Bohol Beach Resorts Find out what’s the best beach that will suit your budget. Go out for a visit on a number of tourist spots around the province and head down to the numerous activities in and around Bohol that includes snorkeling, whale watching, diving and a whole lot more! Visit Bohol Beach Resorts Philippines!

BeZo Recreational & Aquatic Activities

There's now more to Baclayon than its famous 17th century church and museum. With the help of Ayala Foundations Inc.'s (AFI) Bezo initiatives, visitors can now enjoy more adventures in this heritage town. Called Biyahe Baclayon, the adventure is composed of three tours designed for visitors who want to explore Baclayon’s natural wonders and heritage and cultural sites.
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Extreme Adventure Tour Danao (EAT Danao)

We have featured some videos of the Sui-Slide here before but that is actually just one of the attractions of the newest Danao Adventure Park. The activities in the park is called "E.A.T. Danao" which stands for Extreme Adventure Tour. However, the letter E stands also for "Economic" and "Educational". In that sense, the activities grouped into Extreme, Ecology and Educational. It touts itself as a whole new experience far superior to the common offer of Bohol which are the Chocolate Hill's Tour, Tarsier and Dolphin/Whale Watching. And the town is ready to prove that to their visitors.

Danao ZIP line
Photo Taken by Ryan Macalandag

Danao Adventure Park Activities

With the Eco Adventure Tour, actitivites include bird watching, caving, farm-visit, kayaking, sightseeing, rice field walk, and a nature trail walk that would allow you to appreciate the natural beauty of Bohol. You will also get a chance to ride the carabao driven karitela.

The second package is Educational Adventure Tour which takes you to a tour focused on educating tourists and the local community in preserving the natural landscape and cultural heritage with activities like showing the importance fo watersheds, forest preservation and ecosystem, organic farming methods and sharing Danao's pride, Francisco Dagahoy, a great national hero who started the longest running rebellion against the Spanish colonizers.

For a more adventurous type, the Extreme Adventure Tour takes you to river trekking, tyrolean traverse, rappelling, bouldering, rock climbing and the much hyped Sui-Slide, a 500 meter, 200m high zip line. A new attraction, Sky Ride, offers visitors a ride in a cable car over the canyons. They also now offer the Canyon Plunge which is like a zip slide but going down to the valley instead of going to the other cliff. Suffice to say, the Extreme Adventure Tour is the most popular of the three.

Food and Accomodation

For a more complete service, the park also offers accomodation. Cottages starts at an affordable rate of PHP600. You can also rent tents for a camping experience within the park. The restaurant offers local delicacies and seafoods and local dishes.

Contact Information

Danao Adventure Park
Magtangtang, Danao, Bohol, Philippines
website : http://eatdanao.com
Contact Persons
LGU-Danao
- 507-3106 local 187
- eatdanao@ymail.com

Ana Loinda Saluan
Mun. Tourism Officer
- 0917-3021701
- alc_saluan@yahoo.com

Ma. Weina Saguid
Tourism Operations Assistant
- 0921-7594403

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Sui-Slide : Danao’s ZipLine Attraction

Bohol has another reason to attract tourists -- a 480 meter zip line called "Sui-Slide". At an altitude of 200m, it is both the highest and longest zipline in the Philippines. It's an exciting zipline that will definitely shoot your adrenaline up in the air. We don't know why they called it "Sui-Slide" but it definitely rhyme with "suicide." It would be a treat for extreme sports enthusiasts.

The new attraction is part of the "Eco/Extreme Adventure Tour" (or shortened to EAT Danao), with activities like wall climbing and river kayaking which is being promoted by the municipality of Danao, Bohol. It is definitely a welcome addition to the usual Bohol Day Tour.

To go there, you can hire a shuttle (van) or go to the Integrated Bus Terminal(IBT) for a bus ride going to Danao. The IBT is located a stone-throw away from the Island City Mall in Tagbilaran City. You'll have to travel for around 30-45 minutes from the city.


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Loboc River Cruise in Bohol

Another must-visit and experience activity in Bohol is the Loboc River Cruise. It's a very popular destination because more than its floating restaurants and their food, one will be treated with the magnificent and breathtaking view of the Loboc River and its surroundings. The very clean river is complemented with green landscapes and tall coconut trees against a backdrop of a forest.

