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Bohol Island (Bohol), Philippines
Bohol (Bohol, sometimes pronounced softer: Bohol) - the tenth largest island Philippine archipelago, a tropical paradise bordered by white sand beaches - the largest island in the province of the same name and a recognized center for tourism and diving.
Bohol Island location
Bohol (Bohol) is located southeast of the island Cebu , north of the island Mindanao.
Features of Bohol Island
Bohol is an island of volcanic origin. The maximum height is 870 m above sea level.
The area of \u200b\u200bthe island is 3269 km 2, the length of the coastline is 261 km.
Bohol surrounded by about 70 small islands, the largest of which is an island Panglaoconnected to Boholom highway.
The capital of the island is a city Tagbilaran (Tagbilaran), located in the southwest, opposite the island Panglao, with a population of over 92 thousand people.
Residents Bohol considered descendants of Aboriginal people pintados (pintados), which literally means "painted", that is, tattooed people.
The name of the island comes from the town Bool (Bool), where in 1565 it was signed by the leader of the local tribe Datu Sikatuna and the representative of the Spanish crown Miguel de Legazpi a historical treaty (Sandugo) on friendship between peoples who not only had completely different cultures and religions, but also belonged to different races and different civilizations. This treaty, sealed in blood, is still important for the island, and the date of its signing is a national holiday.
Bohol attracts tourists with a wealth of natural beauties, an abundance of tropical vegetation, and the flavor of the life of local residents.
Bohol island attractions
The most interesting natural attraction of the island is the unique "Chocolate Hills". There are over 1,500 such hills on the island. These hills are covered with grass, which by the end of the dry season burns out and turns brown, standing out strongly against the background of the bright greenery of the surrounding forests growing in the lowlands - hence the name "chocolate". It is hard to believe that these hills are not the work of man, but a natural formation. The inhabitants of the island have laid down numerous legends about the origin of the chocolate hills - one of them says that these hills appeared as a result of a battle between two giants who threw stones and sand at each other for many days. In the end, the giants reconciled and left the island, leaving behind "mountains" of stones and sand. For more romantic natures, there is another legend - a young and strong giant Arogo fell in love with a simple mortal girl named Aloya, after her death, Arogo for a long time he was killed and cried, his tears turned into hills - evidence of his inescapable grief.
However, not only the inhabitants of the island, but also geologists still cannot come to a consensus regarding the origin of these hills. Most scientists are of the opinion that these remnant hills are composed of poorly weathering limestone, under which a layer of water-resistant clays lies.
Bohol - the habitat of the rarest animals on the planet - funny tiny monkeys - tarsiers (eng. tarsier). It is said to be the smallest monkey species in the world. For tourists, a walk on a floating restaurant along the river is organized Pubis (Loboc), after which the tourists are shown touching tarsiers. In the reserve, you can hold funny little animals in your hands and take a picture for memory.
Bohol Island is comfortably surrounded by 70 small islands. It is known for being a habitat for the smallest monkeys on the planet, and on its territory there are the Chocolate Hills - an amazing and unique natural phenomenon. Bohol itself and the surrounding islands have wonderful resort areas with cozy beaches. It is a paradise for water sports lovers.
If we compare Bohol, for example, with the island of Cebu, then the infrastructure here is not too developed. This island is ideal for those wishing to relax in a relaxed family or romantic environment, as well as for lovers of diving.
The main city and capital of the island is Tagbilaran. Opposite it is a small island resort Panglao. Communication between Tagbilaran and Panglao takes place through a large bridge and a road.
Current time in Tagbilaran:
(UTC +8)
Tagbilaran is a fairly large city with a population of 105,051 people. This village has everything you need for a comfortable stay: secondary schools, hospitals, a market, an impressive supermarket. A spacious green park, located in the central part of the city, is perfect for relaxing and walking.
How to get there
You can get to the island by plane. The airport, located in the city of Tagbilaran, constantly receives on its territory the flights of Air Asia, Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, which are sent here from Manila. It takes only an hour to fly to the city. It should be noted that the capital's airport is extremely small in size, so it is often closed due to bad weather conditions, and flights are canceled or postponed.
Also, a high-speed ferry runs to the island, the starting point of which is Dmagete. The ferry operates two to three times a day. Sailing to the island, of course, takes longer than flying by plane - the whole journey takes 2 hours.
