TheLoneRider
a seeker in search of Easter Eggs


Country > Philippines > Bohol > Panglao
Date > 2015 > Nov
Activity > Traveling

Traveling

Exploring Bohol Nov 28-30, 2015

Exploring Bohol

Location: Bohol (province), Philippines

Elusive Bohol
Next to Batanes (because of expensive air fare), Bohol is probably the most elusive destination for me in the Philippines. In my first attempt, I arrived late at the airport and the plane left without me. I even inherited a small piece of land in Bohol's rural section - but didn't bother to check it out. In the 2 years I stayed in Dumaguete with Bohol just a short boat ride away, I didn't pay a visit. Same thing with my many stays in Cebu. Bohol was simply off-limits to me.

During this stay in Cebu, it finally happened. Metz, together with the Qualfon crew, tagged me along for a long weekend road trip around Bohol that took us to the zipline of Danao, Chocolate Hills, the Tarsier sanctuary and the famous Alona Beach in Panglao.

Fiesta Eats in Tubigon
Upon arrival in Tubigon, a van awaited us and were taken to a staff's residence in Macaas where food lay before us from the fiesta that just took place. Macaas gave me a glimpse of rural life in a small town - simple, unpretentious and warm.

Danao Adventure Park
I only availed of the zipline spanning a valley with a river down below. But the whole adventure package of Danao includes a cable car ride, caving, river rides/trekking, off-road buggy ride, root climbing, rapelling and ultra-glide rides. It could be a whole day affair on its own, but we were soon on the road.

Exploring Bohol
ziplining at Danao Adventure Park

Alona Beach
It was dark when we arrived at Alona Beach in Panglao where we stayed at the quaint Citadel Alona Hotel. A walk around the area revealed how developed the place is. It looked like a mini-Boracay with all the array of shops, restos, hotels and bars. It is far more developed than Dumaguete.

Balicasag Island
We took a short pump boat trip to Balicasag Island. On a good day, dolphins could be seen swimming by - we didn't. Someone told me that in the 1970s, a marine biologist on snorkeling gear (I actually met him but didn't ask him to verify the story) was towed by a boat around the island. He said that he saw a Volkswagen (a name used for a Grouper as big as a Volkswagen) every 50 meters and that the entire time, it was raining fish! Well, our visit was not as mind-blowing as that. Instead, we were greeted with cras commercialization. I guy on a paddle boat offered to take us to the coral reef with snorkel gear for P400/head. When we asked him to take us to the island instead, he gave us a ridiculous figure and said it didn't include a return trip! Disgusted, we simply swam to the island with our vest.

Henann Hotel
Metz and I stopped by the most impressive hotel in the area - Henann, which looked like a 5-star hotel on a massive 6-hectare spread with the longest and widest beach front. Beer was P90 on the menu but with all its surcharge, you end up paying P110. We nursed our beer by the table on the white-sand beach. It is located at the end of the beach so it offered increased privacy with not too many people passing by.

Chocolate Hills
I thought the Chocolate Hills were only a few mounds of earth. I was wrong. It dominated a substantial part of the landscape with its familiar and odd shape. Of course you could stop along the road to view it, but the main vantage point is a developed tourism spot where you get to climb a flight of steps leading to the top of a hill and get a 360° view of the surrounding area. It was interesting, but once you see it, it's a 'been-there-than-that' episode.

Tarsier Conservation Area
The tarsier is interesting for a few reasons. It is one of the smallest primates and only endemic in the Philippines with the greatest concentration in Bohol. Its exceptionally large eyes are fixated to its skull, so they have to turn their heads (up to 180°) and not with their eyes in order to see things around them. With an affordable P60/pax entrance, it's worth a visit - but you don't really see much. They are housed in their natural habitat where you find them curled-up in sleep for the most part - they are nocturnal. There are about 7 sections where you see individual tarsiers in their territorial space. In the merchandising section, you see everything from tarsier headbands to tarsier key chains.

Anda de Boracay
For our 2nd night, we stayed at Anda de Boracay, a beach resort famous with the locals. The hotel structure was a bit eccentric with multiple stairs resembling an M. C. Escher illustration. The pool was an added plus. The beach front itself was long and wide.

