Eduardo Casajús Gorostiaga, Unsplash License

Bohol

Beaches, Chocolate Hills and Tarsiers

Bohol is a Philippine island known for its limestone cliffs and natural pools called Chocolate Hills. These hills change color with the seasons, creating striking visual patterns across the landscape. The island also features Tarsier Sanctuary, home to one of the world’s smallest primates. Coastal areas provide calm waters ideal for swimming and kayaking around coral reefs. Local communities preserve traditions through festivals and cuisine featuring fresh seafood. Bohol balances relaxed beach life with opportunities to explore unique geological formations and marine ecosystems.

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Island in Philippines

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 6.3

General Safety:	7
Health & medical:	6
Accessibility:	4
Tap water:	5

Read details

4/5

English is widely spoken, especially in tourist areas, hotels, and restaurants. In rural areas, locals may have limited English skills, but basic communication is usually possible.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Bohol Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

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Read how our scores work

Famous for natural landscapes and wildlife. Visit the Chocolate Hills, watch tarsiers, cruise jungle rivers and relax on nearby beaches.

Place score

7.4

Best at:

Natural sites

Islands

Sea

Beaches

Forests

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 6

Seniors

❤️ 9

Couples

💻 9

Digital Nomads

Philippines – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	220 V, 60 Hz Plug: Type A , Type B Type A: Type B: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Philippine Peso (PHP) £1 ≈ ₱85.07
Cashless info:	Rating 3/5 Cashless payments are increasingly common, especially in larger cities and tourist areas, but cash is still widely used in rural areas. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not mandatory in the Philippines, but it is appreciated. 10% is standard in restaurants. Small tips are welcome for taxi drivers and hotel staff.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is prohibited in many areas, but alcohol consumption is allowed in licensed venues.
Public smoking:	Smoking is allowed in designated areas, but smoking indoors in public spaces is generally prohibited.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 911 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Grab
Other:	The Philippines is known for its stunning beaches, unique wildlife, and rich cultural heritage. Be mindful of the weather, as typhoon season can affect certain regions.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Bohol, Philippines

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High season:	Feb. - May
Shoulder season:	Jan., June - Aug., Dec.
Crowdedness:	6 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Dry season is February to May, best for diving, island hopping and the Chocolate Hills

Typhoon season June to December, with the highest risk from September to November, and sailings and boat tours are cancelled in rough weather

Peak prices and busy beaches in Panglao around Holy Week (March or April) and from mid December to early January

Don't miss

⛰️ Marvel at the unique Chocolate Hills geological formations
🐒 Spot tiny Philippine tarsiers in the conservation sanctuary
🌿 Cruise the scenic Loboc River with floating restaurants
🌳 Explore the lush Bilar Man-Made Forest by car or bike
💦 Swim under the stunning Ingkumhan Waterfalls in Dimiao

You've been here?

Why travel to Bohol?

Bohol is famous for the Chocolate Hills, hundreds of odd-shaped mounds that turn brown in the dry season. Panglao Island offers incredible white beaches and top-notch diving, while the Loboc River provides peaceful boat cruises through lush jungle. Wildlife lovers can see the adorable tarsiers up close, one of the smallest primates on Earth. The island is tourist-friendly but still has an authentic local charm. However, be prepared for occasional power outages and patchy internet in some areas. Some roads are rough and transportation can be slow, especially in rural parts.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 DAUIS CHURCH
2 Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary
3 Loboc River
4 Miracle Church of the Nazarene
5 National Museum Bohol

🎡Places for activities

1 Loboc River
2 Cruise river Loboc
3 Balicasag Island
4 Chocolate Hills Adventure Park (CHAP)
5 Danao Eco-Adventure Park
6 Pamilacan Island
7 Alicia Panoramic Park
8 Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape
9 Sagbayan Peak
10 Sipatan Twin Hanging Bridge

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Hinagdanan Cave
2 Chocolate Hills
3 Can-Umantad Falls
4 Man Made Forest
5 Bohol Tarsier conservation area
6 Cadapdapan Rice Terraces
7 Mag-Aso Falls
8 Lamanoc caves
9 Balicasag Island Public Beach
10 Lamanok island

🛍️Shopping

1 Island City Mall
2 Tagbilaran City Central Public Market

🎈Events

Sandugo Festival (July)
Ubi Festival (January)
Tagbilaran City Fiesta (May)
Panglao Fiesta (August)
Bolibong Kingking Festival (May)
Bohol Day Celebration (July 22)
Panaad Pilgrimage (Holy Week)
Tarsier Festival (September)
Festival of Lights (December)
Loboc River Festival (June)

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Stay on Panglao for beaches; day-trip inland sights.
Start island-hopping early for calmer seas, clearer snorkeling and better chances of turtle sightings.
See Chocolate Hills and tarsiers responsibly; follow rules and avoid flash or loud crowds.
Add Balicasag snorkeling to your plan, then finish with a quiet Loboc River stretch away from lunch-cruise crowds.

How to travel to Bohol

Bohol is accessible via Bohol-Panglao International Airport (TAG) with direct flights from Manila, Cebu and Davao. Ferries connect Bohol to Cebu and other nearby islands, with Tagbilaran City as the main port. Fast ferries are the quickest option from Cebu.

Access summary

From Bohol–Panglao Airport (TAG): Taxi/van to Panglao or Tagbilaran, 20–40 minutes.
From Cebu City: Fast ferry to Tagbilaran, usually about 2 hours.
From Manila: Direct flights to Bohol–Panglao Airport, flight time around 1.5 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Bohol

Panglao Island is the best area for beachfront resorts and nightlife, while Anda offers quieter stays. Tagbilaran City has budget-friendly hotels and easy access to transport. Eco-lodges and boutique hotels are also popular on the island.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Oceanica Resort Panglao, Bohol

9.1

Bohol Beach Club Resort

9.2

Panglao Regents Park

8.1

Roman Empire Panglao Boutique Resort

8.2

Bohol Coastal View Hotel

DumaluanBeach-Marilou Resort

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Bohol

Motorbikes and tricycles are the most convenient for short distances, while buses and jeepneys cover longer routes. Renting a scooter is popular for exploring at your own pace. Private car hires or tours are best for seeing multiple attractions in a day.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-74 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 74% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-19 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to PHP) is 19% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is considerably cheaper compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Lapu-Lapu, Philippines - 55 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£25	£51	£126
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£11	£30	£68
🍝 Food per day	£12	£19	£54
🚕 Transportation per day	£1	£2	£4

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£6.50
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£3.20
🍟 Fast food combo	£3.30
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£4.50
☕ Cappuccino	£2
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£1.05

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.20
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£2.30
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.80

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£4.60
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£10
🤧 Cold medication	£4.50
💇 Basic haircut	£2.80

Safety information overview

General safety

Bohol is generally very safe for tourists. Petty theft can happen in busy areas, so keep an eye on belongings. Roads can be dangerous at night due to poor lighting and reckless driving.

Health & Medical

Basic medical services are available in Tagbilaran City, but for serious emergencies, Cebu has better-equipped hospitals. Bring necessary medications as some brands may not be available locally.

Accessibility

Most tourist areas are accessible, but some attractions, like Chocolate Hills, have many stairs. Tricycles are not wheelchair-friendly and rural roads can be bumpy.

Tap water

Tap water is not safe to drink. Stick to bottled or filtered water, which is widely available. Many hotels provide drinking water stations.