Like a treasure chest teeming with nature’s gems, the island of Bohol is a scenic harmony of amazing landscapes and seascapes. It takes pride in its mountains as well as its beaches, simultaneously featuring the world-famous Chocolate Hills and the famed shores of Panglao. Located at the Central Visayan region, Bohol can be reached through a 75-minute flight from Manila or a leisurely 25-hour cruise. Some people make a side trip to Bohol when vacationing in Cebu since it’s just a 4-hour ferry ride away to Tagbiliran.

Nicknamed as “cave country,” Bohol lures adventurers with over 30 caves in each town, many of them still unexplored. Danao hosts one of the more popular historical caves aptly called Francisco Dagohoy Cave after the Filipino patriot. Particularly interesting about this cave is its intricate maze-like interior, with a secret underwater passageway to dry land.

Time spent in Bohol can be either historic, cultural, religious or possibly a pleasant combination of all three. You can retrace its rich past by visiting the various sites and structures that have played an important role in the formation of Philippine history. Barangay Bool identifies the spot where the blood compact between Datu Sikatuna and Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, historically known as the first Treaty of Friendship, took place more than three centuries ago. Or you might want to see the Baclayon Church, one of the oldest religious institutions in the country, which also features a vast collection of cultural artifacts.

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