[Philippines BOHOL] 18 Hours to Conquer Bohol! The Ultimate Guide to Must-See Attractions feat. 海島瘋

Besides scuba diving, what else is there to do on Bohol in the Philippines? A few days prior, we had the Kalachuchi Inn help arrange our diving itinerary, so for this full-day Bohol land tour, we asked the inn to plan everything as a package — including transportation between attractions, the Whale Shark swimming ticket, a riverside lunch restaurant, the tarsiers, and the Chocolate Hills. The evening firefly river cruise and the Chocolate Hills ATV were last-minute additions we decided to do on our own, making them extra out-of-pocket activities — though you can always ask your accommodation to book them in advance.

As of December 2022, NT$50 (Taiwan dollars) is roughly equivalent to 100 Philippine pesos. All prices below are in pesos — just divide by two to get the approximate NT$ equivalent!

Must-See Bohol Attraction: Up Close with Wildlife — Swimming with Whale Sharks

Taug Whaleshark Watching and Snorkeling Time needed: Approximately 1.5 hours; actual time with the Whale Sharks is about 30 minutes Getting there: Private charter Entry fee: Approx. 1,200 pesos (as part of a package tour) More info: Philippines Bohol Attraction | Swimming with Whale Sharks: Meet the Ocean's Gentle Giants at Bohol's Whale Shark Village

Taug Whaleshark Watching and Snorkeling is a Whale Shark viewing spot that was only discovered in recent years. The drive from Panglao to Bohol takes about one hour. When we arrived at 8 a.m., we were already not the first group to enter the water. After checking in, you'll be given a paper wristband — the kind that tears easily — as proof of purchase. Find a seat and listen to the pre-dive briefing, which mainly covers keeping your distance from the Whale Sharks, wearing a life jacket on the boat, not using sunscreen, and not swimming in front of the Whale Sharks, since their eyes are on the sides of their heads and they can't see what's directly ahead.

The briefing lasts about 15 minutes, followed by collecting your life jacket, and then the waiting begins. The waiting area is divided into three stages — a bit like a queue with checkpoints. The shuttle boat holds 10 people, and the Whale Shark spot is close to shore so you'll arrive quickly. The snorkeling session with the Whale Sharks lasts about 30 minutes. At first it seemed short, but it's actually more than enough.

You can also choose to go scuba diving with the Whale Sharks for around 3,000 pesos. The advantage of scuba diving is that you skip the queue — the staff will carry your gear to the shore so you can enter the water directly, significantly cutting wait time, and you get a full view of the Whale Shark. The downside is that you're further from the Whale Shark, and looking up from below you'll see a sea of snorkelers. We didn't try scuba diving with the Whale Sharks this time, so please do your own research for details.

Tips:

1. Leave early and try to be in the first group in the water — the wait is shorter and underwater visibility is better.
2. Put your swimsuit on under your clothes before you leave. Changing facilities are available on-site, but the time it takes to change will affect your place in the queue — the earlier you queue, the earlier you get in the water.
3. Don't arrive too late. Besides poor visibility, the Whale Sharks may be full and leave by around 11 a.m.
4. Nearby vendors offer underwater photography services — if you don't have a camera, you can hire them to shoot for you.
5. Bring your own mask and snorkel; you may also bring fins and an underwater camera. Leave valuables in the car. Spare clothes can be left on the rack at the check-in area — just bring what you need in the water.

Must-See Bohol Attraction: Drift Along for Lunch — The Riverside Restaurant

Loay River Cruise Time needed: Approx. 2 hours; actual dining time is about 1.5 hours Getting there: Private charter Entry fee: Approx. 300+ pesos for children; approx. 680 pesos for adults (as part of a package tour) More info: 【Cebu · Travel】Bohol Floating Bamboo Raft River Dining: Loay River Cruise

After finishing with the Whale Sharks at around 10

a.m., it's about a 20-minute drive to the riverside lunch restaurant. While waiting to board, you can browse the small souvenir stalls nearby. Each boat accommodates a large number of passengers, so seating takes a bit of time. During the cruise, there is live guitar music performed on board. Although it's a buffet, the staff will serve each table in order of boarding — and there's plenty of food, so don't worry about running out even if you're seated later.