To Bohol via Cebu
Most tourists choose the starting point for their trip to Bohol Cebu. A fast ferry runs from here to the island. It's pretty easy to get to Cebu. The local airport constantly receives flights from Seoul, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong. You can get here with transfers from the capital of Russia and other large Russian cities.
A taxi will take tourists from the airport to the Cebu pier. The cost of the trip is 200-250 pesos, the travel time is half an hour. You need to know that you should choose a white taxi for your trip, as a yellow taxi car will cost more.
Today, the water connection between Bohol and Cebu is via ferries owned by three different companies: Ocean Jet, Super Cat, Weesam Express.
Ferries of the first company leave from berth No. 1, ferries of the other two companies leave from berth No. 4.
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Climate and weather in Bohol
The weather conditions on the island are extremely changeable and capricious. Regardless of the season, it can rain every day here, or, on the contrary, a dry period of several months will suddenly begin. Typhoons are frequent visitors to the island. The quietest time in Bohol is from March to May. In these months, unpleasant surprises from the weather can be expected least of all.
Reviews by month
| February 1 March 2 | April 2 | September 2 | November 2 December 1 |
Photos Bohol
What to see
There are many attractions on the island. Among them are the famous Chocolate hills... This name was given to 1268 conical hills of the same type covered with grass. By the autumn period, the herbaceous cover burns out and acquires a rich brown (chocolate) color. Hence the unusual name of the hills.
This is one of the largest tourist attractions in Bohol. The image of the chocolate hills is present on the flag and coat of arms of the region. The Chocolate Hills are the third most popular Philippine tourist destination. They are protected by UNESCO and have the status of a geological monument of the country.
The history of the origin of the hills is still a mystery. But during its existence, this attraction has overgrown with legends that were invented by local residents. According to one of the legends, the hills were formed due to a quarrel between two giants. A pair of giants did not share something with each other and, getting angry, they began to shower each other with pieces of earth.
There is another legend. They say that a huge giant once fell in love with an ordinary girl. The beauty was a simple person, and when the time came, she died. The giant's grief knew no bounds, and he cried with huge tears turning into hills.
There is an observation deck in the Chocolate Hills area. It costs only 50 pesos to enter. There are always a lot of people here. This is a favorite place not only for foreign tourists, but also for the Filipinos themselves, who come here with their whole families. There is a convenient ledge not far from the observation deck. They offer to take a picture with a broom. This service will cost a tourist 100 pesos.
There are always many merchants at the foot of the observation deck. There are stalls with souvenirs, local fruits and drinking water. To go upstairs, you need to overcome a rather steep, long staircase.
Before you let go of the taxi that took you to the place, remember the car's license plate. After completing sightseeing and descending, you should tell the local guard the car number, and he will call the driver using the radio.
Also of great interest for tourists is the Hanagdanan cave, which houses a unique underground lake, Busay waterfalls and the Riha-Sitakuna forest reserve complex. Bohol is famous for its forest of hand-planted redwoods and the center for the protection of tarsier lemurs - the rarest representatives of the fauna, whose number today does not exceed 200 individuals. Be sure to visit the island church in Baclayon, considered the oldest church in the Philippines. The island's museum will tell about the history of Bohol.
A popular tourist attraction is the Loboc River cruise. During it, passengers will be fed a delicious lunch and provided with a personal chansonnier. Coral reefs near Balikasak Island are of great interest for research. Here you can find many remains of ships that were wrecked and sunk during the Second World War.
It is very interesting to observe the behavior of whales and dolphins, of which there are a lot in the ocean. A variety of water sports are very developed here. Among other things, the island's surroundings contain about 1400 picturesque caves and magnificent waterfalls.
Where to go in Bohol
sights
Entertainment
Parks and recreation areas
Transport
Things to do
Diving in Bohol
The underwater world of Panglao and Bohol islands attracts divers from all over the world with its sunken ships, caves, coral gardens. In these picturesque places in the depths you can see colonies of sea snakes living in tunnels, the Tangan wall, where there are many small caves with huge groupers living in them. There are strong currents here, and the underwater structure has difficult terrain, so it is best to dive with a dive guide.
