Bohol Getaway

Bohol is an extremely popular tourist destination here in the Philippines. What else can Bohol offer besides the ever famous Chocolate Hills, Panglao Island and Tarsier? Let me share with you our trip in Bohol which may encourage more tourists to visit this quiet island paradise.

Bohol has a lot to offer, so much that many tourists have a hard time to select the most important things to see in their limited time. You can easily spend a week on the island, and just see the highlights. But for tourist with a lesser time, one could just choose the places that they want to visit in Bohol.

Most of the resorts or hotels in Bohol offer countryside tour. It depends if you purchase a package together with the accommodation or you could either rent a van for a whole day countryside tour. You could always ask the front desk if there are vans available to rent or ask about the tour package upon doing your reservation.

It was a good thing for us that we have an aunt who lives in Tagbilaran. That saved us a lot of money for accommodation. We stayed in Bohol for 4 days and 3 nights and started our countryside tour the 2^nd day since we arrived in Tagbilaran at around 3pm already.

Prior to leaving Manila we have already arranged and picked the places that we wanted to visit. Our list included the famous Chocolate Hills, Loboc River, see the Tarsiers and of course take a dip in the beautiful beaches of Panglao. Since we were staying with our aunt and they’ll be touring us around Bohol, we had the luxury of time to prepare for our day tour. 

We left my aunt’s house at around 10am to start our tour of Bohol. Our first stop was the Sandugo Blood Compact. They say that this is the usual first stop for every Bohol tours. This is the famous blood compact between the chieftain of Bohol Datu Sikatuna and Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi. This monument offers a nice view over the Bohol sea with Panglao Island to the right and Pamilacan Island a bit farther away to the left.

Next was Baclayon Church. It is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. Its monumental church, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, opposite the pier, is well worth a visit. This church also has a small museum with some old church relics on display.  

It was about time for lunch so we headed to Loboc River. Loboc River is also well-known for its floating restaurants that cruise along  Loboc River where you can have a buffet of Filipino food and enjoy the live band or watch the Filipino folk dances being performed by the local dancers. The tour will end at Busay falls and then will return back to port.

After our big lunch buffet we proceeded to Chocolate Hills. After several minutes on the road we pulled over to a stretch of thickly forested land of mahogany trees. This area is well-known as the Bilar man-made forest. Most Bohol tours stop here for a short while to enjoy the soothing greenery and majestic canopy.

After that short stop-over, it was time to get back on the road and drive straight to Chocolate Hills. Chocolate Hills is located in the town of Carmen. To enjoy the scenery, you'll first have to climb the stairs on one of the hills for a magnificent view. This is probably the best spot to enjoy the eyrie landscape. These grass-covered hills are usually green and turn brown during summer making it earn its name, “Chocolate Hills”.

After the tiring climb up and down the stairs and some picture taking, our uncle told us that we’ll be heading to Sagbayan Peak to see the tarsiers. Everybody got so excited that we immediately jumped in the van to proceed to our next destination.

When we got to Sagbayan Peak ,everybody was just interested to see the tarsiers that no one had the enthusiasm to climb up the stairs to get another view of the other side of the Chocolate Hills. I’m not quite familiar about Sagbayan Peak although upon entering the site it seems to look like a recreational park. And since we still have to see another tourist spot in Bohol, we decided to just take pictures with the cute little tarsiers and head back on the road.

These tarsiers are cute little creatures considered to be the world’s smallest primate. We were lucky enough to have a close encounter with these adorable creatures. The caretaker was nice enough to let us take a picture by setting the tarsiers on our arms. Just remember that you are not allowed to hold them and you cannot use flash while taking photos.

For our last stop we went to Punta Cruz Watch Tower. The Punta Cruz Watch Tower is not included on most Bohol tours. This triangular watch tower provides an excellent view of Cebu and the south seas of Bohol. It was built during the Spanish era as a look-out post against pirates and Muslim marauders, who at that time where a plague to the people of Bohol. The site offers a small stall for buying drinks and snacks and makes a good spot for a picnic and a swim.

It was really a tiring trip considering that we actually went around Bohol. And what other way to end this trip was sumptuous meal from Payag Jo’s Chicken Inato in Mansasa. Considering that there were 6 of us and everybody had buko juice in the shell and the food was really delicious, we only paid Php 1,000+ for dinner. After dinner we headed back to our aunt’s house and rested for the next day activity.

