Things to do in Bohol: 10 best plans for your visit

Bohol, thanks to how easy it is to get there and to the huge variety of things to do in Bohol that it offers, usually features in many itineraries for a trip around the Philippines. The country’s tenth-largest island is waiting for you with beautiful beaches, lively nightlife areas, spectacular waterfalls, native wildlife and the famous Chocolate Hills, those small, bonbon-shaped hills that turn chocolate-coloured when they are “toasted” by the sun. But Bohol is much more than all that and, thanks to our numerous visits to the island since 2010, we’re going to tell you everything it has to offer: the best things to do in Bohol, from the most basic ones to alternative plans you probably hadn’t even heard of.

By the way, in this case we recommend that you read the following sections of the guide carefully. In most of the Filipino destinations we suggest, it’s pretty clear how to visit the area and where to stay, but Bohol is a bit different because it’s so big. That’s why we place special emphasis on the different bases and ways of travelling around the island.

How many days to stay in Bohol and where to base yourself

Let us confess something: we’ve been to Bohol a bunch of times. And why? Because although you always hear the same places to see on the island everywhere (tarsiers, Chocolate Hills, Alona…), Bohol has so much more to offer if you dare to get off the beaten track. It’s such a varied destination that it has something for every taste.

So, if you want to see the basic tourist places in Bohol, our advice is to dedicate at least 3 days of your trip to the Philippines to it. These seem to us the minimum number of days (we hope you can stay longer) and you could split them up like this:

• 1 full day riding a motorbike or driving a car around the main places to visit in Bohol (Chocolate Hills, tarsiers, Man-Made Forest, Loboc River, zipline, Sipatan Bridge and a waterfall such as Pangas Falls).
• 1 day of snorkelling or diving in Balicasag and then spending a relaxing afternoon on the beaches of Panglao (especially Dumaluan Beach).
• 1 day discovering all the things to do on little Panglao (Hinagdanan Cave, snorkelling in Napaling, beach time…).

If you’re really short on time, you could reduce your stay on the island to a couple of full days, in which case we’d do the activities we mention in the first two points. With this you’d have a small overview of the basic things to see in Bohol.

Where should you stay in that case? Your base for visiting these places can be either Panglao Island or the small town of Loboc. The most convenient and what we recommend is staying in Panglao, so that the logistics of getting to Balicasag are easier and because you’ll have a greater variety of hotels and restaurants, as well as being closer to the airport. We tell you much more in our article about the Best hotels to stay in Bohol.

More days to visit Bohol

If you want to explore the island even more – which we highly recommend – and you have more time, the best thing is to split your stay into 2 or 3 areas. One idea for visiting Bohol in depth would be:

• 2 days in Loboc: from here you can see plenty of waterfalls, fully enjoy the Chocolate Hills, go kayaking on the Loboc River… If you’re looking to complement your trip to the Philippines with a more “jungle” experience, staying in a little cabin by the river is a real highlight. We usually stay here and we recommend it 1000%.
• 2 days in Panglao: diving, discovering spots such as Pamilacan, lazing on the beaches at your leisure…
• 2 days in Anda: our favourite area in Bohol will win you over with its cenotes, beaches, rice fields and waterfalls with hardly any tourists.

This second alternative is the one we always recommend so that you don’t leave with the feeling that Bohol is an overly touristy island. Alona Beach is a hub for mainly Chinese or Korean tourism, but Bohol is a huge island full of little corners that hardly anyone visits.

An intermediate option for seeing Bohol

If you don’t want to spend just 2 or 3 days, but you don’t want to give it 6 either, another idea would be to spend 2 nights in Panglao and 3 (or just 2) in Anda (or vice versa) passing through the whole Loboc and Chocolate Hills area.

In that case, as the ride on the motorbike is brutal (we’re talking about 3 hours there and 3 hours back), we recommend doing it in a car with a driver. If you like, we can give you the contact details of our trusted driver, who is really friendly.

In any case, the best thing is to sit down with the map in front of you so you can plan your route optimally based on what you want to do. For that, at the end of this list of things to do in Bohol you’ll find our map, with all the points of interest marked.

How to visit Bohol

Now that you already have a rough planning of how you could spread out your days and, further down, we’ll go into detail about all the things to do in Bohol, you’re probably wondering how you can get around the island. Basically there are 6 ways to visit Bohol:

• With a rental motorbike: prices are around 350–400 pesos per day. Most of Bohol’s roads are well paved, but don’t rent a motorbike unless you have experience riding one and a valid licence in the Philippines and, above all, drive very carefully. Accidents aren’t rare and usually happen because a person or animal appears out of nowhere. In our article Driving and renting a motorbike in the Philippines you’ll find more information. You can do a 1-day road trip through inland Bohol that visits the main points of interest (Chocolate Hills, the tarsier sanctuary in Corella, Man-Made Forest, the Loboc River and the zipline) and one or two waterfalls (such as Pangas Falls) on your motorbike, but bear in mind that, although we’ve done it loads of times, from Panglao (which is usually the most common starting point) it will take you almost a couple of hours to reach the Chocolate Hills. From Loboc it’ll take you a little over an hour. Of course, you can also rent a motorbike to explore other parts of Bohol or the beaches of Panglao.
• On a tour with an English-speaking guide: if you’re comfortable with English, this tour works out cheaper if you’re travelling as a couple or solo. It’s sold online by both Civitatis and KLOOK, its twin in Southeast Asia, and is totally trustworthy. This is what’s known as the “Countryside Tour”. Book here, here (the cheaper option) or here.
• Hiring a car with a driver: if there are several of you or you’re not very confident on a motorbike, this is an option worth considering. You can also hire a car with a driver. You’ll easily find one in Alona by asking at the agencies (prices are around 2,500–3,000 pesos per day) or, to save yourself another hassle, you can book it through the online agency KLOOK (the biggest in the Philippines) here. We can also give you a contact ourselves if you leave us a comment. If you’re staying in Loboc, you can also hire a tricycle driver, as the route is shorter.
• Renting a car: you can drive yourself by picking it up at Panglao airport. You can find good car rental deals here.
• By public transport: this is the option we recommend the least for day trips, especially if you’re staying in the Alona Beach area. Although there are buses, jeepneys, tricycles or habal habal (a motorbike with driver) that cover different parts of the island, the truth is that you’ll have to invest a huge amount of time. We only recommend it if you’re staying in Loboc and want to see nearby spots or if you’re sleeping in Panglao and just want to move around the island itself.

Rice fields of Candijay or Cadapdapan

What to see and the best things to do in Bohol to enjoy the island 100%

After breaking the island down a bit for you and explaining how you can visit it, let’s get into the details and talk about the different activities you can do in Bohol. First we’ll talk about the most classic ones and at the end you’ll find some lesser-known suggestions.

1. Get to know the Chocolate Hills, the chocolate hills

The Chocolate Hills of Bohol are one of the main tourist attractions and a true icon of the island. There are thousands of small hills (it’s estimated that there are between 1,200 and 1,700) spread over about 50 square kilometres. Although most measure between 30 and 50 metres, some even reach over 100 metres high. Their main peculiarities are their colour and their shape. With a bonbon-like outline and a chocolate colour in the dry season, the Chocolate Hills really do look like an endless field of sweets.

Entrance to the Chocolate Hill Complex costs 100 pesos and gives you access (by shuttle) to a viewpoint that offers incredible panoramic views of the surrounding hills. This is the most common way to visit the Chocolate Hills, but more and more travellers are choosing to discover this National Monument on buggy or quad tours or on their own motorbike (which is something we highly recommend). In our article Visiting the Chocolate Hills we tell you all the details, including an alternative, less crowded viewpoint, as well as the stories and legends behind this must-see when you visit Bohol.