A little north of about. Bohol is located about. Gabilao, shaped like a triangle. Not far from it you can admire arches, faults, various corals, and meet rare species of fish.
At a distance of 6 km southwest of Pangao Island is the Balicasag Island. It ranks among the top dive sites in the Philippines. Here you can admire the beauty of the flat reef, the width of which reaches in different areas from 9 to 50 m. Along the edges of this reef there are various types of corals, rare species of fish and other marine life. At the same time, the depth in these places can exceed 200 m, so you should be careful while admiring the beauty.
The island of Server-Shoal, whose name means "Serpentine", is known for the abundance of sea snakes. However, whitetip sharks, surgeon fish and barracuda can still be seen here. In these places, special care should be taken, since the currents here are strong enough and the depth is large.
Dive site Napaling is located northwest of Bohol Island. The currents are strong enough here, so if you dive from a boat, it tracks your location by bubbles or buoys, picking you up at the end of the dive. It is also possible to dive from the shore, but in this case it will be more difficult to return to the shore. Here you can admire corals, sponges, molluscs and other sea creatures.
The Tangnan Wall is a rather steep wall. It is located close to Panglao Island. Here are caves, cracks, where huge groupers live. Here you can also admire various types of corals, meet rare species of fish.
Dive site Kalipayan is perfect for novice divers - currents are minimal here. It is located close to Alona Beach. In these places you can see corals, reef fish and other inhabitants of the underwater world.
For one dive you need to pay about $ 25. The equipment rental fee will be another $ 8-9, and to become the owner of the Open Water certificate, you need to spend about $ 300.
Where to stay in Bohol
Booking.com offers over 690 Bohol hotels for booking. You can select a hotel using various filters: hotel star rating, hotel type (hotel, apartment, villa, hostel, etc.), cost, hotel location, ratings of people who visited the hotel, Wi-Fi availability and much more. ...
If you want to visit all the most significant sights of Bohol Island (or Bohol, as the locals call it) in one day, then here is the route. It provides enough time to enjoy each stop, but it is intense enough that you will not be bored.
Bohol island attractions in detail:
I suggest two route options - from the city of Tagbilaran (it will suit those who stayed on the island of Panglao, for example) and from the city of Tubigon. The entire route can be traveled by public transport, or by a rented motorcycle. moped or car.
The route is built in such a way that no need to return to the starting point, for example, to the city of Tagbilaran. Looking at a map with a marked route, it seems obvious. However, public transport directions in Bohol are not so clearly marked, and locals do not always know how best to get through points A, B, C... In addition, Filipinos have a different attitude to time, an hour or two back and forth or wait is a common thing. I tried in our hostel to find out if there is a direct bus from Corella to Loboc, because there is a road. Without batting an eye, the girl at the reception said that there was nothing, she would have to return to Tagbilaran. It's so good that I try to check everything, the return to the city would cost us 2-3 hours! The route suggested in this post has been tested on my own experience, so you can safely take it into service.
If you want to be in time for everything, then it will be necessary to run early in the morning, have breakfast in the morning and then eat during an excursion along the Loboc River.
Map of the route to the sights of the island of Bohol from Tagbilaran:
Attractions along the route:
Tarsier Sanctuary
must-see. Awesome cute primate animals with huge eyes and chinchilla fur. In this place, unlike the park near the town of Loboc, tarsiers live in their natural environment on an area of \u200b\u200b10 hectares. This is not a zoo, which makes the place for some an amazing example of a natural place where animals are really taken care of, but for some it is disappointing because the animals are not close and there are few of them. If you are more into zoos, then it is better to visit the Tarsier Conservation Area in Loboc.
Loboc River Cruise
To be honest, we were suspicious of this one, considering it too touristy and simply a divorce of vacationers. But the walk was surprisingly pleasant. In addition, there were only 5 foreigners aboard the buffet restaurant boat, the remaining 20-30 were Filipinos. The river is beautiful, the food is delicious, the performance with songs and dances is fun, the waterfalls at the end of the path are picturesque. So away with doubts and forward into the green gave the river!
Loboc Eco-Tourism Adventure Park
Here, of course, I will talk about one of the most popular in the Philippines. Unfortunately, I have to upset fans of extreme entertainment, zip-line is not extreme and not scary at all. But flying over the forests and the river with waterfalls, you rejoice like a child. 50 shades of green from a bird's eye view.
