Bohol Itinerary | Best Places to Visit for First Timers

The unique and picturesque province of Bohol is always one of the can’t-miss places especially for first-time travelers in the Philippines. It’s natural for it to be instantly perceived as a tropical beach haven because—hello—it’s in the Philippines. But what makes this province a matchless beauty is its very own Chocolate Hills — something you can’t find anywhere else in the country and even in the whole world!

Whether you’re on the lookout for dazzling beaches or awesome sandbar, colorful underwater or relaxing river cruise, unique attractions or thrilling adventures, you name it and most likely Bohol has it! From the ever-famous Chocolate Hills to seeing the world’s smallest primate up-close and personal, your Bohol itinerary will definitely be filled with wonders and unforgettable experiences!

If you’re visiting Bohol for the first time, we hope this guide can inspire you and help you plan your trip.

 

Bohol Itinerary

It’s easy to understand your excitement as Bohol is such a buzzworthy destination. But before anything else, we urge you to carefully study the places so that you would get the most out of your trip.

Here’s a sample Bohol itinerary that we prepared that you can follow.

Day 1 (Countryside Tour)

• 8:00 am – Start the tour: Man-made forest, Philippine Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary, Chocolate Hills
• 12:00 nn – Loboc River Cruise with Buffet Lunch
• 2:00 pm – Blood Compact Shrine, Baclayon Church
• 5:00 pm – Back to hotel

Day 2 (Island Hopping + Dolphin Watching)

• 6:00 am – Start tour: Dolphin Watching near Pamilacan Island, snorkeling at Balicasag Island
• 12:00 nn – Lunch
• 1:00 pm – Virgin Island sandbar
• 2:00 pm – Dumaluan Beach until sunset
• 6:30 pm – Back to hotel

Day 3 (Panglao Tour)

• 8:00 am – Start tour: Hinagdanan Cave, Mag-aso Falls, Alona Beach
• 12:00 nn – Lunch at Bohol Bee Farm
• 2:00 pm – End of Panglao tour

For adrenaline junkies, you can add one more day for Danao Adventure Park.

Day 4 (Danao Adventure Park)

• 7:00 am – Leave the hotel
• 8:00 am – Whole day at Danao Adventure Park
• 5:00 pm – End of tour

 

Here are some brief information about each tourist spot in this Bohol itinerary. This is to give you an idea about the places and major things to expect to help you have a more organized tour.

 

Day 1 – Countryside Tour

This tour can be done independently but the best way to do this tour is to rent a scooter or book a Bohol Countryside tour package. The package usually includes Bilar Man-made Forest, Tarsier Sanctuary, Chocolate Hills, Loboc River cruise w/ buffet lunch, Blood Compact Site, and Baclayon Church. The tour normally takes up to 7-8 hours so make sure to start early so that you’d still have time for rest and relaxation in the afternoon.

Bilar Man-made Forest

Bilar Man-made Forest is a 2-kilometer stretch of mahogany trees planted as part of a reforestation project more than 50 years ago. This dense forest in between the towns of Bilar and Loboc is a favorite stop-over for tourists going to and from the Chocolate Hills. The mahogany trees’ uniformity in height makes this forest so pleasing to the eyes and makes up a perfect background for the ‘gram. This masterpiece will definitely leave tourists in awe and adds life and color to every Bohol itinerary!

Entrance fee: Free

 

Philippine Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary

The best way to witness the world’s smallest primate is to see them in their natural habitat and do our share in saving them. The Philippine Tarsier & Wildlife Sanctuary is a non-profit organization with the primary goal of protecting the Philippine Tarsiers and their habitat from extinction. Visitors are allowed to take photos but with no camera flash and are required to observe silence while in the forest. This tour is one of the highlights that you can experience nowhere else but Bohol so don’t you dare skip it!

Entrance fee: ₱80/person

 

Chocolate Hills

This iconic site needs no introduction at all as this is obviously the image of Bohol. But allow us to express our appreciation for this beauty. What makes these thousands of dome-shaped and conical hills special is that it’s a natural wonder carefully handcrafted by the Creator Himself and He chose Bohol to be its ONLY home!

During rainy season, the grass blanketing the hills appears lush green. While during summer months, the vegetation dries up and turns into a brown hue looking like a bunch of chocolates, hence the name given.

Entrance fee: ₱50/person

 

Loboc River Cruise

This activity is like fulfilling two missions simultaneously. You’d get to have your lunch break while cruising in a jungle river that is one of the cleanest in the country! The Loboc River Cruise with buffet lunch is normally included in any Bohol Countryside Tour itinerary. It’s nearly impossible to miss this one! At the middle of the tour, the cruising vessel will stop over the place where the locals perform traditional dances while playing musical instruments. The cruise usually runs for an hour or so back and forth.

Budget: ₱150 – ₱300 / person

 

Blood Compact Shrine

The Blood Compact Shrine is a monument commemorating the Sandugo between Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi and Datu Sikatuna in the first international treaty of friendship. Sandugo is an ancient ritual in the Philippines intended to seal a friendship or a treaty. Behind the monument is a gorgeous view of the Bohol Sea!

Entrance fee: Free

 

Baclayon Church

The second oldest church in Bohol, Baclayon Church was built out of coral stones and about a million egg whites mixed with sand. Formally known as The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, this historic place was built in 1717 during the Spanish occupation. It is located just six kilometers away from Tagbilaran City, making it a convenient side-trip for any Bohol itinerary.

Entrance fee: Free

 

Day 2 – Island Hopping + Dolphin Watching

You can book in advance a whole day island hopping tour with dolphin watching and snorkeling, or just walk by the beach and locals will instantly approach you offering tours. Boat fee should be around 4,000 to 6,000 good for 4-8pax. The tour normally takes about 8 hours max.

