Bohol

Rich in native Philippine culture, stunning beaches and scenery that will leave you breathless are just some of the reasons people are drawn to this beautiful island. The island of Bohol also has an array of wildlife including the Tersia which is a rare small monkey like mammal and is extremely cute. Tagbilaran city which is located on the islands south west coast is the main town and is easily accessible from both Manila and Cebu either by plane or ferry. This destination really is a getaway and is yet to be discovered by the mass western tourist market making Bohol a great choice if you want a real insight into the Philippines. The island is about 50 miles long and 40 miles wide and offers plenty to explore. Getting around is relatively simple compared to other areas and taxi travel is extremely good value for money. There are several main tourist spots in the area and following is a brief description of each:

Panglao Island

Accessed from Tagbilaran city by two bridges is the small island of Panglao. Most of the regions main hotel and accommodation options can be found here and with wonderful beaches this makes for a great place to stay. Alona Beach provides the widest choice for visitors and is a great base to explore the region from if you can drag yourself away from the powder white sand. The Amorita resort with Hotels.com is an excellent and affordable option with a great location. Diving is also very popular here and the marine life is fantastic, from beginner to expert the diving options are great and loads of dive schools can be found all around Panglao Island. Dumaluan beach on the islands opposite side offers some more exclusive hotel options and is another great base.

Carmen

Located in the centre of Bohol is the town of Carmen, being in the islands interior it gives a different twist to a holiday in the Philippines and makes for a good option for a couple of nights stay that is not beach based. The main attraction here is the famous chocolate hills. The chocolate hills are made up of nearly 2000 hills that rise from between 30 to 50 meters above the otherwise flat landscape making a unique sight. They are called the chocolate hills because this is the colour that they turn to at the end of the summer.

Balicasag Island

A Mecca for divers, the options and diving here are wonderful and amongst some of the best in the world, the island is located to the south of Panglao Island and is an unspoiled beauty, easily accessed by boat from Panglao.

Pamilican Island

Perhaps the closest you can get to that Robinson Crusoe experience. Eighty percent of this small island is white sand beach and the other twenty rocky coastline. The island has only one very small resort made up of small huts almost on the beach, this resort is run by a local and has only the most basic of facilities. Pamilican has no roads and the only way to get there is by boat and to do this you will have to hire one from Tagbilaran city. However for all the effort it might take you get there it is well worth the trouble, this is a paradise and extremely peaceful. If you choose to stay here you will have the island pretty much to yourself with the exception of a handful of locals and very few holidaymakers.

Tagbilaran City

With the exception of a few shops there is little else to do here and maybe the only reason worth staying would be to break up a long journey overnight as you travel to the more interesting and scenic surrounding areas. There is however a museum and several bars and restaurants so you can find a few things to keep you occupied. If you travel here during the fiesta or Sandugo festival then this does give the city an added attraction but otherwise just keep a stay here short and sweet.

Getting to Bohol is perhaps best by ferry from Cebu. There are lots of links to get you there and this gives a great opportunity to see more of the local scenery. There is a ferry four times a day and for more information on this take a look at www.oceanjet.net for details on fares and schedules. Bohol is a paradise and must be visited if the opportunity arises. Getting around Bohol is also easy and like most Asian destinations taxis and tricycles are incredibly cheap. Bohol is a simply beautiful region and a superb option to experience the true culture of the region. Below are some useful links to help you plan your trip.