Loboc Church
This is the oldest in the Philippines, which is why it is so popular. Unfortunately, this place is now called "Ruins of a church in the town of Loboc", and on advertising pictures “before and after” photos. An earthquake in 2013 severely destroyed the church. But the place of its attractiveness has not lost, on the contrary, it has become even more atmospheric and mysterious.
Chocolate Hills
Who goes to Bohol and doesn't come up to see the famous? Cocoa-colored truffles with dried grass stretch for several kilometers from the observation deck. Small houses and rice fields, lost between the hills, look like toys. It is impossible to believe that this is not the work of man, but a whim of nature.
Also on the way there will be:
Forest planted by human hands.
(Man-made Forest, Mahogany Forest)
Hundreds and thousands of red trees. Each of them is planted by a man. The place is beautiful, but I don't know if it's worth stopping to see the forest. It was enough for us to see him from the bus window.
Suspended bamboo bridge
It is really just a hanging bamboo bridge. :) If you have never walked on this - be sure to walk. It doesn't take long, and fun is guaranteed.
Section of the route: Loboc - Chocolate Hills
Rice fields
This is not a special place, these are real fields along the roads. There rice grows, peasants work, oxen walk, in general, real life goes on... As a person who is not indifferent to any fields and to everything real that is not imitated for tourists, the roads along Bohol were a real pleasure.
Route leg: everywhere
How to do everything in one day?
Bohol Island Race Plan.
1. 8.00 - 9.00. Tagbilaran -\u003e Tarsier Sanctuary.
In Tagbilaran, we take a jeep or tricycle to the Island City Mall. There is a bus station opposite it. We take a bus that goes to the city of Sikatuna. The final stop of the bus is the city of Loboc. We ask the driver to stop near Tarsier Sanctuary. It takes a couple of minutes to walk from the stop to the entrance to the reserve. The fare will cost 17-50 pesos, depending on. The ride is about 20 minutes.
2.9.00 - 10.00. Watching the tarsiers.
In fact, half an hour is enough to look at the animals and read about them at the stands. Believe me, we also thought that an hour was at least, but we managed it slowly in 30 minutes. Entrance 50 pesos.
3.10.00 - 11.00. Tarsiers -\u003e Loboc.
We sit down in the same place where we went out to watch the tarsiers on the bus following the same route, and go to Loboc. You will need to stop near the church (Loboc Church). If you have time until 11.00, you can see and take pictures of the church. She is right on the road. If time is running out, then it is better to do it after the excursion along the river. The ride is again 15-20 minutes. The price is 17-50 pesos depending on.
4. 11.00 - 12.30. Excursion along the Loboc River (Loboc River Cruise).
Boats leave from a place called Loboc Turism Center. The building is opposite the church. You need to cross the road and the bridge over the river. The restaurant boats are already visible from the bridge, so you can't go wrong.
Boats leave until 15.30. Boarding starts at 11.00, leaving at 11.30. This half hour is allotted to eat. If you want to be in time everywhere, then it is better to have lunch on the boat and then have dinner in the city after all the sights. But you can board the boat until 11.30. We rode the Village boat and enjoyed the food. The trip was worth 450 pesos. The walk lasts 1 hour + half an hour for food.
5.12.30 - 13.00. We inspect the ruins of the Loboc Church.
6. 13.00 - 13.15. Church -\u003e Zip-line (Loboc Church - Loboc Eco-Tourism Adventure Park).
This distance is 3 km. You can walk. You can take a bus to Carmen and get off in front of Loboc Eco-Tourism Adventure Park. But the most convenient way is to ride a moped. We paid 40 pesos for such a trip for two. Drove straight to the ticket office.
7.13.15 - 14.00. We fly on the Zip-line over the Loboc river.
For 350 pesos, you will ride over the river there and back. For another 200 pesos you will get photos.
8.14.00 - 15.00. Zip-line -\u003e Chocolate Hills (Loboc Eco-Tourism Adventure Park - Chocolate Hills).
We leave on the main road and take a bus that goes to the city of Carmen. Direction in the opposite direction from the church, to the north. And we leave near the entrance to the Chocolate Hills reserve. As elsewhere, there is a billboard near the road. From this stop you will need to walk 10 minutes upstairs to the ticket offices. It takes an hour or two. The fare will cost 25-80 pesos, depending on.
