[Philippines BOHOL] Pack 18 Hours Into Bohol! The Ultimate Bohol Attractions Guide feat. 海島瘋

Besides diving, what else is there to do on Bohol in the Philippines? A few days earlier, we had used Kalachuchi Inn to help arrange our diving itinerary, so for today's full-day land tour of Bohol, we asked the guesthouse to plan it as well — including transportation between all the attractions, tickets for swimming with Whale Sharks, a river cruise lunch restaurant, tarsiers, and the Chocolate Hills. The evening firefly river cruise and the Chocolate Hills ATV ride were last-minute decisions on our part, making them extra out-of-pocket activities — but of course, you can always arrange them in advance through the guesthouse.

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

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

Taug Whaleshark Watching and Snorkeling Time required: approximately 1.5 hours; actual time in the water with the Whale Sharks is about 30 minutes Transportation: private charter vehicle Ticket: approximately 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. We arrived at 8 a.m. and were already not among the very first group to enter the water. After checking in, you'll be given a paper wristband (which breaks easily) as proof of purchase. Find a seat and listen to the pre-dive briefing — the main points are to keep your distance from the Whale Sharks, wear a life jacket on the boat, avoid wearing sunscreen, and don't position yourself in front of a Whale Shark since their eyes are on the sides and they can't see you directly ahead…

The briefing lasts about 15 minutes, after which you collect your life jacket and begin waiting. The waiting area is divided into three stages, a bit like queuing through checkpoints. The shuttle boat holds 10 people, and the Whale Shark site is very close to shore so you arrive quickly. The actual snorkeling time with the Whale Sharks is about 30 minutes — at first it sounds short, but it's actually more than enough.

Of course, you can also choose to dive with the Whale Sharks via scuba diving, which costs around 3,000 pesos. The advantage of scuba diving is that you don't have to queue with everyone else — the staff will carry your gear to the shore so you can get in the water right away, significantly cutting down your wait time, and you get to see the Whale Sharks in their entirety. The downside is that you'll be farther from the Whale Sharks, and looking up from below you'll see a sea of snorkelers above you. We didn't try the scuba option this time, so please look that up separately for more details.

Tips:

1. Leave early and try to join the very first group in the water — not only is the wait shorter, but underwater visibility is better.
2. Wear your swimsuit under your clothes before you set off. There are changing facilities nearby, but the time spent changing affects your place in the queue — the earlier you queue, the earlier you get in the water.
3. Don't arrive too late. Not only does visibility worsen later in the day, but the Whale Sharks may be full and swim away by around 11 a.m.
4. Nearby shops offer underwater photography services, so even if you don't have a camera, you can ask 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. A change of clothes can be left on the racks at the check-in area — just bring whatever you need in the water.

Must-Do Bohol Attraction: Drift Through Lunch — River Cruise Restaurant

Loay River Cruise Time required: approximately 2 hours; actual dining time is about 1.5 hours Transportation: private charter vehicle Ticket: approximately 300+ pesos for children; approximately 680 pesos for adults (as part of a package tour) More info: 【Cebu · Travel】Bohol Bamboo Raft River Cruise Restaurant: Loay River Cruise

We finished with the Whale Sharks at around 10:30 a.m. The river cruise restaurant for lunch is roughly a 20-minute drive away. While waiting to board, you can browse the small souvenir stalls nearby. Each boat can accommodate many passengers, so it takes a little time for everyone to find their seats. During the cruise, there is live guitar music performed on board. Although it's a buffet, the staff serve tables in boarding order, one table at a time. There's plenty of food prepared, so don't worry about missing out if you're seated later.

The buffet selection is incredibly varied — it was probably the most authentically Filipino meal we had on the entire trip. Filipino food tends to be bold in flavour, so pace yourself accordingly, but overall we found it really enjoyable. And the scenery from the river is something you simply can't experience in Taiwan, so we highly recommend it.

Tips:

1. Skip the tarsier souvenirs at the souvenir stalls here — wait to buy them at the Tarsier Conservation Area.
2. Once you're seated, staff will take your drinks order — check whether there are any additional charges.
3. While waiting to board, make the most of your time to take photos by the boat before the post-meal photo rush begins.

Must-Do Bohol Attraction: Adorable Conservation Reserve — Tarsiers

Tarsier Conservation Area Time required: approximately 40 minutes Transportation: private charter vehicle Ticket: 60 pesos for adults; can't remember the children's price (as part of a package tour) More info: 【Philippines Bohol Attraction】Tarsier Conservation Area — The Philippines' Unique Tarsier, Bohol's Must-Visit Spot

The Philippine tarsier found on Bohol is one of the rarest protected animals in the world. Because they are difficult to breed, they are extremely precious. A tarsier is roughly the size of an adult woman's fist, and they are timid creatures that startle easily — so remember to keep noise to a minimum as you move through the area. Tarsiers are nocturnal animals, so staff inside the reserve place a leaf above each one's head to shade them from the light, giving them an incredibly cute appearance.

