Bohol Trip Day 3: Countryside Tour

Aside from enjoying the beaches in Panglao, don't miss the scenes in the countryside of Bohol. Environmentally and culturally, Bohol countryside tour has a lot to offer.

It was on the third day of our Bohol Trip when we went sightseeing the countryside of Bohol. We went around Bohol with a hired van cum tour guide. He is Manong Fidel whom we contacted through Paragayo Resort. We spent P1000 for the countryside tour package.

Based on a friend's advise, we decided to see the farthest place. Here are the places to visit:

1. Tarsier

I must admit I was a bit disappointed with the place where we saw the tarsier. I thought we're going to some woody place. However, we just drop by a cottage along the way to Chocolate Hills and lo and behold! The cottage is actually a tarsier sanctuary.

2. Chocolate Hills

You've never been to Bohol if you won't visit this. That's it!

3. Man-Made Forest

Along the way to and back from Chocolate Hills, spend a few minutes at the Man-Made Forest. It is part of a road in which mahogany trees are planted along the sides. What's admirable with this place is the fact that people who planted these trees took the time to take care of the environment.

4. Butterfly Farm

This is a small butterfly sanctuary where you can find various breeds of butterflies. What I admired here was the local guide's knowledge on all the butterflies in their place. This is also good for picnics or to have a snack.

5. Hanging Bridge

After admiring the stunning chocolate hills, drop by at one of the numerous hanging bridges along the area. Cross the bridge for some sense of adventure.

6. Loboc River Cruise

Have buffet lunch at Loboc River and just feel the beauty of nature. There's a cultural show at the end of the river where kids and adults dance, sing and play local songs.

7. Baclayon Church

It's old and architecture is old making it historical. They have a museum inside and some frescoes.

8. Largest Snake

Drop by at the house of the largest snake in the world. According to the care taker, the snake's abnormal growth is due to the love and care it received from the family.

9. Souvenir Shop

Just see the goods but no need to buy. You can find cheaper souvenirs along the way.

10. Blood Compact Site

It's historical and that makes it worth to see. The view from the site is also worth seeing.

11. Bohol Bee Farm

End your day with an early dinner at Bohol Bee Farm!

Bohol Trip Day 2: Balicasag and Other Islands

Even if you are not a good swimmer or even if you don't know how to swim at all, don't miss the chance to discover the rich marine life of Bohol. Spend a day beyond the shores of Panglao and visit the nearby islands.

My fiance and I explored the Bohol seas during the second day of our Bohol tour last year. We arranged a boat man the previous day to take us to the islands. This tour cost us P1000. A word of advice, arrange your island hopping activity with the boat men along the shores. There are a lot of them and some of them will be the one to approach you. This is what we did because the island services in the hotel is more expensive about P1500-P1800.

We started the day early, at about 6 am, because we have to catch the sight of dolphins. Yes, dolphins! If you want to see them you have to be early on the seas. We left the Alona shore at 6 and followed the dolphins which is not easy. They are not contained in one place. The boatmen know in what part of the sea they can be seen. Amazing, right?

underwater at Balicasag Island

At around 8, we headed to Balicasag Island. This is a marine sanctuary where we saw hundreds of multi-colored and colorful fishes and corals. The boat men first docked us on one part of the island where we were met by another boat man who will take us to the sanctuary. Since Balicasag is a protected island, small manually-steered boats are the only ones allowed to go to the sanctuary. We had to pay P150 per pax for the boat.

The underwater sight at Balicasag was simply breathtaking. Period. Just be aware of the small fishes with blue tail because they bite like ants.

more fishes at Balicasag

We stayed at Balicasag for 3 hours simply enjoying the sight of fishes and corals. At around noon, we went back to our first boat man. We also ate lunch in the island where big fresh fish was served along with hot pot-cooked rice! We explored the island by foot for less than an hour. The locals in the island said that there's a lighthouse but the trail towards it was closed.

the white-sand walkway 

After Balicasag, we went to another island which name I forgot. But what makes this island special is the long white sand walkway resembling a sand bar but it's actually connected to the island. The tide was low just up to our lower leg. There were also a lot of seaweeds which makes the water uninviting for a swim. But the view reminded me of tropical paradise. This was our last stop before we went back to Alona Beach. Our trip ended at around 1 pm just in time for a siesta!

Bohol Trip Day 1: Alona Beach, Panglao

Bohol is one of the top tourist destinations in the country. Aside from the beach, the countryside of Bohol has a lot of sights to offer. The tourism industry in the province is also highly developed. The people are aware of their Bohol's place in the tourism market. Transportation and communication are easy. In fact, the major tourist spots in Bohol are already modernized without losing its natural beauty. This means, you can still see the beauty of its natural resources along with modern conveniences.

My fiance and I went to Bohol last November for our anniversary. Our first stop was in Alona Beach, Panglao. According to the locals, a Filipina actress named Alona shot some scenes in that place. After that, the locals began callng it Alona beach. Wow! Imagine, a beach strip named after you.

We left Manila at around 9 am and arrive at Tagbilaran Airport around 10:30. Tagbilaran is Bohol's capital. We were supposed to be met by a shuttle from the hotel but I think they forgot which isn's a problem. In front of the airport are many transportation services. We rented an Adventure to take us to Tawala, Panglao. This is where the famous Alona Beach is located. This costs P500 for two. If there are 4 or 6 of you, you can avail it at P700. These are standard prices. There are also habal-habals which you can rent for P250.

