BOHOL
Another gem of the Visayas, Bohol’s historical significance extends way back to the blood compact between Boholano Chieftain Sikatuna and the Spanish conquistador, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, in 1565.
Scenic Bohol casts an enigmatic charm drawn from the many archaic mementos spread throughout the oval-shaped island: from the Chocolate Hills and the tarsier to 16th century watchtowers and Jesuit Baroque mission churches. The Chocolate Hills, all of 1,268 perfectly cone-shaped hills, are undoubtedly the most famous tourist attraction in the province. Among these hills that abound in Central Bohol, two have been developed into top-class resorts.
Bohol boasts of six pillars of tourism. Where can you ever find this generous package of ALL six tourism attractions in just one island?
CHOCOLATE HILLS
The world-renowned cone-shaped Chocolate Hills is Nature's expression of beauty, mystery and romance. Spread over the Municipalities of Carmen, Sagbayan and Batuan, the Chocolate Hills is the province's signature attraction. It consists of approximately 1,268 haycock hills with heights ranging from 40 to 120 meters. Formed centuries ago by tidal movements, the hills are considered as a National Geologic Movement. During the summers, the dome-shaped grass covered limestone hills dry up and turn brown, transforming the area into seemingly endless rows of chocolate “kisses”. Two of the highest hills have been developed and provided with facilities such as a restaurant, hostel and viewdeck.
Vote Chocolate Hills as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature!
TARSIER
Would you believe that the tarsier, the smallest living primate, measuring 4 to 5 inches and a tail longer than its body, can easily fit snugly in the human hand and is 36 million years old? Being endemic in limited forest pockets in Bohol and having the status of an endangered species, the tarsier has generated substantial interest.
WHITE SAND BEACHES AND DIVE SITES
Panglao Island and the southeastern tip of Anda indulges one with soft, powdery white sand beaches
A1 dive sites in Balicasag and Cabilao Islands enable one to marvel at one of the most colorful and exotic display of marine life comparable to Tubattaha of Palawan, a world heritage site. Three words describe diving in Bohol: deep, steep wall. The undersea terrain is predominantly limestone and there are overhangs, crevices and declivitous walls that contribute to the underwater beauty of the province's dive sites.
Marine life is abundant even in the off-season. The steep walls provide permanent niches for moray eels, lionfish, coral stalactites, sponges and a lot of other species.
HERITAGE, ARTS AND CULTURE
Without doubt, Bohol is also blessed with the most number of well-preserved, although deteriorating, heritage structures built during the Spanish colonial era. These structures, made of coraline limestones, include the churches, conventos, watchtowers, escuelas de niños y niñas, cabildos and presidencias, and old bridges.
Bohol's sixth pillar of tourism is our people's dynamic arts, artistic traditions, and cultural expressions. In music, painting, dance, literature, theatre, sculpture, and most recently the movies, Boholanos have reared both artistic talents and exceptional artists who rose to national stature and international distinction.
GETTING THERE
Bohol can be reached daily by super fast sea ferries from Cebu, the regional transportation hub, although it can also be reached by direct flights and by ship from Manila, the international travel capital.
By Air:
Asian Spirit fields direct flights from the Manila Domestic Airport to the Tagbilaran Domestic Airport four times a week. Philippine Airlines, Air Philippines and Cebu Pacific have several daily flights from the Manila Domestic Airport to the Cebu-Mactan International Airport. From the Cebu City wharf, there are many scheduled trips daily for the Tagbilaran seaport by super fast ferries.
By Sea:
The WG & A Superferry ship leaves from Pier 4 at Manila's North Harbor for the Tagbilaran seaport every Friday and Sunday while the Negros Navigation liner leaves from Pier 2 every Monday for Tagbilaran via Dumaguete City and every Friday for Tagbilaran via Cebu City.
