The Pinoy Traveller: Bohol Island

Chocolate Hills

I've been to this place twice already and will be back sometime again this year.
Bohol is an Island off Cebu Island. you can reach Bohol via plane from Manila or
via fast craft from Cebu City port. Planes servicing Tagbilaran Airport are Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, & Air Philippines. Normal Flight would take an average of 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Meanwhile a fast craft from Cebu City would be more or less 3-4 hours depending on the weather.

This place is really awesome aside from being tourist friendly and very organized, they lots to offer. They have the famous Bohol Chocolate hills (terrific during summer-between February to June), the oldest church in the Philippines? (Baclayon Church), who would forget the Tarsier of course, the ever famous Panglao Island, and now the eco adventure park in Danao Municipality. Note that I did not mention the Loboc River cruise because honestly I would not recommend it (tried it and it never impressed me). Unless I'm really starving and Loboc is the only option I have.

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How to get here
*Plane from NAIA terminal 2 if via Philippine Airlines
NAIA Terminal 3 for Cebu Pacific & Air Philippines

*Boat - http://www.bohol.ph/article108.html

*Fast Craft - From Cebu City or Dumaguete City

Supercat services to and from Bohol - Daily
Travel time is around 1 hour 45 minutes
From Tagbilaran to Cebu: 10:00, 14:00 and 18:00 (Daily)
From Cebu to Tagbilaran 08:00, 12:00 and 16:00 (Daily)

Ocean Jet - Daily Services
From Cebu to Tagbilaran: 6:00, 9:30, 14:00, 18:20 (Daily)
From Tagbilaran to Cebu: 7:15, 11:50, 16:20, 17:30 (Daily)
From Dumaguete to Tagbilaran: 14:20 (Daily)
From Tagbilaran to Dumaguete: 8:00 (Daily)
From Dumaguete to Tagbilaran: 14:20 (Daily)
From Tagbilaran to Dapitan: 8:00 (Daily)
From Dapitan to Tagbilaran: 12:20 (Daily)

Weesamexpress
see website for details

Getting Around
You can rent a car/van from the airport or jetty port; don't waste our time haggling for the price. This place is well organized and monitored by the government and tourism department, all prices posted for transportation are for the benefit of the tourist. They value tourism here.

Van/Car Rental: +639266729020(ayie) we used his cars for the tours and he charges cheap.

Recommended Itinerary
Day 1
Country side tour includes
Chocolate Hills
Butterfly Farm
Baclayon Church
Loboc River Cruise --I won't recommend eating here or doing this activity
Tarsier Conservatory

Day 2
Danao Eco Adventure Park --this is not for the faint hearted

Day 3
Island hop Virgin Island, Balicasag Island, Panglao Island

Danao Eco Adventure Park

Where to stay
You can either choose to stay at the city of Tagbilaran or Panglao Island. I did both and I have no complaints. In Tagbilaran we stayed at Bohol Tropics and at Panglao Island we stayed at Hayahay Beach Resort. But I still would recommend you stay at Alona Beach at Panglao Island. Why? because who doesn't want to stay at a paradise beach resort?
Panglao Island is a small version of Boracay Island, not that populous but the same amount of fun. Most of the people you'll see here are european divers, and most of the hotels here offers diving.

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What to do

Island hop--please do try this, you can also opt to do dolphin watching.

once in Balicasag Island, never to refuse an offer of snorkeling, for Php 150.00 you'll be amazed how awesome their corals and fishes around. They did a very good job in preserving their waters.

Also ask the boatman to do a side trip to Virgin Island. That island is one of the best and cleanest (that's according to my opinion). Didn't try eating the sea urchins though and never regretted until now.

If you're a scuba diver, you can do diving here in this island. You can't miss the shops, it's practically all over Alona Beach.

But if you're not a diver you can check out the Bee Farm and tried eating all sorts of food they have that's all related to either honey or bee.

COST
Country Side tour --van Php 3,500.00 (8 person capacity) 8 hours only pick up from airport or jetty port.
car Php 2,500.00 (4 person capacity)
Island Hop-- 1,500 for a 10 person capacity motorized boat
snorkeling -- 150.00

Chocolate Hills -- Php 25 for adult & Php 10 for children