It took us more than an hour from the airport to get to our hotel- Paragayo Resort. The hour-long trip gave us a scenic view of Bohol countryside. What I noticed with this place are the big houses with spacious yards. The driver said that since Bohol is not frequently visited by typhoons, the locals can invest in making their houses grand.

sand and sea at Alona Beach, Bohol

We arrived at Paragayo Resort at around noon. We made online reservations. The staff quickly helped us settle in our room. For a more comprehensive description of the resort: http://bitsandpieces-fvitz.blogspot.com/2011/04/paragayo-resort-bohol-review.html. We rested for a few minutes before walking towards the beach front of Alona Beach. The hotel is about 5 minutes away from the beach. This is where we ate lunch. Note that food in Alona Beach is pricey. If you're on a budget, eat at the restos along the street. Also note that drinking water is not free even in restaurants. We had to buy bottled water even when we dined in their restaurants. We allotted around P300-P500 for each meal. This is good for 2 to 3 people only.

After lunch, we explored the beach line on foot. The shoreline is a bit disappointing because the hotels and resorts are too close to the beach. Boats are also scattered along the shores. There are also a lot of sea grass and weeds. But the sand is white although a bit rocky.

view from the rock at the right end of Alona Beach

On the right side of the beach strip , facing the sea, is a small cove where there is more privacy and no hotels in sight. Locals tend to swim in this part of the beach because there's an uphill path that leads to the highway. On the other end of the beach is the Alona Tropical Beach Resort. Another resort is the area is the Lost Horizon Resort.

the other ed of Alona Beach, near Alona Tropical Resort

We stayed at the beach until 6 pm. Sunset is a colorful view in Bohol. We went back to the hotel to fix ourselves  for dinner. Dinner in Alona Beach is a quieter event in comparison with Puerto Galera and Boracay.  We ended our first day with star gazing along the beach shore.

Beach Resort in Bohol: Dumaluan

Dumaluan Beach Resort is located in Libong Beach, Panglao a few kilometers away from Tawala. Tawala is the place of the more known Alona Beach. There are actually two Dumaluan Resorts. During our 4-day stay in Bohol late last year, we stayed in the bigger one- Dumaluan 2. Dumaluan 1 and 2 are owned by siblings.

The road to Dumaluan from the highway is a bit rough and deserted.  It is about an hour from Tagbilaran airport. You need to have some transpo arrangements esp. when you're going in groups. Boholanos travel using motorcycles. The resort has wide open spaces. Different types of accommodations are scattered all over the place. There's also a big pool where you can swim until 10 in the evening. There's also a large space for sports activities. 

standard room

Photo Credit: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ReviewPhotos-g1036817-d1190725-r68486774-Dumaluan_Beach_Resort_2-Panglao_Island_Bohol_Province_Visayas.html#25978312

We reserved a standard room for one night which costs P1300. It's a spacious Bali-type room complete with wall lamps giving the room a romantic glow. It has high ceilings with floor-foot French windows. It also has its own veranda. It's airconditioned but it has no TV. The only thing I didn't like about the room is its musty smell  which persists all throughout our stay. It was also very noisy because there was some renovations going on when we stayed there.

On the other hand, the CR looks old. It's clean but the mirror and ceiling are a bit dilapidated. There's no hot water. Tiles are also old. But they offer soap and shampoo. 

shoreline in dumaluan

The best thing about the resort is its shoreline and the view. The shore is clear without the obstructions of boats. Sand is white and fine. Water is clear. It actually shares the same shoreline with Bohol Beach Club. Bohol Beach Club is a luxurious resort such as those featured in http://www.ensogo.com.ph. 

dumaluan shoreline

They also have a restaurant which has a live band at night. The restaurant is pricey so if you want to eat for a cheaper cost, you may go to Dumaluan 1 which is beside Dumaluan 2. They have more food stalls there that are cheaper. 

So if you want some relaxation, a time for reflection and a space for retreat, consider Dumaluan Resort as a place to stay. 

Resort in Panglao, Bohol: Paragayo Resort

My boyfriend and I stayed in Paragayo for 2 days last November. The hotel is a sprawling Bali-style lodging. It has open areas for garden which adds to its relaxing atmosphere. We rented a standard aircon room good for two via online reservation. It costs P1300 a night.

The CR was clean. They provided soap, shampoo and toothpaste. They also have hot water. Towels are changed daily. Each room has its own balcony facing the gardens. We stayed at the back portion of the resort  o it was very peaceful. The room also have TV and the bed is comfortable enough.  It was also spacious enough. They also have security vaults for storing your valuables. They clean the room daily even without you requesting them. They also have free WiFi services. Just ask them the password.

Paragayo is not beach front. It is around 3-5 minute walk from Panglao Beach which I think is okay because you get to see beyond the beach. The place looks secured enough because it's along the highway. They also provide one of the cheapest countryside tour. Just P1000-P1500 which is cheaper when you compared with other tour packages. They also have airport shuttle services which is around P500. This the standard price anyway. You need to hire a shutle because Paragayo and even Panglao is about an hour away from Tagbilaran airport.

One thing that I didn't like is that the water from their taps are a bit salty. But what I noticed is that salty water makes your skin smooth. They also do not provide free drinking water because I think drinking water in Panglao is expensive. Even restos do not provide free water.

By the way, they do not have restaurants. Just a bar where you can buy some drinks. It's not a problem though since there are a lot of restaurants around the area. Staff is quite okay. They will accommodate your requests but they don't smile a lot.

In conclusion, if you want a relaxing stay in Panglao Beach,  Bohol without spending too much, try this place and enjoy!

PHOTO CREDITS:

http://www.beachresortfinder.com/paragayo-resort/gallery/

http://www.sulit.com.ph/