What to see and what to do in Bohol, Philippines
IJsselstein, Thursday, 27 January 2011 (updated: Wednesday, 24 June 2015)
Bohol has a tremendous lot to offer, so much that many tourists have a hard time to select those most important things to see in their limited time. You can easily spend a week on the island, and just see the highlights.
To help you in your selection, we give a short overview of the more popular tourist destinations, some of which are included in the organized tours that are offered by various travel agents. If you have just a few days, you could join with one of those; however, if you have more time or more adventurous inclined, you can also visit those places on your own - in which case it is advisable to arrange for your own transport, which can be a taxi or rented car or motorbike, as trying to travel the island by public transportation can take considerable time.
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| Blood Compact Monument |
Tagbilaran is the capital of Bohol, and its only city. It is located at the south-western end of the island. Most boats arrive here, and all scheduled flights land on its one-strip airport, not far from the city center. Apart from visiting several shopping malls, such as Bohol Quality, Island City Mall, and Plaza Marcela, you dine in various restaurants, visit the Bohol Museum, and a number of interesting landmarks, such as the Sandugo blood compact site, which is located in the Bool district of Tagbilaran city. This monument is included in most tours, and offers a nice view over the Bohol sea, with Panglao island to the right and Pamilacan island a bit farther away to the left.
Leaving Tagbilaran in the southern direction, we can cross a bridge to Panglao island.
Panglao
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| Alona Beach from the air |
Panglao is both the name of the island south of Bohol, and of the southernmost of the two municipalities on this island, the other being Dauis, which you will pass through first. The municipality of Panglao is home to some of the best known beaches of Bohol, including Doljo beach, Dumaluan beach and Alona beach, and has numerous beach resorts. For those curious enough to take a short ride to the town proper - easily done on a morning or afternoon, the old town Panglao (known as the poblacion) still preserves the traditional layout of a Philippine rural town: A large town-square, covered with grass, with on one side the Church, another the town hall, and on a third the local school. Add to this the remnants of an older church (of which only one stone wall remains, the remainder of this building was previously made of bamboo), and a massive hexagonal watchtower, the largest on Bohol.
From most of the resorts, you can arrange whale or dolphin watching tours, island hopping and excursions to the most well tourist destinations. The more adventurous inclined can rent motorcycles here, and explore the island at their own pace. The many diving schools and diving boats near the beach will be hard to miss. Around Panglao and the nearby islet Balicasag are some of the best diving spots in the Philippines.
Dauis is the other municipality on Panglao island, and its entrance through two bridges to the mainland, also has a church that is worth visiting - don't forget to walk to the back and watch the watchtower and convento, - and is the home of Hinagdanan cave, a small underground lake surrounded by stalactites. This cave is one of the tourist destinations in Bohol, and a large number of souvenir shops have been set-up around its entrance.
The Church of Our Lady of Assumption in Dauis before the October 15, 2013 earthquake in Bohol.
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| Dauis Church |
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| Dauis Church from the back |
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| Dauis Church |
Our Lady of Assumption Parish Church after the earthquake
The Church of Our Lady of Assumption in Dauis, Panglao island is one of the historical monuments that was badly damaged by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake
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| Dauis Church |
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| Dauis Church |
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| Dauis Church |
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| Dauis Church |
The restored Our Lady of Assumption Parish Church
This church was badly damaged (As you see the photos above) during the 2013 earthquake of Bohol. It was closed for the public for four years and two months. After restoring this heritage church, it was reopened for the public on August 14, 2017. These photos were taken 2 weeks before the reopening day.
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| Dauis Church |
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| Dauis Church |
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| Dauis Church |
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| Dauis Church |
To the North-east of Tagbilaran, we can follow the route most tourist tours make:
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| The Pier of Baclayon |
Baclayon town is not far to the east of Tagbilaran. Its monumental Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, opposite the pier, is well worth a visit. This church also has a small museum, with some old church relics on display. When you visit here, also take a look at some of the traditional houses here, with their wooden floors, often massive logs of teak, and sliding windows made of capiz (shells). Some of the owners, organized in the Association of Baclayon Ancestral Homes, allow guests to stay here overnight. For Filipino movie buffs: this is also the home-town of Boholano movie star Cesar Montano, that is, when he is not busy on the set.
