Bohol Packages

Getting to Bohol is pretty straight forward: fly there from Manila, or take a ferry from Cebu City. Either way the journey is between 1.5 and 2 hours, so getting there is very easy and simple. To take a ferry from Cebu you will need to go to the main pier in the port, and take either an Ocean Jet or Super Cat ferry. Prices are similar and they have boats leaving from 06:00 to 19:00.

Bohol is also accessible from other islands, making it even more attractive as a part of a vacation in the Central area of the Philippines. There is a ferry to Dumaguete, Siquijor, and Camiguin. The trip takes about 1.5 – 2 for the Dumaguete and Siquijor while for camiguin since it is a roro it is about 4 hours and lands on the town of Jagna, Bohol. All trips of which has a schedule daily.

We already cover all the must-see attractions in Bohol with our pre-made packages but feel free to add other tours and activities you fancy to your cart. Our team of experts will assist you in planning so you get the most out of your trip. Continue reading for more information about Bohol’s popular tourist spots and activities, or contact us and ask about everything there’s to see and do over there.

All of these day tours can be booked as private tours, or you can join a group instead. Joining a group will result in a substantial discount, while private tours allow for a much more flexible itinerary, however group tours require a specific number of guests/ tourists to push through unless you are willing to pay for the remaining number of heads required for a group tour, then it’s best to book private tour. If you are not sure what’s better for you, read below for a quick description of each, or visit our catalog of Bohol day tours for detailed itineraries and prices.

Panglao island – The best beaches and island hopping tours

Panglao’s beaches are arguably second only to Boracay in their beauty and popularity. Alona beach stretches for about 1.5 km and is the most popular tourist beach destination in Bohol. Dumaluan beach on the other hand, is more beautiful and offers greater tranquility and respite.

Alona beach is covered with restaurants, bars and nightclubs – so finding what to do after a long day of beach bummin’ should not be a problem. Panglao also houses some of the best resorts Bohol has to offer. You can easily find 5 star beachfront hotels where you can get services and treatment fit for royalty. Our private tour guides can pick you  from your hotel – so you can have a truly all-inclusive experience.

Panglao offers more than just the beach. There are other amazing natural attractions found in the area. Hinagdanan cave is a naturally lit cavern with a small lagoon you can swim in. The Dauis church has beautifully painted ceilings and windows and is built in a unique Romanesque style, while the Panglao church of St.Augustine was built in a more baroque style.

The Bohol bee farm is a more unorthodox tourist attraction, where you can learn how honey is produced and get a taste of local delicacies. You can also visit their organic farm where they grow food and make their own clothes using hand-operated looms.

Island hopping is another activity worth trying in Panglao. It only takes 10 minutes by boat to reach Virgin island – a hidden gem most visitors aren’t even aware of. The island is completely uninhabited, and so it offers the perfect beach experience.

Reaching Balicasag island on the other hand, will take you 20 minutes, but is well worth it. Its status as a declared marine sanctuary makes Balicasag one of the best snorkeling sites in the country – where you can enjoy the dazzling colors of endless fish and corals even in the shallow waters. The main attraction in Balicasag, however, is the large population of sea turtles. These gentle animals roam the sanctuary and can be easily spotted while snorkeling.

Best diving sites around Bohol

If you’ve come to the Philippines without any prior experience in diving, Bohol is a great place to start. It can be the perfect opportunity to learn how to dive and get your certificate, before heading off to other islands which offer more challenging dives.

Even for those who are not too much into diving, taking a day to explore Bohol’s underwater world is worthwhile. The Philippines has one of the world’s richest and most diverse marine ecosystems, and there aren’t many places better to witness it than Bohol. Add in the fact diving sites are beginner friendly, and the amount of world class scuba tour operators – and you’ll see why diving should be included into your itinerary. However, the municipal environment and natural resources office has implemented that each of the dive shops are only allowed to take 15 divers a day to the island, this is part of their way to protect the island and the life that surrounds it since Bohol is another famous destination for diving.

One of the best scuba diving spots is at Balicasag island. Considered one of the most beautiful islands in the country, it’s a staple in any island hopping tour. While there, you can choose between scuba diving and snorkeling since there various dive sites at varying levels. Diving at Balicasag will allow you to better appreciate the protected marine sanctuary located on the island, with its stunning coral reefs full of sea life. Larger fish such as Manta Rays can also be seen on occasion, as well as sea turtles.

There are plenty of other diving options near Alona or Danao beach, and most of them are great for beginners. Most notable are Arco point and Divers Heaven. The first is a 22m deep hole in the wall, where sea snakes and different type of eels can be seen. Divers heaven is a large slope, starting at 5m and going down below recreational limits, where large fish such as tuna and mackerels roam around along with sea turtles and smaller critters.

