I always treat Bohol an an important island, in terms of history, for many reasons, including the “Blood Compact,” Dagohoy’s 80-year revolution, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, and Yoyoy Villame, who made recalling Philippine history easier by making a song out of it. In addition to these significant contributions to Philippine history, Bohol also offers one-of-a-kind experience with the best of stunning rural landscapes and pristine beaches.

1. How to get to Bohol
2. Where to stay in Tagbilaran
3. What to do in Bohol
   1. Loboc River Cruise and Lunch, side trip to Loboc Church
   2. Chocolate Hills in Carmen
4. Manmade Forest, Bilar
5. Butterfly Sanctuary
6. Baclayon Church
7. Panglao Island | Dauis Church, Alona Beach, Hinagdanan Cave
8. Carlos P. Garcia House
9. National Museum in Tagbilaran City
10. Where to eat in Bohol

How to get to Bohol

There are many ports in Bohol. If coming from Cebu, I usually ride the Supercat or the Lite Ferries boat to Tagbilaran. The travel time takes 4 hours, more or less. A shorter boat ride would be to Tubigon Port, which is only about two hours from Cebu City’s Pier 1.

I most enjoy taking Lite Ferries via Tagbilaran City on my way to Siquijor when I’m taking the long trip via boat. But I would only have two hours and my destination would always be the same — Buzz Cafe at Galeria Luisa to buy dinner and eat ice cream, and buy lipstick at Watsons in the same mall. Sometimes I eat at the restaurant, often times, I just go back to the boat as soon as my order is ready and eat in the boat. I have only toured our neighbor island twice, and every time felt like the island was not for me. But in February, I had a quick trip to Bohol with my husband’s family, and the whole time I realized how much this neighbor has improved, has matured.

Bohol is not very progressive in terms of modern industries. Most of the island is still agricultural and I have not glimpsed factories or processing zones despite the island’s huge tracts of land. I think this is one of the charms of Bohol. It has retained its “nayong Pilipino” environment despite the pressure to modernize.

Where to stay in Tagbilaran

717 Cesars Place. I was looking for a hotel that could accommodate four adults, 1 12-year old teenager, and 1 10-year old teenager, and my search in Agoda led me to Cesars Place. I think the hotel can be classified as mid-range, but it is relatively new and is still clean. Read on for my reviews, whether I recommend it, it’s pros and cons.

The room was huge. Maybe the size of our apartment in Cebu City. The family room had two queen sized beds (with very soft pillows) and we were given one folding bed with foam as extra bed. There was a huge sofa at one corner that can be used for one person to sleep in. The airconditioning was good. One side of the room was in glass. The toilet and bath was also spacious although it does not have a lock, so announce ahead that you are inside. They had no cable so we just turned off the television most of the time. They have free wi-fi but the connection got slow in the evening.

Belian Hotel. We were also able to stay at the Belian Hotel (c/o my in-laws) I found the hotel’s distance to the port very convenient because it is a hassle to ride Tagbilaran’s tricycle (they are cramped). The hotel does have its own van shuttle and you can request to use the shuttle services ahead of time. What I loved about this hotel is its elevator, which is very convenient for elders and people with disability. The hotel also has a buffet breakfast. On the day we stayed, I remembered eating congee, adobong manok, scrambled egg, and toasted bread. We also had coffee and pastries there, and all I loved among the many cakes we tasted was the mango crepe cake. Because the hotel is located near the port, it was trying to save on space so the hallways are dark and smaller compared to many hotels. The room that we stayed in, which had two queen-sized beds, and the bathroom, are small as well, with barely a foot between the TV wall and the bed, and no windows.

Dao Diamond Hotel. Some years ago, we stayed at the Dao Diamond Hotel (a hotel that is operated for the benefit of deaf children).

Alona Kew Beach Resort. We were also able to stay in this beach resort in Panglao courtesy of my in-laws when they took us along for a work trip.

What to do in Bohol

Our first destination was at the Tarsier Sanctuary in the town of Corella, which was about 20-30 minutes ride from Tagbilaran. There is an entrance fee of Php60 that includes a 20-30 minute guided tour. The sanctuary tour guide said she spends time in the morning to look for tarsiers so that she can easily point them out to guests. The tarsiers get easily stressed, and they have a high suicide rate, which is why I think they should be left alone, like totally alone. I did not really enjoy this tour, especially because the tour guide was not very cheerful (probably hungry because it was lunch time already).

There is another tarsier sanctuary on your way to the Loboc River from the chocolate hills. Entrance fee is P50 per adult. This was a busier tarsier sanctuary and we went there with my cousins. We were able to spot tarsiers. I was not keen on going tarsier spotting but we did it for my cousin, who was born and raised in the United States.

