Biking Travel Itinerary around Bohol Island
The Green and Amazing Bohol Island is surely an unmissable stop on a journey around the Philippines. In this post I will share with you the travel itinerary I have followed in 4 days on a rental bike
I believe that riding around is the best way to explore every corner of its beautiful nature. Moreover, it is pretty common and very easy even for non-expert bikers. But you can obviously adapt the itinerary for the vehicle you are more comfortable with.
I personally have spent 4 amazing days riding around the island, but you can easily adjust the itinerary following your trip shedule
The start and ending point of this itinerary is Tagbilaran, Bohol’s main city and port, easily reachable from Cebu city taking a 2 hours ferry.
Getting There:
There are several companies sailing the route between the two cities, but I found the oceanjet ferry being the cheapest. They tickets costs 420p, plus 25p of taxes and 50p as baggage fee, and are available directly from the port counter. But there are also other companies with different prices and time shedules, and also an airport in Panglao, if you fell like flying there.
We could divide Bohol in two main areas:
Panglao is a small peninsula weast of Tagbilaran, pretty famous as holiday place. It has beautiful beaches and tourist resorts, especially around its main spot, Alona beach.
The rest of the island, in my opinion the most beautiful, is instead the best place for ADVENTURE SEEKERS.
It is filled with green rice fields, forests and waterfalls. The main reason why I suggest to explore the island driving.
If you are a more active person you can also use a bike, but remember the island is not that small. During the 4days itinerary I drove about 400kms!
It is also home of many less known (and crowded) beautiful swimming spots all around
I found my first accomodation on the island in PANGLAO, easily reachable by motor-taxi even if taking the latest ferry. A beautiful and super cheap hostel where I’ve been lucky enough to have the whole dorm for myself.
Going trough Tagbilaran’s port can easily be one of the tuffest experiences, especially for a solo traveller and in late evening. Like in every place mainly frequented by tourists, expect to be surrounded by lots of people as soon as you touch the land. Sometimes they can be pretty annoying, but If you don’t need any taxi or motor-taxi driver, hotel owner or tour planner, just ignore them.
Luckily, I have been able to walk straight to the main road, where I found a very nice driver for 150p. It was 100p less than the cheapest between the offers I got inside the port, and surely a nicer person.
We rode me all the way to the hostel, in about half an hour. Just a few metres before reach it I found what I instantly decided was going to be my dinner place. It was one of the small shops typically selling rice and barbequed philippino-style skewers at the side of the road.
So I left the hostel for a quick meal before planning my Bohol’s trip. But I finally ended up spending there hours, invited by the friendly owner to join a birthday party that was going to happen there.
I love how people here are so genuinely friendly and welcoming.
Well, even if joining their meal I had to lie reviewing her sweet and overcooked pink pasta (sorry grandma!). At the end of the party the lady was almost crying because3 I have asked her to let me do the dishes.
Another highlight for me was to come across a guy I met the day before in Cebu. He was just randomly passing by shouting “italiaaa, you’re the crazy kind of traveller who stays with the locals!”.
Of course I am, and I LOVE IT.
It’s now time to take the Bike and dive into the Itinerary around the amazing Bohol
The following four paragraphs vaguely correspond to the days of itinerary, and also the numbers I put on the map above.
1) Chilling in Panglao before the trip
She first day in Panglao, planning the trip. And finally relaxing at the beautiful beach resort a few kilometres walk from the hostel. On the downside I have to admit it was as nice as touristy, and I’ve also got to pay a 25P entrance fee.
Get the motorbike:
Asking around I found my accomodation being one of the best places for renting: it was 450p for each day, or 400p if for more than 2 days. So whitout even have to show my driving licence (too bad), I got my beautiful pink 50cc honda for the following 3 days for 1200p.
Next hostel booked in the middle of the island. It’s ROADTRIP time!!
2) Tarsiers, rivers and the Adventure park in the forest
First and last stop in the peninsula at the HIDENGAN caves. 55p entrance fee + a small offer for the parking, as in most of the places.
Last easy drive along the quiet Panglao’s road before crossing the scenographic bridge all the way to Tagbilaran. And after some driving through the city’s traffic, is time to enjoy some unique nature.
The CORELLA TARSIER SANCTUARY, is one of the very few places in the world where you can spot those unique tiny animals, for a 60p entrance fee.
the next stop on the way is the small town of LOBOC, famous for its big river and the dining cruises. I personally skipped this tourist attraction to have my best philippine meal in a small restaurant along the way for just 95p. Some coconut milk-based delicacies and a Mango Float before to hit the road again.