⭐ We explain how to combine a visit to the Chocolate Hills with more inland activities in Things to do in Loboc, as it’s on the way.

2. Say hello (without disturbing them) to the tarsiers, the smallest primate in the world

Leaving aside the great biodiversity you’ll find underwater in the country, the tarsier is probably the most emblematic animal in the Philippines. This tiny animal, which can even fit in the palm of your hand, lives in the forests of Bohol. In addition to being very small, the tarsier is extremely fragile and it’s very easy to harm or stress it. It’s such a fearful primate that, when it suffers high peaks of stress, it can even suffocate or self-harm to the point of dying. Since 1996 and, above all, in recent years with the boom in tourism that has put the tarsier on the list of things to see in Bohol, the Philippine Tarsier Foundation has worked to protect it and raise awareness of its critical situation.

As you travel around Bohol, whether on your own or on one of the many tours available, you’ll see that there are different places where you can see tarsiers up close. We only recommend the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella, which is run by the foundation itself. In many of the others there have been reports of irresponsible tourism or poor conditions, and you only have to see the number of cars and huge buses at the entrance to realise that they’re far from peaceful places.

It’s important for you to know that these animals are mainly nocturnal. Therefore, it’s likely that when you go to see them you’ll find them clinging to a branch asleep or staring at you, scared by the sound of your footsteps. Try not to disturb them and let them rest in peace. We ask you, please, if the guide makes any noise to wake them up, ask them not to do so. The entrance fee is 150 pesos.

If you look on the map, the Corella sanctuary is in the heart of Bohol. That’s why it’s a good idea to include it on your route between Loboc and the Chocolate Hills.

3. Take a cruise on the Loboc River

If you’re looking for a relaxing plan that lets you get to know Bohol in a different way, you might be interested in the Loboc River cruise. Although we don’t consider it an essential thing to do in Bohol, lots of people love it and we think it’s a nice, pleasant experience. It’s also one of the most famous activities on the island.

This boat trip will take you up the Loboc River to a waterfall while you enjoy a hearty buffet lunch and live music among the palm trees, and then back to the starting point. It’s quite a touristy thing, especially among Filipino travellers, but it’s a good way to eat while enjoying a very lush landscape. The price for the boat trip and buffet is 850 pesos (children pay less).

Many travellers choose to do other activities on the Loboc River such as kayaking or paddle board/SUP, which are quieter and less touristy alternatives than the boat. You also have the option of visiting it in a small boat, which lasts around an hour and a half (we can give you a contact for this). If you decide to stay after sunset, you’ll also have the chance to see the fireflies on the Loboc River.

Also, as we explain in the article about where to stay in Bohol, Loboc is a great inland base on the island for spending at least a couple of nights doing activities like these:

Paddle board on the Loboc River

Bike ride around Loboc’s countryside

By the way, although it was badly damaged by the earthquake that struck Bohol, take a look at Loboc Church. This church was built with coral by the Jesuits in the 18th century.

4. Make a stop at the Man-Made Forest

If you go from Alona Beach to the Chocolate Hills, the road will take you through another of the must-see places in Bohol: the Man-Made Forest.

The history of this place goes back to the Second World War, when mass deforestation took place as a result of the farming system known as kaingin. Years later, a reforestation plan was launched that involved planting thousands of mahogany trees in this area. Now, the more than 2 kilometres of road surrounded by vegetation have become an almost obligatory stop for everyone who travels this road. The orderly layout of the trees, their density, colours and the arch they form over visitors give the place a magical, very photogenic feel that you really shouldn’t miss.

⚠️ Be careful when you stop to take photos here because it’s still a road. People usually drive carefully because they know about it, but it doesn’t hurt to remind you.