The buffet spread is incredibly diverse — it was probably the most authentically Filipino meal we had on the trip. Filipino cuisine tends to be quite bold in flavor, so gauge your portions accordingly, but overall we found it really enjoyable. The view from the river is something you simply won't find in Taiwan, so we highly recommend giving it a try.

Tips:

1. Hold off on buying tarsier souvenirs at the souvenir stalls here — save it for the Tarsier Conservation Area.
2. Once seated, the staff will take your drinks order — check whether any extras incur additional charges.
3. While waiting to board, take advantage of the time to get photos by the boat and avoid the post-meal photography crowd.

Must-See Bohol Attraction: The Adorable Conservation Area — Tarsiers

Tarsier Conservation Area Time needed: Approx. 40 minutes Getting there: Private charter Entry fee: 60 pesos for adults; children's fee was not noted (as part of a package tour) More info: 【Philippines Bohol Attractions】Philippine Tarsier Conservation Area — the World's Only Tarsier Sanctuary, Resembling Aliens and Yoda from Star Wars, Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary, a Must-Visit Bohol Attraction

The Philippine tarsier found on Bohol is one of the world's rarest protected animals. They are extremely difficult to breed, which makes them exceptionally precious. A tarsier is roughly the size of a woman's fist, with a timid temperament that startles easily — so be sure to keep noise to a minimum as you move through the area. Tarsiers are nocturnal animals, so inside the conservation area, staff place a leaf above their heads to shield them from the light, which makes them look incredibly cute.

During the day, tarsiers spend most of their time sleeping, so spotting one with its eyes open is a lucky treat. Staff position the tarsiers on trees along the designated path, and you can also hand your phone to a staff member to take close-up photos with the tarsiers. Walking briskly, you can complete the entire area in about 20 minutes — allow extra time if you want to take photos. There's a large tarsier gift shop at the exit where you can pick up souvenirs at very reasonable prices.

Tips:

1. This is the best place to buy tarsier or Bohol-related souvenirs.
2. Whether to tip the staff for taking close-up photos was mixed among our group — some did, some didn't. But since the staff were genuinely great photographers, we personally tipped 20 pesos.

Must-See Bohol Attraction: The Ultimate Chocolate Hills Experience — ATV Riding

Sotera's ATV Rides Time needed: Approx. 1.5 hours; actual riding time is about 1 hour Getting there: Private charter Entry fee: 1,100 pesos (extra out-of-pocket activity) More info: Riding an ATV with Views of Bohol's Chocolate Hills — All-Terrain Vehicle Experience

ATV stands for All Terrain Vehicle. The operator we chose on Bohol offered one-hour and two-hour options, with the fee covering both the outbound and return journey. Raincoats are provided if it rains. No motorcycle licence is required. There are also two-person vehicles available, but pricing is per head, so it's not cheaper — and the two-person ATVs are larger and handle more "steadily," which may feel a bit tame for thrill-seekers. After completing the route briefing, you'll sign a liability waiver, and then after a quick lesson on how to accelerate and brake, you're off.

We happened to hit an afternoon thunderstorm and had been debating whether to go ahead with the ATV. As it turned out, we strongly recommend riding in the rain. The route is full of bumpy mud pits, and with rainfall the waterlogged pits take the excitement to a whole new level. All 10 of us came back raving about it. Yes, you'll be covered in mud from head to toe — everything below the knees is basically a lost cause. If it's been raining heavily, you may encounter water-filled pits deep enough to bog down your ATV. Don't panic — just wait calmly for the staff to come and help.