9.15.00 - 16.00. We look at the Chocolate Hills.
The entrance costs 50 pesos. If you want to shoot the sunset in this place, then it is better to come here a little later (the sunset starts after 17.00), spending more time on other places, or, for example, after the zip-line, go to the suspended bamboo bridge or into the forest with red trees, which will be on the way ...
10.16.00-18.00. Chocolate Hills -\u003e Tagbilaran
We return to Tagbilaran. The road to Tagbilaran from the Chocolate Hills will take 2-3 hours. The fare will cost 50-80 pesos, depending on.
The main attractions of the island of Bohol (Bohol):
Bohol Island Sightseeing Route Map from Tubigon:
The route is essentially the same, but in reverse order. It should be noted that the center with tarsiers (tarsiers) is open until 16.00, and the last boat on the Loboc River leaves at 15.30. This makes the route from Tubigon more intense and risky.
Where to stay for the night?
For such a route, it is most convenient to stop in Tagbilaran. This will allow you to quickly get to all points on the map. However, many choose to stop at. For lovers of more secluded and peaceful places, I can recommend an excellent hotel on a cliff with its own beach and pool.
How to get to Bohol attractions from Tubigon?
From Tubigon to the Chocolate Hills, you can drive through the city of Carmen. From the bus station in Tubigon (located one kilometer from the port) we take a bus that goes to the city of Carmen (Carmen). The cost of the trip is 30-80 pesos, the journey will take 1-2 hours.
From Carmen to the Chocolate Hills you can take a bus that goes to the city of Tagbilaran, a moped or a tricycle... If you go on a moped / tricycle, then agree to be taken directly to the observation deck, and not to a turn on the road. The tricycle cost us 100 pesos. The road took 15-20 minutes.
How to get to Bohol attractions from Alona Beach?
What is the transportation in Bohol?
Colorful jeepney.
- Jeepney... It is a cross between a jeep, a bus and a truck. The brightest, the most colorful, the cheapest, the slowest and the most uncomfortable. In general, the very best. Seats-benches along the body, no doors, jam-packed.
- Buses... They're just buses. They can be more or less comfortable, with air conditioning or doors wide open. The cost is slightly higher than that of a jeepney.
- Minibuses GT Express... It's like our minibuses, only more comfortable and air-conditioned. Fast, but quite expensive.
- Motorcycles and mopeds of all stripes. They will quickly and inexpensively take you to any point within reasonable limits. The price is negotiable.
- Tricycles... Three-wheeled motorcycles with a sidecar and a visor. In Bohol, this mode of transport is the official taxi. All of the same model, with numbers, often drivers do not own tricycles, but are hired to work. Travel will be more expensive than buses, jeepney and moped, but it can be cheaper than minibuses if you are traveling with two or three people.
Should you rent a motorcycle or moped?
It's a matter of taste. We were simply afraid that there was a lot to travel, there were serpentines around, we didn't know the road, we didn't have a map, like the Internet. In addition, Andrei, who, in the case of a moped at the wheel, did not get enough sleep and did not want to get behind the wheel at all. Renting a moped in Bohol costs 500-600 pesos per day + gasoline about 80-100 pesos. It's quite expensive, even though there are two of us. So we chose public transport. For fun, I calculated all transportation costs for the day. It turned out less than 650, even taking into account the 350 peso tricycle that we took to Mag-Aso Falls and back in order to save time.
The whole truth about our trip to the island of Bohol (Bohol).
If I had such a plan before my trip, I would use it. But I did not find such a route on the network, but found others, so our real trip was a little different.
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If the post was helpful to you, please share it on Facebook, Twitter, Vkontakte or any other social network. There are "social" buttons at the bottom of each page. So what needs to be done just one click! Thank you!In the Indian Ocean lies the island archipelago of the Philippines. An amazing and very special country. One of the most interesting islands here, in terms of tourism, is Bohol. This is one of the most amazing island resorts in Southeast Asia. Tourists leave many positive reviews about Bohol in the Philippines. It and several dozen smaller islets surrounding it are united into one province with the same name.