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| Baclayon Church |
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| Baclayon Church |
Baclayon is also the base for some of the dolphin watching tours - often operated by fishermen from the nearby Pamilacan island that belongs to this municipality - but they are just as willing to pick you up at the beach in front of your resort on Alona beach or elsewhere on Panglao. If you want to go dolphin watching, you will need to wake up early. You're best changes to meet with those aquatic mammals is in the early morning, when they hunt for their breakfast. If you per change encounter a whale, you should consider yourself lucky, as, although not uncommon, they are not seen every day. After your dolphin watching tour, you can also visit Pamilacan island itself, where they can prepare you a lavish meal of seafood, and you can find yet another Spanish era watchtower. Just wandering around in the tranquility of this tiny island, without cars, makes it easy to doze away and transport yourself back in time...
Baclayon is included in most daily tours.
The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Baclayon is one of the historical monuments that was badly damaged by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Parish church
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| Baclayon Church |
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| Baclayon Church |
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| Baclayon Church |
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| Baclayon Church |
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| Mural in Loboc Church |
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| Loboc Belfry |
Loboc is an inland town 24 km to the east of Tagbilaran. According to Filipino historian Fr. Horacio de la Costa, Loboc was founded by Fr. Juan de Torres who succeeded in persuading the local population to settle their barangays in this site in 1602. This makes Loboc one of the oldest towns of Bohol. Loboc is also the site of an historic Spanish period church, Saint Peter the Apostle Parish with a small museum in its large three-story convento and a separate bell tower. Witness also one of the biggest planning blunders in Bohol: a partly completed bridge, which, if it where to be completed would require the monumental church to be destroyed. A few kilometers down the road, you can come across a traditional hanging bridge, and try your nerves crossing it.
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| Loboc church |
Loboc is the hometown of the famous Loboc Children Choir who have been traveling to many countries in Asia, Europe, and the U.S.A to share their angelic voice with the world. Loboc is also well-known for its floating restaurants that cruise on the Loboc river and where you can eat Filipino food as much as you can eat and enjoy the live band or watch the Filipino folk dances being performed by the local dancers. The tour will end at Busay falls and then returns to its origin. Since the return trip goes downstream, it is much faster, and before you know it, you will be back at your starting point.
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| Children Jumping into Loboc River |
A visit to Loboc and its interesting church is included in most local tours. For a trip with the floating restaurants or attending a performance - or even just a rehearsal - of the Loboc choir, you will need to make separate arrangements.
Not far from Loboc town, a zip-line and cable car have been constructed, not as long and high as the one in Danao, but still an impressive flight across Loboc river, and not requiring the two hour trip to Danao.
In Tarsier Conservation Area in Loboc, Bohol, Philippines, you can also visit the Philippine tarsier (Carlito syrichta). This place is not an officially Tarsier Sanctuary.
The Saint Peter the Apostle Parish Church in Loboc is one of the historical monuments that was badly damaged by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake
Saint Peter the Apostle Parish Church
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| Loboc Church |
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| Loboc Church |
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| Loboc Church |
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| Loboc Belfry |
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| Sevilla Hanging bridge |
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| Sevilla Hanging bridge |
Sevilla is 36 km to the east of Tagbilaran. The famous bamboo hanging bridge can be found crossing the Sipatan River in Sevilla, Bohol. This hanging bridge has become a tourist attraction in Bohol because crossing it is quite different from crossing a concrete or wooden bridge. While crossing the bridge, you can feel that the bridge that is swaying and bouncing a little bit on every step, especially if there are several people crossing the bridge at the same time. For some people, letting go of the railing is quite scary, which can give problems when you have to pass somebody crossing in the other direction, luckily there are two bridges, one for each direction. The entrance fee for tourists is P 20.00 to cross the bridge. (There are several similar bridges in Bohol, you can cross for free, but those are not part of the common tourist tours.)