During the day, tarsiers spend most of their time sleeping, so spotting one with its eyes open is quite lucky. Staff place the tarsiers on trees along the visitor path, and you can hand your phone to a staff member and ask them to take a close-up shot with a tarsier for you. Walking through the entire reserve at a brisk pace takes about 20 minutes — allow more time if you plan to take photos. At the exit there is a large tarsier souvenir shop where you can pick up gifts; prices are quite reasonable.

Tips:

1. This is the best place to buy tarsier or Bohol-related souvenirs.
2. Whether to tip the staff who take close-up photos for you? Among our group, some people tipped and some didn't. But since the staff were such skilled photographers, we personally gave 20 pesos.

Must-Do Bohol Attraction: Thrills at the Foot of the Chocolate Hills — ATV Riding

Sotera's ATV Rides Time required: approximately 1.5 hours; actual riding time is about 1 hour Transportation: private charter vehicle Ticket: 1,100 pesos (extra, out-of-pocket activity) More info: Riding an ATV for a Bird's-Eye View of the Chocolate Hills on Bohol

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

We happened to run into an afternoon thunderstorm and were initially on the fence about doing the ATV ride — but we ended up discovering that rainy days are absolutely the best time to go. The trail has plenty of bumpy mud pits along the way, and after the rain these pits fill up with water, sending the excitement level through the roof. All 10 people in our group tried it, and every single one gave it a huge thumbs up — even though we were all absolutely caked in mud from the knees down. If it has been raining heavily, you may encounter pits with water deep enough to stall your ATV. Don't panic — just wait calmly for a staff member to come and help.

We thought one hour was just the right amount of time. The guide takes photos and video of you throughout, and picks a few scenic spots with the Chocolate Hills in the background for some killer photo-op shots. Afterwards, there's a wash station to clean off the mud before you get back in the car.

Tips:

1. Definitely go on a rainy day — ideally after it's been raining for a while.
2. If you're worried about getting dirty, wear shorts and flip-flops.
3. Bring more people along — the more the merrier.

Must-Do Bohol Attraction: One of the World's Ten Greatest Natural Wonders — Chocolate Hills

Location: Chocolate Hills Time required: approximately 30 minutes; actual viewing time is about 20 minutes Transportation: private charter vehicle Ticket: none noticed (as part of a package tour) More info: Bohol Chocolate Hills, Philippines Trip

About ten minutes after finishing the ATV ride, we arrived at the best viewpoint for the Chocolate Hills. The viewing platform lets you look out over the entire expanse of hills from above. Before reaching the summit, you'll need to climb a steep flight of stairs, and the panorama along the way is truly breathtaking. Because we had spontaneously added the ATV ride to our itinerary, our time at the Chocolate Hills viewpoint ended up being cut short. Bear that in mind when planning your schedule — one experience is looking up at the hills from below, and the other is gazing down over them from above. Both are equally memorable.

Tips:

1. Note that drone flying is not permitted at the top viewing platform, but you can fly a drone near the rest area below.
2. Check Instagram in advance for popular angles and shot ideas.
3. There are a few souvenir shops behind the rest area below — worth a browse.

Must-Do Bohol Attraction: A Magical Evening — River Firefly Cruise

Maribojoc Mangrove Firefly Time required: approximately 3 hours; actual firefly viewing time is about 30 minutes Ticket: 1,000 pesos (prices are flexible — one person in our group paid 650 pesos) Transportation: shared transport More info: A Romantic Evening on Bohol: An Encounter with Fireflies on the Abatan River

The firefly river cruise was something we signed up for after our day's private charter tour had finished, when touts approached us while we were strolling along Alona Beach. The firefly-viewing spot is on Bohol, about a 40-minute drive away. After checking in, we waited another 30 minutes. We boarded a small banca boat in complete darkness — the scenery along the river is probably similar to the daytime river cruise restaurant route, but in the pitch-black of night the fireflies' light stands out incredibly vividly. Bohol's firefly season runs year-round, so you can enjoy them no matter when you visit — even on rainy days, though the glow will be less intense.

Because the fireflies' main food source is the Mangroves along the riverbank, they congregate on certain trees in large numbers, twinkling like lights on a Christmas tree. Paired with the stars in the sky, it looks as if the stars themselves have floated down to earth — utterly romantic. It's a completely different experience from firefly-watching in Taiwan, and we strongly recommend setting aside one evening to do this night tour.

Tips:

1. Prices at shops along Alona Beach are negotiable — the more people in your group, the cheaper it gets.
2. Bring your own insect repellent.

Final Thoughts

Having dived in so many countries, the editors at BlueTrend were genuinely surprised by this Bohol dive trip. In the past, our overseas dive trips have almost always been pure dive-mode — minus the travel days at either end, it's been diving, diving, and more diving. But in Bohol, beyond diving, you can also pack in all kinds of rich and exciting land-based activities, and the driving distances between attractions are manageable. It's a great destination to plan for beginner divers or families with children, giving non-diving members of the group plenty of ways to enjoy the trip too.

Further reading:

1. 【Philippines Bohol, Panglao, Balicasag】2023 Post-Pandemic Era: What Silly Mishaps Can Happen on an Overseas Dive Trip? 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 at Pamilacan Island + Witnessing the Taiwan Cup Freediving Gala Night feat. 海島瘋