Bohol is an insanely large island in the Philippines. There are actually two different islands to consider in your planning for Bohol: the small island in the south is called Panglao, where most travelers stay. Then there is Bohol, the very big island, where there are most of the sights, but less conviviality. Below we will tell you all the information so you now what to do in Bohol and Panglao, and also how you can most efficiently combine these two areas.
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What to do on Panglao?
We will first talk about Panglao, the popular peninsula as the nicest base for Bohol. Most of the restaurants, bars and accommodations are located on Panglao, making it advisable to book your stay here. Below we answer the question, “What to do on Panglao?”
1. Alona Beach
Alona Beach is the most famous beach on Panglao. This is not because it is the most beautiful beach (far from it if you ask us) but because all the restaurants, hotels and busy life are located around Alona Beach. We are actually not that much of a fan of Alona Beach because it is not really a beautiful beach and there is also little conviviality. Still, it is a good base for your stay on Panglao, especially since there are many restaurants near Alona Beach. If you drive your own motorbike you can easily get to all the nice places on Panglao.
2. South Palms Resort Panglao
The beach at South Palms Resort Panglao is really a beautiful beach including many palm trees. The South Palms is a resort, but you may also relax on the beanbags or beds on the beach as a non-guest. You will have to buy a drink, but this makes sense. The South Palms Resort Panglao is great for relaxing for an afternoon, but also highly recommended for a night (or more) if your budget allows. Rooms are available from €100 per night.
3. Snorkeling at Napaling Reef
The nice thing about The Philippines is that you can often just walk into the sea by yourself to go snorkeling. On Panglao, Napaling Reef is the most beautiful snorkeling spot. If you don’t have a snorkel set with you, you can also rent one here. Then you will have to go into the water with a guide. If you do have your own snorkel set (Tip: purchase this fine snorkeling mask here which we have been traveling the world with for years) Then you can go through the Domingo café Napaling (Click here for the Google Maps Location) into the sea on your own. You only pay the Reef Protection Fee of 200 peso (€3.30) per person here.
4. Hinagdanan Cave
Many people recommend visiting Hinagdanan Cave. You can swim in this underwater cave, which is dark and has a mysterious atmosphere. However, we didn’t find it very special, but of course you can always visit it yourself if you want to. You pay separately for the entrance, 50 peso (€0.85) and the swimming, 75 peso (€1.25).
5. driving around Panglao
Other than that, it is really just a lot of fun to drive around Panglao on a rental motorbike and enjoy nature and the many palm trees. The roads on Panglao are very good to ride on. Please note that if you do not have a motorcycle license you are not insured if an accident happens. Read all the information about renting a scooter here.
All Bohol attractions in the Philippines
So Bohol is the larger island, north of Panglao. The two islands are connected by a big bridge, so you can easily travel back and forth. We would recommend taking a two- or three-day trip by motorbike from Panglao to Bohol to visit the attractions in Bohol. We wrote down all Bohol attractions you can do in this article incuding tips for some hidden gems.
6. Kawasan Falls
The area around Kawasan Falls is beautiful. You walk through pristine nature on an unpaved path to the falls, so make sure you have good shoes on. This is one of the least visited waterfalls in Bohol and for that very reason it is definitely worth a visit. You can enjoy swimming at the Kawasan Falls so bring swimwear too.
7. Camugao Falls
Camugao Falls are also beautiful waterfalls to visit in Bohol. The water falls down from a great height, which looks spectacular. To get to the Camugao Falls, take a short 10-minute hike. Cool off in the cold water, swim to the waterfall and enjoy. For us this was one of the best hidden gems in Bohol. Please, continue reading do discover more attractions in Bohol.
8. Chocolate Hills
Bohol is known for its chocolate hills. These special, round hills are covered with grass and green most of the year, but in the dry season the grass dries out and the hills are brown. The chocolate hills are the main attraction on Bohol and you can tell immediately by the crowds. We found it most fun to ride a motorbike along and between the chocolate hills. You can find different routes on Google Maps. Want to go to a quieter viewpoint on the Chocolate Hills? Then you can also choose Sagbayan Peak Park. Probably, the chocolate hills are the first thing what comes up if you ask someone about what to do in Bohol, so definitely plan to visit it.