Ending Thoughts
Bohol's tourist attractions were spread out and far apart. A lot of time was spent on the road. Chocolate Hills and the tarsier were both interesting, but seeing them once is enough. Alona Beach however, with its entire offering of diving, beach bumming, trendy hotels and bars, access to Balicasag Island, etc. is worth repeated visits. It is perhaps the one area that impressed me the most of Bohol.

Thank you Metz!!! This tour was just your office affair, but you tagged me along for a wonderful weekend getaway and made me feel at home with your crew.

--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
YOGA by Gigit Yoga by Gigit | Learn English Learn English | Travel like a Nomad Nomad Travel Buddy | Donation Bank Donation Bank for TheLoneRider



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More on Bohol:

Bohol Google Map

Google Map Bohol, Philippines

tourist attractions in Bohol tourist attractions
  • Danao Adventure Park in Bohol Danao Adventure Park - zip lining, cable car ride, caving, river rides/trekking, off-road buggy ride, root climbing, rappelling and ultra-glide rides
  • Alona Beach in Bohol Alona Beach - hub for tourists with hotels, resorts, restos, bars and dive shops
  • Chocolate Hills in Bohol Chocolate Hills - hills side-by-side shaped like giant Kisses chocolate
  • Tarsier in Bohol Tarsier - pocket-sized marsupia looking like a monkey
  • Balicasag Island in Bohol Balicasag Island - one of the best dive spots in the Philippines
  • Loboc River in Bohol Loboc River - river cruise on a boat
  • Anda Beach in Bohol Anda Beach - fine white sand beach with resorts, restos and cottages, 3 hours by bus from Tagbilaran
  • Cabagnow Cave Pool in Anda, Bohol Cabagnow Cave Pool - brackish water pool about 5ft deep inside a limestone opening on the ground, 8 feet deep, P50
  • Lamanok Island in Anda, Bohol Lamanok Island - walk on a 100m bamboo bridge on stilts to a resto area to take a boat tour to caves and nearly attractions, P300
  • Combento Cave Pool in Bohol Combento Cave Pool - cave pool with underwater cave system, P20
  • Can-umantad Falls in Candijay, Bohol Can-umantad Falls - long narrow drop until it hits a bulbous mound spreading it into a a curtain-like water canopy and down into a splash pool
  • Canawa Cold Spring in Candijay, Bohol Canawa Cold Spring - deep refreshing cold spring with developed pool area
  • Firefly Tour in Candijay, Bohol Firefly Tour - evening boat ride into the river to watch fireflies
hotels in Bohol hotel
  • Fox & The Firefly Cottages Fox & The Firefly Cottages - SUP paddle boarding, luxury riverside native cottages, mountain bike tours, SUP yoga
    Baranggay Valladolid, Loboc, Bohol
  • Bohol Tropics Resort Bohol Tropics Resort - seafront location, manicured surroundings, swimming pool, resto/bar
    0133 Graham Avenue, Brgy. Cogon, Tagbilaran, Bohol 6300
  • Oasis Resort - Alona Beach location, dive center, resto / bar
    Alona Beach, Panglao, Bohol
yoga in Bohol yoga
  • Jing Yoga - health & well being through yoga
    Jing Yoga The Courtyard - Airport Road fronting the church
    Jing Yoga Bohol Meditation and Yoga Center - 2nd Floor Lim Magtajas Bldg. CPG Avenue
Bohol Travel Info/Tips

Bohol FYI / Tips

  • the tourist area where most of the hotels, restaurants, ticket offices, tour operators are, is located within the Alona Beach area
  • the tourist attractions in Bohol are far apart and spread-out. It would be difficult to visit them all using public mass transit. Better hire a van (P3500/day) if in a big group, or rent a motorcycle (P400/day + gas)
  • Bohol relies on its tourism for revenue. As expected, everything they can capitalize on from tourism is extensively used and developed

Tagbilaran Port to Panglao

You can charter any tricycle from the port all the way to Panglao (~P300), but if you want to do it on the cheap,
  1. don't take the tricycles lined-up inside the port. Walk past the port gate and immediately outside, you'll see many tricycles. Take one to the bus terminal in Dao (~P15)
  2. in Dao, take the jeep that plies the Panglao route (~P20)

