bilar Man-Made Forest |
Panglao Island, located southwest of mainland Bohol, is famous among beach enthusiasts. It is blessed with a number of beautiful white sand beaches and clear turquoise water. Alona Beach is by far the most popular but other nearby beaches like Danao, Dumaluan, Doljo, and Momo are also great alternatives.
 |
| The tropical paradise of Panglao Island |
Furthermore, Panglao Island is a great starting point to explore Bohol's colorful sea life and endless underwater gardens. Excellent diving sites include Balicasag Island, Pamilacan Island, Cabilao Island, and Doljo Point.
There are a lot of Bohol packages offered by travel agencies with prices starting from PHP5,000 per person. For this recent trip, however, we went on an exclusive DIY trip and saved a lot. We spent approximately PHP4,065 per person for a 3D2N trip inclusive of the hotel stay in Veraneante Resort, meals at various restaurants, admission fees to attractions, round trip flights, private van service for the tours, airport transfer service, and pasalubong shopping. Read Bohol: A Budget Travel Guide for Juans.
Note: This guide is designed based on our personal experience and we hope this is of use to Juans who plan to travel for the first time to Bohol.
Are you planning a trip to Bohol? Leave your questions below and we'll try to help out. If you find this useful, please share on social media. Thanks!
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