5. Go wild at Loboc Eco Tourism Adventure Park

If you love adventure and want to see the Loboc River from an even more privileged angle than from the boat, maybe Bohol’s famous zipline is what you’re looking for. Very close to the town of Loboc you’ll find the Loboc Eco Tourism Park, where, if you dare, a huge zipline of more than 500 metres in length is waiting to make you fly over the river. If you suffer from vertigo you’ll have to think twice, as it’s 115 metres high!

The price for riding the zipline “there and back” is 500 pesos. There’s also a kind of cable car that can carry up to 5 people and crosses over the river for 250 pesos. Do you dare?

By the way, if you like this kind of adventure activity, near the Chocolate Hills you’ll also find the Chocolate Hills Adventure Park (CHAP), where you can ride a zipline on a bike while you look out over this natural monument. There are also several other adventure activities. It works out slightly cheaper if you book with KLOOK here.

6. Enjoy the atmosphere at Alona Beach

The vast majority of travellers choose the Alona Beach area as their base for exploring Bohol. This beach area isn’t actually on Bohol itself, but on a small neighbouring island accessed via a couple of bridges, Panglao. This is the most touristy area in the whole Panglao–Bohol area.

Alona Beach isn’t the best beach on the island (we’ll talk about them later on), but it’s a place where you’ll find lots of accommodation, restaurants and dive centres from which you can head out on amazing dives such as at the Balicasag Marine Sanctuary and many others on the reef right in front.

You can read much more in Diving in Panglao or Dive course in Bohol, but we can already tell you that, for us, Bohol is one of the best places to learn to dive thanks to its calm waters. Why? Because of what you see from minute one and, above all, because of the very high quality of the dive centres (we can recommend the best ones).

When night falls, all the bars and restaurants on the beach drag their terraces out onto the sand and you can enjoy live music and fire shows while you have dinner. So Alona, although touristy, is a great place if you want to have a quiet dinner on the beach or a few beers by the sea.

7. Dive in Balicasag… or go snorkelling, an essential thing to do in Bohol

One of the star attractions of this destination is diving in Balicasag. This small island near Panglao enjoys worldwide fame and attracts thousands of lovers of the underwater world every year. The variety of marine life, its beautiful corals, the great visibility and the pleasant sea temperature act as a daily magnet for both diving and snorkelling. It’s perhaps the many turtles that have catapulted it into being one of the unmissable things to do in Bohol for many travellers. Nobody who has plunged into these waters has come out disappointed, as it is simply spectacular. For us, Balicasag is one of the best places for snorkelling in the Philippines.

As it is also one of the best diving spots in the Philippines (and one of our favourites), the authorities have had to put regulations in place to protect the area and, nowadays, there is a maximum quota of divers. In our articles on Diving in Balicasag, Snorkelling trip to Balicasag and Things to do in Panglao you’ll find more details about this excursion.

In addition, the reefs around Panglao and Pamilacan (an island relatively close to Bohol and Panglao) also offer top-notch opportunities for diving and snorkelling. If you’re passionate about underwater life, don’t miss them!

⭐ Read all about diving in Panglao and snorkelling in Bohol and Panglao here.

On the other hand, if you like snorkelling and you’re not planning to visit Moalboal, make sure you don’t miss swimming with the sardine run in Napaling. On the north of Panglao Island, just a few metres from the shore, this huge school of fish is waiting for you. The experience is really worth it. If you bring your own snorkelling gear, the experience will cost you 130 pesos (100 pesos for entry to Molave Cliff Resort, from where you can access the water, and 30 pesos in environmental fees).

As it is still nature, it’s a good idea to ask at the entrance whether the sardines are being seen at that moment or not so you don’t end up disappointed.

8. Relax in the sun on Panglao’s different beaches and discover the island

Alona Beach, as we’ve already told you, is usually the most common place people use as a base for exploring Bohol. Its beach is the departure point for epic dives and excursions to other places, but it doesn’t exactly stand out for being the best beach in Bohol for swimming. As it’s such a touristy area, Alona Beach is not usually the quietest and you’ll need to walk to its ends to find the clearest areas. It’s a beach that will help you cool off if you don’t want to go far, but not the one you’ll remember most when you look back on your visit to Bohol.

