Bohol packs a lot into one island. Here is what most guests do, and how to fit it in.

The countryside

The Chocolate Hills, the tarsiers, the Man-Made Forest and a lunch cruise on the Loboc River. It is a full day, best started early, and it is the day guests remember most.

The sea

Dolphins and sea turtles at Balicasag in the morning, whale sharks on a longer day trip, or a first scuba dive with no license needed.

The jungle and the night

Hidden waterfalls with turquoise pools, then fireflies along the river after dark.

Further east

Anda has a quieter coast, cave pools, waterfalls and rice terraces. Plan a full private day.

How to plan it

Three days covers the highlights. Put the countryside and the sea on different days, and keep evenings free for fireflies or sunset at Alona.

The whale sharks are in Oslob, across the water in Cebu. From Panglao it is a long but well-organized day.

How the day works

An early van to Momo Beach, a ferry crossing, then a local jeep to the government-regulated site. You spend about 30 minutes in the water, then return the same way. Most days you are back around 1:00 PM.

What to bring

Swimwear, a towel, reef-safe sunscreen and some cash. Mask and life vest are included. Fins and dry bags can be rented.

Be kind to them

Keep your distance, never touch, and follow the coordinators in the water. The rules protect the sharks and keep the site open.

Tours run all year. The weather changes how the day feels, not whether it is worth it.

Drier months

December to May is drier, and March to May is the driest and sunniest stretch. April and May are the hottest, so start early.

Wetter months

From June to November, expect showers. They usually pass quickly, and the hills and waterfalls are at their greenest.

If the weather turns

When the Coast Guard stops boats, sea tours cannot run. You choose a free new date or a full refund, and we message you the moment the Coast Guard announces any change.

Panglao is small and easy to get around.

• On tour days we pick you up from your hotel, so you do not need transport at all.
• Short hops by tuk-tuk cost about ₱200 for 15 minutes.
• The Maxim app books cheap motorbike rides.
• Cash still matters for entrance fees and small shops. The 7-Eleven ATM in Alona lets you take out ₱20,000 at the standard fee.

The Chocolate Hills are more than 1,200 grassy domes rolling across central Bohol. They are the island's most famous sight, and about 2 hours by road from Panglao.

Green or brown?

The grass turns brown in the dry months, which gives the hills their name. In the wetter months they are green. Both are beautiful, so go when your trip allows.

The viewpoint

About 200 steps lead up to the main viewing deck. Take it slowly in the heat, and bring water and a hat.

Beat the crowds

Tour buses arrive in waves. An early start, or a coordinator who plans the order of stops, means more space at the top and better photos.

Make a day of it

Most visits pair the hills with the tarsiers, the Man-Made Forest and a lunch cruise on the Loboc River.

The Philippine tarsier is one of the smallest primates in the world, with huge eyes and a body that fits in your palm. Bohol is one of the best places to see one.

They sleep by day

Tarsiers are nocturnal. During the day they rest in the trees, so you watch them quietly from the path while they doze.

Be gentle

They are protected and very sensitive to stress. No touching, no flash and no loud voices. A calm visit keeps them healthy.

Where we go

Our countryside tours stop at a conservation area where tarsiers live in a protected forest, not in cages.

Balicasag is a small island off Panglao, surrounded by a protected marine sanctuary. It is the best-known snorkeling spot near Alona.

Start early

Boats leave Alona in the early morning. On the way, we look for wild dolphins, which we see on most days.

In the water

Sea turtles feed along the reef, and the coral drops into deep blue water. A local coordinator snorkels with you.

Good to know

There is a ₱500 environmental fee per person, paid in cash. Masks are included, and fins can be rented. You should be comfortable swimming in open water.

The Loboc River winds through thick jungle in central Bohol. A cruise here is one of the most relaxed parts of a countryside day.

By day

Floating restaurants serve a local buffet while musicians play on board, drifting past palms and small waterfalls. On our tours, the lunch cruise package is ₱1,000 per person.

After dark

In the evening the river goes quiet, and fireflies light up the trees along the banks. It is calm and good for all ages.

Bohol is a great family island. Here is how our tours suit different ages.

• All ages. The firefly cruise is calm and quiet.
• Easy days. The Chocolate Hills tour has short walks, plus about 200 steps to the viewpoint.
• Confident swimmers. Island hopping means snorkeling in open water. Life vests help.
• Not under 5. The whale shark trip is a long day with an early start.
• Not under 10. The waterfall tour has jungle trails and river crossings.

Tell us your children's ages in the notes when you book, and we plan around them. Private tours let you go at your own pace.

Getting to Panglao is easy, because the airport is on the island itself.

By air

Bohol–Panglao International Airport is on Panglao Island, a short drive from Alona Beach and most resorts.

