The sando shirt says it all. I love Panglao islands!

I took a weekend trip from Manila to Cebu to attend my cousin Grace’s wedding. There was a Simala Pilgrimage and Bohol Tour that followed.


My cousin Ate Loida and Tita Inday, Malou and Pearl from Canada wants to see Bohol.
I tagged along their tour. I can’t miss a free offer. :)

Thanks Ate Loids for the treat! :)

Destination: Bohol, Philippines
When: January 12, 2010
Photo Album: ALL photos from Iphone 3GS. (Low res)
Cebu Bohol break D4 – Bohol road trip
Cebu Bohol break D5 – Hello Panglao sunrise and fine white beach

3 Options to reach Bohol from Cebu City:

1. SEA – Cebu City Port – Tagbilaran City Port
VIA SEA LINER
Pros:
Big ship. Safe way to cross Bohol esp. in strong sea current.

Cons:
- Slow. 4 hours travel time.
- Expensive.
Cebu-Tagbilaran – 400 Php
Cebu-Tagbilaran-Cebu – 500 Php

2. SEA – Cebu City Port – Tubigon City Port
VIA Starcraft Fast JET

Pros:
- 1 hour travel time. Fast and Convenient (from Starcraft experience)
- Practical way to reach Bohol.
Business class – 280 Php
Tourist – 220 Php
Economy – 200 Php

Cons:
- Small craft.
- Tubigon is an hour away from main city Tagbilaran or Panglao (If Tagbilaran is your primary destination).

3. AIR – Mactan Airport – Tagbilaran City
 www.cebupacificair.com

Pros:
- Relatively fast. 45 minutes flight time.
- For business travel

Cons:
Expensive air fare.
200 Php Mactan Airport terminal fee.
Not practical

Cebu City Pier to Tubigon Port.
Travel time: 50 minutes
Cost: 200 Php Fastcraft ship Fee, 10 Php Port Terminal Fee

Took the Starcraft fast craft from Cebu City Pier 1 to Tubigon City. This is recommended for road trippers from Cebu to Bohol for the following reasons.
- Fast and Convenient (from Starcraft experience)
- Practical way to reach Bohol.

Tubigon City Pier is newly renovated and very clean. Early morning local residents’ line up to get marked down fish price from fishermen.

Bohol Tour
Tour VAN – 3500 Php

My cousin-in-law, Chris, is deployed and works in Tubigon City Bohol as an NTC officer. He reserved a Tour VAN for us and he guided us around Bohol. Thanks Kuya Chris!

A 12 seater tour VAN to tour you around Bohol cost us 3500 Php. 300 Php for each person if maximized and divided. Not bad.

Tubigon City Tour
Walk

Tubigon is well known for its “lambay” crabs (which I didn’t like because it’s hard to open). It is the nearest seaport in Bohol to Cebu, providing many daily ferry round-trips to Cebu City.

We had breakfast in a local restaurant near the Pier. The pier is near the central town district. As the typical explorer, I sneaked out and walked around town while my relatives are eating. :)

Tubigon City hall is old but maintained.

The park is small and clean.

The Tubigon cathedral is like a castle with a Pillar in front.

The town is very nice and clean. Motorcycle cabs are the primary transport mediums.

Sagbayan Chocolate hills Peak, Flower garden and Kiddie Town.
25 minutes from Tubigon City
Tour VAN
Entrance – 20 Php

The Chocolate Hills placed Bohol on the tourist map long before the beautiful white beaches of the island became major tourist destinations.

The most famous and signature tourist attraction of Bohol, it is a prime tourist destination in the Philippines.

The most recent viewing deck is in Sagbayan Bohol called Sagbayan Peak.

At the ground, Sagbayan Peak has its own water park for kids and adults.



You will notice many Disney character figures and other cartoon structures. This is a great place for the young and young at heart. :)

Sagbayan Peak also houses the Kiddie town, a playground park for kids.

The peak has around 220 degree views of clear chocolate hills at the top. It is very clean. The environment is like that of Baguio parks with Pine trees and flowers.

At the side of the view deck you will see lush greenery and flower orchard. It is landscaped very well.


This is a must visit place for travelers. Although it has less chocolate hills around, you will definitely appreciate the cold air, clean surrounding, cartoon characters, flowers, sights and greenery.

Warning: Another reason why we took Tubigon city as jump in point is that it is much closer to Sagbayan Peak. It is rumored to be a travel hazard at night in the Sagbayan area due to rebels. To be safe, get this on your top of the list in the morning.

Carmen Chocolate hills complex.
15 minutes from Sagbayan Peak
Tour Van
Entrance – 50 Php

It is a short climb to the peak with cemented stairs.

The Chocolate hills complex is the most visited site in Bohol located in Carmen.
You will see 360 degrees of chocolate hills at the top.

