Bohol is a popular tourist destination in Central Visayas primarily for its many tropical offerings: nearby islands, beautiful resorts, diving spots, and sprawling beaches. While frolicking under the sun and getting some seaside thrill will always reel in the beachcombers, set aside one whole day to tour around the countryside to discover even more attractions this province has to offer. Wear your comfiest footwear and charge those external battery packs, and get ready to #travelgram your feed: here are seven things you can do when you go daytripping in Bohol.
1. Begin with a history of a famous friendship sealed by blood and wine.
Blood Compact Site (Monument of Blood Compact)
Bool District, Tagbilaran City
In the 1500s, the first friendship between Spain and the Philippines was sealed by blood, or Sandugo (blood compact), at Bohol. This was performed by Datu Sikatuna and Miguel López de Legazpi as part of our country's old ritual for a treaty. A popular Bohol tourist attraction is the Blood Compact Site, set against a Bo'ol tree, where the name of Bohol comes from. This marker symbolizes the friendship of Sikatuna and Legazpi. The monument depics the Sandugo, where the brotherhood is sealed between natives and the Spaniards — a cut on their upper arms, drops of blood poured into a cups of wine, and the chieftains drinking from the cup of the other to signify alliance.
2. Visit one of the oldest churches in the country.
Baclayon Church (La Purisima Concepcion de la Virgen Maria Parish Church)
Baclayon, Bohol
The 2013 earthquake in Bohol greatly damaged many of heritage churches, including Baclayon Church; its bell tower has collapsed and currently the structure is going through pre-restoration works. Nevertheless, the church, declared a national historical treasure, is still being visited for its antiques and relics which can be viewed up close at the museum, and Baclayon's intricate retablos (altars) can still be viewed and photographed.
3. Encounter the famous tiny nocturnal creatures at their habitat preserve.
Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary
Corella, Bohol
When in Bohol, go to the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary and visit the Philippine tarsiers — pocket-sized nocturnal, furry critters endemic to the country known for their big, bulging eyes and koala-like grip on trunks and branches. Other fun facts about them are that they can rotate their heads 180 degrees like owls, can jump backwards and are very territorial and solitary (they need a lot of space, don't be clingy).The tarsier is a threatened species, and so must be encountered properly by tourists at the forest reservation where they are safe. The sanctuary has strict rules and regulations so that both visitors and and resident tarsiers can be happy — picture taking is allowed (no flash, tarsiers shouldn't be disturbed during daytime), no touching, and keep the noise to a minimum.
4. Have a leisurely lunch on a river cruise (and enjoy a song and dance,too).
Loboc River Cruise
Begin at Loay Bridge, Loboc
Save your appetite and have all cameras fully charged for the Loboc River Cruise. Choose among many of their 'floating restaurants' docked at the Loay Bridge, and seat yourself as the restaurant cruises you around the bends and turns of Bohol's iconic river, lush with vegetation and scenic views perfect for a panoramic shot. All river cruises come with a lunch buffet and a song and dance before your cruise back to the bridge. For the discerning foodie, you can pay extra for a more premium buffet spread; this costs P550/head with a maximum of 30 guests when you dine at Village Floating Resto & Cruises.
5. Hug a tree at a man-made forest.
Bilar Man-made Forest, Loboc
A lush and green stretch of mahogany trees line 2 kilometers of a road, and you are instantly transported to a forest. The Man-made Forest was part of a reforestation program, and has since then been a popular tourist pit-stop in Bohol. While most of route going to this area is usually warm and bathed in sunlight, the man-made greenery shrouds you in a cooler and shaded environment; vehicles park on the side of the road to take photographs, cool down, and simply enjoy the refreshing view of nature.
6. Photograph the iconic and picturesque hills.
Chocolate Hills, Loay Interior Road, Carmen
Bohol is to Chocolate Hills as EDSA is to traffic — you cannot skip their top tourist attraction (but we can definitely skip EDSA… whenever we possibly can). During the dry summer season, over a thousand of these iconic grass-covered hills turn brown, making them resemble a field of chocolate kisses. Three local legends surround this main attraction: one of the hills being the battleground/ruins of two giants, the second of a giant's tears drying up and forming the hills, and the third, a funny story about a giant carabao leaving a trail of feces.
7. Go pasalubong shopping and get your goods at the best prices.
Aproniana Gift Shop
National Highway, Taguihon, Baclayon
Aside from enjoying the one of a kind landscape of Bohol's Chocolate Hills, you can bring home the attraction as a souvenir by buying the many hill-shaped chocolates and peanut kisses being sold nearby and at other pasalubong stores. Your best bet for anything to bring home from your trip is Aproniana Gift Shop, the ultimate Bohol souvenir store where you can get all your pasalubong at the best prices. They have everything, from bags, accessories, apparel, tarsier toys and merchandise; all food and delicacies are found on their second floor.
