The Complete Guide To Bohol – What To Do, Where To Stay + Budget
Bohol is a popular destination for travelers heading to the Philippines. It has probably one of the most popular tourist hotspots in the Philippines, the Chocolate Hills. Bohol was actually the most touristy island we went to during our Philippines trip. But that does not mean that Bohol would no be a great place to visit -not at all! This island really has a lot to offer. It is the Philippine’s tenth biggest island so you will find loads of things to do here! We have created the complete guide to Bohol, where you can find all you need to know about this island. We have gathered together what to do in Bohol, where to stay and a budget in one guide.
How to get there
Bohol is located next to Cebu. You can get there by boat from Cebu and the trip will take about 2 hours. You can choose to go either to Tagbilaran Pier or Tubigon Pier. If you are staying in Alona Beach, Tagbilaran is a closer choice. The ferry ticket will cost you 400-650 pesos. Bohol also has an international airport in Panglao Island.
If you come to Bohol from Southern Leyte (maybe you have decided to do some ethical whale shark swimming), just take the ferry to Ubay. From the pier, you can take a bus to Tagbilaran. This will cost you 150 pesos (they might charge another 150 for your bag if it is big). If you are staying in Panglao Island, as most people do, you can take a bus from Tagbilaran to Panglao Island. This costs only 40 pesos. A tricycle between and Panglao Island is about 350 pesos.
Where to stay in Bohol
Most people visiting Bohol choose to stay in Panglao Island near Alona beach. It can get a bit busy there, but you will have restaurants, bars, and shops located nearby. There is a lot of options for accommodation and you are close to the beaches too. Alona beach is quite far away from all the waterfalls and other places in the Bohol island, but we still thought it was a good spot to stay. We have picked a few places where to stay to help you choose your accommodation.
Where you will find us – HM&B Backpackers – This little hostel is located a 5-minute scooter drive or 20 minutes walk away from Alona beach. We found the location good, as it was quick to go grab dinner but still made a quiet spot to stay. The host of the hostel was absolutely lovely and you can easily rent a scooter from there for 450 pesos per day. The nice and clean place overall. Rooms from 17€.
Midrange – Nora’s Place – This place offers adults-only accommodation with everything you need. They also provide free bikes and it is located close to Alona Beach. Rooms from 53€.
Daydreaming – Malinawon Resort – If you feel a bit more luxurious, Malinawon Resort offers suites, is located close to Alona Beach and has a pool. Rooms from 127€.
Renting a scooter
We highly recommend you to start your visit here by renting a scooter. Bohol has a lot to do around the island so if you want to make the best of it, you will need some wheels under you. You will find multiple places where you can rent a scooter. We got ours from our hostel for 350 pesos per day. The price range seemed to be around 400-500 pesos per day.
What kind of budget?
Room rates vary depending on what kind of accommodation you are after. You can find some budget options and the prices will go higher the fancier the hotels get. Our room cost us 16,75 euros per night.
Like we said above, renting a scooter is highly recommended so you can properly explore the island. It will cost you about 450 pesos per day and a good optioin if your are traveling on a budget. If you are not comfortable driving a scooter yourself, there will be plenty of tricycles taking you where ever you want to go. This is will be pricier though.
There are a lot of restaurants of which to choose from, especially on Alona beach. Restaurant prices are usually from 180 pesos up, but if you are on a budget there are also cheaper options. Head to eateries where you can fill your stomach for 70 pesos. We recommend Andrea´s Mango Resto Hauz for some nice and cheap vegetarian food. You will find bakeries to buy buns from 5 pesos up and fruit stands to get cheap fruit. They are a good budget option for a breakfast or snack.
Laundry in Bohol will cost about 55 pesos per kilo when it is done in 24 hours. If you have time and you are on a budget, you can get it for 35 pesos per kilo if it is done in 3 days.
Filipinos really love their entrance fees. When you head off to explore the island, make sure to have enough small cash with you. The entrance fees to waterfalls and other places are usually around 20-50 pesos and in some places, you will have to pay 20 pesos for parking your scooter too. This money is used to maintain these places clean and beautiful and it does not add up much to your budget.
What to do in Bohol
As we said, there is a lot of things to do in Bohol and you won’t get bored. There is something for everyone, whether you are an adrenaline junky, a waterfall lover and someone who just likes to relax at the beach.
Go waterfall hunting
The Philippines has loads of beautiful waterfalls around the country and Bohol is no exception. You can find some pretty cool waterfalls from this island where you can chill and have a swim in the cool water.
We would recommend visiting at least Pahangog Falls and Ingkumham Falls because these two are definitely the best Falls on the island. The Falls are located only a 5-minute scooter drive from each other so you can’t visit one without visiting the other one too.