Loboc is around 24kms away from Tagbilaran and it's one of the iterenaries of most, if not all, Bohol Tour Packages. On your way here from the city, you'll pass by several other places of interests like the Sandugo Shrine and the Loboc Church which is the home of the award-winning Loboc Children's Choir.

There are two choices fo the river cruise. One is via a banca(canoe) where boatmen will take you to the cascading mini waterfall of Busay. Another, which is more popular, is boarding the floating restaurant new the Loay bridge where they are stationed. Food here was fine and plenty and features local delicacies. While cruising and eating your sumptous buffet, a band will serenade you. Guests are also invited to sing if they like to.

The river cruise ends at the Busay Falls. It's about one and a half meter high and it marks the point where the floating restaurant cannot go any further. You'll stop at this point for a while to allow the guest to appreciate the landscape.

If you are lucky, the boat may stop at a tribal community along the banks of the river (not all boats stop here). You will be welcomed by the music of the Ati Tribe of Bohol. Here, tourists can mingle with the members of the tribe and they may even teach you how to play archery. The Ati Tribe were very friendly and playful and it's definitely a very good addition to the attractions. Visiting them is free but a small amount of donation is very welcome to help them and their community.

As of this writing, the Loboc Floating Restaurant Cruise costs PHP280 per head plus a municipal tax of PHP30. The amount already includes a buffet lunch and of course, the boat rental. The entire trip takes between 45 and 60 minutes.

Bohol Featured in Wold Pool Championships

The current staging of the World Pool Championships in Manila has featured a number of beautiful spots of Bohol. ESPN, the official network covering the event has been very good to feature quite a number of places in Bohol. It is indeed a big help for local tourism.

The features are presented during the breaks in the coverage. Bohol Beach Club, a premiere destination in Panglao, is one of the resorts featured. Anthony Suntay even featured the Tarsiers and this afternoon, the floating restaurants in Loboc river is shown.

As of posting, Darryl Peach(ENG) and Robert Gomez(PHI) are playing for the finals. It's definitely a very good exposure for the tourism in Bohol as the WPC is shown worldwide through ESPN, the global leader in sports. Millions of people all over the globe watch the biggest event in billiards. This is the second time WPC is staged in the Philippines.

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Diving in Bohol

DIVE SITES in BOHOL

map of divesites

ARCO POINT
Only 2km away from Alona Beach, this dive has a school of seasnakes and a tunnel to dive through, starting at 8m down to 18m. The site is covered with soft corals with a school of glas fishes, moray eels, snake eels and frogfishes. It is a great spot for beginners as well as for experienced divers. Sometimes there is a little current along the drop-off.
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CABILAO ISLAND
A small island of Lo-on, Bohol. It is 1 hour 20 minutes boat ride by banca from Mactan Island, Cebu. Diving in the area is centered in front of the light house. It is a straight wall dive with the bottom at 160-200 feet. In-front of the light house is a double ledge at 90-100 feet, where strong current is not uncommon. Schools of barracuda, moorish idols and jacks are a common sites. Approaching the second ledge from the south, where the current usually goes, it meets the outwards currents as you approach the ledge near the point. Divers usually see big pelagic, beautiful soft corals of all different colours and flashlight fish in the crevices. But reserve all your energy for the eel gardens and the shoal of Hammerhead sharks usually seen when the current is very strong and the water colder.

PANGLAO ISLAND
The north and western section of the reef are noteworthy, with a reef platform that is relatively narrow and shallow (15-20 feet) that has an edge terminating into perpendicular submarine cliffs, plunging down to depths 100-170 feet. The reef is thickly covered with hard and soft corals, branching table, sacrophyton and lobophyton varieties. Near the cliff are schools of tuna, mackerel and surgeonfish. At 90 to 100 feet depths are big snappers, groupers, and an occasional black-tip sharks. Farther seawards are schools of dolphins and pilot whales.

