MY DESTINATION BOHOL!
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Bohol Philippines is fast becoming one of the top travel destinations in Asia.

Bohol, derived from the word Bo-ho or Bo-ol, is the seat of the first international treaty of peace and unity between Datu Sikatuna, a native chieftain and Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, a Spanish conquistador on March 16, 1565 through a blood compact known today as Sandugo.

The island offers a wide range of attractions from natural fine white sand beaches, great diving sites, scenic natural sights, old houses, ancient churches, historical sites and wonderful ecotourism highlights. The Chocolate Hills, numerous mounds of limestone formation, is the most popular attraction. The island of Panglao, located just southwest of Tagbilaran City, is famous for its diving locations and routinely listed as one of the top ten diving locations in the world. Numerous tourist resorts dot the southern beaches and cater to divers from around the world. The Philippine Tarsier (Tarsius Syrichta) , measuring 4 to 5 inches and considered the world’s smallest primate in the world, is indigenous to the island..

Bohol is very accessible by air and sea travel, it is the closest province to Cebu city, with travel time of 1 hour and 30 minutes by fast craft and 20 minutes by plane. Typhoons and earthquakes are very rare.

LOCATION

Bohol is an island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, consisting of Bohol Island and 75 minor surrounding islands. Its capital is Tagbilaran City. Bohol is the 10th largest island in the country, nestled securely at the heart of the Visayas, between southeast of Cebu and southwest of Leyte.

PANGLAO ISLAND

Panglao Island Beaches are now the favorite destination of tourists, local and foreign alike. Many are lured to the island because of the white sand, the cool crystal blue waters, and the world-famous surrounding dive sites. Alona Beach, an 800 meter stretch of white powdery sand, in the south of Panglao Island, is south west of Bohol and only 18 kilometers or 30 minutes away from Tagbilaran City, the one and only city of the province. There are many full-service beach and dive resorts reside in Alona Beach.

There are a number of Bohol Diving spots that offer excellent diving.Balicasag, long known for its exotic seashells, (the natives net-fish the deeper waters for rare specimens), and its cascading coral walls is considered one of the best dive spots in the country. The waters off Pamilacan Island teem with schools of tuna, snappers, groupers, mackerel and surgeonfish. The sea around the island is frequented by whales and dolphins. The island is considered a jump off to an area where at least seven species of marine mammals like sperm whales have been sighted.

The Danajon Bank or Double Barrier Reef, located off northern Bohol Island, is the only double barrier reef in the Philippines and is 1 of only 3 such sites in the Indo-Pacific. The reef is spread across almost 130 kms and consists of 3 large reefs.

THE CHOCOLATE HILLS, CARMEN

The most famous tourist attraction of Bohol, the famed Chocolate Hills of Bohol are not only two but more than 1,268 cone-shaped hills – a very strange geological formation that has baffled geologists. The hills are spread over an area of 50 square kilometers or more and vary in size from 30 meters to 120 meters in height.

There are two areas to visit to get a good look at the hills. These are at the Chocolate Hills Complex in Carmen town, and at the Sagbayan Peak.

The hills appear to be seemingly endless when viewed atop the hill in Carmen town, 55 km from Tagbilaran City. 213 steps lead to the top where an observation deck there gives you a 360° view of the hills “as far as the eyes can see”. It is more majestic when viewed from a plane – they appear to be thousands of mole hills dotting out from verdant surroundings.

SAGBAYAN PEAK also offers a good view of the chocolate mounds. TheSagbayan Peak Park is a new tourist destination with a butterfly dome, a restaurant, a café and a souvenir shop. A major attracton of Sagbayan is its butterfly sanctuary, the largest butterfly flight aviary in Bohol, and prides itself on providing a quality wildlife experience in the heart of the Visayas.

BACLAYON

Most all of the 47 towns of the Bohol have old massive stone churches with frescoes all done under the Spanish colonization. The most famous and oldest church in the country is the Baclayon Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Concepcion.

DAUIS CHURCH in Dau is is 3 km from Tagbilaran City. It has a semi-modern façade while retaining the original Spanish architecture. The interior has lifelike murals painted on the ceiling.

LOBOC

The Loboc River is now one of the major destinations of tourists, local and foreigners alike. Located in the Municipality of Loboc, a mere 24 kilometers away from Tagbilaran City, the winding river plays host to cruisers on board small bancas or floating restaurants. Visitors are treated to a vista of lush tropical vegetation such as nipa palms, coconut trees, banana groves, and bushes. The Municipality of Loboc is also known as the Music Capital of Bohol. The Loboc Children's Choir hails from this town, composed of schoolchildren ages nine to thirteen who attend the Loboc Central Elementary School. The Loboc Children’s Choir was founded in 1980 under the able tutelage of a 5th grade teacher named Alma Fernando-Taldo who established the choir initially to grace school and community affairs in the town of Loboc. 

Eventually, thru sheer hard work, the group became national champion in 1993 during the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) – Children’s Choir Category, which is the most prestigious music competition in the Philippines. The group has won numerous competitions both local and international, most notably the festival competition in Barcelona, Spain entitled "Europe and its Songs", in September 17-21, 2003.

The performances of the Loboc Children’s Choir, usually at the St. Peter Parish Church Complex near the Loboc River, has become the highlight of any tour in Bohol.