If you’re willing to add a bit of fun on the way, the LOBOC ADVENTURE PARK is the place! Where an adrenalining zip line guarantee a beautiful view above the whole area, for about 400p. Another stop along the river is for crossing the carachteristic BAMBOO BRIDGE, for 20p.
30 more kilometres before reaching the Batuan Hammok Hostel, one of my all time favourite. An enjoyable drive between palm trees, rice fields, the magical MANMADE FOREST. Last town vibes in Bilar and its busy maket, where I couldn’t hold myself back from buying some delicious fruits.
I really feel like reccomending this hostel:. Completely immersed in a beautiful palm-trees garden there is a dorm and some pretty bamboo cabins. The welcoming owner will help you with all the planning tip you need, while his mum will make amazing delicacies. Fresh free breakfast with loads of fruits and a very nice dinner for about 200p. It is perfectly located in the middle of the island, close to the Chocolate Hills. They also rent motorbikes for 400p.
Just be ready to experience the open air shower and watch out for falling coconuts! And don’t forget to drink some very fresh Buko (coconut) juice.
After this short but time consuming drive, is finally time for a swim under the huge and beautiful waterfalls.
I then decided to keep driving all the way to the easterthen isand’s corner to ANDA, looking for its hidden cave pools.
It turned out they were temporarily closed, and the drive was far away longer than expected. But that’s Advenure, right?
3) Chasing waterfalls and paradise beaches
The second day of roadtrip starts driving to the CAN-UMANTAD FALLS. An huge waterfall suggested me by the owner of the hostel.
Even if following the map, reaching the place is not so easy. Firsty follow a pleasant drive between the green fields passing by the famous Chocolate Hills and the towns of Carmen and Sierra Bulares all the way to Pilar. From there, my choice to follow a shortcut turned the easy ride on concrete roads into proper moto cross. Not the best choice for a small scooter!
As always, taking the backroads also leads to discover authentic hidden gems. In the countryside the fields are even greener and the people just lovely. They seemed so unused to see foreigners that kids were literally running to me; take a stop and talk with any of them always turned out as a fulfilling experience.
Exploring the area, I have also discovered a less known corner of paradise, filled with marine reserves, small resorts and beautiful beaches. One of them was the nearly opened White Beach, where the californian owner also borrowed me some gears to explore the underwater world.
The only problem was realizing how far it was from the hostel (about 90kms) when the sun was already going down.
Anda is also a beautiful place from where to watch the sunset. And I did it, right before figuring out how far actually was the hostel.
This time I chose to take the way along the coast until the town of Jagna before heading inland to Carmen. A slightly longer way of about 105km, but less dark and desolated.
Pretty tuff, but with some willpower I have been able to survive more than 2 hours driving in the dark. Also doing my best to don’t crash in any dog, kid playing in the middle of the road, or local biker with the lights off. Crazy. But someone explained me that many people do it because they believe they can save fuel.
But I finally made it.
4) Visiting the Chocolate hills
Up at 5am to enjoy the sunrise above the chocolate hills. Unfortunately the weather was not that good, but I really reccomend to visit them around that time, especially on a nice day.
The last day of rent means it’s time to head back to Panglao. This time driving the costal way through the towns of Balilihan and Cortez, and checking out the Camugao and Kawasan waterfalls.
Back to the society, I decided to spend the evening visiting the crowded Alona Beach, wich I discovered (too late) being home of many diving centres. Unfortunately I didn’t get the time to check it out, but I’ve heard many good voices about the dive trips to BALICASAG island.
and end the trip in Tagbilaran City
To reach the capital, during the day is possible to catch a JEEPNEY from Panglao for a few pesos. Just ask some locals from where and when.
I found quite fun to experience travelling in the most local way!
Once in the city, if you have some spare time, there is pleny of shops, markets and restaurants. I personally decided to have a 50 p haircut, probably not the best possible idea. But also an amazing Seafood Kare Kare at the super Fancy Gerarda’s restaurant, for 500p.
CHEEKY TIP for who, like me, is travelling around with a big backpack. Since you’re not allowed to carry it inside the shopping mall, you can drop it at the free bags depost just outside the main entrance, and also visit the city. Just remeber to get them back within few hours!
From Tagbilaran port you can decide to sail back to Cebu or continue travelling South, in particular to the mysterious island of Siquijor. You can find my full Itinerary around the Visayas here
Thank you for taking the time to read this post!
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