BALICASAG ISLAND 0
A sandy shell coral line beach surrounds the island, which in turn, is fringed by a narrow reef shelf, 30 to 165 feet wide. The shelf, which is 15-25 feet deep, terminates into a perpendicular underwater down to depths beyond 250 feet on the north and northwest face of the reef, the top of the submarine cliffs are covered with the hard coral while lower levels are covered with sponges and gorgonians. A thriving fish community is found around the cliff area. Here, jacks, mackerel and barracudas are seen in abundance. On the south and southwest portions of the shelf are wider and grades down to 60-70 feet . The slope is covered with wide patches of hard and soft coral. The submarine cliffs are indented with caves and overhangs where large groupers, napoleon wrasses and snappers hide.

0 PAMILACAN ISLAND
Located in the eastern side from Panglao Island, the island has strong currents which is great for drift diving. The island has a gradual slope of white sands and isolated corals but is known for its big Napoleon wrasse and large pelagic fishes.

CERVERA SHOAL
This site is 15 minutes ride by banca from Pamilacan Island, this area has an abundance of corals and is famous for its sea snakes and different colors of frog fish.

DOLJO BEACH
There are several dive sites at Doljo Beach. For example, Fan Coral Garden and Hammerhead Point. These are on the north side of Panglao, approximately 40 minutes away by boat from Alona Beach. A great drop off suitable for deep dives. 0 Huge fan corals, elephant sponges and mostly good visibility makes the dives here unforgetable. You can often see giant frogfishes.

DULJO POINT
This is the furthest most tip of Panglao Island. The dive site is a long 80 feet wall stretch from Napaling to the tip most of Duljo, facing Tagbilaran City. Diving is very good especially during the south monsoon winds because of its strategic location. Just recently, a school of hammerhead sharks have been sited in the area.

HOUSEREEF
The housereef at Alona Beach is the Housereef. It slopes down to 20m and is good for training, night and orientation dives. Different soft and hard corals, lipfishes, butterfly fishes and doctor fishes can be spotted. 0

OTHER ACTIVITIES
An early Spanish settlement, the province of Bohol is home to a number of 17th and 18th century churches. There are charming tree-lined plazas and old ancestral houses. Visit the Bohol museum in Tagbilaran, the Punta Cruz Watch Tower in Maribojoc, the Baclayon church, and the marker in Barrio Bool commemorating the first peace treaty between Filipinos and the colonizing Spaniards in 1565.

A must also is to go on an enchanting river tour. Bohol has four (4) major rivers, Inabanga and Ipil in the north and Loboc and Abatan down south. From Busay Falls, cruise down Loboc River in a pumpboat. Travel through the seaside towns of Loboc, Loay and Bilar. On board partake in a hearty lunch of fresh lapu-lapu (grouper), shrimp, and squid to the tune of strumming guitars.

Bohol's numerous hills, valleys and plateaus are ideal for hiking and cycling. In Bilar, a three-kilometer man-made forest is sanctuary to the province's endangered species including the tarsier, the world's smallest monkey. The trip would not be over without visiting the world's famous Chocolate Hills. Consisting of 1,268 grassy hills with elevations ranging from 40 to 120 meters. It is truly a wonder of nature. The hills are considered a Philippine National Geological Monument. During the summer, the dome-shaped, grass-covered limestone hills dry up and turn brown, transforming the area into rows and rows of chocolate mounds. Additional attraction will be the Hinagdanan Cave, a symphony of stalactites and stalagmites jutting out of the earth. A swimsuit would be appropriate for a dip in the cool spring waters of this cave that filters in shafts of sunlight.

TRAVEL BRIEF
From Manila, Asian Spirit flies direct to Tagbilaran airport or passengers can take the domestic flight to Cebu then catch a connecting fast ferry to Tagbilaran City, the capital of Bohol.

For more information

Contact:
Giovanni Dee Tan
Zollner International
Unit 84,Grace Park Commercial Complex
4th Avenue West cor. J.Teodoro St.
Grace Park, Kalookan City
Philippines

Tel. Nos. 63(2)365-2344, 63(2)324-1071, 63(2)324-1091
Telefax : 63(2)324-1091
Mobile : 63(918)922-1757
E-mail : travel@tubbataha.com

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Suggested Bohol Itinerary by nodarcdam