At the top you will see a wishing well and bell. They say you have to wish first, drop the coin and then ring the bell.

I did not appreciate it very well as I was able to see Sagbayan peak first. :)

Butterfly garden
10 minutes away from Carmen Chocolate hills complex
Tour VAN

Due to the 2 mountain climbing experiences, we became lazy to walk around the garden so we just passed by the garden gates. Entrance is 50 Php.

“Ah,.. Yan pala Butterfly garden. Let’s go and eat.” – Tita Pearl

I obliged. LOL

Bilar Man Made Forest.
5 minutes away from Butterfly garden
Tour VAN

Driving around the man made forest is great. You can feel that the air is very fresh and cool.

Me goofing off.

Loboc City and Tourism Office
15 minutes away from Bilar man made forest
Free
Tour VAN

Loboc is a 5th class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. It is mere 24 km away from Tagbilaran City, the provincial capital of Bohol.


We passed by Loboc Park and St Peter Parish church. The church is known to train the multi awarded Loboc children’s choir.

Our van parked near the tourism office. I went inside the office and signed the guest book. Also went to the souvenir shops while my cousins and Titas are freshening up.

FREE WIFI near the Tourism Office care of SMART Bro.

Loboc Floating restaurant
Walk from Loboc Tourism Office
Riverwatch floating restaurant – 350 Php

Loboc is known for its floating restaurants along the scenic and winding Loay-Loboc River.

We took the Riverwatch floating restaurant. What can I say but “Food trip”!

There are also river stations that provide entertainment for donations.

This is one of my favorite experiences in Bohol.

Philippine Tarsiers in Barangay Corella, Loboc Bohol
5 minutes
No entrance fee
Tour VAN

Tourists come to Loboc to see the tarsier, a small nocturnal animal with large eyes. It is one of the world’s smallest primates.

We made a short drive to barangay Corella in Loboc to see the tarsiers (and a monkey). In the highway it says “SEE A TARSIER HERE”.

We also saw Manny the Monkey.

I want a tarsier as pet. :)

Sipatan Hanging Bridge.
Entrance fee – 10 Php
15 minutes away from Loboc
Tour VAN

The hanging bridges in Sipatan is a landmark to visit in Bohol. It is made primarily of bamboo wood platform suspended and supported by cable poles and wires. There are two bridges; one is for crossing and one is for coming back.

On the other side there are souvenir shops which sell affordable souvenirs. You will also see here the “buko king” who can open up a coconut with his teeth.

The view is amazing. I wished I could bungee jump here. 

Alburquerque Python Zoo.
Entrance fee – 5 Php
10 minutes away from Sipatan
Tour VAN

One attraction in Bohol is the biggest trained python. Last 2005, it has a statistics of 200kgs, 23 feet long and 30 inch circumference body. It is big.

One thing that got my attention is the weird Lady Gaga “Bad romance” performance by a local performer.

See Video:
http://www.facebook.com/v/252225314670

Tip: Peanut kisses factory is near. You can get the most affordable peanut kisses in the area. Buy Peanut kisses as pasalubong here. Save 25% off the price in regular souvenir shops.

Tagbilaran Blood Compact Shrine.
15 minutes away from Alburquerque
Tour VAN
Free

The Sandugo or blood compact is depicted on Bohol’s provincial flag and the Bohol provincial seal. A shrine was created to commemorate friendship between Legazpi (Spaniards) and Datu Sikatuna (Boholanos).

This can be located in the highway of Tagbilaran.

Baclayon Church.
10 minutes away from Blood compact shrine
Entrance fee for Museum – 20 Php
Tour VAN

The oldest church in the Philippines…




Panglao Hinagdanan Cave.
25 minutes away from Baclayon church
Entrance fee – 15 Php
Tour VAN

Hinagdanan cave is a cave in Panglao Island that is believed to be mystical. You can take a dip in the underground river inside the cave. I did not.

There are a lot of souvenir shops around Bohol. I got one shirt and beach short as souvenir.


Tagbilaran City Tour
25 minutes away from Hinagdanan Cave
Tour VAN

We visited St Joseph Cathedral in Tagbilaran.


I sneaked out to visit Tagbilaran City Hall, Tagbilaran Park and Tagbilaran Museum which is walking distance.

Dumaluan Beach Resort, Panglao.
35 minutes away from Island City Mall Tagbilaran
Tour Van
1800 – Air conditioned room with TV and shower good for 4.

It was already dark (8PM) when we arrived in the resort. We checked in and my cousin and Titas dozed off.

Chris,Uncle Joseph, Uncle Pabling and I got some time to have a drink and some chicharon, Sisig and calamares as pulutan. We had 4 San Miguel grandes. A great bonding session with the Titos and Chris.

A little tipsy and went to our room.

Sleep.