Is Bohol Worth Visiting? | 10 Special Reasons | Travel Guide
So, you may be thinking, “Is Bohol worth visiting?” Well, you are not alone. We almost skipped Bohol when we went around the Philippines in 2012.
But after having a taste of its rich culture and heritage when I met the Eskaya tribe in Duero, Bohol, getting a glimpse of its beautiful landscapes as we traversed Tagbilaran to Duero to Carmen, finally seeing the charming Chocolate Hills in person, and not just in books and photos, and finally sunbathing in the beautiful beaches of Panglao during my most recent visit, I can confidently say that yes, Bohol is worth visiting and I highly recommend it!
Read on as I share with you the reasons why I think it’s worth planning a trip to this beautiful part of the Philippines. By the end of this blog post, you’ll have the answer to the question, “Is Bohol worth visiting?” And, if you’re convinced that it is so, you’ll also love the travel guide that I created for you!
Planning a trip to Bohol? Use my favorite resources.
✈️ Budget flights in Asia: I recommend booking with Airasia
🔎 Looking for flights to the Philippines? Search for cheap flights at Trip.com
🏞️ Tours & Experiences: I recommend booking with GetYourGuide, Klook, or Viator
🛏️ Hotels & Accommodation: I recommend booking with Agoda
🚂 Trains, Buses, Sea Ferries: I recommend booking with 12go
🛜 eSIM: Airalo
🗂️ Visas + Travel Documents: I recommend using iVisa
✔️ Travel Insurance: I recommend Heymondo (get 5% off if you use my link)
🩺 SafetyWing (travel medical insurance)
*These are all travel resources I personally use for planning and booking my trips. If you use them, some of them will earn me a commission at no extra cost to you. This helps reduce the ever-increasing costs of keeping my site up. Thanks!
Is Bohol worth visiting?
Aside from its pristine white sand beaches, breathtaking reefs and falls, picturesque landscapes, and friendly and welcoming Boholanos, Bohol is also home to unique attractions that you can’t find anywhere in the Philippines, like the Chocolate Hills and the Philippine tarsiers. These are some of the reasons why my answer is yes to the question, “Is Bohol worth visiting?”
But if you need more convincing, here are the top 10 reasons why I think it’s worth planning a trip to Bohol.
1. The curious Chocolate Hills of Bohol.
When you visit Bohol, you should see the world-famous Chocolate Hills.
During summer, its landscape transforms into what resembles the color of chocolate – giving it the name Chocolate Hills.
I first learned about Chocolate Hills when I was in grade school. And seeing the Chocolate Hills in person and not just in books, even just for 10 minutes, made my first time visiting Bohol worth it.
2. The endangered Philippine tarsiers.
If you love animals, then may find that Bohol is worth visiting.
When you visit the Philippine Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary in Bohol, you can meet one of the smallest known primates in the world – the Philippine tarsiers. These nocturnal animals are only just about as big as the palm of your hand.
Even as a Filipino who learned about the Philippine tarsiers at school as a kid, getting the chance to meet these tiny and adorable creatures was a beautiful experience.
I also loved that I saw them in their natural habitat at the sanctuary and not captivated. Knowing that there’s a community that takes care of and protects them makes me hopeful that the next generation will still get the opportunity to meet the adorable Philippine tarsiers.
3. Dining with a view at the Loboc River.
Delight in a scenic view while you enjoy your lunch buffet as you cruise the jade-green Loboc River. You might also get to watch a short cultural show by the local folk dancers and singers!
I had the chance to experience this when I visited Bohol with my partner in 2019. And truth be told, if I wasn’t with a balikbayan, I probably wouldn’t be caught doing this.
But there was something about seeing my partner enjoy the experience and seeing how gorgeous the view was while cruising the Loboc River that made doing this during our visit to Bohol worth it.
4. Being at the exact place where sandugo happened.
If you’re a history buff, this could be a treat! Be at the exact place where a poignant point in Philippine history happened – where the Spanish explorer, Captain General Miguel López de Legazpi, and Chieftain Datu Sikatuna performed a blood compact (sandugo) to symbolize their friendship.
5. The Bilar Manmade Forest.
When you visit Bohol, you can take a stroll along the 2-kilometer stretch of mahogany trees at the Bilar Manmade Forest, the largest manmade forest in the Philippines.
Is Bohol worth visiting even if you only have one day?
Yes it is! There is a lot you can do in one day in Bohol.
