Panglao
First-timersAlona Beach, with dive shops and most hostels.
Bohol city guide
Things To Do In Bohol
An island of over a thousand grassy Chocolate Hills, tiny tarsiers with enormous eyes, river cruises through the jungle, and beaches and reefs on Panglao next door.
1,000+
Chocolate Hills
2 h
Ferry to Cebu
Tiny
Tarsiers
The Chocolate Hills
Bohol is an island in the central Philippines, two hours by ferry from Cebu. It is famous for the Chocolate Hills, more than a thousand near-symmetrical grassy mounds that turn brown in the dry season, and for the Philippine tarsier, one of the world's smallest primates.
Most visitors stay on Panglao, a small island joined to Bohol by bridges, with white beaches and dive sites.
Three days is right.
Where to stay
Panglao Island, joined to Bohol by bridges, has the beaches, dive shops and most hostels, around Alona Beach. Tagbilaran, the capital, is the ferry port and has cheaper rooms. Anda, on the east coast, is quieter, with fine beaches but long drives to the sights.
Tagbilaran
ValueThe capital and ferry port, with cheaper rooms.
Anda
QuietEast-coast beaches, far from the sights.
Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Bohol
The Chocolate Hills, near Carmen, are more than a thousand near-identical grassy domes that turn brown in the dry season, giving them their name. See them from the viewing deck at sunrise or late afternoon.
The Philippine tarsier, one of the world's smallest primates, with huge eyes, lives in Bohol's forests. Visit the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella, the ethical option, where they live in the wild and visitors stay quiet; avoid roadside places that keep them in cages.
Take a lunch cruise on the Loboc River through the jungle, and see Baclayon Church, one of the oldest stone churches in the country. The man-made forest of mahogany trees is a common stop on the road.
Off Panglao, Balicasag Island has turtles, reef walls and some of the best snorkelling in the area. Dolphin-watching trips leave at dawn.
Free things
Free things to do in Bohol
Panglao's beaches, including Alona and Dumaluan, are free, and the man-made forest is free to walk through.
Baclayon Church is free to visit, though its museum charges, and the countryside roads past rice fields are free to explore by scooter.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Bohol
Bohol's food is simple and fresh: grilled fish and seafood along the beaches, and Filipino dishes in local canteens. Kalamay, a sticky sweet of coconut and sugar sold in coconut shells, is a Bohol speciality, and peanut kisses are the classic souvenir.
The Loboc River cruises include a buffet lunch.
A meal is €2 to €7.
Nightlife
Going out in Bohol
Alona Beach has bars along the sand, some with fire shows and live music, and the island's nightlife is relaxed.
A San Miguel is €1 to €2.50.
Getting around
Getting around Bohol
Ferries from Cebu reach Tagbilaran in about two hours. Bohol-Panglao International Airport has flights from Manila and some international routes.
The sights are spread out: hire a scooter, or a driver for a day to see the Chocolate Hills, tarsiers and river in one loop. Tricycles cover short trips around Panglao.
Costs
What Bohol costs
Bohol is mid-priced. Dorms start around €8 and a careful day is €20 to €30.
A private driver for a countryside tour is around €30 to €50 for the car; a scooter is about €6 to €8 a day. The Chocolate Hills, tarsier sanctuary and Loboc cruise each charge small to moderate fees. A Balicasag snorkelling trip is €15 to €30.
The currency is the Philippine peso (PHP); prices here are euro equivalents, at roughly 65 pesos to the euro.
Safety
Staying safe in Bohol
Bohol is safe. At the tarsier sanctuary, keep quiet and use no flash: tarsiers are nocturnal and easily stressed.
On scooters, take care on the countryside roads, which have fast traffic.
Typhoons hit roughly from June to November and can cancel flights and ferries for days; build slack into island plans.
Emergency number is 911.
Day trips from Bohol
The hills, turtle reefs and quieter beaches.
Chocolate Hills
More than a thousand grassy domes.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The Sandugo festival celebrates Bohol's history in July.
July
Sandugo Festival
Tagbilaran
Street dancing and history.
December to May
Dry season
Bohol
Brown hills from March.
When to go
December to May is dry; the hills turn brown from March.
Jan
Cool and dry
Feb
Dry
Mar
Dry
Apr
Hot, Holy Week
May
Hot
Jun
Rains begin
Jul
Typhoon season
Aug
Typhoon season
Sep
Typhoon season
Oct
Wet
Nov
Drying
Dec
Christmas
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in pesos locally; these are euro equivalents.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Bohol travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Where should I see tarsiers?
At the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella, where they live wild and protected. Avoid places that keep them in cages.
When are the Chocolate Hills brown?
In the dry season, from about March; they are green in the wet season.
How do I get there?
By ferry from Cebu, about two hours, or by flying into Bohol-Panglao airport.
How do I see the countryside?
By scooter, or with a driver for a day to cover the hills, tarsiers and river.
How many days do you need?
Two or three.
When is the best time to visit?
December to May.
Where should I stay?
Panglao for beaches and diving.
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