Bohol

The rice terraces of Candijay, Eastern Bohol Bohol is the main island of Bohol Province twhich has 75 minor surrounding islands. The island lies southeast from Cebu Island and southwest of Leyte Island in the Central Visayas region. This oval-shaped island is the tenth largest island of the Philippine archipelago. Another gem of the Visayas, Bohol is a tropical haven of natural beauty. The coastline of the island is skimmed by gentle coves and white sand beaches. Bohol is not as internationally famous as nearby Boracay, but is well-known locally as a paradise for divers and snorkelers. Dolphin watching and whale watching tours are popular with both residents and visiting tourists. The best season is from March to June, but dolphins can be seen year-round. In addition to white sand beaches and dive spots, Bohol is famous among others, for its Chocolate Hills, the Tarsier – arguably the world’s smallest primate, heritage sites and old stone churches. Understand Cities Tagbilaran — Capital of Bohol and the main point of entry to the island, including nearby Panglao Island. Loboc — Rivertown with historic church and idyllic falls. Home of the famous Loboc Children's Choir. Also famous for its River Cruise including serenade and buffet lunch. Carmen — Launching point for tours of the Chocolate Hills Corella — The best place in the Philippines to spot a tarsier in the wild. Baclayon — Port with tours to Pamilacan Island and the town where the old Baclayon Church (established in 1727) is located. Elegant heritage houses line the main road. Bilar — Gateway to Bilar & Rajah Sikatuna National Park. Dauis — Historic Church with lovely seaside setting, pilgrimage site, and venue for heritage-themed dinners, exhibits, tours, cafe, craft shop featuring local jewelry Other Destinations Panglao island Get in By plane One of the fast ferry that serve Cebu to Bohol and vice-versa Philippine Airlines (PAL), Cebu Pacific and Zest Air all service the Tagbilaran Airport. As of December 2012, PAL flies 4 direct flights daily from Manila each way. Currently all flights are during the day, however there are plans to upgrade the Tagbilaran airport to accommodate night flights. The Tagbilaran airport has had recent renovations. The tarmac accomodates 2 planes at time. PAL typically uses an Airbus 319 for service to Bohol. By boat The Tagbilaran City Tourist Pier handles more than 4,000 travelers on a daily basis. Nine daily ship calls from Cebu are processed efficiently, with other ships from Manila, Cagayan de Oro City, Dumaguete, Dipolog, Iligan City, Larena, Plaridel and Ozamiz City also welcomed on a regular basis. Another four port terminals cater specifically to Cebu and northern Mindanao routes. Additional berthing space for fastcraft ferries is currently under construction. Bohol fast ferries schedule Get around Bohol Island is easily accessible by bus, private cars, taxi and rental cars. Many of the towns in Bohol have a bus terminal where one can get a ride to other towns. Tagbilaran City, the capital city of Bohol has an integrated bus terminal located in Dao, where you can get a bus ride to get in most towns in Bohol. Most bus lines operate follows daily schedules. To go the the Chocolate Hills, one had to take the interior-route like Carmen-Sierra Bullones. Other ways, to get to different places in Bohol is to rent a car. There are several different transportation companies in Tagbilaran City where you can make arrangements to rent a car or van or jeepney. Taxis are also available, but usually you have to pay in pre-negotiated fare called Pakyaw. See The Tarsier of Bohol Tarsier For the past 45 million years, tarsiers have inhabited rainforests around the world, but now they only exist on a few islands in the Philippines, Borneo and Indonesia. In Bohol, the Philippine Tarsier was a common sight in the southern part of the island until the 1960's. Once protected by the humid rainforests and mist-shrouded hills, these mysterious primates struggle to survive as their home is cleared for crop growing and poaching. To date, the Philippine Tarsier Foundation has acquired 7.4 hectares of land in Corella, Bohol for a Tarsier sanctuary. With the Department of Environment and Natural Resources playing an oversight role, the foundation has asked other Bohol towns with Philippines Tarsier populations to donate 20 hectares (49.4 acres) of forestland for conservation. It also runs a Tarsier Research and Development Center, which serves as a visitor center and venue for research, as well as a habitat preserve. At the sanctuary, a spacious net enclosure keeps a number of Philippine Tarsiers for feeding, captive breeding and display. Here, visitors can observe the Philippine Tarsier in their natural habitat. Within the sanctuary, the Philippine Tarsiers roam freely and all of them have got used to a seven-foot high fence that circumscribes the territory and which serves mainly to protect them from predators like feral cats while