Time to hit the beach! The municipality of Panglao is home to the best known beaches of Bohol. With its pristine white beaches and crystal blue waters, one cannot simply resist this wonderful gift of nature.

On our way to Panglao Island Nature Resort, we made a quick stop in Hinagdanan Cave. This cave is one of the tourist destinations in Bohol. The entrance of the cave is still narrow and steep and only one person at a time can enter. The large underground cavern has a pond, looking dark yet alluring. As far as I remember, the pond is deep and the water is icy cool and fresh.

After that quick stop we went to Panglao Island Nature Resort for a day tour. The entrance fee is Php 450 per person and the Php 350 is consumable for food and drinks. The package is inclusive of the free use of the amenities in the resort. The food was superb and price was fair for a resort rate. The resort has swimming pool and billiard table to suit your leisure and of course a nice beach.

When the sun was about to set, it was time for us to head back to Tagbilaran to have dinner. It was really nice to go home after a tiring day wherein the food was ready to be served. With all the fresh and rich marine life surrounding Bohol, one could not simply resist their best local dishes. For desert my aunt stopped by Lilia’s bakery before they picked us up from the resort. Lilia’s special ensaymada with ube filling was extremely good.

It was our last night in Bohol and while talking to our aunt and uncle in their veranda we found out that there are still places to see in Bohol that we missed within our stay. They told us that there is a new extreme attraction adventure in Danao which offers zip line and other stuffs. One can also enjoy island hopping together with whale and dolphin watching while you’re in Bohol and would simply enjoy swimming, snorkelling or diving in Pamilacan, Balicasag and Virgin Islands. I’m not quite sure about the rates but for some tours, it’s included in the package.

Time flies so fast when you’re in a vacation. But hey, you could always go back or find another destination to explore and experience. Hope you find this article about Bohol interesting and helpful for your travel needs. Enjoy!

Coron, Busuanga

CORON is a small island located at the northern tip of Palawan. It serves as a gateway to the Calamianes Group of Islands where one could find well-preserved islands and islets with white sand beaches, crystal clear waters, rich marine life, and limestone cliffs. 

The beautiful island of Coron, Palawan boasts its very rich natural resources. There are lots of small islands accessible from this island’s port. That is why one thing you should not miss is island hopping in Coron.

You can reach Coron by flying from Manila to Busuanga, Palawan, a trip that would roughly be 45 minutes in length. Busuanga Domestic Airport is small so only smaller planes land there. You can choose among Pal Express, Cebu Pacific and Zest Air to get there. Once in Busuanga, you would have to travel for at least an hour of rugged dirt road via SUV’s or vans that are waiting just in front of the airport. This usually costs 150 pesos per passenger. You can of course arrange with your resort to have someone pick you up at the airport, although most drivers know the usual places where people stay at.

Almost all lodges in Coron do have tour packages and if you don't want to avail those packages, they are willing to assist you in looking for a boat for your island hopping. 

We stayed at the Coron Village Lodge and availed their 4 nights and five days package. Coron Village Lodge is a true home away from home because it looks like one. We had comfortable beds and amazing meals. Kuya Willot, the Operations Manager, was pleasant and very helpful.  The package included accommodation, airport transfer, full board meals, island tours, entrance fees to the islands and tour guide as well.

It was a good thing that we planned to stay in Coron for five days since our flight to Busuanga was delayed and arrived in the afternoon already. Since we couldn’t go island hopping on the same day of arrival, we decided to go around and explore the town. When going to Coron,  it’s a must that you bring an underwater camera to be able to capture the beautiful marine life while snorkelling. Good thing that there’s a shop that actually sells disposable underwater camera. You could also buy one from Coron Village Lodge but it’s much cheaper to buy it outside, better yet buy it from Manila.

Our first day tour started right after breakfast. Our first stop at Coron island loop was Atwayan Beach, one of the white sand beaches in Coron Islands. The beach is well-maintained by the Tagbanua, tribal caretakers who rake the sand everyday and even sift the sand to remove debris and big pebbles. It’s actually the best way to start our day just relaxing by the beach and snorkelling.

Our next destination was the Twin Lagoon. Located among the majestic cliffs, a 2 1/2 meters wide hole connects the two lagoons. During high tide, it is an exciting adventure to swim through the hole, during low tide the hole can be seen and it is easier to swim through it.  You would get off your boat a few meters away from a small opening. You have to swim through that (there is a space to breathe, I assure you so no special diving skills required) to enter the beautiful lagoon. The water here is warm below and cold on the surface.