Book this Bohol Countryside Tour to see the beautiful tourist attractions in Bohol in one day. This is the same tour my partner and I booked back in 2019, and we enjoyed it!
- Visit the exact place where the Spanish explorer, Captain General Miguel López de Legazpi, and Chieftain Datu Sikatuna performed a blood compact (sandugo) to symbolize their friendship.
- Admire the Neoclassical architecture of Baclayon Church, one of the oldest churches in the Philippines.
- See the world-famous Chocolate Hills.
- Stroll through the beautiful mahogany forest, the Bilar Manmade Forest.
- Enjoy a sumptuous local buffet lunch surrounded by a picturesque landscape while cruising through the Loboc River.
- Meet the endangered tarsiers at the Philippine Tarsier Conservation.
6. The gorgeous white-sand beaches of Panglao.
The Philippines is home to many stunning beaches like the ones found in Boracay and Palawan. And Bohol is no different!
If you’re a beach lover, you can spend a day or two in Panglao and enjoy its lovely beaches. By the end of your trip, I’m confident you’ll also answer “yes” to the question, “Is Bohol worth visiting?”
💡 PRO TIP: Looking for a quiet ambiance and an unspoiled white sand beach? Head to the Virgin Islands! But if you’re looking for a beach with a vibe similar to Boracay’s, Alona Beach may be the place for you!
7. A chance to swim with the sardines at Napaling Reef (worth visiting for underwater explorers).
Napaling Reef, with its abundant and vibrant marine life, is the most famous dive spot in Bohol. Whether you’re into snorkeling, a beginner scuba diver, or a freediver, this is a must-visit place in Bohol.
💡 PRO TIP: No time to pre-book tours? Ask your accommodation host to help you book snorkeling activities, scuba diving, freediving, boat tours, and other tour packages when you get to Bohol. Hotels have partner tour organizers; if you’re staying with a smaller establishment, they usually have local contacts to refer you to.
But just a warning, they may turn out to be more expensive. So, I still recommend that you do your research and book your tours with reputable travel agencies like those found in Klook, Viator, and Get Your Guide. Browse through the prices + read the reviews!
8. Taking a dip at the beautiful waterfalls of Bohol (worth visiting for adventure-lovers).
While the beaches of Bohol are stunning, they are not the only reason Bohol is worth visiting.
If you’re up to take the off-the-beaten-path, why not take a trip to some of Bohol’s picturesque waterfalls – Can-Umantad Falls in Candijay, Pahangog Falls, Ingkumhan Falls, and Dimiao Twin Falls?
9. Watching the gorgeous sunrise from Alicia Panoramic Park.
Start your day early and trek to Alicia Panoramic Park, one of Bohol’s most Instagrammable places. From here, you can watch the sunrise over the breathtaking landscape of Binabaje Hills.
10. Meeting the Eskaya Tribe in Duero, Bohol (worth visiting for culture-lovers).
I first visited Bohol not to see the Chocolate Hills or swim at the beaches of Panglao (although I’ve done them both and enjoyed them!) but to meet the Eskaya tribe in Duero. My friend Tara and I found their scripts online, which drew us to travel to Bohol and pay them a visit – even if, at that time, very little information about how to get there was available online.
They live atop a beautiful mountain in Duero, and we had to commission a habal-habal ride just to meet them.
💡 PRO TIP: If you want to visit the Eskaya tribe on your next trip to Bohol, please get in touch with the National Commission on Indigenous People – Bohol to arrange your visit.
Where to stay in Panglao, Bohol
Being one of the Philippines’ top tourist destinations, Bohol offers many accommodation options for its visitors. I couchsurfed on my first visit to Bohol, but on my next visit, I stayed at The Bellevue Resort in Panglao (and while it was on the more expensive side, it totally helped make my visit to Bohol worth it!).
As someone who researches for days and weeks before deciding which accommodation to book, I wanted to share some of the top-rated accommodations in Bohol.
👉🏼 Budget Option: Canna Boutique Hostel
👉🏼 Mid-range Option: The Bellevue Resort
👉🏼 Luxury Option: Amorita Resort
Bohol Travel Guide
Was I able to help you answer the question, “Is Bohol worth visiting? Great! Now that you have answer to the question, “Is Bohol worth visiting?”, it’s now time to plan your trip to Bohol!
Here’s a Bohol travel guide to help you get started.
