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All hotels WorldwideSeeing the famous tarsiers and chocolate hills of Bohol are definitely among the most popular items of most Filipinos’ travel wishlist, myself included (growing up with the mindset that it’s a requirement of Philippine Travel 101). Bohol is also famous for its many old Spanish-colonial Churches. I wanted to have a do-it-yourself tour of Bohol and Panglao Island. It took some effort and googling skills to fish out DIY commuting tips of Bohol but it’s definitely doable.
I went into Bohol via Cebu and chose the cheaper route of taking the ferry to Tubigon Port (for as low as P75) compared to the P400 cost of taking a fastcraft direct to Tagbilaran. A lot of the places I wanted to visit was just along the way from Tubigon to Tagbilaran including the Chocolate Hills Viewdeck in Carmen, so it was like hitting two birds in one stone.
Bohol Chocolate Hills
View of Bohol’s Chocolate Hills from Sagbayan Peak
Signature DOT Shot from the famed Bohol Chocolate Hills Complex.
Bohol Heritage Structures
I wanted to see the multitude of old Spanish-colonial Churches in Bohol. I was awed at their massive impression such as that of Loon and Baclayon Church and the ceiling paintings / murals of Panglao Church, which is unlike the churches in my hometown, Iloilo. I also like that many of the old parish convent buildings, usually found beside or behind the main church structure are still extant. To my surprise, I also found other heritage structures still intact like defensive watchtowers, town halls, and the Bohol Provincial Capitol in Tagbilaran.
Tubigon Presidencia / Tubigon Town Hall, Bohol
Tubigon Church (Parish of San Isidro Labrador)
Clarin Church (St. Michael the Archangel Parish)
Carmen Church (St. Anthony Abad Parish)
Loboc Church (St. Peter and Paul Parish)
Albuquerque Church (Santa Monica Parish)
Baclayon Church (Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Parish)
Panglao Church – San Agustin Parish
Bohol Provincial Capitol
Tagbilaran Cathderal – Saint Joseph Parish/Catedral de San José
Panglao Watchtower in Panglao, Bohol
Maribojoc Church – Santa Cruz Parish
Punta Cruz Watchtower in Maribojoc, Bohol
Loon Church – Nuestra Señora de la Luz Parish
Panglao Island Beaches
I didn’t want to miss out on Panglao and its famed beaches, so I went around the island as a day trip. I went to Dumaluan Beach first, where the Bohol Beach Club can be found, and then to Alona Beach. I found Dumaluan to be very beautiful whereas, the more popular, Alona was far below my expectations. People living in Tagbilaran are so blessed that they have this island paradise just less than 30 minutes away from the city center.
Dumaluan Beach in Panglao, Bohol
Alona Beach in Panglao, Bohol
Close Encounters with the Tarsiers of Bohol
Getting to see and take photos of the endangered and much celebrated tarsiers were definitely at the top of my travel agenda in Bohol. I didn’t want to see one behind a sad cage, so I made the effort of going to the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella where I met a very cooperative model. I just loved how this particular tarsier posed up for a shot. It looks like he had “fun” during the “photoshoot” but it was most likely showing me a sign of its agitation (tarsiers are known for its extreme sensitivity to stress).
Happy Tarsier at the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella, Bohol
In Bilar Town, I loved the scenic highway winding through the dense mahogany forest. Most of the trees were actually planted almost half a century ago … today, it is one of largest man-made forest in the Philippines. I also enjoyed my visit to the Hinagdangan Cave in Panglao and the Blood Compact Site Monument in Baclayon.
Hinagdangan Cave in Panglao Island, Bohol
Blood Compact Site in Baclayon
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My name is Marcos. I'm an off-beat explorer who loves to experience and capture the beauty of the Philippines and Asia. I started making a living online to support myself financially through my university degree. I've been living a location-independent digital lifestyle ever since. 
Love your blog dude, very informative. I was also planning to go to Bohol next year and your backpacking tip is very helpful. Keep it up!
