What to do in Bohol & tourist spots

Bohol the Island in the south of the Philippines is one of the top attractions in the country. Some of it’s more touristy sisters such as Palawan and Boracay might get more publicity, but Bohol still has a lot to offer to the many tourist that want to scape the big crowds and still enjoy the beautiful scenery in the island.

How to get to Bohol

The easiest way to get to the island of Bohol is to get on a Ferrry from Cebu City. If you arrive to Manila you can find plenty of economy flights to Cebu City, we used a cheap flight from Cebu Pacific. Once in Cebu we went to the Pier #1 and there a plenty of Ferry Companies offering the transfer to Bohol, we used Lite Ferry  for our transfer to Tubigon.

The two main options to arrive in Bohol are the ports of Tubigon and Tagbilaran which is the larger city. Most people tend to travel to Tagbilaran as it is the closer port to Alona Beach, but if you want to save some money it might be wiser to get to Tubigon as we did. We paid $230 Pesos one-way for the ferry from Cebu to Tubigon.

Where to Stay

There are many different places where you can stay in Bohol. Alona beach is by far the most frequented by tourist, but the island has so much to offer that if you have a couple of days to spend in Bohol you could divide your time between different parts of the island.

You can stay anywhere close to Tubigon or Loboc if you want to be closer to the famous Chocolate Hills so you can explore that part of the island and have a relaxed time by the river.

Alona Beach is definitely worth checking out with it’s lively beachfront scene and beautiful beaches.

If you want more secluded beaches without the tourist opt in for Anda Beach on the East coast of the island.

Bohol Tourist Spots

One of the best things about Bohol is that it offers tourist not only pristine clear water beaches, but also mountain ranges and many other things in between.

Here are some of the best things to do in Bohol:

Visit the Famous Chocolate Hills

The Unusual shaped Chocolate Hills attract many tourists to the island of Bohol. Their perfect round top shape makes them a very unique sight. You can schedule an island tour that takes you to most of the tourist spots, or if you are a little more adventurous like us you can rent a motorbike and see the beautiful roads in the way to the Chocolate Hills.

The most famous view is on the Chocolate Hills Monument close to the town of Carmen, but you can also check out Sagbayan Peak for another view of the beautiful mountain Range.

Tarsiers 

This cute little animals are worth of your time. Sadly this endangered species that has been mistreated for hundreds of years are in verge of extinction. Make sure you visit a well-kept sanctuary where they are not caged. Getting to see this little big eyed animals was definitely a nice attraction.

Alona Beach & Scuba Diving

Alona Beach is by far the biggest tourist destination in Bohol. It offers clear waters and many different resorts for all budgets. Since there are many different small islands near Bohol, Alona Beach has become a famous diving spot in the Philippines because of all the reefs and islands with beautiful waters for diving.

Dolphin Watching and Snorkeling with Whale Sharks

From Alona Beach many activities can be booked. Some of the most famous ones are the Dolphin Watching and Snorkeling with the Whale Sharks. For about $10-$15 USD you can charter a private boat very early in the morning around 5:30am to go see dolphins play around in their natural habitat. For about $20-$30 USD you can get in a tour group to go snorkeling with the great whale sharks. We passed on this one as we have heard very missed reviews, some people say it was great, many people are opposing the practice as they are saying that the whales are getting used to the feeding therefore messing with their natural migration patterns.

Loboc River

The Loboc River has offers tourist a great way to explore the countryside of Bohol while on a Buffet Style floating restaurant. For the price of around $10 USD (as of 2015) you can get on a Floating Restaurant to explore the small towns in Bohol.

Man-made Forest of Bilar

If you decide to rent out a motorbike, make sure you pass through this beautiful man-made forest in Bohol. The curvy roads and perfect planted trees make it for a very special road and great photography.