Tagbilaran (Bohol) to Cebu City by boat

** schedules and rates keep changing, call for latest schedule
  1. Weesam Express - departs 6:15 AM, 11:30 AM, 4:00 PM
    one way: Economy (aircon) P500.00, Economy (non-aircon) P400.00, First Class P600.00
    round trip promo (at least 2 days advance booking): Economy (aircon) P600, Economy(non-aircon) P500, First Class P1200
    round trip promo (1 day or on the day booking): Economy (aircon) P800, Economy (non-aircon) P700, First Class P1200
  2. Ocean Jet - departs 6-7:05-8:20-9:20-10:40-11:40AM, 1-2-3:30-4:20-5:30-6:30PM, 2 hours, arrives Pier 1 in Cebu
    Open Air / Tourist Class P800, Business Class P1000
    +63(32)255 7560 / +63 (32) 255 0115 / 0917 638 0000
  3. SuperCat (2GO) - departs 5:50-11AM, 3:45-5:25-8:15PM, arrives Pier 1 in Cebu
    P 500.00
    +63 32 233 7000

Things to do, Places to go in Bohol

  1. Chocolate Hills - this is a clustering of more than 1200 hills within a 50km2 area. They range in height from 30-50 meters. What's unusual is their near-perfect conical shape resembling an individual chocolate chip. No one knows how they were formed. Entrance is P50/pax.
  2. Tarsier Conservation Area - located Upper Bonbon, Loboc. The tarsiers are no longer being played at by tourists as circus props, but instead, visitors now view them in cordoned-off areas in their natural 6ha habitat. As they are territorial and nocturnal, they are predictable on where they can be viewed. P50/pax.
  3. Alona Beach (Panglao) - Alona Beach is the tourist hub of Bohol. It has 1.5 kms of white sand beach lined-up by bars, hotels and restos. Alona is also the jump-off point for Balicasag Island, a world class dive destination.
  4. Danao Adventure Park - located in Barangay Magtangtang, 72 kms (2 hours ride) from Tagbilaran. Adventure activities include river trekking, tyrolean traverse, rappelling, bouldering, rock climbing and ziplining.
Blogs
    Bohol blogs
    Bohol

    Bohol

    Anda ANDA

  1. Exploring Combento Cave Pool Jun 29, 2017
  2. Visiting Cabagnow Cave Pool Of Anda Jun 28, 2017
  3. Exploring Anda, Bohol Jun 25-30, 2017

  4. Candijay CANDIJAY

  5. Roadtrip from Candijay to Ubay Jul 1, 2017
  6. Firefly Tour In Candijay, Bohol Jun 30, 2017
  7. Freediving Canawa Cold Spring Of Candijay, Bohol Jun 30, 2017
  8. Splashing At Can-Umantad Falls, Candijay, Bohol Jun 30, 2017

  9. Carlos P. Garcia Island CARLOS P. GARCIA ISLAND

  10. Exploring Carlos P. Garcia (CPG) Island by Bike Dec 1, 2017

  11. Corella CORELLA

  12. Cycling to View the Tarsier in Corella Oct 26, 2017

  13. Dauis DAUIS

  14. Yoga Talk with BCBP Kids July 6, 2024
  15. Sikwate at Daday Painitan May 9, 2024
  16. Cliff Dive at Molave Cove Feb 11, 2018
  17. Freediving at Molave Point, Dauis Nov 6, 2017
  18. The Return to Hinagdanan Cave Nov 5, 2017
  19. Exploring Hinagdanan Cave Oct 24, 2017