Going out from the popular beach locations, there are literally dozens of different places to go scuba diving. Most of them are no more than a 15 minutes boat ride, are great for beginners and can easily be included in a guided tour. You can easily combine a few different ones, and include other activities such as snorkeling, kayaking and big game fishing – to create an amazing day tour for the whole family.

More advanced divers, who already have an open water certificate, should still pay Balicasag a visit, as it’s considered one of the best diving spots in Asia. Other than that, the Black forest is a fantastic option – a sloping wall of roughly 40m all covered with thick black corals. Another noteworthy destinations is Cabilao Island – a protected sanctuary with strong currents that makes for an exciting diving adventure. These unique locations, as well as a few others, are also available through a live board package, and you can even combine them with other diving destinations in the country for a complete diving package.

The Chocolate hills – Bohol’s most famous attraction

Scattered throughout the municipalities of Carmen, Batuan, and Sagbayan, The Chocolate hills are easily accessible from Carmen via van or tricycle. This unique geological formation consists of 1268 hills, with heights ranging from 30 to 50 meters. The green grass turns brown during the dry season, giving the hills their distinctive, Chocolate-like look.

The chocolate hills are a great place for hiking and truly a must-see for any nature lover. You can go closer to the hills through ATV rides instead of climbing the steps to the view point. Book the Chocolate Hills tour now, or continue reading below to find all the other nature attractions you can combine into your tour package. Let us fill your entire vacation with beautiful landscape and stunning wildlife.

Countryside tours – fun for the whole family

Visit the Tarsier sanctuary

Home to one of the smallest primates in the world, Bohol is where these small creatures thrive.  7.4 hectares of land near Corella have been allocated to serve as a home to these mysterious nocturnal creatures. Here, Tarsiers can roam freely and you get to watch them in their natural habitat. The sanctuary is less than an hour drive from Panglao, and is usually included in any countryside tour and combined with other locations mentioned here.

Diving with dolphins and whales at Pamilacan island

Just 45 minutes boat ride from Baclayon lies Pamilacan – a marine sanctuary located in an empty island. It’s an amazing diving spot thanks to colorful and diverse marine life. On top of that, many marine mammals are known to frequent the area  – from dolphins to sperm whales and if you are lucky, even the occasional blue whale!

Boat rides on Loboc River:

Our exclusive boat cruise along the Loboc River takes you to a new level of experience! Eat all you can local cuisine and enjoy all you can while the boat cruises along the beautiful green waters of the river surrounded by palm trees and jungle atmosphere.

All of the tours above, and more, can be easily arranged as part of your complete bohol package. It’s totally up to you to decide exactly what each tour will include. We can take care of everything – transports, guides, meals and anything else you can think of.

Is Bohol Island the right place for you?

The table below shows some key elements of Bohol, compared to other popular choices. Measuring Bohol against other similar islands will help you understand what makes it unique. Thanks to Bohol’s location it can also be easily combined with many other beautiful islands nearby. Read below to find a detailed explanation, or contact us and we’ll help build your perfect Bohol itinerary.

Visiting Bohol offers a perfect mix between many key components people normally seek in a vacation. It’s very easy to get to and the accommodation is modern and flexible. Moreover, there are plenty of activities to take part in – from diving to mainland activities. This ensures that anyone, from the solo traveler to couples and large families, will find things to do. This island not only offers a little bit of everything, but is also among the top diving spots in the Philippines, and has some of the most beautiful beaches and islands.

Boracay on the other hand is quite different. It also offers great diving and island hopping, but tours are different since it has been fully commercialized. It’s more famous for its with parties and beach activities (like banana boats, helmet diving, water skiing, and more). Boracay is a tiny and very beautiful island, and therefore very crowded over the high season. This also means prices are higher. If you’re the type of traveler who prefers a luxury experience, Boracay is a great choice.

Palawan is huge compared to both Bohol and Boracay, and is far more diverse. In order to get the full picture about Palawan you will have to visit our Palawan page. Palawan is more difficult to get to and get around. Bohol and Boracay are perfect for a short weekend vacations, while Palawan requires more than that. Another important difference is that unlike the other two which are located in the Visayas area and therefore are good to travel to all year round, Palawan’s weather is much more fickle. Between June to October it can get extremely rainy, so it’s harder to plan your holiday ahead of time.

Many people also ask us whether they should go to Bohol or Cebu. They are different in character and both are great. Because Cebu city is very close it might be worth to do both. Visiting both Bohol and Cebu Island is a great adventurous experience.

How does Bohol fit into your travel plan?