Bohol Island ｜ Adventures In Central Visayas
Bohol island, located a short jaunt east of Cebu island, is a nature-lovers paradise. Sporting great dive sites, lush forests, and the amazing Chocolate Hills, the island feels almost boundless with exploration opportunities. Couple that with a far lower population density than neighboring Cebu and you’ve got one amazing travel destination.
The only main hitches to this island getaway is actually figuring out the best way to get there and deciding how you’re going to get around the island.
Getting To/From Bohol Island
By far the most confusing thing about going to Bohol Island is unraveling the mystery of how to get there.
The south of the island does have an international airport, Panglao International Airport. This is great is you’re coming from Manila (and a handful of other domestic places), but if you’re coming from outside the Philippines, the only place that flies into Panglao is Seoul, South Korea.
Most travelers might have to bite the bullet and fly into Mactan-Cebu International Airport on Cebu. From there you’ll to take a boat.
The Bane of Boats
Getting from Cebu City to Bohol by boat should be a straight forward affair, but it’s a bit of a nightmare.
For starts, it’s not clear what city you should sail to. We mistakenly believed it was best to go to Jetafe city (also spelt Getafe), on the north-west coast. It’s the shortest route from Cebu City and there are plenty of ferries doing the trip. After some research we discovered that there is a lack of infrastructure in Jetafe to support tourists. So, no motorbike rentals, buses, or tour operations going on there.
The main point of entry for tourists is Tagbilaran City, on the south-west side of the island. It’s a lot further away than Jetafe, so not only do the boats take over the double the time to get there, they’re also more expensive. All that sucks, but this is where you’ll have a far better chances of setting yourself up with a car/motorbike rental, tour, etc.
Now that we know which city to sail into, getting a ticket becomes the next issue. I don’t think it’s possible to buy a ticket for the ferry online directly from the companies that run the ferries. You can certainly go to the port and buy tickets directly, but if you’re planning to travel the same day or have a tight window, chancing it might be not be the best idea. The only real option is to buy a ticket through a 3rd party reseller, and they increase the price by 30% or more. It’s a huge rip-off, but there’s not much you can do. You will need to shop around a little as some website will actually double the price. Give yourself a few hours to sort out the monkey business going on here.
Word to wise, don’t expect a comfortable ride over. The water isn’t so choppy, but the seats on the boat are just awful. They are very narrow and hard. Even first class isn’t all that grand.
Getting Around Bohol Island
Once you arrive at the port in Tagbilaran City you’ll be greeted by throngs of touts trying to sell you everything under the sun. If you’re worried about missing an opportunity to buy a tour, don’t worry. You’ll find these guys up in town, as well as a number of tour shops.
If you’re staying on the island, it might be a good idea to arrange transport with your hotel before arriving. That will save you a lot of stress. For everyone else, you have the choice of take a tour via tricycle or taxi. You can also do it on your own by renting a car or motorbike. There are also public bus that traverse the island.
It seems like there is an endless supply of guys waiting with tricycles at the port. Honestly, I would avoid hiring one to drive you around. Traffic isn’t bad on the island so there is no advantage to being in something small. It is a fairly big place and it takes a few hours to get from one place to the next, so the comfort of a taxi would be much better.
Renting your own vehicle will give you the freedom to do what you want. There really is no shortage of places to rent from, especially motorbikes. We did some quick research when arrived and decided to go with a place called Mervin Bohol Motorbike and Car Rentals. We had to haggle a little bit, but got two 250cc motorbikes in good condition for ₱400 each and left a ₱2000 security fee for each bike. Traffic is really moderate, especially once you’re outside of Tagbilaran City.
Sightseeing On Bohol Island
The island is lush, green, and offers many great things to stop and see. It’s the kind of place that has little hidden spots that reward travelers that get off the beaten path. Lots of forests and hiking trails to explore, and even pleasant small towns to explore, and some interesting old churches to see as well.