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| The Man Made Forest |
Bilar is some 40 km to the North-east of Tagbilaran. When getting closer to the town, the road will make many hair-pin bends, as you are ascending to the higher part of the island. Locals jestingly call this road the "tina-i sa manok", chicken-intestines.
Bilar is best known for its Mahogany man-made forest, a dark area of thickly reforested land on the way from Tagbilaran to the Chocolate Hills. Most Bohol tours stop here for a short while.
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| Caterpillar |
However, Bilar has far more to offer. It is currently being developed as an eco-tourism destination, and rightly so, as within its borders is the Raja Sikatuna National Park, which is the a 9000 hectare nature reserve that offers great tours for trekking, curious and interesting lime-rock formations, some of the last remaining primary forest on Bohol, caves, and great opportunities for observing animals and bird watching. There are also monkeys to be found here. To get here, you can to go to Logarita, where you can find a large swimming pool, fed by a natural spring. Although the water is sometimes moss-green, it is clean, as it is constantly refreshed. This place makes an excellent starting points for treks into the park.
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| Butterfly |
Also in Bilar, you can visit the Simply Butterflies Conservation Center, where you can see many types of native butterflies, hand grown in the center.
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| Chocolate Hills |
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| Chocolate Hills |
Carmen is best known as the center of the Chocolate Hills. Here you can find the Chocolate Hills Complex, a government-run hotel and restaurant. To enjoy the scenery, you'll have to first climb the stairs on one of the hills for a magnificent view. This is probably the best spot to enjoy the eyrie landscape of the famous Chocolate Hills. Carmen is 59 km to the north-east of Tagbilaran. This complex is included in virtually all tours of Bohol.
Chocolate Hills Complex after the earthquake
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| Chocolate Hills |
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| Chocolate Hills |
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| Chocolate Hills |
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| Chocolate Hills |
Chocolate Hills Adventure Park (C.H.A.P)
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| Bike Zipline |
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| Zorb Ball Football |
C.H.A.P is one of Bohol's eco-tourism adventure park where you can admire the Chocolate Hills landscape while biking on zip line "the Bike Zip line" C.H.A.P is located in Barangay Buenos Aires in Carmen, Bohol.
Returning to Tagbilaran, you can also make an excursion towards the North-west. Doing so, you will first pass Cortes, with an interesting old church, and then Maribojoc.
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| Punta Cruz Watchtower |
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| Maribojoc Church |
Maribojoc is located near the coastline of Bohol and is 14 kilometers north from Tagbilaran. At the south-western-most tip of Bohol, you can find an old triangular Spanish watch tower built in 1796, the Punta Cruz Watch tower. From here you have a good view of the islands of Panglao and Cebu, and, and with clear weather you can also see Siquijor and Negros.
You can also visit the San Vicente Mangrove Forest Association (SAVIMA) Mangrove adventure Tour. This tour is located in barangay San Vicente in Maribojoc. It has a 500 meters wooden boardwalk that will takes you through the 56.25 hectares of mangrove forest with varieties of Mangroves species. You can also help planting mangroves during your tour.
Savima Mangroove Adventure Tour
Maribojoc was severely hit by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake on 15 October 2013. Many houses were damaged, and the historical church completely destroyed. At places, the sea-bed was lifted more than a meter, and as a result, the coast-line receded some 50 to 100 meters. Punta Cruz watch-tower is no longer directly at the sea.
Punta Cruz Watchtower
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| Punta Cruz |
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| Punta Cruz |
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| Punta Cruz |
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| Punta Cruz |
Maribojoc Church
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| Maribojoc Church |
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| Maribojoc Church |
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| Maribojoc Church |
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| Maribojoc Church |
Continuing your trip from Maribojoc, you'll reach Loon.