  20. Loay LOAY

  21. The Ride to Morning Hill Oct 22, 2017
  22. The Ride to the Old Spanish Tower Oct 21, 2017

  23. Loboc LOBOC

  24. Yoga for Plus-sized Women May 24, 2024
  25. Bohol Yoga Festival April 20/21, 2024
  26. Goodbye Loboc, Goodbye Philippines Mar 15, 2018
  27. The CubbyHole: Envisioning a Utopian Shangrila Mar 10, 2018
  28. Fat Shredder with the Russian Twist Mar 2, 2018
  29. No-Dismount Climb to Cruz Daku Mar 1, 2018
  30. Jeffrey's Cardio Program Feb 26, 2018
  31. SUP Yoga with Lalah de Dios at Fox and the Firefly Feb 25, 2018
  32. Bike Ride with Juan Huerte: Loboc, Sikatuna, Corella and Baclayon Feb 25, 2018
  33. CT Scan Result Feb 23, 2018
  34. The Silent Killer has Arrived Feb 19-22, 2018
  35. 24+ Days at Lyn's Backpackers Inn Jan 23 - Feb 16, 2018
  36. All Day Fun with the Loboc Crew Feb 11, 2018
  37. 20-Minute Rope Skipping w/ Pranayama and Meditation Feb 9, 2018
  38. Calisthenics with Jeffrey Feb 7, 2018
  39. Abs-Core Workout with Jeffrey Feb 5, 2018
  40. High Intensity Cardio Workout Feb 2, 2018
  41. Ride to the Landslide with Jeffrey Jan 31, 2018
  42. Farm Tour with Mr. Raymond Cal Jan 29, 2018
  43. Cacao Drum Roasting Jan 27, 2018
  44. Making Sikwate: from cacao fruit to a hot dark chocolate drink Jan 25, 2018
  45. 5 Weeks at the Fox and Firefly Cottages Dec 13, 2017 - Jan 23, 2018
  46. In-House Yoga Teacher at the Fox and Firefly Cottages Jan 22-Mar 14, 2018
  47. Mountain Bike Rides from Tagbilaran to Loboc Jan 18, 2018
  48. Firefly Tour on a Stand-Up Paddle (SUP) Dec 19, 2017
  49. Playing Mountain Bike Tour Optimizer Dec 18, 2017
  50. Back to Loboc Dec 13-17, 2017
  51. 37 Days in Loboc - Thank You and Goodbye Oct 8-Nov 14, 2017
  52. Exploring Busay Falls, Loktob Spring And Jimili-An Spring Nov 11, 2017
  53. Stand-Up Paddle Yoga with Joan Christine Nov 3, 2017
  54. SUP (Stand Up Paddle) Bohol Oct 29, 2017
  55. Exploring Guimba and Sog-ong Caves of Loboc Oct 22, 2017
  56. Ziplining and Cable Car Ride at Eco-Tourism Adventure Park Oct 22, 2017
  57. Savouring Villagio Pizza Oct 19, 2017
  58. Wet and Wild Bonbon-Alegria Downhill Ride Oct 18, 2017
  59. River Cruise on Loboc River Oct 17, 2017
  60. Back Road Ride To Loay Oct 17, 2017
  61. Leisurely Ride to Loktob Spring Oct 14, 2017
  62. Sweet Ride to Busay Falls Oct 13, 2017
  63. Bike Climb to the Virgen de Guadalupe Oct 12, 2017
  64. The Ride to Cruz Daku (Big Cross) Oct 11, 2017
  65. Exploring Loboc, Bohol Oct 8, 2017

  66. Maribojoc MARIBOJOC

  67. Chilling-out at the Floating Cottage with the Tagbilaran Walkers October 11, 2024

  68. Panglao PANGLAO

  69. Kat's Birthday at Oceanica April 24, 2024
  70. Teaching 'Energising Yoga' at Jing Yoga & Wellness April 23-28, 2024
  71. Freediving in Panglao with Haka Dive Center April 23, 2024
  72. Coastal Cleanup with Plastic Free Bohol Sept 16, 2017
  73. Exploring Panglao Jun 12-18, 2017
  74. Yoga With Jing And Rai At Oasis Resort Jun 18, 2017
  75. Freediving With Ben Meerhaeghe At SeaQuest Dive Center Jun 16, 2017
  76. Scuba Diving Balicasag Island With SeaQuest Dive Center Jun 15, 2017
  77. Bohol Revisited Jun 12, 2017
  78. Exploring Bohol with Metz Nov 28-30, 2015

