Central Visayas · Philippines
A thousand grass-covered Chocolate Hills, the world's smallest primate, a jungle river cruise and the white-sand diving beaches of Panglao.
Photo: Wolfgang Hägele · CC BY-SA 4.0
Bohol is a round island in the Visayas, an easy hop from Cebu, and one of the country's most complete destinations for a short trip. Its main sights can be seen in a single-day loop by car or van, and its southwest tip, Panglao, has some of the best beaches and diving in the central Philippines.
The signature sight is the Chocolate Hills, more than 1,200 dome-shaped hills of nearly uniform size, covered in grass that turns chocolate brown in the dry season. A viewing deck at Carmen gives the best panorama. Other stops include the Philippine tarsier, one of the world's smallest primates, at a sanctuary in Corella, a lunch cruise on the calm Loboc River through jungle, and Baclayon Church, one of the oldest stone churches in the country, built by the Jesuits in the 16th century.
The 2013 earthquake damaged many churches, but restoration is well advanced. After a day of sightseeing, most visitors relax on Alona Beach or take a boat to Balicasag and Virgin Islands for snorkelling and a sandbar. Three days is a good stay.
Why visit
Bohol is compact, easy and full of variety.
A unique landscape.
Tiny wide-eyed primates.
A jungle cruise.
White sand and reefs.
Baclayon and more.
Main attractions
The land tour covers the interior, and Panglao offers the beaches.
More than 1,200 conical hills between 30 and 120 metres tall, best seen from the viewing complex in Carmen.
Tip Go early or late.
A tiny nocturnal primate with enormous eyes, seen at a sanctuary where visitors must be silent and cannot use flash.
Tip Choose the Corella sanctuary.
A calm river lined with palms, with lunch cruises on floating restaurants.
Tip Book a morning cruise.
A coral-stone Jesuit church from 1595, one of the oldest in the country.
Tip Visit the museum.
The main beach on Panglao, with restaurants, dive shops and white sand.
Tip Go in the evening.
A marine sanctuary with coral walls.
Tip Book with a licensed boat.
Things to do
Bohol is about a day tour and beach days.
Hills, tarsiers, river and church.
Tip Hire a car and driver.
Coral gardens.
Tip Go early.
Walls and turtles.
Tip Book certified centres.
Sunset drinks.
Tip Wear sandals.
At Danao adventure park.
Tip Book a slot.
On dawn boat trips.
Tip Choose responsible operators.
Local food
Bohol's food is Filipino with local twists.
A sticky sweet made of coconut milk and rice.
Where to try it Roadside stalls.
Raw fish in vinegar.
Where to try it Seaside restaurants.
Fresh catch.
Where to try it Alona Beach.
Purple yam sweets.
Where to try it Bakeries.
Buffet on the Loboc.
Where to try it River cruises.
Accommodation
Stay on Panglao.
Transport
Bohol is easy to reach.
Private cars and tricycles.
When to go
Bohol is best in the dry season.
Cool and dry.
Hot, with brown hills.
Rain.
Typhoons possible.
Worth planning around: Typhoon season.
Itinerary
A country tour, beach and reef.
Hills and river.
Reefs.
Relax.
Travel tips
A few tips help you plan.
FAQ
Three.
They turn brown in the dry season.
Yes, at sanctuaries.
Flight or ferry from Cebu.
Yes.
December to May.
Keep exploring
Places that pair well with Bohol, whether you have a few spare days or are building a longer route.
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A long island and a city with Magellan's Cross and the Basilica del Santo Niño, plus Moalboal's sardine run, Kawasan Falls canyoneering, Oslob and Malapascua.
Don't miss Snorkelling in the middle of a swirling ball of millions of sardines at Moalboal.
Explore Destination — CebuAklan, Western Visayas, Philippines
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Don't miss Watching the sails of the paraw boats glide across the water at sunset off White Beach.
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A laid-back island with the Cloud 9 surf break, the Sugba and Magpupungko lagoons and rock pools, Naked Island, Sohoton Cove and a growing café and yoga scene.
Don't miss Watching surfers ride the tubing waves of Cloud 9 from the boardwalk at sunrise.
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