Pamilacan Island

For this tour, you must start really early in the morning for you to be able to catch sight of the dolphins in the wild. They are usually seen near the Pamilacan Island. Expect to witness pods after pods of dolphins joyfully jumping from one side to another, wild and free! The experience is surreal so don’t miss it!

 

Balicasag Island

A small island surrounded by vibrant blue water, Balicasag Island is a top snorkeling site thanks to its amazing underwater and rich marine life. It is also a great location to spot some enormous sea turtles. A stunning display of marine diversity, snorkeling at Balicasag Island’s clear water is certainly a can’t miss when doing an island hopping tour around Panglao.

 

Virgin Island Sandbar

Just between Balicasag and Panglao Island lies a stunning sandbar commonly known to tourists as the Virgin Island. The shallow water surrounding it is crystal clear and grassy. Uninhabited and with no vegetation, it has nothing but a lengthy sandbar that fades into the sea as the tide gets high. If you are fond of sandbars in the middle of the ocean, this place is perfect for you! Another major spot that needs to be included in your Bohol itinerary.

 

Dumaluan Beach

After the island hopping tour, you can ask your tour guide to drop you off at Dumaluan Beach. It’s a laid-back beach with powdery white sands and shallow water. One of the favorite tropical beach destinations in Bohol, it is less crowded and more charming. There’s also a restaurant offering grilled meats and seafood that’s why the beach experience here feels more authentic.

 

Day 3 – Panglao Tour

Hinagdanan Cave

A wondrous cave with deep lagoon and huge stalactites and stalagmites, Hinagdanan Cave is one of the popular natural attractions in Panglao. Hinagdanan means “laddered” in Cebuano. It is said that a farmer accidentally discovered this when he built a ladder to access the cave, hence the name. It is naturally lighted by sunlight which filters through holes in the ceiling, giving it an otherworldly glow.

Entrance fee: ₱100/person

 

Mag-aso Falls

Mag-aso Falls is a 26-ft jungle waterfall tucked away from other popular Bohol attractions. It has a crystal blue water and it’s also a perfect spot for cliff-jumping for those who seek adventure. Also a great place if you want to have a quiet time enjoying the paradise since it isn’t usually flocked by tourists. It is isolated, yet, completely accessible.

Entrance fee: ₱20/person

 

Alona Beach

This 1-km stretch of powdery white sand beach is definitely the top attraction of Panglao. Alona Beach is a tropical paradise having pristine and safe shoreline with many quality restaurants and beach-front resorts. This is actually where you can find most of the luxurious hotels in Bohol. If you’re someone who consider yourself an avid beach bum, Alona Beach should never flee from your Bohol itinerary!

Entrance fee: ₱25/person

 

Bohol Bee Farm

Feel at-home while savoring your organic meals with an overlooking view of the sea. Bohol Bee Farm offers delicious meals made with organically-grown vegetables sourced from their own farm. They love contributing to the local community and environment by encouraging and inspiring our farmers to practice organic farming. They also offer cozy accommodations in their hotel that you might want to consider staying at!

Budget: ₱200 – ₱500 / person

 

Day 4 – Danao Adventure Park

 

Danao Adventure Park

Danao Adventure park is where you can unleash your inner thrill-seeker. Some of the must-try adrenaline-pumping activities here are Glass Cliffwalk, Sky Ride, Root Climbing, Suislide, and more! It is an eco-tourism site in the middle of green valleys and hills where you can have a fun-filled and action-packed tour! Aside from their exhilarating activities, they also have a perfect location for sightseeing, bird watching, and kayaking.

Budget: ₱1,000 – ₱3,000

 

Where to stay in Bohol

Panglao is the most popular area to stay in as there are several beach resort and hotel options to choose from. There’s every range of accommodation from budget-friendly, to mid-range and luxury, which makes it easy to find a place according to your taste and budget.

Here, we’ve listed a summary of the best beach resorts in Panglao that you can book for a comfortable stay.

 

Amorita Resort

Starts at ₱7,999
Check updated rates here: AMORITA RESORT

 

Bohol Beach Club Resort

Starts at ₱4,999
Check updated rates here: BOHOL BEACH CLUB RESORT

 

South Palms Resort

Starts at ₱4,756
Check updated rates here: SOUTH PALMS RESORT

 

Henann Resort Alona Beach

Starts at ₱3,999
Check updated rates here: HENANN RESORT

 

The Bellevue Resort

Starts at ₱3,941
Check updated rates here: THE BELLEVUE RESORT

 

Bohol Shores

Starts at ₱3,096
Check updated rates here: BOHOL SHORES

 

Ocean Suites Bohol Boutique Hotel

Starts at ₱2,433
Check updated rates here: OCEAN SUITES BOHOL

 

If you prefer budget accommodations, you can check out this list of best Bohol budget hotels in Panglao Island.

 

Bohol Travel Requirements 2021

For fully vaccinated tourists:

1. Vaccination Certificate (www.vaxcert.doh.gov.ph) or Vaccination Card issued by an LGU, DOH-Accredited Institution, Private Company, and Foreign Country/State Thereof Authenticated by DOH-BOQ.
2. Government-issued ID
3. S-PASS travel permit (approved or pending)

For partially vaccinated/unvaccinated tourists:

1. Negative RT-PCR result taken 72 hours prior to departure
2. Government-issued ID
3. Approved S-PASS travel permit

 

Bohol, for me, is one of the Philippines’ most captivating destinations. This island province is one of the easiest to recommend to newcomers and even to local citizens wanting to have a memorable vacation. If I have friends visiting from other countries and have dedicated just a few days or weeks in the Philippines, then Bohol would be on top of the list!

How about you? Have you ever been to Bohol? Tell your experience in the comments!

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