From the iconic Chocolate Hills, nocturnal Tarsier to white fine sand beaches, Bohol is a local destination you should visit in the Philippines. It offers a lot of beautiful natural attractions, exciting outdoor activities and unique delicacies to eat. Not to mention, the people of Bohol are friendly, kind and very accommodating. To make your tour more memorable, try going around with habal-habal or tricycle.
Just in case you are not familiar with the term “habal-habal” before, it's a local dialect for motorcycle “for hire” which means “sitting close to each other. You sit behind the driver, close to each other, on a motorcycle. This mode of transportation initially started in the provinces which become one of the locals' sources of income. If you are traveling solo or with a friend, you can take habal habal for a day tour. It's recommended if your budget is tight or if you want to experience a different kind of land tour. A backpacker or the adventurous one would probably rent a motorbike or hire a habal-habal driver.
During my Bohol trip, I hired a habal- habal to tour around in the humble town of Anda. While I'm on Panglao Island, I hired a tricycle for only P1000. The rate is the same with habal-habal and sitting on a tricycle is more comfortable than on a single motorbike. It's also safer and less vulnerable to road crashes. I contacted Kuya Romeo, a well-experienced tour guide in Bohol. You can hire him and he can bring you anywhere in the province. You may contact him at 0932 430 4467 or 0926 658 7020. Please give him a tip. And also don't forget to mention my name.
On my first day, we decided to start the tour on the Bohol Countryside. Destinations we visited include Loboc River, Tarsier Sanctuary, Blood Compact Shrine, Baclayon Church Ruins, Python Sanctuary, Tarsier Sanctuary, Butterfly Garden, Man-Made Forest, Hanging Bridge and Chocolate Hills. Loboc River Cruise and Chocolate Hills ATV tours are optional.
Panglao Tour is cheaper which is P500 per pax. Tourist attractions to visit include Hinagdanan Cave, Bohol Bee Farm, Shell Museum and Old Church Tour. DIY Island tour is from P500 to P800 per pax depending on the size of the boat and number of passengers. Balicasag Island and Virgin Island tours are included in the itinerary.
If you are not comfortable riding on a motorcycle or tricycle, you may get a package tour from a local agency. Some of these local agencies offer private Bohol tours or group tours ( sharing ). Tour in the comfort of an air conditioning van and optional hotel arrangements. They also have airport transfer and hotel pick up. Tour rates start at P2000 per pax.
Where to stay in Bohol
The province offers several accommodation options, from Hostels to luxury Bohol hotels, you can find one that will suit your needs and budget. You might want to check Halamanan Residences, Amorita Resorts, Hennan Bohol Beach, South Palms Bohol Beach, The Bellevue Bohol and Modala Beach Resort in Panglao Island.
How to get to Bohol
There are many direct flights to Bohol. Your jump-off to get here is Tagbilaran City and Panglao Island. If you are traveling by sea yoou can book ferry trips bound for Tagbilaran City Seaport from Cebu, Camiguin, Cagayan de Oro, Dumaguete, and Siquijor.
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