About 5 kilometres from Alona Beach, in the direction of Bohol, you’ll find Dumaluan Beach. This is also known as White Beach (it has several sections). You’ll see a huge beach with crystal-clear waters that is much quieter than Alona and a very popular spot for Filipinos to enjoy a good family barbecue. It has the peculiarity that you’ll have to walk quite a few metres for the water to cover you completely if the tide is low. It is, without a doubt, the best beach to visit in Bohol.

In the opposite direction, and just 15 minutes from Alona Beach, is Danao Beach. As with Dumaluan Beach, it’s a much less frequented beach where you can find some of the best resorts in Bohol. For us, it’s one of the best places to enjoy the sunset in Bohol. The red, orange and lilac colours that the horizon takes on are truly wonderful and this stretch of Panglao’s coast is a privileged place to see them. Bear in mind, though, that it’s not usually very well cared for.

So you can choose the one that best matches what you’re looking for, read our article on The best beaches in Bohol and Panglao.

But Panglao has more waiting for you than just its beaches. We tell you about them all in this article:

THINGS TO DO IN PANGLAO

Dumaluan Beach

9. Discover the Anda area

A high percentage of travellers who go to Bohol set up their base in the Panglao area and from there, either by renting their own transport or via tours, they do the typical package of Balicasag + Chocolate Hills + visit to the tarsiers. Then they leave thinking they’ve already seen everything the island has to offer and, in many cases, thinking that it’s very touristy and overcrowded. But that’s not the case! As well as dozens of spots scattered across the map, such as waterfalls or interesting treks, the east coast of Bohol is waiting with an area full of possibilities: Anda.

If you base yourself here you’ll have impressive rice fields (Cadapdapan Rice Terraces), huge waterfalls, beautiful beaches, top-notch diving, the famous Binabaje Hills (also known as Alicia Panoramic Park) and even a couple of cenotes close by. Visiting this area is, for us, another of the essential things to do in Bohol, which is why we’ve dedicated a whole article to it: Things to do in Anda.

Although we recommend spending at least a couple of days in Anda, you can do a day trip to Anda from Panglao (Alona Beach), Loboc or Tagbilaran. It’s a long day, as Anda is about 3 hours from Panglao (one way only), but it’s possible. Leave us a comment and we’ll give you the contact details of our trusted driver.

Can-Umantad Falls

10. Explore the island’s waterfalls (there are plenty!)

Although throughout this list of things to do in Bohol we’ve mentioned some of its waterfalls, the island is full of little-known or almost unknown cascades. If you enjoy them, a great excuse to spend more time in Bohol is to drive its roads in search of the best ones. In our opinion, the best are in the Dimiao and Antequera areas.

We’ve put together an article on the best waterfalls in Bohol, but here’s a preview. You can locate them on the map at the end of this article:

• Ingkumhan Falls (Dimiao)
• Pahangog Falls or Twin Falls (Dimiao), the ones in the photo below — you can visit these and Ingkumhan Falls either from Loboc or from Anda or even en route between the two destinations
• Pangas Falls (Carmen/Chocolate Hills) — you can visit them before or after the Chocolate Hills
• Busay Falls (Loboc) — the same as Pangas
• Camugao Falls (Balilihan/Antequera) — accessible from Loboc, Tagbilaran and Panglao
• Mag-aso Falls (Antequera) — can be combined with Camugao and Kawasan
• Kawasan Falls (Antequera)
• Can-Umantad Falls (Candijay/Anda) — the most convenient way is to go from Anda
• Kinahugan Falls (Jagna) — you can stop here en route from Anda to Loboc or from Anda to Panglao

You can easily visit them on your own by car or motorbike but, if you prefer, there’s also THIS TOUR that takes in the best ones.