Thanks Bimbo
Hi Manung Marcus, Bohol’s my next destination. And next week is my trip. Your blogs on Bohol and Cebu are very useful. Nami kay too-detailed sya. hehe. I’ll try searching my own Tarsiers too! :)
You’re welcome Dawn. Hope you have fun!
I liked reading your blog. I wrote down notes from it.
I’ll be flying to Tagbilaran from Manila. We’ll be staying along Alona Beach in Panglao.
Do you think we should take the tour of the Tagbilaran or Bohol area (Loboc river cruise, Chocolate hills, Tarsiers, Baclayon Church, Blood Compact site) as soon as we arrive around noon to save on jeep/bus fare?
What means of transportation can we use to go from Tagbilaran to Alona Beach? We’ll be in Alona for 4d/3n. then, head off to Cebu.
What’s the cheapest and quickest way to go to Cebu from Tagbilaran? Superferry in Bohol or ride a jeep to Tubigon then ferry to Cebu?
Thanks and I’ll post some more comments and will let you know about our trip. Perhaps give you some more tips.
ms
I arrived in Tubigon, Bohol around lunchtime too and made my way to Tagbilaran by touring through Tubigon-Sagbayan-Carmen (Chocolate Hills Complex)- Bilar-Loboc-Alburuerque-Baclayon-Tagbilaran.
I arrived in Tagbilaran in the evening … so if you’re planning to head straight to Alona during your first day, I suggest starting early or renting your own transport.
If you plan on commuting, you can ride a “Panglao – Tawala bound” jeep from Tagibilaran (Dao Integrated Terminal) straight to Alona Beach.
Cheapest is to get to Bohol is via Tubigon … travel time is around the same.
your site help us alot to know our destination bound for bohol with my kid and wife. tnx.
You’re welcome. Have a fun and safe trip to Bohol ^_^
marcos, just curious, how long was your stay in bohol? and approximately how much did you spend for that travel? thanks……
I spent 3 days and two nights in Bohol. I have to check my “records” again but I think it was somewhere between P3-4K
hi,any idea how much is the fare from tubigon-to tagbilaran by van for hire without the tour.
Not sure how much the van hire costs for “Tubigon-to Tagbilaran” without the tour.
hi the van from tobegon to tagbilaran is 90.00 then 10 pesos going to BQ terminal
How many hours and how much will it cost us if we commute from tagbilaran to carmen?
approx 2-3 hours
Hi po,
ask k lng po kng nag-commute lng po ba kau during your tour mula tubigon tapos stop over nlng keu s mga bayan2 to visit those churches?? or nag-rent po kau sskyan??
I rented a habal-habal for the afternoon to take me from Tubigon all the way to Tagbilaran. The local commute is doable if you arrive in Tubigon in the morning. Medyo hindi kase madalas yung jeep/buses in the interior parts of Bohol.
magkano po un rent fee mo sa habal-habal? safe ba cya for a female solo traveler?
I’m not sure how much the usual rates are but I ended up paying a steep amount since I forgot to finalize the rate with the driver before hiring him. I paid P1,100 for the half-day rental of the habal-habal to take me from Tubigon – Sagbayan Peak – Carmen Town Proper – Chocolate Hills Complex – Bilar – Loboc – Loay – Albuquerque – Baclayon – Tagbilaran. I have high suspicions that the price was overpriced :(
I’m not sure how to answer your question if the habal-habal is safe, hehe. It’s basically just a motorcycle and general vehicular hazards apply. If you’re worried about safety concerns with regards to the driver, then safe ka naman sa kanila.
hehe.thanks for the helpful info. God bless and more travels and helpful tips especially for a budget traveller like me.:)
My pleasure jam :)
hi, we will be having a 3day tour in cebu and mybe visit bohol as well (2D-cebu,1D-bohol)… oct 21 8:30am arrival in cebu, oct 23 4:40pm to mla… we wanted to save time to ultilize evrything… pls help…thanx
Hey missy, you can find my posts about Cebu and Bohol here:
http://www.ambot-ah.com/destinations/cebu/
http://www.ambot-ah.com/destinations/bohol/
[...] Bohol Backpaking Tour (via Cebu) Series [...]
