Bohol, one of the more popular islands among the 7,000 in the Philippines, is easily accessible and famous for its Chocolate Hills. The island also offers beautiful beaches, vibrant marine life, and rich cultural heritage.
How to get to Bohol from Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung’s international airport has daily flights connecting to Manila. From Manila, you can take a local flight to Bohol-Panglao Airport. Alternatively, you could fly from Manila to Cebu and then take a ferry to Bohol. While this option may be longer and more expensive, it’s ideal if you want to explore Cebu first.
Bohol
Most tourists stay on Panglao, which is technically an island of its own but is considered part of Bohol. Panglao has Bohol’s main airport and is also close to the ferry terminal. The main beach, Alona Beach, offers a busy nightlife, scuba dive centers, and tour operators for island hopping or exploring Bohol. However, the beach itself is not very exciting, so I would not recommend staying here longer than the time needed to explore the surroundings (2-3 days).
Things to do on Bohol
- Scuba Diving: Like anywhere else in Southeast Asia, scuba diving is affordable and offers beautiful sights in clear, warm waters. If you have no experience in scuba diving yet, it is also an ideal place to give it a first try.
- Join a countryside sightseeing tour: In Alona Beach, you’ll find numerous tour options, but they all come down to the same thing: you’ll join a 12-person van that covers the main highlights in a day. The tour includes key attractions like the Chocolate Hills and the Tarsier Sanctuary, but also some less impressive spots, such as the Butterfly Garden, where crocodiles are kept in small cages… The cost is between 400-700 Pesos for the van, with additional fees for entrance to each site. You can skip places you don’t find interesting; for example, most of my group chose to bypass the Butterfly Garden quickly. The Chocolate Hills have a modest entry fee of 100 Pesos, and some sites are free. Overall, these tours are convenient for seeing Bohol’s main attractions in a day, but don’t expect a fully guided experience; the van driver is primarily just a driver.
- Rent a motorbike or hire a private driver to explore Bohol: If you prefer not to join a van tour, you can rent a scooter and explore at your own pace, or hire a private driver for the day. Renting a scooter will cost about the same as joining a van tour, while hiring a private driver is considerably more expensive, typically around 2,500 pesos.
- Island Hopping: Take a boat tour to explore nearby islands such as Balicasag and Virgin Island, known for their excellent snorkeling, diving, and pristine beaches.