Pahangog Falls

11. Island hopping in Bohol? Virgin Island? – maybe not the most recommendable thing to do in Bohol

At Travel Around the Philippines we want you to have all the information you need to make your trip perfect, but we also give you the opinion of people who have spent years travelling around the country. The island hopping to Virgin Island is popular, but for us it’s not one of the must-sees in Bohol. This trip usually includes 3 things: dolphin watching, Virgin Island and snorkelling in Balicasag.

Virgin Island is a small sandbar that is quick and easy to access. Although it’s touristy and there are usually people around, there are no longer, as there were less than a year ago, lots of food stalls spoiling it. So, if you’re not going to be able to see another sandbar on your trip and you’re excited about it, don’t miss it! Otherwise, there are many other sandbars in the Philippines that are much better, such as Kalanggaman or Cresta de Gallo, and you can dedicate your time to continuing to discover the essential things to see in Bohol here.

On the other hand, to be honest, it’s more harassment than dolphin watching. There are so many boats that the animals end up being chased, which means it has become a rather irresponsible activity.

Finally, the snorkelling service in Balicasag is often quite poor. The groups are very large, sometimes the fish are fed despite it being a marine sanctuary (you have to pay a 250-peso fee) and this being forbidden, and you don’t usually spend enough time in the water. Please bear this in mind when booking your tour in Bohol. As we mentioned above, we always prefer to do it with dive centres that also allow snorkelling only.

More places to visit in Bohol

What we’ve told you above covers the absolute basics of things to do in Bohol and, in each of the articles we’ve written about specific areas, you’ll find tons of tips to make your experience incredible. Even so, we didn’t want to miss the chance to mention a few places that don’t usually make it onto the lists, to encourage you to go further and realise that the island is much more than the Chocolate Hills and Alona Beach.

We’re tired of reading comments looking down on Bohol and, honestly, it’s a huge island with a lot to explore. In addition to all the waterfalls we’ve talked about, the opportunities to get lost are endless.

• Pamilacan: a cool island for snorkelling or diving and a great place to spend a night or two in pure relaxation. It’s still a very rural spot.
• Hinagdanan Cave: a small cave in Panglao with stalactites and a pool where you can take a dip. If you can, go early or just before closing and avoid weekends so you don’t find so many people. We talk more about it in Things to do in Panglao.
• Sunset on the bamboo bridge at the North Zen Villas hotel in Panglao: a very cool experience. You’ll have to pay a small entrance fee, but you can do it via this link so that part of it is consumable at the bar. Note that there are now lots of tourists (especially Koreans) who know about this place, so it’s best to arrive early to get a spot. If you want a free, albeit less glamorous, place, head to Hermit Beach (you’ll find it under that name on Google Maps).
• Alicia Panoramic Park or Binabaje Hills: a spectacular spot for anyone who wants an easy hike through a landscape that’s very different from what you usually see in the Philippines. It’s near the Anda area.
• A refreshing dip in Lonoy Cold Spring or Canawa Cold Spring: cold pools surrounded by nature.
• Cabilao: although a typhoon a few years ago left it somewhat battered, it’s another small island near Bohol that can fit very well into your itinerary and still has some interesting dive sites.
• The fireflies on the Abatan River: less well known than the Loboc River, it’s one of the biggest rivers on the island and, as well as offering a really cool jungle landscape, it gives you the chance to see lots of these curious insects. You can book it here and be picked up in Panglao or Tagbilaran.
• Baclayon Church: built in the 18th century, during the Spanish colonial period, it’s one of the oldest in Bohol. It’s made of coral stone and has a beautiful bell tower. It’s on the way from Panglao or Anda to Loboc, so you can stop off. Boats to Pamilacan leave from the town of Baclayon.
• Blood Compact Monument (Sandugo): it represents the blood compact between Miguel López de Legazpi and Datu Sikatuna, the tribal chief of Bohol. It’s on the way out of Tagbilaran towards Bohol and makes for a quick stop.
• Inambacan Cave & Spring: a favourite chill-out spot for Boholanos, perhaps not so impressive because of the “waterfall”, which is artificial, but because of the surroundings.

