Nicknamed “The City of Friendship”; about a 1-hour plane ride from Manila

Best time to visit: April to June when the cogon that covers grass the hills turn brown, making them look like they were made of chocolate; this is also the best time for dolphin and whale watching, but they can be seen off the waters of Panglao all-year round.  Another option is to plan your trip in March so that you can catch the Sandugo Festival which commemorates the blood compact between Datu Sikatuna and Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legaspi.

What You Shouldn’t Miss

Chocolate Hills
• 1,268 mounds of marine limestone which were formed when Bohol was still an undersea coral reef; almost uniform in height (30-50 meters each)
• walk up 214 steps to the observation deck and then challenge your nerve by crossing the Sipatan Hanging Bridge that lies across the Loboc side of the river to the Sevilla side

Loboc River
• take a cruise along the river from the Busay Waterfalls and back to its base
• have a relaxing lunch while being serenaded by a guitarist or Loboc's Cultural Group
• stop by a DOT-approved viewing station to have a close encounter with tarsier monkeys, the world’s smallest primates

Punta Cruz Watch Tower
• situated 14 kilometers west of the provincial capital Tagbilaran City
• a triangular watch tower build in the 1700s for the use of the Spaniard troops in the island as a look-out point against pirates
• offers clear views of the islands of Cebu, Siquijor and Mindanao

Panglao Island
• 30 minutes from the capital city of Tagbilaran; it offers beaches with powdery white sand that rivals those in Boracay
• go dolphin & whale watching off its shores or go diving and explore Balicasag's reefs and fish sanctuary
• explore the island while riding behind the driver of a habal-habal: a motorcycle that takes one passenger at a time

Hinagdanan Cave
• located in Bingag, northheast of Panglao.
• a natural underground cave with a pool of clear water perfect for a quick dip or a leisurely swim.
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Danao Extreme Adventure
• roughly 2 hours away from Tagbilaran by land
• offers spelunking, rapelling and zipline, bouldering and trekking.

Baclayon Church
• one of the oldest churches in the Philippines; materials used in its construction include coral stones and egg whites
• adjoining museum has a good collection of religious artifacts, with its main attraction being a tabernacle made of Mexican silver

San Vicente Ferrer Church in Calape
• gothic inspired with candy-colored facade
• features main doors covered with carvings of saints, apostles and popes

What to Eat

Check out the restaurants along Alona Beach which offer fresh seafood and tasty local fare.  Standouts among them are Oops, Trudi’s Place and Lost Horizon. 

Stay at Alona Beach if you want to experience an almost Boracay-style vibe at night, with many of the restaurants and resorts offering acoustic music to its patrons. 

Enjoy a breathtaking view of the sea while enjoying the Bohol Bee Farm’s organic buffet with standouts such as blue marlin, seafood lasagna, vegetable & flower salad, and cassava chips with pesto.

Other good bets for seafood are Mira Villa Restaurant and Pyramid Restaurant Bar.

What to Bring Home

Grab a dozen or so boxes of everyone’s favorite pasalubong from Bohol: peanut kisses, peanut and eggwhite triangular cookies shaped to reseble the famous Chocolate Hills.  Best bet is to go to its factory outlet or the Island City Mall Supermarket where they are cheapest. 

Try out other native treats such as kalamay and binagol available in food stalls all over the province.

Souvenir items such as t-shirts, sarongs, tarsier knickknacks are cheaper outside Hinagdanan Cave than at the mall.