Bohol Island, Philippines: Unique Island Offerings

Just an hour ferry ride away from Cebu City or an hour flight away from Manila is the spectacular island of Bohol. Endowed with so much wonders of nature, this island will surely rock the world of every tourist and traveler.

Here are the beautiful places to visit in the island.

Chocolate Hills in Carmen

2013 photo in CHAP

2008 photo in the original view deck

The greatest attraction of the island is the amazing Chocolate Hills. This overly unique and  marvelous land formation is simply breathtaking and one of a kind. It is made up of around 1,800 hills of almost the same shape but varies in sizes and heights. The hills look like giant termite mounds.

The hills are collectively called as Chocolate Hills since during summer, the grasses and shrubs  covering the hills dry up revealing a chocolate brown color of the soil. The shape of the hills also make it looks like huge chocolate kisses.

View from CHAP

View from CHAP

I have visited Bohol twice. First in 2008 and the latest was 2013 just a week after the 7.2 earthquake hit Bohol and nearby provinces.

The hills also suffered casualties. Many were partly eroded while some have almost collapsed totally including the original view deck. For this reason, we visited Chocolate Hills Adventure Park (CHAP) which has an alternative view deck. The original view deck offers a much closer look to the hills nevertheless the view in CHAP is beautiful as well. A plus factor for CHAP is the beautiful gardens from the facade, to the trail and the view deck itself. A very romantic place. 

Man-made Forest

2013 photo

Another point of interest in mainland Bohol is the Man-made Forest. Mahogany trees were planted along the highway and nearby surroundings to replace cut trees about 2 decades ago. As the trees grow, its canopy overshadowed the highway giving motorists an impression of driving into a tunnel of trees.

Tarsier Sanctuary

Bohol is also home to the world’s smallest primate, the Philippine tarsier. This cute and furry mammal can fit into a person’s hand and with pair of two huge eyes.

Python Park

In Bohol, pythons are also an attractions. In 2008, I and some colleagues were able to see and get up close and personal with star of the park named Prony. The biggest python  I’ve ever seen. It may not be the longest but most likely the biggest or should I say the fattest in the world in terms of the body’s circumference. Sadly, the snake died few years ago.

Panglao Island

Bohol Beach Club

The best place to stay in Bohol after touring the mainland is in Panglao Island. Choose from an array of resort hotels that fit your budget. At night enjoy dinner by the beach and drink while listening to live band by the beach also.

Enjoy a buffet breakfast by the beach also. A best way to start the morning.

For lunch, try an organic and delicious meal in Bohol Bee Farm in their restaurant overlooking the sea. Try their organic ice cream and teas as well. Tour also the farm and meet the queen bee in one of the bee hives in the house.

Another activity to enjoy is dolphin watching in the island.

From Panglao Island, go island hopping in Balicasag and Puntod (aka Virgin) Islands.Click link to see my post on the said islands.

Balicasag Island
Virgin Island

Biyahe na!