To better imagine this place and the people inhabiting it, you need to understand that the Filipinos are not one people, but more than a hundred ethnic groups. The inhabitants of the island of Bohol in the Philippines consider themselves to be the descendants of warlike people with tattoos. Archaeologists claim that this people, as early as the tenth century, had trade relations with China. They had their own writing, which, unfortunately, has not survived to this day.
In 1565 the Spaniards entered into a treaty with the leader of Sikatuna, and the island fell under their rule. Over the next three hundred years, the local population raised two major uprisings against the Spanish colonialists. One of these riots is considered the largest in the Philippines.
Transport
We will tell you how to get to Bohol in the Philippines. The island and its capital Tagbilaran are located relatively close to the main transport hubs. There is an airport with regular flights from Manila. You can also take a ferry from Cebu. It should be noted that the ship looks pretty decent and has all the minimum elements of modern comfort, such as comfortable seats and air conditioning. You can get to the city from the airport or sea station by taxi. Hotels, in case of booking, organize a transfer.
You can get around Bohol island in the Philippines and the city by buses, taxis or jeepney - an analogue of the Thai tuk-tuk or our minibus. Hotels and travel agencies offer car rental and are ready to provide chauffeured transport for sightseeing.
Beaches
The main tourist island is not Bohol itself, but neighboring Panglao. From the city you can get there through the bridge. Wild beaches are not suitable for swimming here due to rocky shores and strong ocean waves. It is not very convenient and pleasant to swim also on the equipped beaches of Panglao. The best beaches in Bohol in the Philippines are listed below:
- Alona is a strip of white sand with a pleasant entrance. But very crowded. Continuous cafes, sellers of tours and pearls. There is a very dense movement of small ships in the sea, which carry tourists to diving, snorling and other entertainment, very popular in the Philippines, associated with going out to sea.
- Long. Despite constant attempts by the staff to clean the beach, it is almost always covered with mud.
- Bikini Beach - covered with small sharp stones. You can swim and walk on the beach only in shoes. It is also worth noting the inconvenience associated with low tide, marine life and marine life. Not far from the coast, the sea is full of algae, sea urchins and other life, which is not safe to contact.
Hotels
The vast majority of Bohol hotels in the Philippines are located in Panglao. The largest and busiest is Alona Beach, next to which is the beach of the same name. In the Philippines, the coastline can be privately owned, and many hotels have fences around the coast. The service is basically nothing special. The cuisine in the restaurants does not abound with some dishes typical for these islands, but at the same time you will be offered a rich assortment of seafood dishes. All hotels offer a range of guided tours, shuttle services, and car or motorcycle rental. Guests can request in-room massages or relaxing treatments.
Landmarks of the times of Spanish rule
Bohol in the Philippines is full of interesting sights. Many of them are associated with the era of Spanish rule in the Philippines. For example, the place where the so-called blood treaty was signed between the chieftain Datu and the conquistadors. The procedure for concluding an agreement was accompanied by a ritual drinking of wine, in which the head of the Spanish expedition and the leader mixed blood from the cuts on their hands. Now there is a monument in honor of this event.
It is also worth visiting the Bohol Museum, which presents a rich collection of ancient finds, models of architectural monuments of the Philippines and stuffed animals that live on the islands.
Also noteworthy is the church located in Baclayon. This is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. It was originally built in the 16th century and looks more like a fortress, since at that time it served not only as a temple, but also as a barrier from enemies.
Bohol, Philippines: nature attractions
Nature has prepared the most interesting things on the Bohol Islands. The province is replete with natural sites worthy of tourist attention. The islands have a limestone-karst nature, and under the influence of water and winds, over the millions of years of their existence, the shores have acquired very bizarre forms. They abound in caves.
Among the most interesting of these is Dagohoy, which served as the headquarters for Filipino revolutionaries during the uprising against the Spanish crown in the eighteenth century. You can get to their secret shelter only by swimming under the water of the lake through a tunnel. Or the cave of Antiguer, where the locals fled during the Second World War. Not far from it there is a city with the same name and several other interesting caves.
Hinakbanan is located on Panglao Island. As well as the most mysterious - Binkak. Local residents are still afraid to go down here because of the very inconspicuous entrance.
