Bohol Countryside: Where to Go and What to Expect

Chocolate Hills

A regular member of "Most Beautiful Places to Visit" in your elementary Araling Panlipunan book (HEKASI), I was always fascinated to visit this island. It took me almost two decades from the first time I saw Bohol on the pages of my book to actually visiting it myself.

Here is a complete guide and itinerary for Bohol Countryside Trip and a little bit of our story.

Background

Bohol is an island province located 640 KM south of Manila, in Central Visayas. The province only has one city which is Tagbilaran.

Bohol offers a glimpse of the entire Philippines, with its white sand beach, rolling landscapes, quaint little towns, churches, river cruises and hospitality of its inhabitants.

How to go to Bohol

From Manila, you have different choices of transportation going to Bohol. But the most convenient would be via plane.

There are daily plane trips going to Bohol from Manila. Travel time is about an hour and five minutes.

Here are the links to the most popular airlines in the country:

1. Cebu Pacific
2. Philippine Airlines
3. Air Asia

If you're the kind who wants to do land travel instead, there are multiple bus lines in Metro Manila that offer a trip directly to Bohol.

Where to Stay in Bohol

There are two primary locations to stay in Bohol - Tagbilaran City or the Island of Panglao. Find a great accommodation with the best prices by using Booking.com.

Click the box at the right sidebar to check to find one.

Bohol Countryside Tour

This blog is focused on the Bohol Countryside Trip. We have a separate entry for our Panglao Trip so be sure to read on and click on this link for more contents. 

The first thing you have to consider is the tour provider. Most of the hotels, BnBs and transient houses offer their own tours. Since we only availed one tour, we cannot give you an objective comparison aside from the price. 

The average price for a car tour is around 1,800 - 2,200 pesos. Even 2,500 pesos is still reasonable given the number of places you'll visit. 

Places to Visit (In No Particular Order)

1. Chocolate Hills
2. Tarsier Conservation
3. Bilar Man-made Forest
4. Bamboo Bridge
5. Exotic Animals and Butterfly Garden
6. Baclayon Church
7. Sandugo Site

1. Chocolate Hills

Bohol is almost synonymous to Chocolate Hills. We've seen this on post cards, on our teacher's visual aid, but nothing beats seeing it personally.

This is the first destination of the Countryside Trip since it is also the farthest. It'll take you about 30 minutes or so to reach if coming from Tagbilaran.

You'll have to pay 40 pesos per head to see the majesty of Chocolate Hills. 

There is just one thing you have to consider if ever you'll visit Chocolate Hills - the volume of people. So pack up some patience since photobombers and view-hogs will be plenty.

2. Tarsier Sanctuary

Tarsier Sanctuary

Aside from the Chocolate Hills, Bohol is also popular due to its endemic fauna, particularly the tarsier. Tarsier is a nocturnal primate, known for its small size and peculiar appearance. With its large eyes and long tail, many are amazed by this creature.

Despite its otherworldly appearance, tarsiers are one of the most vulnerable animals to extinction mainly due to man's action. Deforestation led to many tarsiers losing their homes and source of food.

Sad Fact: Tarsiers do not do well in captivity (Well, I think all animals don't, duh?). There are some documented cases wherein a captive tarsier will try everything to escape. Even going to the point of bashing their heads on the walls of their cage which eventually leads to their death.

One of the most vulnerable animal to extinction

Things to Remember when Visiting the Tarsier Trail

1. Tarsiers are nocturnal, meaning they are awake during night time and asleep during our waking hours. Do not make loud noises.
2. Tarsiers are easily stressed by almost anything foreign. No flash photography, no prodding or trying to catch their attention
3. The Tarsier Trail is quite narrow. Observe walking in single file. No need to hold hands all the time, eh?
4. Since the trail is narrow, do not stop on the trail for an extended time. Do not be the cause of delay.

3. Bilar Man-made Forest

Bilar Man-made Forest

Just a few minutes away from the Tarsier Sanctuary, you'll pass by the Bilar Man-made Forest. There is no entrance fee here since your vehicle will only pass by it.

Enjoy the cool atmosphere within the man-made forest and look at the dizzying patterns of leaves and branches over your head.This road is covered in shade so you'll find the temperature here clean and pleasant. Have a picture in the middle of the deserted road.

Fun Fact:

One thing you'll notice is that the leaves and branches create a canopy making the 2-km stretch of road under the shade. However, if you look more closely, you'll also notice that the leaves and branches do not really touch. This phenomenon is known as crown shyness.

Bilar Man-made Forest

Word of Caution: While this stretch may look deserted, always remember that this is still part of the National Road of Bohol. Make sure that no cars are passing by before you have that "middle of the road" shot, okay? The last thing you'll want is to be hit by a vehicle. 

Also, aside from the threat of being run over, some tourist are actually causing a lot of traffic. So learn to be sensitive. Don't be a kupal. 

4. Bamboo Bridge Crossing

Even as a kid, I always have an aversion on standing atop something that's unstable. Well, this activity is the exact opposite of it. Here, you'll have to cross a long, as in looooonng, rickety and swaying bamboo bridge, TWICE!

But do not skip this one. The view of the green river is just fantastic. And besides, walking atop a rickety, swaying, and purely wooden bridge is a good story.

View from the Bamboo Hanging Bridge

5. Exotic Animals and Butterfly Garden feat. Python Recca

One thing I love about this tourist spot is the quaint and provincial feels it has. It is a simple mini-zoo and butterfly sanctuary manned by few locals. Well, it doesn't have an extravagant feels but it can still satisfy your curiosity to see (and even touch some of the animals) some exotic animals like the Palm Civet Cat, a reticulated python and more.

Personally, seeing many exotic animals cramped in their small cages makes me sad, but hey! It's up to you peeps.

The looks oh!

6. Baclayon Church

According to the epitaph, Baclayon Church is the oldest coral built Church in the region. Baclayon Church was once considered to be part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites but was struck out when it was massively destroyed by the 2013 Bohol Earthquake.

Baclayon Church

Things to Remember

1. Baclayon Church is a church, first and foremost. So act accordingly. No wacky shots, loud voices and such.

2. Wear long pants and shirt with sleeves if ever you'll visit the Church. If by any chance you failed to do so, you can borrow a long scarf at the entrance, free of charge. 

You can help in the restoration and maintenance of the church by patronising some of its products. We bought souvenirs like Rosaries, fridge magnets and other neat stuff. It's our small way of helping. 

7. Blood Compact Site

You'll conclude your Countryside Tour by visiting the last marker which is the Blood Compact Site. Since I love historic places, I decided to have some bonding moments with the important people of Philippine History. 

Blood Compact Site

According to historians, this site witnessed the very first "Treaty of Friendship" not only in our country but also between Western and Eastern Civilization.

This treaty was sealed by a ritual called "Sandugo". The two chiefs, namely Sikatuna and Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, shared a drink of wine mixed with both of their blood. 

The first treaty between East and West Civilization

Myth Buster: One of the recurring misconception regarding Blood Compact or Sandugo is that the people collect their blood through a cut in their wrist. However, historians defunct it and said that the blood was actually collected from a cut in the chest!

So here it is! I hope this entry can help you a lot in your next travel. One thing I learned on this trip is that, there are more learning outside the classroom. I learned more about history, culture and life in the Philippines by travelling. So just go out there! 

How will you know or feel the experiences of the great explorers before you? By visiting the places they had been.

-Adrian C. Villaflor, 2019