Loboc River Cruise and Lunch, side trip to Loboc Church

A typical countryside tour would stop for lunch at the Loboc River. We arrived almost 1PM already and there was waiting time because, despite it being a Monday, there were still several tourists at the river. I could no longer recognize the Loboc I saw because it has improved a lot (and, I’m glad in a good way). There was a proper waiting area, and clean toilets, and covered walkways to the boats. The river cruise + lunch buffet is Php450 per person. The tour runs for about an hour. I loved that the boats were not crowded and the food was plenty. I also loved that the river was not crowded with boats. I found the lunch buffet delicious — not very special in taste but just right. I also loved that the people we were with in the boat were not rowdy. We all just enjoyed the scenery and waved to people in other boats. What I didn’t like was the presentation of the town’s people in one of the kiosks in the river bank. The town’s people were no longer smiling (maybe they were tired).

You can join the dancers and musicians. After doing the Loboc River cruise twice, and dancing the tinikling, I think it is already cliche, I don’t to do it again for the next decade. But the Loboc river, it is always beautiful all the time. I hope they don’t cut down the trees and clear the lands to make way for concrete riverside resorts. I hope they continue to let locals wash their clothes, and let children swim naked in the riverbanks.

The Loboc Children’s Choir is award-winning. If you are keen on local music heritage of Bohol, you can watch their practice every week day after school, usually 4PM.

Chocolate Hills in Carmen

Our next stop was the Chocolate Hills in Carmen. We passed by the manmade forest in Bilar for about 10 minutes just to have a picture taken. I also was unable to recognize the chocolate hill at Carmen. It seemed bald. I took the time to climb the 200+ steps because I know the view would not be the same as the last time I was here, which was 13 years ago. And, I was not wrong. Because at the time we visited last month, it was foggy and the fog added drama to the small mountains. Entrance fee at the Carmen chocolate hills observatory is P50 for adults and P15 for children (as of July 2017).

You can also view the Chocolate Hills in Sagbayan Peak. I went there when I was in college, however, we were there about 5PM already and barely saw anything.

Manmade Forest, Bilar

Butterfly Sanctuary

Our last stop was the Butterfly Sanctuary in between Chocolate Hills and Loboc River. We paid an additional P50 per person as entrance fee because it was not included in the tour. Our nephew enjoyed the mutated butterflies and I highly recommend their guide because he was very lively despite it almost closing time. The guide’s name is Delfin. The sanctuary had a resort-vibe and I loved it especially their huge outdoor swings. My brother-in-law also bought ice cream and it was delicious, more delicious than Buzz Cafe’s ice cream. Although I would still choose Buzz Cafe’s malunggay ice cream. I  forgot to take note of the entrance fee at the Butterfly Sanctuary but I would say it was worth it just for the tour guide.

Baclayon Church

Panglao Island | Dauis Church, Alona Beach, Hinagdanan Cave

Carlos P. Garcia House

At around 10:30, I stopped work because I wanted to visit Carlos P. Garcia’s home again. More than a decade ago, the house was closed and my curiosity was never satisfied. Carlos P. Garcia was the eighth president of the Republic of the Philippines and I’m always curious how leaders live their lives, what their houses look like. I was not surprised to learn that the Garcias’ Tagbilaran home is simple, especially because of his Filipino First Policy. But I was surprised to see how opulent the wardrobe of the Mrs. Garcia and their only daughter were. I couldn’t resist, I asked permission to touch the clothes still hanging in their cabinets. I learned from the museum administrator that Mrs. Garcia, Leonila de la Serna Dimataga, was a pharmacist by profession and a native of Cebu.

The former president, according to the museum administrator, was an avid chess player and a gardener. He spent most of the year in Manila and the Tagbilaran house was a vacation house. There was not much to see in the house but the museum administrator shared a lot of facts about the former president. It was obvious from the museum administrator’s house how beloved the former president was in his home province. I wanted to stay longer and ask more questions but time was against us, so I cut the tour short and excused ourselves. We wanted to still visit the provincial museum but, maybe next time.

National Museum in Tagbilaran City

Where to eat in Bohol

Tamper. This cafe was something I learned through my Instagram feed. I am an Instagram addict and would search for new places to go by using the hashtag #whenin I especially love it when locals frequent the place. I loved the place and would surely come back. I was envious of the other table’s fluffy pancake tower. I just didn’t like the coffee I ordered, so I should come back and order another one.

My cousin and I also enjoyed The Library Cafe, beside Panda Suites. We spent a good three hours there, eating snacks and enjoying a game of scrabble.

Buzz Cafe. Malunggay ice cream and their grilled ribs with salad is my favorite.