Chocolate hills
Another amazing place to see is the Chocolate Hills. They, as a rule, appear in our view on numerous photos of Bohol in the Philippines. More than one thousand two hundred hills, on which only grass grows, which has a characteristic brown hue. The mystery of the phenomenon has not yet been solved. One of the hypotheses that scientists put forward is the assumption that this strange relief formed on the ocean floor, even before the islands rose above sea level.
Locals believe that these are stones left here after the battle of the formidable gods. Now there is a national park and an observation deck, from which you can view this natural wonder. Not far from the hills, the hotel offers spectacular views. You can get to the park by regular bus.
Tarsiers
Further, as a rule, tourists are recommended to visit the center of the Philippine tarsiers. These little creatures live in a walled garden. The entrance is free, but you can make a donation for animal feed. The impression of watching tarsiers is difficult to convey in words. You need to see it yourself. Animals are very small in size, literally fit in the palm of your hand. At the same time, they are so fearful that sometimes they fall from a tree from stress and are smashed to death. Therefore, you need to be extremely quiet and careful in the park.
Excursion along the Loboc river
This is a popular inexpensive route in Bohol. You can get to the marina from which sightseeing boats depart by moped or book a transfer at the hotel's tour desk. You will be taken along the Loboc River on a catamaran past the city of the same name.
On the way, they are treated to local cuisine. The buffet includes several types of meats, seafood, side dishes and desserts. Everything is tasty and in sufficient quantity. During the excursion on the ferry, folk artists perform songs and dances. There will be a stop where, in addition to drinks, colorful dances performed by local children are prepared.
The main advantage of this river walk is the beautiful river scenery. The emerald river, surrounded by forests, at the final point of the route is crowned with the Busay waterfalls. The local population entertains tourists by jumping into the water from tall palms.
Whales and dolphins
If you find yourself on Bohol Island in the Philippines from March to June, don't miss the trip to Pamiklan Island. The walk starts very early, as whale watching is best in the morning. During this period, you are almost guaranteed to see whales and dolphins. Huge marine life will appear to you in all its glory. Watching them is a truly unique experience, incomparable with anything else.
Previously, the local population lived off the whaling. Now the whales are protected by law and the natives take tourists to look at them. After meeting these amazing creatures, you will visit the island. They offer a simple village lunch, a gorgeous beach with white sand and clear water. Don't forget to bring your swimwear.
Diving
The islands of Bohol province in the Philippines are a great place for lovers of the underwater world. The nature here is rich in marine attractions. The islands are surrounded by coral reefs and teeming with life. As elsewhere in places like this, demand creates supply. Diving tours for beginners and already held amateurs can be purchased literally at every step, in a hotel or specialized clubs.
Prices depend on the season. On average, a diving excursion will cost you twenty-five dollars. It is worth visiting the island of Kabilao, where hammerfish can be found in the coral gardens. If you're interested in barracudas, try diving at the Tangnan Wall. Great views can also be seen by diving in the Napalling area or near Balikasag Island, less than an hour from Bohol. For exotic lovers, a visit to underwater caves is offered, where encounters with unique sea species are possible.
General impression
Visiting Bohol and the Philippines is generally worth the time and money spent. A lot of interesting things can be seen and experienced here. This is confirmed by numerous reviews of tourists about the island of Bohol in the Philippines. Filipinos are characterized by travelers as a very good-natured, hospitable people. There is also a sufficiently developed infrastructure for this country.
Of course, there are also inherent disadvantages for the Philippines, in the form of an amazing scale of corruption and arbitrariness of the authorities, but such things should be attributed to the national flavor, which, by the way, is also presented here in all its enchanting glory. Bohol is full of Spanish-era landmarks that were not mentioned in the article. In addition, tourists are offered fascinating tours inland, where they are introduced to the unique ecosystem of the Philippine islands.
If there is a heaven on earth, it is definitely Bohol Island. It is above him that a particularly bright sun shines, reflecting in the azure sea waters. It is here that the picturesque jungle is richly inhabited by unique inhabitants. Bohol Island is the very place where you can feel like a part of nature, while enjoying a comfortable stay. If you move about 630 km from the capital of the Philippines - Manila, then you will see one of the most famous of the Visayas - Bohol (Bohol). It is considered to be quite large and ranks 10th in size in the archipelago. Bohol is surrounded by almost 70 smaller islets.