Day One

This itinerary is recommended for those who avail of 3 days 2 nights packages or would like to stay in Bohol for the same period. This is based on the usual queries received and based on my what I think would be the best way to maximize the time and cover considerable destinations in Bohol First rule: Take the morning flight going to Tagbilaran and the afternoon flight leaving Tagbilaran. Upon reaching the Tagbilaran airport it will take just 2 minutes to get out of it (or 15 minutes if you checked in your luggage). From the airport to Alona beach in Panglao is a 30-45 minute ride. By 10 am, you will be in your hotel/resort. If you want to economize, it is not advisable to avail of the tour packages offered by the resort/hotel as it is more expensive and the schedule is very structured Rule No. 2 Be friendly.. Make a cursory survey of Alona beach, this would be easy as it is less than 1 kilometer. You will then know if the beach would be suited to your liking. if not, go to other parts of Panglao island. How? You will meet some folks who would offer you assistance and don't hesitate to ask and negotiate. They are nice people and wont take it against you if you will decline the offer. They may even be your friends later. In my case, I met my friend/guide that way. Most of the guides are motorcycle drivers so you can visit their station near the Flying Fish Bar and engage in some friendly chat. Tip: Alona beach is just one of the places to swim in the island. For me the best part is the shallow parts of the sea several kilometers from the beach. If you decide that Alona beach would be fine, then you have the whole day settled. Try the beach on the eastern side or near Alona Palm. The beach is wider. If not, I recommend either going to Dimaluan Beach (5 minutes by boat) or visit Pungtod Island and Gakang Island (15 minutes by boat)

Dimaluan is on the left side of Alona while Pungtod and Gakang, on the right. Both may be reached by boat. The usual rate is P500-800 depending on the size of the boat and for maximum of 3 hours. Dimaluan is the most popular public beach among the locals and you will pass by the beautiful beachfront of Bohol Beach Club. You will see the almost talcum white sand. Expect to see a number of people on the beach in Dimaluan than in Alona. it is different in Pungtod. Expect no company in Pungtod and Gakang or may be a group or two. Pungtod has fine white sand bars and shallow beach which is good for children. The water near Gakang is good for snorkeling. There are a lot of spots which are chest high deep near the two islands where you can swim to your heart's delight. Back to Alona, you can relax near the beach or just walk and observe the rustic place. Go to Crystal Coast resort nestled atop a cliff and see the whole stretch of Alona beach. One good thing about Alona is that it is shaded in late afternoon as the sunset is on the other side of the island. But it has a magnificent sunrise. For supper, try the ihaw ihaw stalls and i recommend the one in front of Oasis.

Day Two

Day two will take you to the major Bohol destination, the Chocolate Hills in Carmen. For this trip, I suggest you travel by hired van. You may also opt for a cheaper mode and hire a jeepney or multicab. The van is more comfortable and faster, though. The trip to Carmen is about 2 hours from Panglao thus better start the trip at 8 am. You may skip the first two stops, i.e., Blood Compact site and Baclayon Church or you may spend 10 minutes each. At the Baclayon church, you will see the oldest church in Bohol. There is a museum but you have to leave your camera and cellphone at the front desk. Next the towns of Loay, Loboc (dont stop there yet and do it on your way back), Bilar (see the man made mahogany forest) and Batuan. There is a long and winding road between Loboc and Bilar. You will reach the Chocolate Hills by 10 am and stay there for an hour. On your way back, another trip under the mahogany forest then ask the driver to take a detour to Sevilla if you want to see the hanging bridge, if not straight to Loboc. Take your lunch at any of the restaurants lining the main road or pick Loboc Riverside restaurant or the floating restaurant. Hire a boat for a downstream Loboc River Cruise. It will end when you see Busay Falls then the boat will take you to the restaurant with caged tarsiers. There are around 10 tarsiers there and take a look or picture but do not stay long. Ask the driver to take the interior road, instead, and you will pass by the towns of Sikatuna and Corella. The interior road has some portions still under rehabilitation, hence some rough roads. You will see the rustic and bucolic side of Bohol, the lush mountain and forest and the laidback community. When you reach Corella, insist on seeing the Tarsier Sanctuary where you can see tarsiers in their natural habitat. This is a must.