For us, Bohol is always unfinished business. That’s why we always go back and spend time exploring new places, so we’re sure we’ll keep expanding this list of things to see in Bohol.

Binabaje Hills – Camugao Falls – Abatan River

What not to do in Bohol

Unfortunately, there are quite a few well-known irresponsible tourism activities in Bohol that we kindly ask you to avoid. Although our duty as citizens of this planet is to research in advance what we’re going to do and how it affects nature or local communities, we thought it was important to list them here so you’re forewarned:

• Tarsier “sanctuaries” where they are not respected. As we mentioned, the only one that hasn’t yet turned into a mass-business is the one in Corella. Basically, any place that isn’t Corella is a disgrace.
• So-called snake or insect “sanctuaries” that are real zoos. Bohol is full of places like this where you can take the typical photo with a snake around your neck. This is not respectful towards the animals.
• Lila’s whale sharks: perhaps sadder than all of the above, they’ve created a circus like the one in Oslob, where this endangered species is fed so that it stays in the area and people can swim with it. A quick look at social media is enough to see how they are treated (kicks, blows, chemicals…) and to realise that seeing these animals here means contributing to their disappearance, as they are also migratory species. You can read where to swim with them in a responsible way in Whale shark in the Philippines. — fortunately, and for the reasons we mention, this activity was banned some time ago and we hope it never returns.

Practical information about Bohol

Now let’s get practical and give you some information to help you plan your visit to this big island.

Best hotels to stay in Bohol

Most travellers usually stay on Panglao Island for convenience. Our favourite places to stay in this area are:

• Manta Dream Dive Resort: refurbished rooms, walking distance to Alona Beach, friendly staff, a big pool and great prices – what more could you ask for?
• Bohol Beach Club: if you want something really top-end, look no further – this is your place! Located on the most beautiful beach in Panglao, with an exclusive area of hammocks and palm trees, it’s a superb resort with every comfort.

If you want to know more, check out where to stay in Bohol and where to stay in Panglao: the best areas to stay and the most charming hotels.

Other practical information and tips for enjoying Bohol

Here are a few more tips and little secrets about the island that we would have loved to know before our first visit to Bohol:

• BEST TIME TO VISIT BOHOL: the best time is roughly from December to May, during the dry season. Even so, the weather is always a bit of a lottery and its geographical location means the seasons aren’t so clearly defined, so we don’t hesitate to visit at any time.
• MONEY: in Tagbilaran and the Alona Beach area you’ll find lots of money changers (around this area you’ll get a good rate) and several ATMs. We recommend avoiding Euronet ATMs (blue and yellow) because they try to trick you with the exchange rate. That said, all ATMs in Bohol will charge you 250 pesos in fees for every 10,000 pesos withdrawn. As we suggest in Money in the Philippines, the best thing is to change cash in Manila and then use Remitly to withdraw money from a pawnshop. It might sound strange, but it’s what we always use to get cash. There are loads of pawnshops all over Bohol and with our link, as well as an improved exchange rate, you’ll get $10 free on your first transfer.
• HIGH TIDE: if you’re planning to visit the beaches of Anda and Panglao, it’s best to try and do so when the tide is high. As they’re very shallow, they don’t look as nice and swimming is worse at low tide. Check a tide table.
• CHOOSE WHERE YOU WANT TO STAY: if you don’t like very touristy areas, try not to stay right in Alona Beach. Even so, there are loads of places 10–15 minutes away by motorbike or tricycle that are great value and from which you can easily access the huge range of restaurants and all the amenities in this area.
• WATCH OUT FOR DISTANCES IN BOHOL: bear in mind that Bohol is a huge island. Don’t underestimate distances either: doing 5- or 6-hour rides on a motorbike is not the most pleasant thing.
• HEALTHCARE: don’t travel without good travel insurance. Unfortunately, we have experience of visiting 4 hospitals in Tagbilaran (there are no hospitals in Panglao) and the conditions are not the best. If you have a serious accident, you’ll most likely have to be transferred urgently to Cebu or Manila, but ACE Hospital (where Claudia was admitted) is excellent. On top of that, if you’re staying in Loboc, Panglao or Anda, you’ll have to pay for transport to wherever you need to be treated. If you have good insurance, they’ll take care of taking you there and finding the medical care you need. We’ve been travelling to the Philippines with IATI Seguros for more than 10 years and we recommend them 100%. If you come via this link, you’ll get a 5% discount and you’ll also help us to keep dedicating our time to the website.
• RESPONSIBILITY: please don’t contribute to the horror-show tourism that is encouraged in Bohol by going to places where animals are mistreated or their behaviour is altered by feeding them. It’s our duty as travellers to look into what our activities involve beforehand.

