Best Things to Do in Bohol – Travel Guide 2024

Getting to Bohol is kind of a journey, and it’s definitely not as nice as other tourist spots in the Philippines like Coron, El Nido, and Siargao. Going to Bohol involves a flight to Cebu, then a ferry to Panglou, which will could take you a day or more because of the flight and ferry times. 

So … is Bohol worth it? In this post we will detail the TOP things to do on Bohol, and then give you our verdict on whether or not this island is worth your time.

πŸ‘‡ Things to Book for Bohol 🏍️

Table of Contents

things to do in bohol view 1

Best Things to Do in Bohol

The truth is that Bohol is a BIG island, and there are plenty of things to do, but I’m going to assume that you only want the highlights, as you will probably only be here for 2-3 days before you head onto Siquijor, or head back to Cebu. We have spent a decent amount of time on Bohol (this was our second time on the island). 

Here is how we would do Bohol if it was our first time visiting the island.

Day 1

Rent a motorbike in Panglao (where you’ll be staying) and get ready for an adventure. Today is going to be a long day but it will all be worth it. There are four stops that we recommend for your day on the motorbike, here they are.

bohol philippines route

#1 – Bilar Man Made Forest 

This is a short stop just for photos – a man made forest in the middle of a tropical island. Pretty crazy. It’s much cooler here because of the shade and the trees. You drive right through this forest to get to all the other spots, so all you really do in the forest is pull off the road, grab a picture, then continue on.

things to do in bohol man made forest motorbike MJ
things to do in bohol man made forest look back at it

#2 – Tarsier Conservation Area 

20-30 minute stop. Tarsiers can only be found in the Philippines, Sumatra, and Borneo. They are members of a sister group of monkeys and apes. Tiny little things. I’ve never quite seen anything like a Tarsier before.

things to do in bohol tarsier sanctuary

There are a few different Tarsier sanctuaries in Bohol, we recommend going to this one (called Bohol Tarsier Conservation Area on Google Maps) as it is really close to the man-made forest and we had a great time both times we’ve been. It’s a really quick walk through the small sanctuary but seeing these tiny creatures in the tree is so worth it!

things to do in bohol tarsier sanctuary awake
things to do in bohol tarsier sanctuary sleeping
things to do in bohol tarsier sanctuary hiding
things to do in bohol tarsier sanctuary knocked out

#3 – Chocolate Hills

The Chocolate Hills is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the highlight of Bohol. A series of rolling hills that will really make you wonder how the heck these things formed. Climb up a short flight of steep stairs and you will see these beautiful mounds with a great view! You take a shuttle bus from the bottom where you purchase your tickets and then make your way to the top. If the sun is too much for you, consider using one of their free umbrellas available during your climb!

things to do in bohol chocolate hills

It can get quite busy so be prepared for that depending on when you choose to come! There are multiple bathrooms at the bottom of the hill and a cafe where you can buy drinks at the top of the climb or at the bottom before the stairs. You can also see various ATV tracks near the hills that you can also check out if you’re feeling more adventurous!

πŸ›Œ Here are all your hotel options in Panglou πŸ‘ˆ

#4 – Can-Umantad Falls

The largest waterfall on Bohol, and quite a local spot. There won’t be many foreign tourists here, as its quite far from where tourists stay in Panglou. We definitely think its worth the trip to come here. There are a bunch of epic spots to jump and swim from at this place. This is by far the tallest waterfall I’ve seen anywhere in the world that you can swim in.

➑️ Read: Top 11 Philippines Travel Tips πŸ‡΅πŸ‡­

things to do in bohol can umantad falls
things to do in bohol can umantad falls view
things to do in bohol can umantad falls sam
things to do in bohol can umantad falls from afar

We recommend heading to Can-Umandad Falls first, then making these stops in reverse order. The farther you get from Panglou, the more rural you’ll be going, and the worse the roads will be. You don’t want to be driving back from Can-Umantad Falls at night, so get this out of the way first in the morning. Then you can hit the rest of the spots on your way back to Panglou. (You will basically pass all of them on your way to Can-Umantad Falls)

things to do in bohol can umantad falls rice terrace

All of these stops are pretty epic, and this day alone makes Bohol worth the trip. These stops are very unique, and you’re really not going to find things like this in the other touristy spots of the Philippines.

If you don’t want to rent a motorbike and experience this kind of adventure on your own, there are tons of tours willing to take you to some of these spots from Panglou. There are tons of vans on Bohol carrying Asian tourists who want to see these spots but don’t have transport of their own.

πŸ’‘TIP: You can also rent a car on Bohol to explore the island. We always rent through Discover Cars.

Day 2

This is your day to hangout on Panglao, after a long and adventurous day on the motorbike yesterday. We recommend hitting the Alexis Cliff Dive Resort for an epic cliff jump, then heading to Panglao Beach to chill out. There are tons of food and drink options lined throughout the beach here. Watch the sunset on Panglao Beach, enjoy some of the great restaurants that Panglao has to offer, and get ready to head on to Siquijor or Cebu tomorrow!

πŸ‡΅πŸ‡­ Travel Insurance πŸ’Œ

Don’t forget Travel Insurance for your trip. Safety Wing covers emergency medical, dental, trip interruption, lost luggage, and more.

Check out Safety Wing here. ⬅️

things to do in bohol walk down

What’s Bohol Like?

Bohol is a BIG island, and has a major city on it (Tagbilaran). Since most people stay on Panglou Island (bottom left), when you want to explore the inner part of Bohol, you are going to have to drive through Panglou and past Tagbilaran to get to the middle of the island.

Bohol is definitely not as modern as the other tourist spots in the Philippines, and it’s also quite hot. Once you pass the Chocolate Hills, the roads aren’t as good and you may be driving on rocky roads, so be ready for that.

Map of Bohol

On the other hand, the island of Panglou is VERY touristy, with tons of tourists coming here from Korea. You’ll find all the modern amenities that you could imagine on the island of Panglao.

things to do in bohol basketball game

How Many Days in Bohol?

We recommend 2-3 days in Bohol. If you’re short on time, 2 days is perfect. One day exploring Bohol, then 1 day on the beach in Panglou. You mainly come to Bohol to explore the inlands.

➑️ Read: Things to Do in Coron 🚀

Where to After Bohol?

Most people head to Siquijor after Bohol, or head back to Cebu to fly to Siargao or Manila. The ferry to Siquijor from Tagbilaran is easy and only a 2 hour trip. If you are thinking of going to Siquijor but are not sure about, we HIGHLY recommend it.

➑️ Read: Top 7 Things to Do in Siquijor ✨

What makes Siquijor great is that it’s a very small and simple island, with a ton to do. While Bohol can be complicated to travel around at times because of how big it is, and because it has a big city (Tagbilaran), Siquijor does not have this. There is one road that goes around the whole island, and getting around is a very calm and easy feat. There are waterfalls to visit, cliffs to jump off of, and beautiful sunsets to catch. Plus, since it’s such a small island, life on Siquijor is much more relaxed than most places.

If you’re thinking of heading to Siquijor … do it. You won’t regret it. It’s a lot different than Siargao or El Nido.

Summary – Things to Do in Bohol

In summary, we would say a trip to Bohol is definitely worth your time. There are some amazing sights to see on this island, plus it will give you a look into Filipino culture that you don’t get in the other tourist spots of Coron, El Nido, and Siargao. Also, it’s very convenient to visit on your way to Siquijor!

➑️ Read: 3 Weeks in Philippines Itinerary πŸ‡΅πŸ‡­

Thanks for reading this guide to Bohol. Let us know how your trip went!

signature

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *