Preview: Chocolate Hills and the little monkey called “Tarsier” are located in Bohol the tourist spots of locals and foreigners together with the 5 other destinations.
After Boracay our next destination is Panglao Bohol to see the famous chocolate hills and Tarsier Monkey tour package.
We fly from Boracay to Manila then Manila to Tagbilaran Bohol. Bohol is close to Cebu so if your staying in Cebu you can take a ferry boat to Tagbilaran Island.
Arriving to Bohol Tagbilaran:
There are dispatchers or taxi drivers will ask you for a ride with tricycle or a car. The fare depends on the location but from the Tagbilaran airport to Alona beach cost 300 pesos for tricycle and for a car is 600 pesos one way ride. Tricycle is okay because the road is good but try to negotiate for a better price, 300 pesos for 21 kilometers and 36 minutes is a good deal. Some of the drivers ask for a tourist price so it is good to negotiate.
We saw a construction site from the airplane that looks like an airport and we ask about it then we find out that this is an international airport. Bohol is getting more touristy than before specially if the international airport build completely in Panglao Island. So we recommend you go soon before it gets crowded.
Chocolate Hills & Tarsier Monkey Tour Package
The “Chocolate Hills Package” tour including the van is 500 per person for semi private group. Also, you can take a private car for 1500-2500 pesos for the day. You should negotiated with the driver for the best price. None of the entrance fees are not included with this price. The advantage of having a van is you meet new people and for me its nice to travel with a group. The advantage of a private car you don't need to wait the other companions before the van can head out to next destination, 'you are the boss' and you will finished the tour early than usual :)
Tarsier Monkey
First destination was the little monkey called Tarsier, we have 30 minutes to explore the place. Entrance fee at the right side window cost 60 pesos per person. The tarsier are very small and some of them are sleeping but when you see them closer they are cute. Be sure your camera doesn't have a flash in case the tour guide forget to inform you.
They also have a souvenirs shop before you head out. They have t-shirts, bracelet, wallets and many more. You can buy t-shirts for you to remember this place every time you wear it.
Chocolate Hills
Second destination is the Chocolate Hills. Don't miss the chance to visit the chocolate hills if you went to Bohol, your friends will ask you “have you been to Bohol”, Yes “so you saw the chocolate hills”, its almost says like no one went to Bohol without visiting the Chocolate hills.
Walking the 214 steps up makes you feel sweating and its very hot but when you reach the top its totally worth it.
Man Made Forest
The Man Made Forest of Mahogany tree stands out because of the uniformity in height of the big trees, the spread of its branches, thickness and design of leaves. When you enter the forest, one will feel the abrupt change in temperature, especially during summer or hot season. It is hot outside the forested area, but once under the overhanging trees, we were refreshed by the cool breeze.
Video of Funny Sisters acting like this :)
Bamboo Hanging Bridge
Hanging bridge is just couple minutes from man made forest. The entrance fee was 20 pesos per person.
The Hanging Bridge is a foot bridge composed of bamboos and hardened steels which was initially used by locals to cross the river going to the Barangay on the other side of the main road. The Hanging Bridge is about 25 meters above the river.
When the pictures of the bridge were on the internet, many locals and tourist decided to visit the place.
When I first step on the bamboo bridge I feel scared because I have fear of high. I can't resist not to hold the rope to balance myself. I get scared when someone walked too fast to make the bridge more wiggly and when someone tease you. I drop the ticket because I was afraid of falling when the bridge start to move. I'm holding my things carefully to avoid dropping them on the river. They have a souvenirs shop at the end of the first or entrance bridge.
To finished the entrance and exit bridge is an accomplish for me and to face my fear.
After this we ate a banana cue with my sister because we are hungry and its been a long time since we ate grilled banana.
Loboc River Lunch Cruise
Loboc river and hanging bridge are connected rivers few minutes ride. The ticketing office was very crowded. You can wait in line to get a ticket or you can give money to the guide and he will buy ticket for you.
The buffet lunch cruise cost 450 per person for about an hour and half tour. Our guide bought tickets for us. Then write your names on ship manifest before you head to the boat.
Each group should be on the same table with your companions from the van to make everything organized. The lunch buffet is good with chicken, pork, fruit, juice and other choices. You can eat as much as you like. Its very relaxing eating while watching the views and worth the price. They also have live band in the cruise, you can request a song. Some of our companions doesn't go on the River Cruise lunch its not mandatory you can join or not but I recommend it.
We saw some kids swimming on the river and some tourist on paddle boards.
Before you head back you can watch some cute kids dancing the native dance with cultural outfit in Philippines, you can give tip if you want. The cruise was amazing surrounded by green grass and trees.
Zip Line
The Zip Line cost 350 pesos per person, a couple minutes from the River Cruise and Hanging Bridge.
To reach the zip line area you need to walk up the few steps on the right.
