Bohol Island

Country Coastal Beaches Riverfront

Population: 2 million

Best Season to Visit:

Best Off-Peak Month to Visit: September–October

Famous For: Chocolate Hills, Tarsier sanctuary, Panglao Island beaches, Loboc River cruise, Baclayon Church, Diving and snorkeling, Local delicacies like Bohol chicken inasal

Train Access: No

Bus Access: Yes (Ceres Bus, Sunrays Bus, and various local jeepney services)

Bohol Island, located in the Visayas region of the Philippines, centers around Tagbilaran City as its main hub. The Chocolate Hills dominate the landscape—1,268 cone-shaped limestone formations that turn brown during the dry season, accessible via the Chocolate Hills Complex near Carmen town. The island's interior features the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella, where visitors observe one of the world's smallest primates in a protected forest setting. Panglao Island, connected by bridge, hosts white-sand beaches at Alona Beach and Dumaluan Beach, with vibrant coral reefs for snorkeling and diving. The Loboc River offers guided boat tours through mangrove forests and past floating restaurants. Tagbilaran's Baclayon Church, built in 1727, stands as one of the oldest stone churches in the Philippines. The Blood Compact Monument commemorates the 1565 treaty between Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi and local chief Sikatuna. Anda town on the eastern coast provides quieter beach access and limestone cliffs. The island's interior towns like Jagna and Ubay offer rural experiences with local markets and agricultural landscapes. Bohol's road network connects major attractions, though many secondary roads remain unpaved.

VRBO Vacation Rentals
Learn More

With over 2 million bookable vacation rentals, Vrbo connects homeowners with families and vacationers looking for something more than a hotel for their trip. The Vrbo community offers families an array of rental property types such as condos, cabins, lake rentals, beach houses, and more. Discover properties in destinations that everyone dreams of visiting.

VRBO Vacation Rentals

Planning Your Trip to Bohol Island

Weather: Bohol has a tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round, characterized by a dry season from November to May and a wet season from June to October.

Festivals: Sandugo Festival (July, Tagbilaran City), Ati-Atihan Festival (January, various towns)

Best Things for Kids to Do: Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella allows children to observe endangered tarsiers in a guided forest walk through native habitat. Chocolate Hills Complex near Carmen offers viewing platforms and zipline tours across the limestone formations. Loboc River boat tours take families through mangrove channels with stops at floating restaurants and local villages. Alona Beach on Panglao Island provides calm, shallow waters suitable for young swimmers with numerous beachfront resorts offering water activities.

Hidden Gem: Balicasag Island, a small marine sanctuary 45 minutes by boat from Alona Beach, features a steep underwater wall dropping to 40+ meters and encounters with sea turtles and reef sharks in clear waters. Most day-trippers visit only the shallow house reef, missing the dramatic wall dive and the island's quiet beach on the leeward side.

Accessibility: Bohol Island has areas that are accessible for older people, with some resorts and attractions offering well-paved paths, but certain natural sites may be challenging due to uneven terrain.

For the Runner: The serene beaches and coastal paths offer excellent routes for running and walking, while the interior's rural roads provide a peaceful setting amidst rice fields and rolling hills.

Restaurants in Bohol Island

Bohol Island offers a diverse dining scene with a mix of local Filipino cuisine and international options, particularly concentrated in Tagbilaran and tourist areas like Panglao Island. Restaurants range from casual beachside eateries to mid-range establishments serving fresh seafood and traditional dishes. The dining quality is generally good, though fine dining options are more limited compared to major Philippine cities.

Where to Stay

Bohol's accommodation ranges from budget beachfront cottages on Panglao Island to mid-range resorts in Tagbilaran and upscale dive resorts along Alona Beach. Most tourist infrastructure concentrates in Tagbilaran City, Panglao Island, and Alona Beach, with limited options in rural interior towns.

Best Hotels: Henann Evolution Bohol, located on Alona Beach in Panglao, offers beachfront access with a modern resort layout and direct reef snorkeling. Amorita Re

Dog-Friendly Hotels: Amorita Resort, The Bellevue Resort, South Palms Resort Panglao

Bohol Island

Planning Your Trip to Bohol Island

Restaurants in Bohol Island

Where to Stay

Recommended Reading