Of course, the island also has one of the most famous places in the Philippines; the Chocolate Hills.
➣Chocolate Hills (*Free; 24h)
The Chocolate Hills are free to see and accessible 24 hours a day, with some caveat.
Located pretty much dead center on the island (here), these natural wonders are a must a see. Depending on the season, they may or may not look chocolaty. The vegetation in the area start to dry out in late April and stays browns for the summer until the rainy season starts. Even if you visit when the hills are green, this beautiful land formation is a must see.
While the Chocolate Hills are free, opportunist Filipinos have tried to capitalize off the area. For example, there is a place called Chocolate Hills Adventure Park (website / location) which I wrongly assumed was the official national park. It’s not and there doesn’t seem to be a national park that you enter. Rather, the way you take in the hills is just by driving around the many roads in the area. Some of these roads are toll roads and others are not.
Anyway, the Chocolate Hill Adventure Park wasn’t a bad place. Entry is priced at a reasonable ₱80, if you’re only headed to the view point. The views are quite nice here and it’s a great place to use a bathroom.
➣Tarsier Viewing (₱80; 8am – 5pm)
As we drove around to and from the Chocolate Hills we saw several self-proclaimed conservation areas for viewing the tarsier (a type of very small primate).
We saw lots of people stopping at the Bohol Tarsier Conservation Area and decided to pop in. As soon as we paid and walked past the barriers I realized we were in a tourist trap. They do indeed have trasiers, however conditions are poor and the staff appeared unconcerned about the welfare of the animals and more concerned about tip money from tourists that wanted photos. I highly regret going here and recommend you avoid these places.
If you really want to see these unique animals, please do so through the Philippine Tarsier Foundation, which is the official non-profit conservation group.
Eating, Drinking, & Sleeping
I wish we had some advice to give here, however we stop to eat anywhere. We also didn’t stay overnight on the island (read more about that below).
How Long To Stay On Bohol Island
Can you do Bohol Island as a day trip from Cebu?
Yes!
Should you?
NO!
Considering how long you need to ferry across both ways, the times of first and last boat, getting orientated and figuring out your logistics when you arrive, travel time between locations on the island, and padding all that for unknown incidentals (like the huge rainstorm we got stuck in forcing us to drive much slower) and it doesn’t leave you with much time to enjoy what’s here.
If I could go back and redo this trip, I would not do this as a day trip. We had just enough time to get to and from the Chocolate Hills, but not enough time to really explore the area. I am also sure there were many things we missed cause we were rushing.
If you want to do this area right, I think you need three to five days. If you plan to do some diving and seeing the whole island, you could probably spend ten days and not see the same things twice. At the very least, you should spend a night here.
Scams, Dangers, & Annoyances
Bohol Island seems to be pretty relaxed with little to worry about. The main thing you should try to avoid are the touts that will greet you at the port. These guys are annoying and don’t take ‘no’ for an answer. One guy followed us for a few blocks and was a real pest. Even if you don’t engage with them they will follow you.
There is one major scam all travelers should be aware of:
➣The BIGGEST Scam in the Philippines
The BIGGEST Scam in the Philippines is something most travelers can run into at any bar in the country. It’s easy to avoid if …
There is also one major danger you’ll find throughout the country:
➣Broken Pedestrian Infrastructure
In many developing countries pedestrian infrastructure is sorely lacking. So, what’s the best way to stay safe and …
If you plan on just the bus, you should check out:
➣Fake Bus Staff
Fake bus staff scamming tourists at a bus station can be a serious issue in many counties. Let’s see how this scam works and how it can …
➣Buses in the Philippines; Tips & Tricks
Buses in the Philippines aren’t the most glamours way to get around, so you need to follow these tips to make your trip as comfortable as …
Need more information about the Philippines?
Read our our full write up on Manila HERE.
Peruse our full write up on Angeles City HERE.
Check out full write up on Cebu HERE.
Look at our full write up on Laoag HERE.
View our full write up on Vigan HERE.