  79. San Miguel SAN MIGUEL

  80. Visiting Bayongan Lake Nov 22, 2017

  81. Sevilla SEVILLA

  82. Killer MTB Ride from Sevilla Oct 30, 2017

  83. Sikatuna SIKATUNA

  84. Solo Ride To The Sikatuna Tree Park Nov 2, 2017

  85. Tagbilaran TAGBILARAN

  86. Nov Food: Pizza, Smores November 2024
  87. November Snapshots: Garbage, Vote-Buying, Hair, Beach, Ants, Park, Tire, Banana-Q November 1-31, 2024
  88. Oct Chronicles: CPG Park, Bantawan Vendors October 2024
  89. Oct Snapshots: Ice cream, Epal, Globe Sim, Garbage
  90. 65 Years Old October 16, 2024
  91. September Snapshots: Christmas, Cute Jogger, Confidence, September 1-31, 2024
  92. Sunrise Yoga at Bantawan, Old Airport September 2024
  93. Thai Food for September? September 2024
  94. August Snapshots: Contol Tower, Archway, Blood Compact, Bridge, Laundry, Kape Huan, Drag Race, Boulevard August 1-31, 2024
  95. Aug Food Odyssey: Pizza, Sikwate, Puto Maya, Budbud August 2024
  96. She Sat Beside Me August 31, 2024
  97. Yoga at the Tagbilaran Airstrip August 2024
  98. DIY University August 31, 2024
  99. Property Mapping using Google Sites August 26, 2024
  100. July Snapshots: camping chair/lurker July 1-31, 2024
  101. Learning Cebuano: July July 1-31, 2024
  102. Kitchen Hacks: Wheat Loaf, Rosti, Pancit Canton, Pizza, Fruit Breakfast July 2024
  103. Movie Review: The Matrix (1999) July 15, 2024
  104. Yoga Talk Community July 14/28, 2024
  105. Mangaon ta sa Hangos July 9, 2024
  106. Bohol Gothic Wine Label July 5, 2024
  107. June Snapshots: Cake delivery, Free hanging June 1-30, 2024
  108. Kitchen Indulgence: Wheat Bread, Pizza, Lechon Sandwich, French Toast June 2024
  109. May Snapshots: Stairway to Heaven May 2024
  110. May 2024: Carinderia food May 2024
  111. Moving to Taloto, Tagbilaran City May 19, 2024
  112. Yoga for Grown ups May 27 - June 21, 2024
  113. Yoga and Meditation for Kids May 27 - June 20, 2024
  114. Dalareich Chocolate House Revisited May 4, 2024
  115. Kat's Community Invite Apr 28 - May 19, 2024
  116. 30 days in Tagbilaran, Thank You! Oct 8, 2017
  117. Breakfast Talk with Tagbilaran's Finest Oct 8, 2017
  118. Exploring the Cafe Scene of Tagbilaran Oct 7, 2017
  119. Yoga for 60+ Students at the University of Bohol Oct 4, 2017
  120. Chocolate Overload At Dalareich Chocolate House Oct 2, 2017
  121. Talk on Philosophy and Spirituality to 12-Graders at the University of Bohol Sep 27, 2017
  122. Celebrating the International Day of Peace Sep 23, 2017
  123. Judging a Student Debate at the University of Bohol Sept 15, 2017
  124. Fitness Workout with Chie at Bohol Tropics Resort Sept 13, 2017
  125. Modified Ashtanga Primary Series by Jing Yoga Sept 12, 2017
  126. Tagbilaran Revisited Sep 7-12, 2017
  127. Hello Tagbilaran! Jun 19-25, 2017

  128. Ubay Ubay

    2017

  129. Goodbye and Thank You, Ubay Nov 14-Dec 13, 2017
  130. Visiting the Ubay Stock Farm Dec 8, 2017
  131. Exploring Cambugsay Healing Hills with Lars Jensen Nov 22, 2017
  132. Visiting Ubay Green Park Nov 18, 2017
  133. The Ride to Sinandigan Boardwalk and the Yamashita Treasure Hunt Nov 18, 2017
  134. Ubay Life Nov 17, 2017
  135. In Search of the Next Destination Nov 14, 2017
  136. 2 Days in Ubay Jul 1-3, 2017
  137. Roadtrip from Candijay to Ubay Jul 1, 2017

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