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| Loon Church |
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| Inang-Angan seen from below. |
Loon is a friendly old town with an impressive church. Inside, you can find some of the more interesting murals of Bohol (although unfortunately several of them are in dire need of restauration). When you visit the church, don't forget to walk to the back of the church, and then down some massive nineteenth century stone stairs (called Inang-Angan) to the lower part of the town with its pier.
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| Loon Church |
Continuing to the north, you pass through Calape, with its characteristic neo-gothic church (the only neo-gothic church in Bohol), and continue to Tubigon.
Loon was severely hit by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake on 15 October 2013. Many houses were damaged, and the historical Our Lady of Light Parish Church completely destroyed. The port of Catagbacan in Loon is badly damaged.
Our Lady of Light (Nuestra Señora de la Luz) Parish Church
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| Loon Church |
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| Loon Church |
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| Loon Church |
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| Loon Church |
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| Tubigon Church |
Tubigon is 54 km to the north of Tagbilaran. Being much closer to Cebu, Tubigon makes a good alternative port of entrance to Bohol. Several ferries cross the Cebu straight every day, including several fast craft and a Roro ferry, in case you want to bring a car. Even when you are going from Cebu to Tagbilaran, it may be both faster and cheaper than a direct ferry, as you can take a bus or Vhire ("van for hire", minivans with air-con used for passenger transport, filling the gap between buses and taxis) to Tagbilaran city. This route, following the coastal ring-road, is quite interesting because you can enjoy the landscape, will cross several rivers, have some nice sea-views, and pass through a number of historical towns.
There are some pension houses in Tubigon if you would like to stay in Tubigon.
You can also start your Bohol tour from Tubigon via Sagbayan (Sagbayan Peak), Carmen (Chocolate Hills Complex and C.H.A.P), Bilar (Man made forest), Loboc, Baclayon and ending in Tagbilaran or Panglao.
There is an Island hopping tour to visit the islets and sandbars like Dumog and Mundong sandbars around Tubigon, Bohol. You can enjoy swimming around the sandbars and see ships from Cebu to Tubigon or vice versa passing through close to the sandbar. You can also visit the mangrove plantation and see the sea birds of one of the islets. After the 2013 earthquake in Bohol, some of the islets have sunk for about a meter, as result the whole islet is now under the sea water during high tide. It means that your house is also under water. You are lucky if you have a multi-story building house, unfortunately most locals have only nipa houses.
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| Sagbayan Peak |
Sagbayan is a mostly rural municipality, but here you can also find Sagbayan Peak. Sagbayan Peak offers a number of facilities such as a restaurant, well maintained gardens with some Disney-like statues, a butterfly dome, swimming pool and a view point where visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Chocolate Hills. Sagbayan is 76 km to the north-east of Tagbilaran.
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| E.A.T Danao, The Suislide |
Danao is 92 km north-east of Tagbilaran. For those you likes adventures, the Extreme Adventure Tour or E.A.T. Danao is really it. E.A.T. Danao offers ziplet, sky ride, plunge, suislide, river trekking, river tubing, river kayaking, wall climbing, village tour, organic farm visitation, camping, rappelling, root climbing and caving. For more information, you can visit their website.
You can also visit Laguna hills in barangay Concepcion, Danao to enjoy the landscape of Danao and neighborhood. To see the fascinating sea of clouds on the landscape, you will have to wake up very early in the morning, it is advisable to come around 4:30 o'clock in the morning.
If, instead of following the coastal road up north, we make some inland detours North of Tagbilaran, we can turn right just before Maribojoc, and go to Antequera.
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| The old Mag-Aso Falls |
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| The new Mag Aso Falls |
Antequera is an interior town some 19 kilometers to the north of Tagbilaran City and northeast of Maribojoc. The well known Mag-Aso falls can be found a few kilometers from the Poblacion - the road towards it makes a good walk.
Nature has changed the Mag-Aso waterfall from its former form. It wasn't changed during the 2013 earthquake but during typhoon Seniang that hit Bohol in 2014.