How to get to Bohol

Thanks to its location in the heart of the Visayas region, there are plenty of ways to get to Bohol. Click on how to get to Bohol to find out how to get there from places such as Cebu, Siquijor, Camiguin or Moalboal, but we can already tell you that the island has an international airport and several ports, the busiest being Tagbilaran, which receives ferries from Cebu and Siquijor.

As for the Cebu–Bohol ferry and vice versa, our advice is to book your seat during periods of high demand such as weekends and holidays (especially at Christmas, Easter and All Saints’ Day). It’s also advisable to secure your ticket if it’s the last one of the day. We always use this platform to book.

Where to eat in Bohol

Whether you’re heading to Anda, Panglao or Loboc, you’ll find our foodie recommendations in Best restaurants to eat in Bohol – get ready to lick your fingers in our favourite restaurants!

Map of Bohol

On this map of Bohol you’ll find all the spots we mention in this and other articles about Bohol marked. If you access it from your phone, you’ll be able to save it and use it from there without needing an internet connection.

Frequently asked questions about Bohol – FAQs

To round things off, here are the most frequently asked questions from travellers who decide to visit Bohol:

Is Bohol worth it?

Without a doubt, yes. It’s one of the most complete islands in the Philippines, with more “jungle-like” landscapes than in other parts of the country, beautiful reefs, mountains, beaches and much more. Many people look down on it because there are very touristy areas, but there are also places that few travellers venture to.

How many days should I stay in Bohol?

To see the absolute basics, we recommend 2 full days (not counting travel days). If you can give it at least 3, you’ll be glad you did. If you want to get to know Bohol better, given how much there is to do, 5 days is even better, as you can then split your stay between Panglao, Anda and/or Loboc.

What to do in Bohol in one day?

We don’t really recommend spending so little time here but, if you want to do it that way, we’d focus on seeing the interior of the island, which is the most distinctive part. In this case, we’d do a route that includes the Chocolate Hills, the Loboc River, the Loboc zipline, the Man-Made Forest, the tarsier sanctuary in Corella and Pangas Falls. If you have time, you can add the Sipatan Bridge and Camugao Falls.

What to do in Bohol in 3 days?

We’d spend one day exploring the interior of the island (Chocolate Hills, Loboc, Man-made Forest, Corella sanctuary and a waterfall such as Pangas Falls), another day on a snorkelling or diving trip to Balicasag and visiting Dumaluan Beach, and one more day on other activities such as snorkelling in Napaling, Hinagdanan Cave, Pamilacan or just beach time. There are loads of possibilities.

Are there less touristy areas in Bohol?

Yes, no matter how much you read that “Bohol is overcrowded”, it just isn’t true. The only area that receives a lot of tourism is Alona Beach. There are even very quiet parts on Panglao Island. Hardly anyone goes to Anda yet and few people choose to stay in Loboc, so you can still find a very untouched side of Bohol.

Would you like to know anything else about what to see or what to do in Bohol? Feel free to ask whatever you like in the comments and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.