After the Twin Lagoon, we headed to Cayangan Lake just in time for lunch. It was really an advantage to have the lodge prepare our meals. Cayangan Lake is a beautiful enchanting lake enclosed by limestone cliffs and sturdy greenery. It used to be enchanted, as the legend goes. The Tagbanuas believed the spirits of their ancestors dwelled at the lake.

When you dock at the island where Cayangan Lake is, you still have to hike a step path. Be sure to bring your water, you’d need it during the climb. Well, beauty comes to those who wait, as after the 10 to 15 minutes trek, a natural unspoiled beauty that is all yours is what you’ll be seeing. A vast lake surrounded by mountains, so green and so breathtaking. The lake is pretty deep. You have just a few smooth plane rocks on the side to stand on to before you dive in deep cold water.

If you are not tired enough from the climb and the swimming at Cayangan Lake, then take the plunge as a similarly beautiful Barracuda Lake. You have to climb mount of rocks to get to this place. You have to do a short climb up and down the treacherous and sharp lime stone rock to access the lake. Be very careful when going there and make sure your footwear is not slippery.

Next stop was Siete Pecados.  A marine sanctuary punctuated by seven islets. This is a very good snorkelling area - the massive corals are a sight to enjoy. Swimming among the fishes is a great excitement. You could see a lot of different coloured fishes in their natural habitat. This is quite shallow, about 7 feet so be careful with the sea urchins. Don’t forget your underwater camera and snorkelling gear, as there is a whole lot of beauty underwater.

The best way to end a tiring island tour is visiting Maquinit Hot Spring. Maquinit is the local term for hot, and it is really hot. A natural spa! Two small springs merge into a big pool. Temperatures could reach 45°C, making it a favourite of tourists with tired and aching bodies after a whole day’s island adventure.

On our second day tour we headed to Malcapuya Beach, another one of a kind white sand beach island, with a longer beach front and few cottages. It is a little over an hour boat ride from Coron town. The boat ride to the island is very scenic. You will pass by a lot of isolated islands, beach and rock formations. Most of the guests’ boats were docked at the back of the island to preserve the place. We stayed there the whole day enjoying the white sand and the rich marine life. This is the perfect place where you could just lay-back and relax, away from the busy city life.

On our third day tour, we set off to Calomboyan Island. On our way to the Calomboyan, we stopped by WW II Gunboat Shipwreck. The sight of it was scary.  It was like a haunted house under water. Calomboyan Island is a very beautiful island paradise surrounded by white beach, with big trees up to the water edge. Corals of all shapes abound in one area. It is best for swimming, snorkelling or just lazing on the beach. And for our last stop, we cruise down the Mangrove Forest River.

On our last day in Coron, we decide to conquer the 700+ steps going up to Mt Tapyas. As early as 530am we started to walk down the street since the steps to Mt Tapyas is just near the lodge. As we reached the summit, a 50 foot metal cross with breath taking view of Coron town, Coron Island and Calamianes group of islands awaits you. The best time to climb Mt. Tapyas is either during sunset or sunrise. 

After the assault at Mt. Tapyas, we went back to town to eat breakfast and bought pasalubongs and souvenirs. At around 0800 off we go to Busuanga airport with great memories of Coron. 

It was really an amazing experience with all the breath taking sceneries. Coron is a highly recommended place to visit here in the Philippines.

Budget Travellers and Diners

Hi everyone! My friend and I decided to put up a travel and dining blog not just to inform others but also to share our experiences. First of all we are budget travellers, we also consider ourselves as backpackers when travelling. Budget travelling is all about having maximum fun for minimum money. It doesn't mean having one meal a day and sleeping in a make-shift bed or living like a vagabond. You can still get the vacation of your dreams at the budget you set. A rule for any type of travelling, lavish or budgeted is that it should be planned. Take ample time to research about the various packages you are considering for your vacation before you book one.

We love to eat. It can be an inexpensive or fine dining, as long as we enjoy the food, that’s all that matters. Food for us should always be of high quality for the fact that no one should have to pay for something that they don't like or that isn't fixed up to their standards. Sharing good food with friends is an intimate experience that should be indulged in lightly.

We hope that our blogs would be helpful for you on your next destinations and dine-outs. Thank you and enjoy reading!