Bohol

A resort island just across the water from Cebu, with the Chocolate Hills, tarsiers and the white sands of Panglao; diving Balicasag's turtle wall and pairing it with Cebu is the classic trip.

Bohol lies in the Visayas in the central Philippines. It is the country's tenth-largest island, faces Cebu across the sea to the northwest, and its provincial capital is Tagbilaran. The island is known for both land and sea experiences: inland you'll find the Chocolate Hills, made up of more than a thousand conical grassy mounds, the tarsier, one of the world's smallest primates, bamboo raft cruises on the Loboc River and old stone churches from the Spanish colonial era. Panglao Island, linked by bridges at the southwestern tip, is the beach resort area, with hotels and restaurants concentrated along Alona Beach; boat trips go to Balicasag Island for turtles and coral walls, dolphin watching at dawn and strolls on the Virgin Island sandbar. A typical itinerary: Day 1 is the “countryside tour” by hired car, covering the tarsier sanctuary, Loboc River, Chocolate Hills and Baclayon Church, about 8 hours; Day 2 is “island hopping,” leaving at 6 a.m. for dolphins, then snorkeling at Balicasag and Virgin Island; spend the rest of your time diving or unwinding on Panglao. Seasons: December to May is the dry season, with Mar–May the sunniest and hottest and sea conditions at their best; Jun–Nov is the rainy season, and typhoons from July to December can disrupt boat trips. Getting there: Bohol–Panglao International Airport (opened in 2018) has flights from Manila, Cebu and some international routes; the fast ferry from Cebu to Tagbilaran takes about 2 hours. Getting around the island is mainly by hired car, tricycle and motorbike. Allow 4–5 days. Note: Chinese citizens need a visa to visit the Philippines (an e-visa is available); check the latest notices from the Philippine Embassy and Consulates in China. When viewing tarsiers, choose an official sanctuary, don't use flash and don't touch them; when snorkeling, use reef-safe sunscreen, and never stand on coral or touch the turtles.

Top sights

• Chocolate Hills – Over a thousand cone-shaped grass hills, 30 to 120 meters high, dot the landscape evenly. They turn brown in the dry season, making them on…
• Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary – Managed by the Philippine Tarsier Foundation, this sanctuary lets you get up close to palm-sized tarsiers with enormous eyes in a semi-wild…
• Alona Beach – A white-sand beach about 1.5 km long on the southwest coast of Panglao Island, home to dive shops, restaurants and hotels, and the base cam…
• Balicasag Island – A small coral island off Panglao's southwest coast. Sea turtles are abundant within the marine reserve, and its coral wall is one of the Ph…
• Loboc River Cruise – Ride a bamboo-raft floating restaurant up the emerald Loboc River, enjoying a buffet lunch while a local band sings.
• Virgin Island – A long white sandbar off Panglao Island that appears with the tide. With shallow, clear water, it's ideal for photos and wading.
• Baclayon Church – One of the Philippines' oldest stone churches, built of coral stone in the 18th century, with a religious museum inside.
• Hinagdanan Cave – A limestone cave on Panglao Island with a brackish underground lake lit by light from an opening in the roof. You can swim in the water.
• Blood Compact Shrine – A sculpture group commemorating the 1565 blood compact between a Spanish explorer and a Bohol chief. It's the first stop on most land tours.
• Loboc Church – An old stone church on the Loboc River, badly damaged in the 2013 earthquake and restored to reopen. It is a national cultural treasure.
• Bilar Man-Made Forest – A tunnel of tall mahogany trees lining both sides of the road, stretching about 2 km. It's a must-stop for photos on the land tour.
• Bohol Bee Farm – An organic farm restaurant on a cliff in Bohol, famous for its signature flower-petal salad, honey ice cream and homemade bread.
• Dumaluan Beach – A long white-sand beach in the southeast of Panglao Island. It is quieter and more open than Alona Beach, and good for wading and sunbathin…
• Pamilacan Island – A small island off Panglao, the main area for dolphin watching at dawn, with excellent snorkelling conditions over its surrounding coral re…
• Danao Adventure Park (E.A.T. Danao) – An extreme adventure park in a gorge, with “The Plunge” high swing, a high ropes zip line, kayaking and cave exploring.
• Panglao Church – A 19th-century coral-stone church in the centre of Panglao town, with a five-storey hexagonal bell tower that is one of the Philippines' ta…
• Dauis Church – A coral-stone church by the sea with an ancient well under the altar, known as the “miraculous spring.” It is a national cultural treasure.
• Punta Cruz Watchtower – A triangular stone coastal watchtower completed in 1796 to guard against pirates, with wide sea views from beside it.
• Cadapdapan Rice Terraces – Layered rice terraces in a valley in eastern Bohol, known as “Little Banaue.” Easily combined with a nearby waterfall in one day.
• Can-umantad Falls – The highest waterfall in Bohol, with a drop of about 60 metres, pouring from the rainforest below the rice terraces.
• Anda Beach – A quiet white-sand coastline at the eastern tip of Bohol with clear water and few visitors, dubbed a “mini Boracay.”
• Mag-Aso Falls – A two-tiered waterfall in Antequera town, with a cool pool for swimming. Its name means “smoking” for the mist that rises from the water.
• Sagbayan Peak – Another viewpoint on the north side of the Chocolate Hills, with wide views, fewer crowds than the main lookout, and small amusement facili…
• National Museum Bohol Area Museum – A free museum in Tagbilaran's former provincial capitol building, covering Bohol's geology, archaeology and folk culture.
• Napaling Reef – A snorkelling spot on the reef wall off the west coast of Panglao, where you can see a spectacular sardine run. Enter the water directly fr…
• Cabilao Island – A diving island off the northwest coast of Bohol, known for its coral reef walls and small marine life. It feels more natural than Panglao.
• Simply Butterflies Conservation Center – A butterfly ecology park in Bilar town, where guides lead visitors through the life cycle of butterflies and many native species.

Where to eat

• Bohol Bee Farm Restaurant – An organic farm restaurant on a seaside cliff, known for its flower salad and malunggay ice cream, and one of Bohol's m…
• Payag Restaurant (Main Branch) – A decades-old local grill restaurant in Bohol, famous for its Chicken Inato and affordable prices.
• Gerarda's Family Restaurant – A family restaurant in an old house in Tagbilaran, serving traditional Bohol dishes and seafood kare-kare at reasonable…
• Lantaw Native Restaurant – A local seafood restaurant by the sea in Tagbilaran, with views of the Panglao sunset and generous portions suited to f…
• Giuseppe Pizzeria & Sicilian Grill – A popular Italian restaurant in Tawala, Panglao, known for its stone-oven pizza and eggplant parmigiana.
• Shaka Panglao – A plant-based healthy restaurant near Alona Beach with a surf-shack style, known for its fruit bowls and smoothies.

Itineraries

• Philippines Island Highlights Loop – Starting from Manila, this two-week first-timer's route connects Coron, El Nido, Bohol, and South Cebu.
• South Cebu and Bohol Classic Route – A classic combination of Cebu Old Town, Moalboal, Kawasan Falls, Oslob, and a ferry crossing to Bohol.
• Central Visayas Island Hopping Slow Route – A backpacking island-hopping route heading south from Cebu, passing through Dumaguete, Apo Island, and Siquijor to Boho…