I posted my trip to Bohol last holiday earlier, during the All Souls and All Saint’s Day. Now, I’m going to share with you what I experienced from this trip.

From Cebu City, I took the first trip of the Oceanjet which is 5:10 in the morning going to Tagbilaran City. Since it was a holiday, I already anticipated that the port from Cebu City will be full of tourists and passengers going to Bohol. So I booked my ticket online. The only thing happened that I wasn’t prepared for was paying for the terminal fee because I thought it came with the ticket I bought. So I have to fall in the very long line and it’s already boarding. (Struggle is real, to be honest.) But I got in just in time also for the ferry to leave. It took 2 hours or so traveling to Tagbilaran City from Cebu City. When I arrived, as I have mentioned also in my previous post, there were vans, taxis, and motorcycles lining up asking if you want to get a tour package with them. If you haven’t booked online they are also offering you these packages. Just beware of some overpricing. It is given that most people who go there are both foreign and local tourists so may this blog and all other blog help you as you do your research. Check the complete itinerary here.

Bohol is one of the provinces in the Philippines that is in Central Visayas. It is one of the places of cultural and historical heritage. And being able to go to this place and learn or relearn its history is of great delight for me. It makes me proud as a Filipino and to live in this country. With the help of my driver, who also somehow became a tour guide, I get to know a few facts also about Bohol which I never learned in school before (or maybe I wasn’t paying attention in class before, lol). He told me that the name Bohol was derived from the term “Boho or Bo-ol” which means holes. It is because Bohol has many holes from the marine limestone (or which they claim that is the reason). 

The most popular tourist spot in Bohol is the Chocolate Hills. It is the first on the list on my itinerary since it is the farthest. The Chocolate Hills is located in Carmen. I am in awe of how beautiful and perfect they are. They said that they were formed from the marine limestone on top of clay as the weather changes. The hills are green if it is a wet season and turns brown if it is dry, hence, the name. After the Chocolate Hills, my next stop is the Tarsier Conservation Area in Loboc. I don’t know much about their species but it is said that their kind is rare. When I saw them they were smaller than my palm. The conservation area is large but they only allowed some areas for the tourists to see. I think it is also best for the safety of the Tarsiers and tourists as well. They have souvenir shops where you can buy good stuff at a good price. 

Next stop is my personal favorite the  Bilar Man-made Forest. There is nothing else you can really do there because you can just pass it by the road and marvel how great they are. You can’t miss these perfectly stretched-out Mahogany trees when you are going to Loboc or Bilar. What amazes me the most is how the Bol-anons maintain them and how it brings a cool breeze despite the heat. You can just drop by there and have your picture taken. It is my personal favorite because it gives more nature-feels that you can remember when you leave Bohol. It’s very refreshing. The same kind of feeling when I had lunch at Loboc River Cruise. It took almost an hour for lunch since our boat was driven very slow than usual. This is my last getaway for this year. And having a break with nature is all I need. The vibe of the river cruise and the delicious food served at the floating restaurant is a total relaxing package. A country tour package, like what I did, can take you almost 5 hours or so. So if you want to do a lot in a day, you can visit or stay at Panglao island. They have a tour package for day trips only and also for island hopping. Panglao Island is accessible by van, taxi, and motorcycle rentals or riding a jeepney from Tagbilaran city. It takes 30 minutes if you are riding a van. One of the beauties in Panglao Island you shouldn’t really miss when you are visiting Bohol is the Hinagdanan Cave. You can swim or take a picture of the beautiful water there. Although that is all you can do, there is no trek to do or whatsoever. When the driver drops you at the entrance you can easily access it. There is also a tour guide who explains the cave’s history. And of course who doesn’t love the beach, right? In Panglao, you have a lot of options where to stay and just relax with the view of the beach. 

I visited the Dauis Beach Resort. It’s a public resort in Panglao and mostly crowded. It was low tide when I went there so you can’t do really much.

My last stop was at Bohol Bee Farm. I took a short Bee Tour for 30 minutes. They explained how they culture the bees and how they produce their kinds of honey sold in the market. They also sell plants and lectured a some about the kind of plants that has good benefits for your home especially the insects. 

Overall from this trip, I learned a lot and had a good relaxation at the same time. What I loved the most, as a first timer in Bohol aside from seeing the tourist spots and attractions, is their lifestyle. I don’t know what to expect first but the moment I stepped to their land I can already get the warmth and refreshing feeling that I’ve been looking for. Everything is environmentally friendly. And if you are a nature-lover or nature-seeker, you will surely love this place. The Bol-anon have preserved the God-given land that they are given. They are rich in their natural resources and made the most out of it. They support one another in protecting their home and resources. And I suggest when you go here, you also help their community as well. 😅 It is such a fulfilling thing to do and experience Bohol! I am in awe of its beauty and wonders. And I will definitely go back again here and discover more. I realized there is so much more to discover, the wonders of this country. As this will be my last trip for this year. I will make sure to add more local places to go next year on my list. I will also make a travel review if this year. Stay updated! 🙂