Emman 
Bohol, one of the hottest tourist destination in the Philippines, live the same breath as Boracay, El Nido or Cebu. The island has many historical places that you can visit. In fact, Bohol is one of the oldest provinces founded in the Philippines. From beaches to churches, Bohol offers you a tour with nature and structures freeze in time.
This island offers the rural-feel that tourists from bustling cities are looking for. The simple and humble life the province is depicting is its key to invite people to visit the Jewel of the Philippines. If you’re fed up with mega cities and want to leave your cosmopolitan life for a while, Bohol can give you the laid-back feel and time-off from the city noise.
Bohol is fairly accessible by boat (via Cebu, the closest neighboring island) or by plane. This is one of the reason 1.5 million tourists last 2019 (around pre-pandemic) flock this island.
This guide will help you make out the most of your Bohol trip.
Table of Contents
Where to go and what to do
Alona Beach
Alona beach is the most famous beach on the island. You can find the beach at Panglao, an island in the south of Bohol. The beach is comparable to Boracay’s, milk-powder sand and restos and bars next to each other. They named the beach after Alona Alegre, a famous actress back in the 70s, who filmed at the beach with no name during that time. This famous beach is around a 30-min ride from the island’s capital, Tagbilaran City, and a 7-min ride from Bohol-Panglao International Airport. Activities in the area ranges from swimming, scuba diving, dining in cozy restos to night life.
Hinagdanan Cave
Still in Panglao, Hinagdanan Cave got its name from the word “hadgan”, a local word for stairs or ladder. Before its present condition, locals used a ladder to get down into the cave. Green-blue water will meet you as you descend. Early settlers used this water for drinking, washing and bathing. Its current purpose today is to attract tourists to swim and take pictures. Once you enter the cave, the underground coolness relieves you from the swelter heat above. This famous cave of Bohol is around 20 minutes from Alona Beach.
Loboc River Cruise
One of Bohol’s iconic tourist attraction, Loboc River Cruise, will journey you along Loboc River, on a floating restaurant, while they serve you the best food they offer. As the cruise makes it passage along, the green flora and fresh cool air greets you. The green waters lay silent and welcomes you like a red carpet. At the end of the river, the floating restaurant will make a 15-minute stop at a small platform where small children will sing and dance for you. This tourist attraction is on Bohol’s main island.
Bilar Man-Made Forest
Moving up ahead, Bilar Man-Made Forest is a major stop for tourists. As the name suggests, it’s a reforestation effort made by the local government that dates back to the 1950s. You’ll know you’re there when cars pull up and switching on their hazard lights. People will take a quick opportunity to snap a shot in the middle of the road to get the best photo of the tall trees at each side of the road, like fingers clasped. This scene offers a brief cool shade against the summer heat.
Bohol Tarsier Conservation Area
📍 Bohol Tarsier Conservation Area
Get to know tarsiers, Bohol’s icon animal, in this conservation area. Tarsiers grow no longer than the palm of your hand and known for its unproportional huge set of eyes. It’s said that each eyeball weights more than their brain. The conservation put their best effort into making the place imitate their natural habitat of this small primate. They don’t cage the tarsiers here and you walk through small alleys. They hung on small branches and because they’re nocturnal creatures, they’re asleep during the day. While they’re peacefully snoozing, tourists take pictures of them.
Chocolate Hills
Of course, Bohol’s emblem, Chocolate Hills, is the major tourist spot of the island. It’s as bad as you haven’t gone to Bohol if you haven’t witnessed these natural geological features of the island. There are roughly around 1,700 of these hills that surround the town of Carmen. It’s green during the rainy season and brown during summer, hence the name. Chocolate Hills View Deck is the best place to see this. They strategically chosen this spot to get the best 360-degree view of Chocolate Hills.
Bohol Bee Farm
At Dauis, Panglao, this resto-souvenir shop prides itself with an all organic food snacks made from their own fresh produce. They also sell hand-crafted souvenirs and oh so goodness resto! When you thought that “that’s it?”, wait until you’re seated in the magnificent view of the Bohol Sea as this major tourist spot sits on top of a cliff. While you’re dining, you can have the view of crystal blue waters while munching the most amazing food on the island. They give you generous serving and they obviously put effort into the food presentation.
Pro tip: Don’t forget to grab some of their ice cream.
Budget
Bohol is quite expensive compared to other provinces in the Philippines. Budget hotels are around $10-$12. While motorbike rentals can cost you $8-$10. Food costs depend on where you eat. Eating on small restos can be as much as $5 per meal. Depending on your activities, costs per day can range from $30 to $40. These costs can range immensely depending on your choice of travel, as Bohol offers something for everyone.
How to get around
You can go around the island on a motorcycle. It’s fast, cheap, and convenient. If you want to save money, work on your motorbiking skills before stepping on the island. In fact, motorbiking is a must-have ability if you want to go around South-East Asia. We have to emphasize Bohol here as public commute is quite expensive, strenuous and time-consuming. A tuk-tuk can cost double than renting a motorbike to take you around and sometimes unable to reach to some places due to distance.
If you’re not comfortable with motorbike, car rents are also accessible. Car rentals can cost around $30-$40 per day depending on make and model. This is also ideal if you travel as a group.
Travel Tips
- Cash is king. Entrance fees on tourists spots requires you to pay in cash and the preferred circulating currency is local.
- Wear light clothes. Weather is crazily humid and wearing light clothes can help uplift the unbearable humidity.
- Hone your motorbike skills. Motorbike is the most convenient way to travel around the island.
- Plot your destinations that make sense. Before starting your trip, try checking on your destination and the next destination nearest to it. Destinations might require you to cross from Panglao to the Main Island Bohol and vice versa.
- Prepare for long distance travels. For instance, if your trip starts in Alona and ends in Chocolate Hills, going back is a 2-hour drive (or about 80 KM). So prepare yourself for a long journey back.
- Bring raincoat. If you opt to go for a motorbike, bring a raincoat and water during rainy season as the weather gets sporadically changing in a day. Bring snacks as well.
Best time to go
The best time to travel to the island is during the dry season, December-May. This is when the Chocolate Hills gets its brown color. Dry season can also mean no spotty bad weather, so there’s a greater chance to enjoy the summer and sun. If you come during the rainy season, around June-November, this is where the climate gets bizarre. One morning you’re enjoying the heat and then in the afternoon, heavy rainfall comes. One time it’s humid and the next it’s a pity cold.