Places of Interest in Bohol

Places of Interest at Bohol


Chocolate Hills -Bohol

The Chocolate Hills are Bohol's most famous attraction. Photographer Salvador Andre notes that "most people who first see pictures of this landscape can hardly believe that these hills are not a man-made artifact. However, this idea is quickly abandoned, as the effort would surely surpass the construction of the pyramids in Egypt." There is no natural formation like them in the world. From a distance, they look like half a ball grown out of the ground, like tiny little dots of green and brown as far as the eye can see. The molehill-shaped almost the same sized hills are an awesome sight.

The Chocolate Hills is a rolling terrain of haycock hills — mounds of general shape which are conical and almost symmetrical. Estimated to be at least 1,268 individual mounds to about 1,776, these cone-shaped or dome-shaped hills are actually grass-covered limestone hills. The large and numerous perfect domes vary in sizes from 30 meters to 50 meters high with the largest being 120 meters in height. Aesthetically extensive, they are scattered throughout the towns of Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan in Bohol. Bohol's "main attraction", these unique mound-shaped hills are scattered by the thousands on the island's central plain, concentrated near the town of Carmen.

At dawn or at sunset, the Chocolate Hills are an alluring sight; the whole area picturesque amidst the rice fields and the clusters of houses made of the diamond patterned sawali or bamboo slats

Legend has it that when giants live with mortals, a gentle giant fell in love with a beautiful village girl.  Agoro , the giant was handsome and though a favorite among female giants, was also a loner. When everything and everybody sleeps, Arogo would sit by his favorite spot near the river to ponder or just watch the night pass by.
      One night while Arogo was by his spot, he noticed a beautiful native girl with hair as black as the night by the river bank. He instantly fell in love with Aluya. After that night. Arogo would always wait by his place to take a glimpse at his beloved Aluya.
A rumor reached Arogo that Aluya would soon marry a man her parents chose for her.
       The night before Aluya's wedding, Agoro kidnapped Aluya. Seeing a giant, Aluya screamed, kicked and cried, but to no avail. Arogo was successful in abducting Aluya.
      In the giant's cave, Arogo tried to give Aluya food and water but the girl kept on crying. Her sadness reached her heart that she died with tears in her eyes. Arogo buried her and kept his vigil. He cried for days and months. Giant tears fell to the ground. He cried a thousand years for the loss of his love.
    After sometime, Arogo's tears hardened and became what we know today as Chocolate hills. The Hills were witnesses of an unrequited love of the years go by.
      Chocolate Hills dot the plains of Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan. There are at least 1,776 uniform hills that leave visitors no wonder how they came to be.
      One could view and even count the hills its 210 feet above the ground view deck, Climbing the 214 steps of the view deck to the top is a rewarding exercise.
      Chocolate Hills is also cited as a Geological Movement of the country and is also known as the Eight Wonder of the World.


Hinagdanan Cave




Hinagdanan Cave is a place for nature trekking and for a cool dip. Located in Bingag, Dauis (Panglao Island), this naturally lighted cavern with its deep lagoon and magnificent stalactites and stalagmites formation, boasts of yet another mesmerizing spot nature could offer.

Panglao Island

Panglao Island offers white sand beaches with pristine waters and diving locations which boast of magnificent underwater life. There are three major beach strips in Panglao: Bolod, Tawala and Doljo. Resorts of varied facilities exist along these strips. And most of these spots offer diving services.

Panglao Island, which is composed of two towns: Dauis and Panglo, is located at the western portion of Tagbilaran City. To get to the resorts may take about 20-30 minutes depending on the location and the utility vehicle being hired

Man-made Forest


In the 1960's, a nationwide reforestation program was launched by the government under, then president, Diosdado Macapagal. In Bohol, spearheaded by then governor Lino Chatto, thousands of Mahogany seedlings were planted on a cleared area of 857.4 hectares in Bilar and Loboc towns.

For many years now, the lush green forest is being enjoyed by everyone who passes through it. Thousands of Mahogany trees can be seen along the road as you travel to Chocolate Hills. A sidetrip can be refreshing as the ambience is cool and peaceful.




Loboc River

A cruise along Loboc River starts either from Loay Bridge (20 kilometers from Tagbilaran City) or from Poblacion, Loboc which is about 25 kilometers from the city. A motorized boat or a floating restaurant will take cruisers upstream passing by large vegetations of nipa (palm tree), coconuts and other tropical flora. The two main destinations are the Tontonan Falls and the Busay Falls. Two islets in the middle of the river are ideal picnic sites. A resort nearby accommodate tourists.