maintaining a theoretical chance for tarsiers to leave the enclosure and return as their wish. Do not visit the caged Tarsiers which are elsewhere on the island (especially in Loboc). These are kept in insufficient conditions and often die of stress from the visitors and poor care. Dead animals are frequently replaced by new one illegally captured from the while creating a high stress on the yet surviving population. The Tarsier was used by Stephen Spielberg as the inspiration for E.T. Official Website of the Philippine Tarsier Foundation, Inc. The Chocolate Hills The Chocolate Hills of Bohol The Chocolate Hills are probably Bohol's most famous tourist attraction. The hills, which look like giant mole hill, are considered unusual geological formation that consists of at least 1,268 individual mounds that are scattered throughout the municipalities of Carmen, Batuan, and Sagbayan. The hills range from 30 to 50 meters high and are covered in green grass, which turns to brown during the dry season, making them look like chocolate mounds. ( Quoted from "Your Guide to Bohol" by Sanchez-Bronce, Loop and Carpentier) Legend has it that the hills came into existence when two giants threw stones and sand at each other in a fight that lasted for days. When they were finally exhausted, they made friends and left the island, but left behind the mess they made. For the more romantically inclined is the tale of Arogo, a young and very strong giant who fell in love with an ordinary mortal girl called Aloya. After she died, the giant Arogo cried bitterly. His tears then turned into hills, as a lasting proof of his grief. [1]. However, up to this day, even geologists have not reached consensus on how they where formed. The most commonly accept theory is that they are the weathered formations of a kind of marine limestone on top of a impermeable layer of clay. Do Danao Adventure Park (E.A.T. Danao), Barangay Magtangtang, Danao, Bohol, [2]. 8:00am-4:00pm. Extreme/Eco/Educational Adventure Park that offers various activities for all ages. It boasts of a sky-ride, zip-line, river tubing, caving and trekking activities that will surely make a visit to Bohol memorable. It promises to be a whole new experience far superior to the common offer of Chocolate Hills’ tour, tarsier and dolphin/whale watching. Rates vary depending on choice of package or activity.  edit Island Hopping. There are several uninhabited islands to explore just ten-minute boat ride from Panglao Island. Bohol Virgin Island One can escape from the resort crowd and head for quiet towards the clean white sands of Virgin Island. Technically speaking, Virgin Island is a only sandbar. Even during lowtide, the center part of this crescent moon shaped islet is submerged under 6 inches of water. This flooding divides the Virgin Island into two islets. The submerged part of the islet is a good spot to take photographs because it gives an illusion of walking over the water. There are no accommodations or infrastructures in this small unspoiled island but this only adds its peaceful charm.  edit Massage/Spa Diving: Bohol boasts the best diving sites in the world, and there are many diving center to provide the training courses for OW,AOW and so on. Buy Bohol is known for its bee farm. The honey they get here has become a popular treat. It is also believed that honey from the Bohol Bee Farm has medicinal uses. Honey from Bohol got added uses in certain delicacies and recipes. Eat Budget Mid-range Pyramid Bar and Restaurant is an al fresco restaurant along Alona Beach. Aside from fresh seafood catch, the restaurant serves other varieties like sandwiches, pasta, noodles, chili chicken, beef teriyaki and pork cordon bleu. The bar serves fresh fruit juices, carbonated drinks, beer, wine and cocktails. At night, torches complete the tropical dining atmosphere. Splurge Drink Sleep Bohol's rapidly growing status as a developing tourist attraction in the Philippines has resulted in the improvement of its tourist facilities. From quality boutique hotels to delightfully quaint bed-and-breakfasts, lovely top of the line hotels and resorts to a simple bed rented from a resident. As such, whatever your budget, you could easily find a suitable place to stay. During peak periods such as Holy Week, Christmas and New Year, rooms may be a bit more difficult to find and more expensive so it would be advisable to reserve in advance. Unless we do not have an appropriate destination article, individual accommodations are listed on the relevant destination guide - not here! Contact Stay safe Cope Get out Cebu is one and a half hour trip by fast ferry. Bohol's Tagbilaran City Seaport has eight daily fast craft services to Cebu City. Trips are available 06:00-19:00. Dumaguete Camiguin Leyte Negros Oriental Siquijor Cagayan de Oro This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow! This article contains content from Wikipedia's Bohol article. View that page's revision history for the list of authors.