Pahangog Falls or Twin Falls is probably one of the prettiest spots on the island. You can find a bamboo bridge going over the pool and a picturesque twin waterfall behind it. You can swim in the pool and relax in the beautiful surroundings. If you want to hang out in one of the bamboo shelters, you will need to pay 50 pesos for using them.
Ingkumham Falls was our favorite Falls! This beautiful waterfall has a large pool that is surrounded by lush greens. But the very best thing here is the swing! Climb up the rocks and let the swing take you with a speed – so much fun! It is also possible to do some cliff jumping from the side of the pool if you dare. This is one big playground! When we visited here, there was a local guide showing how to safely use the swing and showing the best spot to jump into the pool. He told us that there have been quite a few accidents happening when tourists have been using the swing, so we got the impression that he was there to see that nothing happens.
Other beautiful waterfalls
There are also other waterfalls on the island. Camugao Falls and Kawasan Falls are also well worth a visit. Don’t be fooled by the name though, Kawasan Falls in Bohol is not the famous one you often see in photos. That one you will find in Cebu.
Not impressed with these waterfalls? You can also find a local who is willing to show you the hidden waterfalls of the island!
Visit the Chocolate Hills
You cant visit Bohol without seeing the famous Chocolate Hills. This peculiar landscape is really worth a visit as the view from the lookout is really unique. Chocolate Hills consists of over 12000 hills and it is not known for sure how they have formed. Chocolate Hills has gotten its name from the brown color that the hills turn into during dry season. The best time to visit here is sunrise or sunset. If you arrive during day time, prepare for a big amount of tourists.
Enjoy more of the inner island of Bohol
Like the ones already mentioned above, there are many things to do on the inner island of Bohol!
Make sure to drive through the Bilar Man-Made Forest. This area of tightly planted mahogany trees is really impressive and a cool spot to visit. There are no proper parking areas, so you will see people parking on the side of the road. If you want to snap a photo, be careful because the visibility is not very good as the road is winding.
A great way to enjoy the island is to take a river cruise at the Lobos River with a buffet dinner included. If you don’t feel like going on a cruise, or you are on a tight budget go to Twin Hanging Bridge and enjoy the walk over the river! The bridge is actually really pretty, but remember that you have to pay an entrance of 50 pesos.
Tarsier Sanctuary
Another thing you can find on inland is a Tarsier Sanctuary. Tarsiers are worlds smallest primates. These creatures are extremely cute with their huge eyes. But they are also extremely endangered and are in a threat of extinction. Tarsiers are very sensitive animals and they get easily stressed about sounds and lights.
There are two places where you can see Tarsiers, Philippine Tarsier Foundation in Corella and Tarsier Conservation Area in Loboc. A local told us that the Philippine Tarsier Foundation is a better place to go see them. We also had read that in Tarsier Conservation Area tarsiers are not treated well enough and that they are merely held there just to attract tourist. We do not know all the facts behind this, but we recommend that if there is ever any place that is associated with anything sketchy regarding animal welfare, do not go there.
In the end, we chose not to go see these little animals, but we know most people do go. If you wish to see Tarsiers during your Bohol trip, we would recommend choosing the Philippine Tarsier Foundation that is located in Corella. It is a non-profit organization that is supported by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Explore Panglao Island
You don’t have to go far from Panglao Island to find cool spots! Hinagdanan Cave is located on the West side of the island and it is definitely worth a visit. You will need to pay 50 pesos entrance and if you wish to swim in the pool, it is 80 pesos. You walk stairs down to the cave and will be rewarded with an amazing cave with beautiful rock formations and a clear pool in the middle. Have a dip in the cool water or just admire the impressive shapes of the cave.
If you are an adrenaline junkie, make sure to head to Mojave Cliff Diving Resort for some cliff jumping! There is also a chance to see sardine balls in the same place, just like the ones in Moalboal.
And last but not least, beaches! Even though we spent most of the time driving our scooter around the island, we know there is quite a few decent beaches on the island. So if you are after a chill beach day, head to Alona Beach or Dumaluan Beach.
Take a boat trip
If your budget holds, Bohol is a good place to do some boat trips. There are many island hopping tours organized and hopefully, you will get a sight of amazing marine life here! Remember to protect coral reefs by using reef-safe sunscreen.
VIEW POST: Why Use Reef-Safe Sunscreen
We ask you please do not go on a whale shark swimming tour in Oslob! The whale shark encounters are known to be a very unethical in Oslob. Whale sharks are fed in Oslob, which is harmful to them and disturbs their natural migration. Marks of abuse have also been seen in whale sharks as people have gone and touched them. There is also a huge amount of people trying to see these animals and this can be very stressful for the whale sharks. We were told by two travelers who went scuba diving with whale sharks in Oslob that it was full chaos in there. Please never support unethical animal encounters.
If you wish to see these majestic animals, keep your eyes open as we will be posting about ethical shark swimming soon!