How to get to Bohol, Philippines
- If you’re coming from outside the Philippines, book a flight to Manila (MNL) or Cebu (CEB). From Manila, you can book a flight directly to Bohol.
- Coming from Cebu? Take the ferry to Tagbilaran, Bohol.
- If your hotel is on Panglao Island, you can charter a ride from Bohol-Panglao International Airport or from Tagbilaran Pier to Panglao.
Do I need a visa to visit Bohol in the Philippines?
It depends on where you’re from. Check with iVisa to see if you need a visa to visit the Philippines.
Do I need travel insurance to visit Bohol?
No, the Philippines does not require that you have travel insurance when visiting the country. But I think it’s always better to be safe than sorry. So, consider getting travel insurance that includes COVID coverage.
How to get around Bohol
There are jeepneys, tricycles, buses, motorbikes, vans for hire, and car rentals in Bohol to help you travel around the province.
While my experience commuting around Bohol was quite pleasant – with its picturesque views and friendly people, I also loved the convenience and comfort of chartering a private ride.
Bohol, being part of the tropical country of the Philippines, can be hot and humid. So, riding a car with air-conditioning was a relief. Renting a private car is also what I recommend to you, especially if you’re not used to being in a hot and humid country.
Where to exchange currency in Bohol
There are money changers in Tagbilaran and Panglao. But I’ve read that the rates are better in Tagbilaran. If you’re coming from Manila or Cebu, I suggest you change your money while you’re there to get better rates.
You can also use your credit card or debit card while in Bohol. There are ATMs where you can withdraw money. Just make sure to communicate with your bank ahead of time.
What time of year is best to visit Bohol?
If you’re aiming to catch as much sun as possible, plan your visit to Bohol between December and May. However, I would still check out the weather forecast.
A little note: Many say that June to November are months that you should avoid visiting the popular beach destinations in the Philippines, like Boracay and Palawan. But I’ve been to both in July, and the weather was fine.
Should I hire a travel guide to make visiting Bohol worth it?
You don’t need a travel guide when visiting Bohol as you can navigate around Bohol easily on your own. But, I would still highly recommend getting yourself a local guide, especially if you’re a first-time visitor who wants to learn about the places you’re visiting.
💡 PRO TIP: Book tours with reputable travel agencies like those listed with Klook, Viator, and Get Your Guide. Browse through the prices + read the reviews!
Sample Bohol itinerary for 3 days and 2 nights
- Day 1: Book this Bohol Countryside Tour and get to visit the top tourist spots of Bohol: Chocolate Hills, Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary, Bilar Manmade Forest, and Baclayon Church, have lunch while cruising down the Loboc River, and see the exact spot where sandugo (blood compact) happened between the Spanish explorer, Captain General Miguel López de Legazpi, and Chieftain Datu Sikatuna.
- Day 2: Go dolphin-watching, snorkel with the turtles, and enjoy a relaxing day at Pamilacan Island. In the afternoon, watch the sunset from the Virgin Islands.
- Day 3: Enjoy your last day at your hotel or spend the day at a private beach.
After visiting Bohol, where else is worth visiting?
This is always quite tricky to answer. ‘Cos it depends on what you fancy doing and experiencing next. But if you want to visit two provinces on one trip, you can plan to visit Cebu, too.
Bohol and Cebu are just a ferry ride away from each other, and, like Bohol, Cebu is also rich in history and culture, with some of the best beaches in the Philippines.
FAQs: Is Bohol Worth Visiting?
Is Bohol too touristy?
Yes, it is. This was one of the reasons why I hesitated to visit Bohol back in 2012. But, after meeting the Eskaya tribe in Duero, swimming at the gorgeous beaches of Panglao, and seeing the until-now-unexplained phenomenon of Chocolate Hills, I can say that Bohol is more than just a tourist spot. It’s a place worth visiting in the Philippines.
How many days is enough in Bohol?
If you have limited time in Bohol and just want to visit the province’s top attractions (including the Chocolate Hills and Philippine tarsiers) and chill by the beach, then 3-4 days should be enough to make your visit to Bohol worth it.
The Wrap-up: So, is Bohol worth visiting?
Yes, it is! Its pristine white sand beaches, breathtaking reefs and falls, picturesque landscapes, and friendly and welcoming Boholanos are some of the reasons why I believe Bohol is worth visiting. And I hope this post helped you see why you shouldn’t miss Bohol when you visit the Philippines. Happy planning!
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