Chocolate Hills, tarsiers, and secret beaches—Bohol was a mix of surprises and fun at every turn. Curious how I explored this island paradise? Read my blog!

Disclaimer: All views expressed on this blog are my own based on my own experiences and do not represent of any entity with which I have been, are now or will be affiliated

Date of Trip: March 25-27

April 02,2022
Lipa, Batangas

There are picture- perfect locations in the Philippines that I’ve been dying to visit. I’m relieved that my pals were able to pull off the Bohol vacation.

Chocolate Hills, tarsiers (the smallest living primates), and historical landmarks can all be found on the island of Bohol in the Visayas region of the southern Philippines. Bohol has a wealth of cultural attractions, natural wonders, adventure opportunities, friendly inhabitants, delicious cuisine, and one of the best gin and tonics I’ve had for the price.

Bohol was devastated by typhoon Odette last December 2021- the strongest typhoon that hit this beautiful island. But, I did not see any devastation from people’s faces – everyone was all smiles. It’s an incredible resilience from the Boholanos. I was in awe of Bohol. If I’d describe Bohol in a sentence, it would be – I’d definitely go back next weekend! 🙂

Restrictions

Bohol is accepting leisure travelers provided that they follow the standard health protocol. No medical certificates, S-pass, RT-PCR test or vaccination card to be presented to some establishments or checkpoints. But I suggest to always bring your vaccination card and for your protection, have yourself vaccinated.

FLIGHT

We booked our flight to Cebu Pacific from NAIA International Airport in Manila to Panglao International Airport for Php2,700-00 with return flight.

ACCOMMODATION

We booked our hotel at Hennan Resort Alona Beach. It took us 15 minutes to get to Hennan from Panglao International airport. The only reason I stayed here was because of friends, if it were for me I’d go backpacking haha. So, Hennan is a 5-star hotel. It’s a luxury hotel that only costs Php4,000/each for 3 days and 2 nights stay with buffet breakfast everyday. I liked our tranquil stay here especially it’s just 1 minute away from the beach, outdoor pools which offered beach view and pool bar.

BUDGET

My budget for this trip is Php13,000 for 3 days and 2 night inclusive of meals and tours.

Food

Will have separate blog on food

GETTING AROUND

You can rent a motorcycle, car or just ride tricycle as you visit places.

CURRENCY

Philippine peso. There are a lot of ATMs in the area so if you ran out of cash, they are easily accessible.

LANGUAGE

Filipino and Filipino dialects ( Boholano) and English.

Day 1

We departed Manila at roughly 10:00 a.m. I was with Mark and Leng, as well as Mark’s mom and dad. Since we arrived at the airport ahead of schedule, we spent our time shopping for sunglasses and eating at Wendy’s. I was thrilled to be doing this trip with my pals.

The flight left around 1:20, and we got into Panglao Airport at around 3 o’clock. The airport staff did not request proof of vaccinations or an S-pass (travel pass) from us. The restrictions on your travel in Bohol seem to have been lifted.

To get to the Hennan hotel, we leased a van for Php500-00 (5 persons) for 15 minutes. We showered and then visited the little, white-sand Alona beach. Actress Alona Alegre inspired the name of Alona Beach. She was a well-liked actor in the community thanks to her endearing personality and helpful nature. Dining al fresco with a view of the ocean is available at a number of eateries in the area.

Although Alona Beach wasn’t my favorite island, I enjoyed my time there because of the laid-back atmosphere and delicious seafood. We drank after we got out of the water. Even while I really enjoy Pale Pilsen, the Philippine national beer, Bohol’s gin and tonic is among the greatest I’ve ever had, and I plan to highlight this fact in a future installment of Bohol Flavors.

Day 2

We woke up at 7 in the morning to have our coffee and breakfast. The 2nd day was all about exploring the city. We booked our private tour at Wow Bohol Travel and Tours which cost Php2,267 each. Leng did not join us because she already did the tour when she was in Bohol few months back. The tour was inclusive of Sandugo Site/Blood Compact, Baclayon Church, Tarsier Watching, Man made forest, Loboc River Cruise with lunch buffet, ATV and zipline and Chocolate Hills. Our tour guide’s name is Kuya Ronnie. The tour’s duration is about 8 hours.

Sandugo Site/Bohol Blood Compact Site

Located in Barangay Bool, Tagbilaran City, Bohol. It is 30-35 minutes away from Hennan. This site was made in honor of a very important event in the history of the Philippines between Miguel Lopez de Legazpi of Spain and Rajah Sikatuna of Bohol. It is considered as the First Treaty of Friendship between two different races, religions, cultures and civilizations. It’s friendship based on respect and equality. It was constructed by national Artist, Napoleon Abueva, a Boholano.

Unfortunately, it was closed when we went here but it’s still good to witness Bohol’s important part of history. I took a photo with sea view.