hello sir marcos tanong lng po ako kng anong hotel ang nag stay kayo at magkano yung price nya thank you
Didn’t spend the night in a Hotel. I Stayed at Winward Pension House (Gallares Street beside Tachycardia bar) for P250/night. Wouldn’t recommend it since the rooms were very rundown and dirty when I stayed there. They have the cheapest rooms though, which was why I stayed there :D
sir marcos ano po ba yung sinakyan nyo tubigon pier going tagbilaran .. may stop over po ba .., thank you
I chartered a habal-habal for the whole afternoon. I’ll be posting my full itinerary soon!
thank you sir marcos.. what do you suggest,,, because my arrival in cebu is 4:30 pm. thank you
May mga night trips naman from Cebu City to Tubigon via RORO. Though, I’m not so sure if there are still jeeps/buses going to Tagbilaran. You could stay at Tubigon for the night and continue your tour of Bohol the next day.
[...] Read more about my Bohol do-it-yourself (DIY) Tour [...]
hi sir marcos ,amgkot lng ko kng sa php 4000 dala na ang plane ticket mo kag tag pila ang plane ticket mo.. thankzzz
The airfare is not yet included. I think I bought the plane ticket during one of those piso fares.
hi! the tubigon route is by far the gem that google gave me. thank you! i’d like to ask though, is the bohol trip doable in a day and a half? thank you so much! :)
Hi Diane,
Yes, even in just one day, you can enjoy a Bohol trip.
I would recommend you take the first trip from Cebu to Tubigon, 5:45AM. Please see http://www.boholferries.com. From there, you may follow this route: http://www.myboholrentacar.com/explore-bohol.php. You should be able to complete your tour around 4-5pm and back to Tubigon for 5:45PM or 7:45PM trip to Cebu.
I hope this helps.
thanks for the tips germaine!
Wow, awesome pics, fantastic blog. Thanks for the tips.
Hi Marcos!
You’re starting to become my favorite travel blogger! Went to Ilocos this April and your blog posts about the place have been very helpful! Thanks Thanks!
Now, I plan to make another DIY Cebu-Bohol trip by August! Long weekends are plenty this year, so kailangan i-maximize! Will surely be reading all your Cebu Bohol posts to help me prep!
See you around! I choose the Philippines! :)
Hi ,
Can you tell me how did you go from Tubigon to Chocolate Hills ? by bus , taxi or trek and how much and how long was the journey ?
Did you reach the top of the viewing gallery to see Chocolate Hills or at the foor hill ?
Also from Chocolate Hill how did you go to Corella to see the Tarsiei ?
What mode and cost of transport is available from Corella to Tagbilaran City ?
Appreciate your reply
Regards
eric
hi good day this is the contact number for mv starcraft bound for cebu to tobegon 09223810116
hi sir mas mabuti seguro mag rent ka nang car wla kasing taxi sa bohol and then pag mag cumuute every hour ang jepney… para maikot mo lahat na nga tourist spot sa bohol mag rent ka nalang nang car
hi sir marcos! how to make blogs sir sorry comments lang ko sa number sa MV starcraft number thank you sir
Thank you so much! this blog is so informative, planning a trip for my family from cebu to bohol. Good Work!
Visiting your blog, I always feel like I’m in Bohol, the home province of my Mom. I missed those kalamays along the blood compact monument just with the highway. I hope I can visit you soon Bohol.
Hi Sir,
Your blog is very informative.My family will be having a Cebu – Bohol Trip on Nov. 28-Dec 2,1012.This will help me a lot in planning our tour.
Keep it up, Sir!
BTW, if you have plan to go to Batanes,pwede ko po kayong matulungan din.
Thanks!
hi mam pls contact me i can help you for bohol tour 09067896363
for bohol tour rent a car car please contact me 09322947462
Hi sir marcus, would 4k is enough good for two person 3days and 2nights? from cebu to bojol din po.