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Like many other islands, Bohol originated from volcanic activity. The island's highest altitude is 870 meters above sea level.
The beauty of the island first appeared to Europeans in 1521. It was then that the ships of the Magellan expedition passed by him, which were returning to Spain after the death of their leader. However, the landing on the island was made only in 1565 by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. After some time, the Spanish traveler managed to conclude a blood alliance with the leader of the local aborigines - Sikatuna. To confirm the union, each of the men dropped his blood into a glass of wine, and then drank from it. This great event that made Bohol a Spanish colony is the most revered day among the local population to this day. And not far from the capital of the island - the city of Tagbiliran, there is a monument called "Blood Compact", which immortalized this historical event forever.
It is believed that the island got its name from the word "boho", which is translated from the language of the local population as "hole". It is due to the fact that the entire island is riddled with a multiple network of caves. Near each city located on Bohol (and there are 47 of them), about 30 caves of various sizes are fenced, many of which have not yet been studied.
What makes Bohol Island especially interesting?
Chocolate hills
Hundreds of tourists come to Bohol every year to enjoy the spectacle of the famous Chocolate Hills.
These wonderful natural formations are small hills, perfectly rounded, covered with fluffy grass. Their height ranges from 30 to 50 meters. In total, there are almost 1500 chocolate hills on the island, which, like the works of an experienced sculptor, absolutely repeat each other.
The hills have such an appetizing name thanks to the grass, which hides them, like a fluffy cape. Green at the beginning of the season, by the end it fades in the sun, which gives it a brownish tint. Against the background of the rest of the bright greenery, the new color of neat mounds looks especially juicy. Until now, the phenomenon of such “partial” grass burnout has not found a scientific explanation. Likewise, scientists argue about the origin of the hills themselves. One of the versions says that these natural formations are only limestone, which does not lend itself to weathering due to some processes.
Local residents have their own versions of the appearance of such an unusual landscape. According to one of them, in ancient times, a battle between two giants took place on the island. Over the course of several days, the giants threw stones and sand at each other. Realizing that such behavior could not achieve anything, they made peace and left the island, but after their massacre in Bohol, mountains of stones and sand remained, which later became chocolate hills.
There is also a more romantic legend of their appearance. It is dedicated to the love between a powerful young giant named Argo and a mortal girl - Aloya. Their love was beautiful and lasted for several years, but one day Aloya died. Argo could not come to terms with the death of his beloved, the giant cried for a long time, and his tears then turned into hills - a beautiful reflection of great grief.
Filipino tarsiers
There are lovely inhabitants on the island of Bohol, for which many tourists also come here. These are the Filipino tarsiers - tiny monkeys, whose huge eyes and neat ears provided them with the love of people from all over the world. It is quite difficult to meet tarsiers in their natural environment - these animals are extremely careful and in no hurry to catch the eye of a casual passer-by.
But Bohol Island is unique for its theme park - the Tarsier Center. Fans of these animals will have a fascinating and full of discoveries journey along the Loboc River, during which many interesting facts will be told about the life of adorable monkeys. But most of all, this trip is unique in that at the end of it it will be possible not only to see the charming tarsiers live, but also to treat them with permitted sweets, hold them in their hands and capture them in pictures.
For diving enthusiasts, it is difficult to find a better place than Bohol Island. The local waters have everything to impress even the most avid diver. Whole walls and gardens, completely consisting of rare species of exotic coral, sunken ships luring with their silhouettes in the enveloping blue waters, unique marine inhabitants, which include rare surgeon fish, scorpion fish and other inhabitants of the local fauna.
As mentioned earlier, the island is rich in caves: large and small, empty and inhabited. Those who love the thrill will find a guided tour to their liking. In addition, there is also the famous Butterfly Garden, where you can get unprecedented emotions from such close communication with these magical insects. Bohol is also rich in waterfalls of extraordinary beauty and walking routes passing through the most picturesque places of the island.
The island of Bohol is notable for the fact that, despite the fact that there are many hotels and entertainment here that offer tourists all the amenities, it has nevertheless managed to maintain its identity. The local population remembers their relationship with nature, which is why there is even a "Manifesto of Mother Nature" here, calling for respect for every living inhabitant of the island. It is thanks to this that an atmosphere of harmony and endless joy of life reigns in Bohol.