Baclayon Church

The Church of Immaculada Concepcion in Baclayon construction began in 1717 and is considered one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. It is until today with authentic construction materials. It was built by forced labor during Spanish era where the people dragged corals only using bamboo to lift and move the rocks in position.

It was once proposed for UNESCO World Heritage list but a 7.2 magnitude earthquake left the church collapsed in 2013. It took more than 4 years to restore this beautiful church but upon seeing it now, it’s still warm and inviting. It’s such a beauty.

Loboc Eco Adventure Park

We visited the Baclayon church and the Sandugo site and then went to Loboc Eco Adventure Park to ride the zip line. The travel time to Sandugo and Baclayon is only 15 minutes. The prospect of going on a zipline again is something that has piqued my interest on multiple occasions. This exciting journey appeals to me because I consider myself to be a thrill seeker who enjoys all forms of adrenaline-inducing activities in moderation. The whole cost of the event was 500 php. It was fantastic! The ride took us to a beautiful spot in Bohol, overlooking a river and verdant hills. Absolutely stunning! We went down the zipline together!

Loboc River Cruise

The Loboc River Cruise provides a tranquil view of the jade-colored crystal river. It is a river cruise in a motorized banca as Boholanos serenade you with their local and international tunes while you enjoy a sumptuous buffet lunch. I absolutely adored the experience. It was as if I had been transported to the Jurassic Park era, minus the dinosaurs, haha. The river’s majesty was so enchanting and breathtaking that I felt as if I had been transported back in time. “I love Bohol” is an extreme understatement!

Man-made forest

After enjoying the cruise, we headed over to a 2km stretch of mahogany trees. It is also commonly known as Bilar forest, located between the towns of Bilar and Loboc. I really enjoyed here, it’s relaxing. And of course, thanks to my friend who took cool photos of me with nature and the road! haha

Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary

We went to Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella, Bohol. It is a place dedicated to repopulate and save the lives of tarsier.

Bohol is famous to various animal species and one of the most popular would be the tarsier – one of the smallest primates on the planet. It has unique appearance – big eyes, long fingers and toes gripped in branches of trees. A fully-grown Tarsier is roughly 100 millimeters in height which can leap up to 5 meters. They are considered endangered species and very sensitive to light and sound.  

We also saw some butterflies in the sanctuary.

Chocolate Hills

Finally, the magnificent Chocolate Hills, which have been dubbed the eighth marvel of the world. I’ve always wanted to see these hills; I used to study them in high school, and ‘beautiful’ is not adequate to characterize their splendor. The grandeur of the hills cannot be captured on camera. It consists of 50 square kilometers of incredibly beautiful cone-shaped hills. When we arrived, the majority of the surrounding hills had a verdant appearance. During the dry months, the hills’ distinctive formation and abundant vegetation cause them to assume a chocolate brown color, hence the name Chocolate Hills.

To see the entire expanse of hills, we ascended more than 200 steps to a viewing platform with a 360-degree panorama of the hills’ peaks.

Embarking on an ATV adventure is another way to appreciate the magnificent view. Of course, we did both, and the ATV excursion brought the hills to life!

The ATV rental fee was Php1,000 for a one-hour excursion with a guide. The road leading to the hills is unpaved, and we had to climb three flights of bamboo stairs to see a panoramic view of the cones ascending above the plateau. This is among the finest views!

It was a Day 2 well spent! We arrived at the hotel at 6pm and had dinner and drink again. This is the best city tour I ever had!

Day 3

I was intoxicated but had no migraine from last night. Disclaimer: I’m not a heavy drinker, but I do get inebriated easily. And I needed to maximize my Bohol vacation. On our final day on this gorgeous island, we simply desired to unwind and took advantage of the hotel’s amenities. We immediately traveled to the cave that Leng had urged us to visit after breakfast.

We rented a motorcycle that cost Php250-00 per ride for 3 persons. The entrance is 50php and if you swim you will add another Php75 for a total of Php125-00/person.

Hinagdangan Cave

In Cebuano, Hinagdangan cave meant ladder. It is 2.5 kilometers from Dauis’s town center and 15 minutes from Panglao. A farmer discovered this grotto by accident while clearing his land and finding holes. Then, he dropped a stone and heard a splash. Intrigued, he constructed a ladder (hagdan) and discovered a beauty and entrance to the cave, hence the name Hinagdangan.

Descending the stairs felt like entering a spooky wormhole and emerging into a different world. Within the cave are stalagmite pinnacles and clear, deep, turquoise water. The water depth is 3 to 4 meters. I enjoyed swimming at this location.

After an hour in the cave, we returned to the hotel to enjoy the hotel’s amenities and eat more before our 4 p.m. flight. Our flight was one hour late. The fact that I was with my companions made the wait tolerable. We arrived in Manila at approximately 7 p.m.

Bohol is a good time no matter who you’re with. I can’t wait to go back and try out activities like dolphin viewing and island hopping. There are so many stunning sights in Bohol that a mere three days simply weren’t enough time to see them all.

Love,
Maria, sometimes Niskie