The Philippines has more than 7,000 islands and sometimes when you start organizing the trip it is somewhat difficult to decide which ones to choose. Although some destinations are very popular, such as El Nido, others go a little more unnoticed. Bohol is one of the most visited islands for its wide variety of activities to do, places to visit and plenty of accommodations to sleep in. Additionally, Bohol is one of the best islands to visit in the Philippines. In this post I tell you about the 15 essential things to see and do in Bohol, where to stay and how to get there.
15 MUST SEE AND DO IN BOHOL, PHILIPPINES
1. See the Chocolate Hills, one of the best things to do in Bohol
The landscape we find in the Chocolate Hills is unusual. It is a landscape with mounds, treeless hills that protrude from an immense lush jungle. The exact number of hills in total is unknown. Although it is estimated that there are almost 1,800 hills and they extend over an area of 50 square kilometers. They come in different sizes, between 20 and 120 meters high. The Chocolate Hills have been declared the third National Geological Monument of the Philippines.
Depending on the time of year you travel to the Philippines you will find an intense green landscape or a more brown landscape. Hence its popular name.
It is possible to visit the Chocolate Hills on your own. In the post how to visit the Chocolate Hills I explain what to see, how to get there and how to visit them on your own or with an organized excursion.
2. Dive among turtles and colorful fish in Bohol
Bohol is an island known for having an incredible seabed. The island has a coral reef that completely surrounds it and that was one of the main reasons why I added Bohol to my list of essential places to see in the Philippines. If you follow me on social networks, you may have already seen a lot of videos of me diving, and it is one of my great passions.
There are many organized diving trips in the area. If you don't have the title, you can even try your hand at diving in Bohol. And for those who don't dare to do so, there are many snorkelling outings. As soon as we started the boat, we saw several turtles and had the opportunity to bathe with them.
In Bohol there is also the possibility of seeing the whale shark. Although it is not as common as in other areas of the Philippines, this wonder swims through Bohol as it is part of its route.
In addition, Bohol also has a large community of dolphins that can be seen on some excursions.
3. Visit Hinagdanan Cave
In Bohol you will find this small cave that hides a lagoon inside. It is full of stalactites and stalagmites and has the advantage that sunlight filters through the ceiling of the cave. It is a very busy place on the island and if you travel during high season you are likely to find it full. The best time to visit is early in the morning when the tours that include the cave have not yet arrived. They have it quite prepared for tourism, 50 people enter in shifts every half hour.
4. Take a cruise on the Lobok River, an essential thing to do in Bohol
Taking a cruise along the Lobok River is a must-do activity in Bohol. Throughout the route you can enjoy a green landscape, between jungle and palm trees, full of birds. It is an opportunity to get to know the interior of Bohol. Typically, all of these cruises include buffet dining of Filipino food.
5. Meet the tarsier, one of the smallest primates in the world
The Tarsier is a fairly small primate that usually does not reach 10 cm in height and weighs around 120 grams. It is an endangered species and today, they can still be seen in the wild on some islands in the Philippines, including Bohol, Borneo, Sumatra and Sulawesi. The biggest problem for these primates is deforestation and massive palm cultivation, which has caused them to lose their natural habitat in much of Southeast Asia.
It is difficult to see this funny primate in the wild, but not impossible. In Bohol, if you dare to trek through the mountainous area, you can find it in the branches of the trees. If you find them, do not approach them, do not touch them, do not pick them up and above all do not feed them. Do not interfere with their natural habitat. Appreciate it from a distance, photograph it by zooming in and enjoy this wonder.
There is a sanctuary, Corella Sanctuary, located in Bohol. It is an enclosure where they are responsible for curing sick Tarsiers and helping them reproduce, and then releasing them into the wild.
If possible, avoid going to the Bilar Zoo. You can also see this beautiful primate there, but at the end of the day, it is a zoo to exhibit animals in captivity.
6. Cross Bohol's Bamboo Suspension Bridges
In the town of Sipatán you will find two twin bridges made of bamboo. These suspension bridges in ancient times were the only point of communication between both banks. Nowadays it is quite a touristy but interesting place to see in Bohol.
7. Throw yourself on an original zip line
In Bohol you will find the Danao Adventure Park. There are many activities you can do, although the star activity that has become famous thanks to social networks is a very long zip line with which you will fly over a canyon. You can jump down this superman-style zip line, although they also have a zip line that you can cross by bicycle.
8. Enjoy at the Danao Adventure Park
It is a recreational park located just 3 km from the Chocolate Hills visitor center. You can do several activities, including gymkhanas on rope bridges, a fun zip-line bike or rolling inside huge bubbles. You can also go down the river, kayak and many more activities. It is a fun and perfect park, especially if you are traveling with children.
9. Watching fireflies in Bohol
Firefly watching is one of the most magical things to do in Bohol. To do this, you must hire a boat trip with a guide who will take you to the places on the island with the highest probability of sightings.
It is somewhat difficult to capture it well with the camera, so I recommend that you put it aside and don't miss this wonder.
10. Alona beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in Bohol
There are many beautiful beaches in Bohol, but Alona is one of the best. It is a busy beach, with services, but at the same time quiet. It is long, with fine sand and crystal clear waters. Boats leave from here to visit the nearby islands and do island hopping, as well as small boats to watch dolphins and sea turtles.
11. Bohol Beaches
Besides Alona Beach, you have many more beaches to enjoy in Bohol. Some of the best are Doljo and Momo beach, although you have many more. To explore the island or the coastal road, a good option is to rent a car or motorcycle.
12. Go on a trip to the Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands are about a 20-minute boat ride from Alona Beach. It is an uninhabited island, with a beautiful beach, but in high season it is quite crowded.
13. Go on an excursion to the Pamilacan and Balicasag islands
If you have time to add an extra day to your trip to the Philippines, visiting these two islands from Bohol is a good opportunity to continue getting to know the wonders of the Philippines. Despite being a fairly popular tour, it is not so crowded on the virgin islands.
Pamilacan means “the resting place of blankets.” Its name comes from the number of manta rays that you will be able to see. Additionally, there is a wide variety of marine fauna, including dolphins and whale sharks. These islands are located about 45 minutes from Alona beach.
14. Take a dip in the Mag Aso Falls
In Bohol you can find several waterfalls that you can visit. In most of them you can take a bath in the natural pool of the waterfall. One of the best waterfalls in Bohol is the Mag Aso. Located half an hour from Tagbilaran. To access it you must climb 200 steps that go into the jungle. They are irregular steps, which are sometimes slippery due to rain and humidity, but it is worth the effort. It is a place less frequented by tourists in Bohol and many locals in their free time go to spend the day, enjoy the surroundings and have a picnic.
15. Walk through the Man Made Forest
The Man Made Forest is a forest located between the Chocolate Hills and Loboc. During the Second World War this area was deforested to carry out a form of cultivation called Kaigin. After the years, it was decided to reforest the area by planting thousands of mahogany trees, turning the area into this forest that we know today. There is a road of about 2 kilometers that crosses this beautiful forest. On both sides of the road you will find towering trees, perfectly arranged, making an arch above your head.
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I hope you enjoy your trip to the Philippines very much and that this article has been useful to you. You can continue reading many more related articles on the blog.
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A hug and see you soon!
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