By ferry

Fast ferries from Cebu arrive at Tagbilaran port. From there it is roughly 30 to 45 minutes by road to Panglao, depending on traffic.

Once you are here

On tour days we pick you up from your hotel. For short trips, tuk-tuks and the Maxim app are cheap and easy.

Pack light, but bring these.

• Swimwear and a quick-dry towel for island hopping, waterfalls and whale sharks.
• Reef-safe sunscreen and a hat. The sun is strong, even on cloudy days.
• Shoes that can get wet for waterfalls and boat landings.
• A waterproof bag for your phone and cash.
• Pesos in cash for entrance and environmental fees, lunch and small shops.
• Insect repellent and a light layer for the firefly cruise.

Anda sits on the far east side of Bohol, about 2.5 hours by road from Panglao. It is quieter, greener and far less crowded.

Cave pools

Clear, spring-fed pools hidden in limestone caves are the reason most people come. The water is cool and calm.

Rice terraces and waterfalls

On the way, the Cadapdapan Rice Terraces and nearby waterfalls make the drive part of the day.

White sand

Anda's beaches are long, soft and quiet. It is the Bohol many visitors never see.

Three days is enough to see the best of Bohol without rushing. This is the order that works for most of our guests.

Day 1: the countryside

The Chocolate Hills, the tarsiers, the Man-Made Forest and a lunch cruise on the Loboc River. Pickup is around 7:30 AM and you are back around 4:30 PM. If you still have energy, the firefly cruise picks you up at 6:00 PM the same evening.

Day 2: the sea

Dolphins at sunrise, sea turtles at Balicasag and the Virgin Island sandbar. Pickups start at 5:30 AM and you are back around 12:30 PM, with the afternoon free for the beach.

Day 3: whale sharks or waterfalls

Swim with whale sharks (pickup 5:30 AM, back around 1:00 PM), or spend the day at hidden waterfalls and jungle pools (pickup around 7:30 AM, back around 3:00 PM).

A tip on order

Plan the sea day early in your trip. If the Coast Guard stops boats for a day, you still have time to move it.

Virgin Island is a long, curved strip of white sand off Panglao. It rises out of the sea as the tide drops, with clear, shallow water on both sides.

On our island hopping tour

It is the last stop of the morning, after dolphins at sunrise and snorkeling with sea turtles at Balicasag. You have time to walk the sandbar, swim and take photos before the ride back. Most days you are back in Panglao around 12:30 PM.

The tide decides

The sandbar changes with the tide. At high tide much of it is under water, so its shape is different every day.

Good to know

Local vendors often sell fresh fruit and snacks, so bring some pesos in cash. There is almost no shade, so wear sunscreen and a hat. Water shoes help when you step off the boat.

Panglao is ringed with white sand. Each beach has a different feel, so here is a quick guide.

Alona Beach

The lively heart of Panglao, with restaurants, dive shops and boats. Island hopping tours leave from here, and the south end is our meeting point. The water is best in the morning.

Dumaluan Beach

A long, wide stretch of soft sand on the south coast, calmer than Alona. Some access points charge a small entrance fee.

Doljo Beach

A quiet beach on the west side, with some of the best sunsets on the island. At low tide the water gets very shallow.

Momo Beach

A peaceful beach in the north-west, away from the crowds and good for a slow afternoon.

A tip on tides

Many Panglao beaches get shallow at low tide. For a proper swim, go when the tide is higher.

The wetter months in Bohol run roughly from June to November. Rain is often a short, heavy shower rather than a whole grey day, and many mornings are still sunny.

What still runs

Countryside tours like the Chocolate Hills run in most weather. Waterfalls are fuller after rain, though river trails depend on water levels on the day. Fireflies also depend on the weather, so every night is different.

Boat tours

For island hopping and whale sharks, the Coast Guard decides whether boats can go. If it stops boats or the weather makes your tour unsafe on the day, you choose a free new date or a full refund.

Simple tips

• Book sea tours early in your stay, so there is time to move them.
• Pack a light rain jacket and a waterproof bag for your phone.
• Check WhatsApp the evening before. We message you if anything changes.

Panglao is one of the best-known diving areas in the Philippines, and you do not need a license to try it.

How it works

First, a short theory session with video. Then you practice the basic skills in shallow water. Then you dive the reef with your instructor beside you the whole time. It takes about 4 hours.

What you see

Coral, colorful reef fish and, on some days, sea turtles.

Before you book

• Basic swimming skills are recommended.
• Tell us about any health conditions, such as heart or lung problems, recent surgery or pregnancy, so the instructor can advise you.
• Don't fly for at least 24 hours after your dive. Plan your dive early in your trip.

Full dive equipment, boat transport, marine fees and a professional instructor are included. Bring your own GoPro or camera if you want photos.