We felt the one-hour duration was just right. Your guide will take photos and videos of you throughout the ride and pick out a few spots with the Chocolate Hills as a backdrop for some epic shots. Afterwards, there's a wash station to clean off the mud before you get back in the car.

Tips:

1. Rain is your friend — the muddier the better.
2. If you're worried about getting dirty, wear shorts and flip-flops.
3. Bring more friends along — the more, the merrier.

Must-See Bohol Attraction: One of the World's Top Ten Natural Wonders — The Chocolate Hills

Location: Chocolate Hills Time needed: Approx. 30 minutes; actual viewing time is about 20 minutes Getting there: Private charter Entry fee: Not noted (as part of a package tour) More info: Bohol's Chocolate Hills — A Philippines Cebu Trip

After the ATV, it's about a 10-minute drive to the best Chocolate Hills viewpoint. The viewpoint offers a sweeping panorama of the entire Chocolate Hills landscape from above. Before reaching the top, you'll need to climb a steep staircase, but the views along the way are genuinely breathtaking and expansive. Because we had added the ATV activity last minute, our time at the Chocolate Hills viewpoint ended up being cut a bit short. Factor this into your planning — one perspective is looking up at the hills from below; the other is gazing down across them from above. Both are equally impressive.

Tips:

1. Please note that drones are not permitted at the top viewing platform, but you may fly a drone near the rest area below.
2. Check Instagram in advance for the best photo angles.
3. There are several souvenir shops behind the rest area at the base — worth a browse.

Must-See Bohol Attraction: A Perfect Evening Wind-Down — River Fireflies

Maribojoc Mangrove Firefly Time needed: Approx. 3 hours; actual firefly viewing is about 30 minutes Entry fee: 1,000 pesos (pricing is flexible — someone in our group paid 650 pesos) Getting there: Shared ride More info: A Romantic Night in Bohol, Philippines — An Encounter with Fireflies on the Abatan River

The firefly river cruise was something we were talked into while browsing around Alona Beach after our full-day charter tour had ended. The firefly viewing site is on Bohol itself, about a 40-minute drive away. After checking in, we waited another 30 minutes. We boarded a small outrigger boat in complete darkness — the surroundings along the way were probably similar to the riverside restaurant route, but in the pitch-black night, the fireflies' glow was absolutely luminous. Bohol's firefly season runs year-round, so you can visit at any time of year. It even works on rainy days, though the fireflies' glow may be slightly less visible.

Because fireflies' primary food source is the Mangrove trees along the riverbank, they cluster on certain trees — flickering like Christmas lights, set against the starry sky above. It looks as though the stars themselves have come down to earth. It's incredibly romantic. This is a completely different experience from watching fireflies in Taiwan, and we highly recommend setting aside one evening to enjoy this night cruise.

Tips:

1. Prices from vendors soliciting bookings on Alona Beach are negotiable — the more people in your group, the cheaper it gets.
2. Bring your own insect repellent.

Final Thoughts

For the editors at BlueTrend — who have dived in so many countries — this Philippines Bohol dive trip came as a genuine surprise. Our overseas diving trips in the past have almost always been all-out dive marathons: set aside the travel days at either end, and the rest was diving, diving, and more diving. But in Bohol, beyond the diving, there's a rich variety of land tours to fill your days — and the distances between attractions aren't far at all. This makes it an ideal destination for beginner divers or family travel groups, so even those who aren't hardcore divers can truly enjoy the trip.

Further reading:

1. 【Philippines Bohol, Panglao, Balicasag】Post-Pandemic Overseas Diving in 2023: The Silly Things That Can Go Wrong feat. 海島瘋
2. 【Philippines Bohol, Panglao, Balicasag】World-Class Diving Mecca Balicasag — The Emotion of Being Embraced by a Tornado of Jackfish feat. 海島瘋
3. 【Philippines Bohol, Panglao, Balicasag】Diving to Pamilacan Island + Witnessing the Taiwan Freediving Cup Athlete Gala Night feat. 海島瘋