This is the second part that I face my fear, to shout is a way to relieve my fear and to enjoy the ride. They have two lines for two person but its not close enough to hold each other hands. The ride back across was one by one on a single line. There is a river under that makes the view even more beautiful with rocks at the same time you feel scared thinking you will fall and going to die.
Its longer than I thought, my hands was cold. I grabbed the leg of the attendant at the end when I was afraid I would not stop in time. It was my first time so I really enjoyed it, I wish to do it again.
Butterfly Garden
The entrance fee was 45 pesos per person but you can either choose to go inside if your interested or sit in the van like some people :P
Female butterfly has a huge stomach while the male has straight body only. When you enter the Bonsai Butterfly Garden you will see different kinds of butterfly with different colors. Some of them will land on your hair and hands. They are friendly and not afraid of humans.
Big Python and other Animals
The entrance fee was 45 pesos per person to see some animals like wildcats, goose, monkey, birds, turkey, snakes, and the big python. The animals were kept in cages and I felt sorry and sad for their treatment :(
Bohol Island Hopping Tour
This island tour cost 400 pesos per person with 2 destinations, the Balicasag Island and Virgin Island. For private tour cost 1800 pesos.
We wake up in the morning to start the island hopping for dolphin watching because dolphin shows at 6AM in the morning. There's a lot of people awake and walking at 6AM for island hopping, sunrise is beautiful. Its low tide so people need to walked up to the boat, be careful you may step the sea urchins and star fish I would recommend to wear aqua shoes.
Dolphin Watching
First destination was the dolphin watching but its seems bad because there are 40 boats chasing the dolphins. This made it very hard on the dolphins and we never saw them close up. They were running from the boats chasing them.
Balicasag Island
After the dolphin fiasco our next destination was the Balicasag island.
Its low tide so you gonna walked in about 15 meters, its not too bad but its rocky and there's sea urchins, lots of star fish and we saw a sea turtle on the way in. Its pretty cool. There is a small boat that will send you to the beach if you need it. If you dont want to get wet or if you have trouble walking on the stones.
There are a little cottages with some food to order for breakfast and instant coffee. You can also rent a snorkels for 100 pesos. The boat ride was extremely loud so I recommend to bring earplugs if you have them. You can also rent little boats to take you out to the reef so you can snorkel or you can swim out yourself.
The guide doesn't informed us about the things to do. So we sat there for a while until we figured out want everyone was doing. I think the two main choices are to snorkel and explore the island. The island is just beautiful, a bit sad because the island has become littered with random plastic and bottles of beer from all the visitors.
We decided to walked around the island instead of snorkeling to see some beautiful areas. Some parts of the island surrounded by rocks with a little bit of sand with a lot of broken shells and other parts has very white sand. There is also a resort if you want to stay for a night. We walked around the beach for about 30-45 mins it was nice. The island is small enough you can walk around the whole thing.
Virgin Island
Next destination is the Virgin Island, its basically a sandbar next to a resort. They have some sea food to grill and fresh coconut juice. Many sea urchins that some people eat and we saw many many star fish and empty shells. There are birds farther away from the boat we tried to get closer but they fly away. This beach is not good for swimming, you need to walked farther to have a deep water with lots of seaweed.
It was raining on the way back that makes us cold. The tour finished during sunset.
Bohol Island Tour Rates:
Airport-Pier Transfer to:
Panglao for tricycle 400, car 600, van 800
City Hotels for car 200, van 300
City Tour 3 hrs for car 1000, van 1200
Note: in excess of hours additional 250/hour
Mag-aso Falls
Car 1800, van 2500
Panglao Island Tour
Tricycle for 1000, car 2000, van 2500
Chocolate Hills Tour
Tricycle 2000, car 3000 van 4000
Sagbayan Peak Tour
Car 3500, van 4500
Eat Danao
Car 4500, van 5000
Sea and Island tour/boat
Small boat 2500, Big boat 3000
Living in Alona Beach
Alona beach is different and smaller than Dumaluan beach but Alona is more touristy. The Alona area has many hotels and restaurants. This is the place where the boat leaves for island hopping.
The beach is not as nice as Dumaluan either, it is a bit dirty and the water was not as clear. Alona is a public beach for everyone except the Hennan beach resort. The sand is not as white as Dumaluan beach but they have a lot of choices for cheap accommodation compared to Dumaluan.
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Alona Beach
Dumaluan Beach
Some restaurants are open for breakfast but many are not. We found a very good restaurant that we went most of the time. The Buzzz Cafe is the best restaurant, good ratings, excellent food and good service. They have the best salad and we found out that they have farm called “Bohol Bee Farm'' and they make their own good dressing and different ice cream flavors.
Some random restaurants pictures :)
That's all thank you for dropping by.
I hope this post helps you for your future travel plans.
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