To get there, a bus or taxi ride from the city takes less than an hour. Tourists enjoying services of travel agencies will be delighted to know that the Loboc roundabout would be one of the many exciting activities they will enjoy

Dauis Church


Dauis Church is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. It was built in the year 1697, its design largely influenced by Romanesque and Byzantine architecture. Beautiful frescoes painted in 1916 by a painter named Ray Francia decorate the entire ceiling of the church. What makes the church more interesting and unique is the well near the altar that, as legend has it, suddenly emerged when the inhabitants, seeking refuge inside the church from an impending invasion of pirates, were about to starve. Until now the well provides potable water for the people especially during dry seasons.

Dauis of Panglao Island is just 3 kilometers from Tagbilaran City. It takes a few minutes ride by taxicab or by PUJ (public utility jeep) to get there


Himontagon Hills

After a three-kilometer hike or a 20-minute motorbike ride, Himontagon Hills awaits visitors in yellow-green splendor. Unlike the famous Chocolate Hills that sits on a vast plain, Himontagon Hills rests on a mountain. At the peak, one can see a panoramic view of Mindanao Sea and the coastline of Loay and its neighboring towns Sundown rewards one with a glorious view of the setting sun.

Himotagon Hills is in Loay, about 20 kilometers from Tagbilaran City. To get there, take a bus ride from the city terminal or hire a taxicab or a rent-a-car.


Inang-angan

A stairway with steps made of cobbled stones and bricks mounted on the carved hillside - all 174 of them. Built during the Spanish regime, this archaic structure is a wide and rustic reminder of an oppressive past of Loon and its forefathers. Anyone who prefers a shortcut way to Napo from the town's elevated section appropriately called Moto, which literally means hill or mountain, would take the Inang-angan route.

Inang-angan, which comes from the Cebuano word "ang-ang", meaning a step, is considered to be the longest stairway of its kind and vintage in the country. Loon is 27 kilometers from Tagbilaran City.


Punta Cruz

Punta Cruz Watchtower is an ancient structure made of stone. Built along a rocky shoreline of Punta, Maribojoc in the 17th century, the tower, originally called the Moro Watchtower, was used as a lookout for the marauders and pirates. The Spaniards planted the wooden cross at the front of the tower in 1767. Mindanao Sea and the islands of Siquijor and Cebu can be viewed from the windows of the tower.

The site is now a favorite destination of foreign and local tourists alike. A resort nearby accommodates visitors at reasonable rates.

Maribojoc is about 14 kilometers from Tagbilaran City. A bus from the Tagbilaran Integrated Terminal or a taxicab from the city would take 30 to 45 minutes to get there.


Malinao Reservoir

This irrigation project covering an area of about 300 hectares aimed to serve more or less 5000 hectares of riceland in Pilar, Sierra Bullones and its neighboring towns, takes its water from the Wahig River. Recently, more and more visitors are discovering this new habitat for wild ducks and other marshland birds. Here, one can take a cool plunge or ride on a banca (canoe) while watching hundreds of wild ducks reveling on the placid water or one can try his luck hook fishing for carps, tilapia and halwan (mudfish).

Pilar is about 76 kilometers from Tagbilaran City. It takes an hour and a half to ride by taxicab/rent-a-car or two hours by bus or PUJ (public utility jeep) to get there.


Logarita Park



The humid days of summer are best enjoyed in Logarita--a park surrounded by rich vegetation. Tall mahogany and other trees make the place truly refreshing. The swimming pool is always cool and clean as its water is supplied by an ever-flowing underground stream. Not a day passes by without having visitors in Logarita.

A motorbike from Bilar Public Market will take visitors about 10 minutes to get there. And for those who have the time and stamina, a 45-minute hike would be exhilarating.



Puntod Island

This island is one of the most frequented destinations. To those who would like to commune with nature, they will discover Puntod to be an idyllic place of white sandy beaches, cresecent-shaped sandbar and coconut trees. It is uninhabited, natural and tranquil. Although privately owned, this beautiful 1.2 hectare island is open for everyone to enjoy.

Visitors would love spending the night here--sleeping under the stars, and waking up to the sound of wave and birds calling. Sunrises and sunsets seem to be more beautiful to experience as the panorama is free from any man-made structure.

Puntod is about 10-minute ride on a motor boat from the town of Panglao.


Loon Church

In 1753, a chapel was constructed under the term of the first friar Manuel Elizalde. It was only after 50 years that it was replaced with what is now the largest church in Bohol and has 3 naves. Designed in Ionic and Corinthian architectural style, its columns, pilasters and the bell tower on each side of the structure are symmetrical to the last detail which makes Loon Church one of the most beautiful churches.

The church’s history tells of hardship suffered by Loon’s forebears; of how they carry big planks 40 kms. from the forest of Maitum through uncharted trails, across rivers and creeks to the site; of how many suffered untimely death along the way.

Only 25 kms. from Tagbilaran City, a bus ride from Tagbilaran Integrated Terminal or a taxicab from the city would take about 30-45 minutes.