Antequera is also well known for its native products such as native baskets and furniture, you can see them during the market day on Sunday mornings. To be able to see the native products market, you will have get up early on a Sunday morning, market will ends by noon. Unfortunately, you cannot buy those products from the makers or seller, those products are already sold by the dealers. But if you have more time to spend in Bohol, you can pre order those products directly from the makers. Then they will make your ordered products and you can get them to the next Sunday market.
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| Philippine Tarsier |
Corella is another inland town, some 10 km north of Tagbilaran. In Corella, you can visit the Tarsier Sanctuary where tarsiers are observed, protected and are freely living on its natural habitat. In the sanctuary you can find trails and pathways (with tour guide) where you can observe the tarsiers in its natural habitat. If you are lucky you can see tarsiers jumping from trees to trees. If you really want to learn something about tarsiers, we strongly advise you to go here. You are not allowed to touch the animals here, but that is only for the good of those shy nocturnal creatures. This is a short tour guided tour. Tarsiers are quite sensitive and nocturnal, to respect that you are not allowed to make noise and sudden movements, it might cause a lot of stress for the Tarsier.
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| Kawasan Waterfall |
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| Balilihan Spanish Belfry |
Balilihan is 22 km. North of Tagbilaran. Balilihan can boast of its large number of waterfalls, including the Kawasan falls, Camugao falls and Kulang Kulang Falls. Camugao falls and Kulang Kulang Falls are located in barangay San Isidro, and Kawasan falls is some 5 kilometers from the center of Balilihan town. On top of Carmen hill, you can find yet another Spanish belfry, built in 1836 and inaugurated in 1846. This tower was also used as a watchtower to be able to give the villagers an early warning for marauders and other unwanted intruders.
The Balilihan Spanish belfry on Our lady of mount Carmel hill after the earthquake
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| Balilihan |
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| Balilihan |
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| Balilihan |
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| Balilihan |
Finally, we can leave Tagbilaran in the eastern direction, following the coastal ring-road counter-clockwise, we pass a number of towns.
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| Dimiao Church |
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| Ermita Ruins |
Dimiao is located on the southern coast of the province. Dimiao is home to an attractive and interesting church, the Saint Nicholas Tolentine Parish of which the ceilings have been recently repainted with attractive murals, behind which are located the fascinating Ermita ruins, including a wall of tombs in a honeycomb-like arrangement, constructed between 1800 and 1815, but apparently never used.
In the inland area of this municipality, numerous interesting natural attractions can be found, including attractive twin falls (and twin caves) located in barangay Guingoyuran, which requires a trek of a few hours to get there and back, during which you can see some nice views like rice terraces.
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| Pahangog twin Falls |
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| Rice Terraces |
The municipality is developing these as tourist attractions. You can ask the local tourist office for guidance.
Saint Nicholas Tolentine Parish church and the Ermita Ruins after the earthquake
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| Dimiao Church |
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| Dimiao Church |
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| Ermita Ruins |
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| Ermita Ruins |
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| Calamay |
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| Calamay |
Jagna is 63 km to the east of from Tagbilaran. Jagna has sea port where you can find shipping companies that offers connections to Mindanao, such as Butuan, Cagayan and Nasipit. Jagna is also famous as the home of one of Bohol's best known delicacies, Calamay (Calamay hati), a sticky and very sweet paste of sticky-rice flour and coconut milk, packed in a coconut shell, sealed with a characteristic red tape. Making Calamay needs constant stirring over a low fire until the desired thickness has been reached. Calamay has different flavours; original, with peanuts and ubi flavour.
If you are curious on how Calamay is made, you can visit the Calamay industry in barangay Can-upao, Jagna, Bohol.
You can also visit the beautiful Kinahugan Falls in sitio Karap-agan, Cabunga-an in Jagna, Bohol.
