Bohol Hotels

The province off Cebu, though not quite Palawan, is the anti-Boracay and hospitable, long-time islanders want to keep it that way. Panglao, a small island that abuts Bohol capital Tagbilaran City, may be the new star in the Philippines, with more and more international arrivals every year, but, for the moment, the harmful, permanent and tacky effects of package holiday tourism have been held in check.

The majority of Bohol province visitors do escape to resorts on Panglao to dive and revel in tropical indolence. The island of Bohol, however, is far from short on seaside enchantment, with a slew of spectacular, furtive caves, coves, falls and white sand hideouts where locals go to swim and frolic in crystalline waters. If it seems idyllic, it is. Now that the secret is out, hope that management takes measures to protect this foremost Filipino jewel.

Bohol’s Top 10

Bohol Local

Bohol is a province in the Central Visayas of the Philippines that consists not only of Bohol Island but 75 satellite islands. The total population of the province is 1.3 million, which covers 47 municipal divisions in all.

Tagbilaran City is the capital of Bohol and a second class component city of 100,000 people. The city in the southwest corner of the island is a busy transport, economic and administrative hub.

Panglao is the premier tourist island of Bohol province and, with incomparable marine biodiversity, is a major draw for divers. Home to a modest lineup of resorts, the island is accessible from Tagbilaran City by a short bridge and, happily for now, lacks the crass chockablock development of beach islands like Boracay.

Anda, a small municipality in eastern Bohol, contains some beautiful stretches of coastline.

Bilar is a prime example of why it pays to explore the interior of Bohol Island. The small town is on the doorstep of lush and exquisite forests, as well as the Chocolate Hills.

Catigbian points of interest include Bongbong Cave, Candumayao Cave, Cantalina Cave, Haguilanan Cave and Dagook Falls. The municipality in west central Bohol contains 25,000 people.

Jagna is a town in southeast Bohol with close to 35,000 people. The port and commercial hub is home to a few significant colonial landmarks from the Spanish occupation.

Sierra Bullones is a hill resort municipality in central Bohol.

Talibon is approximately 115 km from Tagbilaran City in northern Bohol. The breezy town of 60,000 people has some gorgeous seascapes and colonial era points of interest.

Tubigon is around the corner from Tagbilaran City on the Cebu Strait and has close to 45,000 people. The town is a major seaport that provides ferry access to and from Cebu City.

Ubay is a first class municipality in northeast Bohol with a population of just under 70,000 people. The area is a hub of agri-tourism and a seaport with access to Leyte Island in the Eastern Visayas.

Bohol Eat & Drink

Most of the tourist bars and restaurants in Bohol operate on the tiny island of Panglao, just off Tagbilaran City and the southwest coast of Bohol island.

Bohol Events

Bohol holds a number of important festivals throughout the year that fall under the purview of the Catholic faith. Much like the rest of the Philippines, towns commemorate patron saint and feast days with exuberant zeal and pageantry, with manifest traces of indigenous culture.

Sandugo Festival commemorates the March 16, 1565 blood compact between Bohol chieftain Datu Sikatuna and explorer cum conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi.

Tagbilaran City Fiesta starts with the Feast of Saint Joseph on May 1 and features beauty contests, concerts, plays, parades and other events in the Bohol capital.

Agbunan Festival, in San Isidro, takes place on June 28 and highlights the best of the foremost agricultural region.

Ube Festival, in January, celebrates that most famous of Bohol exports. Ube, the venerable purple yam, forms the backbone of halo-halo, the Filipino national dessert.

SidlaKasilak, from August 30 to September 8, is a colourful festival of lights in the Bohol municipality of Loon.

Pahinungod Festival is one of the most vibrant patron saint festivals in the month of May in Bohol. The ten-day festival takes place in the municipality of Calape.

When To Go

The equator metes out meteorological uniformity and, indeed, Bohol has stable temperatures between 73°F (23°C) and 91°F (33°C) for the year. While the tropical climate induces inevitable periods of rain, the protection of the Central Visayas mitigates monsoons and keeps violent storms in check. All in all, Tagbilaran City sees a relatively paltry 1,000 mm of precipitation a year. The months of June, July, October, November and December bring the most rainfall, on average, but distribution is somewhat even.

What To Miss

The rise of international arrivals to Bohol and Panglao has led to a parallel jump in some of the more undesirable facets of tropical island tourism. Though far less common than in Boracay or, indeed, Thailand, plucky, persistent and opportunistic entrepreneurship is more and more pervasive in the Central Visayas. From fly-by-night tour operators to beach touts, Bohol has some crafty fortune-hunters. On the whole, however, the level of predation is less pushy and sinister and exudes far more politesse than other parts of Southeast Asia.

Getting Around

The vast majority of visitors to Bohol make land at Tagbilaran Airport from Ninoy Aquino International in Metro Manila or, less frequently, Mactan-Cebu International in Lapu-Lapu City. Fast ferry service from Cebu is less common, as is access by ship from the likes of Manila, Cagayan de Oro City, Dumaguete, Dipolog, Iligan City, Larena, Plaridel and Ozamiz City.

Car hire is the best method to explore Bohol and Panglao on your own time but a variety of bus lines do crisscross the islands and hit up major and minor towns and points of interest. Arrangements must be made in Tagbilaran City. The capital of Bohol also runs a modest but effective taxi fleet. Passengers should negotiate terms and fares in advance.