9. Sagbayan Peak Park
At Sagbayan Peak Park, you can enjoy the Chocolate Hills at a much quieter spot. The view here is a little less spectacular than at The Chocolate Hills Viewpoint, where all the tours take you past. Still, you can dream away at the beautiful green surroundings. On a clear day, you can even see entire sections of the sea from here!
10. Anda
Anda is known for its pristine white beaches that you don’t have to share with almost anyone. Because it is so remote on Bohol, few tourists come here, which makes Anda the perfect place to relax. A very nice place to stay on Anda is Casa Amihan. Anda is far away from Panglao, because it is located on the other side of the big Bohol island.
11. Kinaiyahan Forest Park
Kinaiyahan Forest Park is built entirely of bamboo. Everywhere you look you see bamboo, created in the most unusual shapes and figures. If you like art and nature it is definitely recommended to visit the Kinaiyahan Forest Park.
12. Man made forest Bohol
The man made forest is a well-known tourist attraction in Bohol. For 2 kilometers you drive through a hedge of tens of meters high trees, giving the whole area a jungle atmosphere. During the day it can get quite crowded with tourists and in the afternoon it gets dark early because the trees also provide a lot of shade on the road. We therefore recommend visiting the man made forest early in the morning to be one of the few to experience its tranquility and beauty. To get to the man made forest first, we recommend staying overnight in the quaint town of Loboc.
13. Loboc
Next to Panglao, Loboc is the most popular place to stay on Bohol. This charming town offers many lodging options, but Loboc River Resort and Fox and the Firefly Cottages are by far the best as far as we are concerned.
14. Loboc River Resort
The Loboc River Resort is a fantastically beautiful accommodation in Loboc. The details, the pool and the location next to the Loboc River make it a great experience. If you want to stay overnight in Loboc, we definitely recommend this accommodation.
15. Fox and the Firefly Cottages
In addition, another great choice in terms of accommodation in Bohol is Fox and the Firefly Cottages. This accommodation is also located on the Loboc River and has super nice rooms. Enjoy the outdoor shower, which gives you the ultimate free feeling. In addition, the restaurant, called Food & Fables has fantastic food. We had breakfast, lunch and dinner here every day because we couldn’t get enough of it. Even if you are not sleeping at Fox and the Firefly Cottages, you really should eat at Food & Fables Bohol.
16. Loboc River Cruise
The Loboc River Cruise is very popular attraction in Bohol because of its beautiful green surroundings. In addition, many organizers offer a floating buffet, so you can have lunch with a buffet while cruising the river, how fun! The offerings and times vary monthly so it is best to check with your accommodation which cruise they recommend. Most cruises often only last 1 to 2 hours so there is plenty of time to enjoy the pool afterwards.
17. Fireflies Loboc Bohol
The Loboc River is also famous for its many fireflies at night. When it gets dark, you can see thousands of fireflies flying around the water. A magical sight. Many accommodations in Loboc offer tours, where you go boating around 6 p.m. to where the fireflies gather.
18. Tarsiers Bohol
Tarsiers are cute, very small animals. They are also called Philippine Ghost Animals. There are several so-called “shelters” on Bohol. Unfortunately, not all of them have the best intentions for the little tarsiers. Some of these shelters imprison the tarsiers in very small cages, without ever returning them to their natural habitat. Want to make a good, ethical choice? Then visit Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary Cordella. This is the only good sanctuary in Bohol for tarsiers. Here the tarsiers always live in their natural habitat, you are not allowed to get too close or make loud noises. The rangers really look for them in the morning to see where they are and they choose 2 or 3 tarsiers that visitors may see that day.
19. Baclayon Church
Baclayon Church is one of the oldest Catholic churches in the Philippines. That’s why locals love this church so much. For tourists, it is a popular place to look inside the church and take pictures. We have admired many (beautiful) churches from the inside and did not find this one very special, but tastes differ.
So, this is the end of the long list of all Bohol activities. Hopefully your question ‘What do to in Bohol?’ is answered. If you have any questions, do not heistate to send us a DM on Instagram.