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| Anda |
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| Cabognaw Cave |
Anda is located on a small peninsula with the same name on the eastern end of Bohol, almost 100 km from Tagbilaran. In spite of the distance, this town is certainly worth a visit, and, since several resorts have been opened here, you can also stay here if you have more time at hand. You won't regret it, as Anda has much to offer: long unspoiled stretches of white beach, curious lime-stone rock formations and cliffs, countless caves, and some of the nicest and best preserved ceiling paintings of Bohol in its local church. Also for scuba-divers this place has a lot to offer.
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| Lamanoc Island |
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| Lamanoc Island |
Anda is now developed as an eco-tourism destination. On La Manok Island you can visit caves where ancient Andahanons brought native chicken (manok) to offer to the spirits (engkanto) during their rituals. In the La Manok Island tour you will be able to walk through a mangrove forest on a bamboo-made boardwalk. At the end of the boardwalk you will take a kayak or traditional banka to get to La Manok Island where you'll be guided through the mystical caves.
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| Can-umantad Falls |
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| Cadapdapan Rice Terraces |
Candijay is located in the eastern part of Bohol, approximately 97 kilometers away from Tagbilaran city. The name of the town is said to have been derived from Kang Dihay, which means "belonging to Dihay", a strong man with many followers. In time, the name was changed to Candijay.
The tourist destination of Candijay, Bohol: Canawa cold spring, Can-umantad watefalls and the beautiful rice terraces.
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| Carabao's Milk |
Ubay is a town in the North-East of Bohol. Ubay has sea port where you can find shipping company that travels to Cebu and vice versa. There are some big motorized bancas that operates from Ubay to Leyte or vice versa. Ubay is famous for agricultural farming such as rice, fish and Carabao farming. You can visit the PCC-USF stock farm where you can experience manual milking of the Carabao. Aside from dairy products, you can also buy Carabao milk soap products.
Aside from farming, Ubay has a beautiful landscape to be admired. There is a horse Back Riding tour in Ubay stock farm, where you can enjoy the mountainous landscape. You can also join the hiking tour of Cambugsay Healing Hills and Malingin Dam.
Rodelyn Gallo Hellingman
| WayPH wrote: |
| Tuesday, 26 July 2022 10:33:17 PHT
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| If you're looking for a breathtaking, once-in-a-lifetime experience, Bohol is the place for you. I had the chance to visit Bohol for six days, and I can say without a doubt that it was one of the most amazing places I've ever been. The Bohol Countryside Tour is a must-do while you're there. You'll get to see some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, including the Chocolate Hills, the Tarsier Sanctuary, and the baffling Loboc River. And of course, no trip to Bohol would be complete without meeting the friendly, gentle Philippine tarsiers.
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| Guide to the Philippines wrote: |
| Monday, 1 June 2020 13:44:15 PHT
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| Informative content! Bohol is, indeed, one of the most popular and tourist-friendly destinations in the Philippines.
For additional information, visit this article 18 Best Tourist Spots in Bohol Philippines | Land of Chocolate Hills.
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| Bohol Online Store wrote: |
| Tuesday, 4 February 2020 23:40:28 PHT
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| We deliver grocery items in Bohol, Philippines.
If you are an OFW, overseas worker or far from Bohol, and you want to send money to your family, instead of money you can send them groceries. Visit our website at www.boholonlinestore.com Or send us an email at storebohol@gmail.com
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| Blue Freedom Apnea wrote: |
| Monday, 6 January 2020 12:06:54 PHT
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| There is new freediving school open in Panglao, Bohol. They are non-profit organization that offer AIDA and Molchanovs courses from beginner level to instructor level. If you want to explore Balicasag island in Panglao, you can also do fun dive with them. Checkout their website is https://bluefreedomapnea.com . You can also send an enquiry to their enquiry page Send Enquiry. #freedive #freediving panglao #freediving bohol #freediving philippines
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| Annjocel Pineda Gapasin wrote: |
| Sunday, 26 May 2019 13:32:22 PHT
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| Nice place! Wish to visit this place soon
Annjocel Gapasin | SEO Expert Philippines
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