You will then pass by Tagbilaran City on your way to Panglao. Ask the driver to take the Bingag route and have a short stop at the Hinagdanan cave. If you have kids, pass by Daks Zoo. By 4 or 5 pm, you will be back to Alona beach. Take a dip or simply rest by the sea. If you can arrange it and you fancy organic food, have your early dinner at the Bee Farm, near the gate of Bohol Beach Club. The driver would also serve as your guide along the way. if you do not speak Cebuano, he will explain everything in English. They take their driver/guide vocation seriously . Take note that it is advisable that you talk to the driver of the van about the additional places you want to see, like Sevilla bridge, Tarsier Sanctuary and Hinagdanan Cave. These are not usually included in the tour and if time would really permit, the driver would readily oblige. If he does, please do not forget to part him with your generosity. For them, it was not the extra income but they take it as an appreciation of what they have done. Cost: P2,500 for hiring the van, P20/person entrance fee, Chocolate Hills, P250/person lunch, P500 Loboc rivercruise, P20/person entrance fee, Tarsier Sanctuary, P10/person entrance, Hinagdanan Cave. Just about the same cost if you will hire a jet ski and take a banana boat ride for two hours while you are on a beach

Day Three

You will notice that the two nights, there are no suggested activity after supper. At night, Bohol is a quiet place and the province sleeps by 10 pm. There are some entertainment establishments in Tagbilaran City and Alona Beach but they usually close before 12. For me, it is no big deal if I sleep early or just enjoy the silence of the night. I want my vacation that way. If you take the afternoon flight, there is still time for some dolphin watching and snorkeling. But before you anything else, watching the beautiful sunrise. You have to leave Alona Beach minutes before 6 am and the boat ride will be for 20-30 minutes or depending on the dolphins. You can stay dolphin watching as long as you see them. They somewhat disapper when the sun is up. Since you are in the middle of the sea, you can choose to visit the nearby Pamilacan or Balicasag Islands and do some snorkeling. I suggest Balicasag because it is nearer Alona Beach and the travel time is about 30-45 minutes. Your snorkeling may last for two hours or longer so long as you leave Balicasag at 10:30 to reach Alona Beach before 11:30. Check out time at 12:00 pm, you can ask and they always oblige, to leave your luggage at the resort office and take your lunch. Make sure that you leave Alona Beach by 2pm on your way to Tagbilaran Airport.

RECAP: For three days, we were able to do the following: 1. see beautiful, pristine and unspoiled white sand and beach 2. swim in clear and clean blue water 3. if you did some snorkeling, the colorful marine life 4. see the geological wonder, the Chocolate Hills 5. take a river cruise, a river so clean with verdant mountains as background 6. observe the charmingly rural, rustic and bucolic Bohol 7. see some old churches 8. see the tarsiers, one of the existing smallest primates 9. get in a cave with underground fresh water pool 10. watch dolphins 11. enjoyed fresh seafood or even organic food 12. etc. and most probably, meet some friendly Boholanos. If you want to see and experience more, come back or stay longer and there are still so many wonderful things in Bohol waiting for you.

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Pamilacan Island Dolphin and Whale Watching

 Dolphin and Whale Watching Tour

Go watch whales and dolphins in the Bohol Sea with the locals of Pamilacan. Ex-whale-hunting boats called canter have been refitted specifically for a safe and comfortable trip. The boats, measuring 15 to 20 meters in length, can accommodate up to seven passengers. Each of these crafts is furnished with seats and roofing, and equipped with life vests. You will be accompanied by skilled spotters whose familiarity with the area also makes them excellent guides. The best season is the months from March to June, but resident dolphins and small whales can be found all year round. Tours are dependent on weather and sea conditions.

What to Bring
Wear light clothing preferably with a bathing suit underneath, soft-soled flat shoes or slippers, sunglasses, sun hat and sun jacket. Expect a rough ride and expect to get wet! So bring extra clothes, a towel and take motion sickness pills. Others important things to bring include binoculars, camera and film, skin lotion, snorkeling equipment.

You can select their tour packages at http://whales.bohol.ph/packages.php

Contact Information

Pamilacan Island Dolphin and Whale Watching Tours
Public Market, Poblacion,
Baclayon, Bohol,
Philippines 6301

Tel. No. +63 38 5409279
Mobile & Text Phone +63 919 7306108
Website: http://whales.bohol.ph
E-mail: pamilacan@yahoo.com

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