Things to do in Bohol, Philippines: beaches, Chocolate Hills and when to go

The best time to travel to Bohol is between November and April, during the dry season. In these months you'll get sunny days, pleasant warmth and little chance of rain, which makes it ideal for enjoying the beaches, visiting the Chocolate Hills, snorkeling or diving, and getting around the island.

You can visit Bohol year-round, but from May to October the weather gets more humid, with more rain and even the possibility of typhoons, especially between August and October.

There are two main ways to get to Bohol: by plane or by ferry.

🛫 By plane

Panglao International Airport is Bohol's gateway by air. There are daily flights from Manila, El Nido, Cebu and other places in the country, which makes it a quick and comfortable option, especially if you're short on time.

🚢 By ferry

The most popular option is the ferry from Cebu to Bohol, which takes about 2.5 hours and arrives at Tagbilaran port. Ferries leave every day from Pier 1 (Muelle 1) in Cebu. You can check schedules and book ahead on 12go.

There are also ferries from Oslob (southern Cebu) and Siquijor that go directly to Panglao. This option is very practical if you're traveling around the islands without going through Cebu City.

💡 Our experience:
Since we were in the south of Cebu, we chose to go from Oslob to Panglao. Only one company runs this route, and you can book online. The ferry doesn't leave from a pier but right from the beach: a small boat takes you out to the big one, anchored offshore.
We were unlucky and got a day with big waves, so getting from one boat to the other was quite an odyssey. You can see how it went in our Instagram story highlights.

Bohol was one of the stops on our 4-week route through the Philippines. We spent 5 days exploring the island, got our PADI Advanced Open Water certification in Panglao, and explored the landscapes in the center and east of the island.

But let's be honest: we felt that Bohol is somewhat overrun by tourism, especially Panglao and the west of the island. In hindsight, we might have liked to spend that time on other islands like Siquijor, which many travelers recommended to us for its peace and authenticity.

Even so, Bohol has a lot to offer: the diving is incredible, there are almost untouched beaches in Anda, rice fields every bit as good as the ones in the north of the country, and viewpoints with gorgeous views. So, if you decide to visit, we put together this guide to the best things to do in Bohol:

1. Panglao, the small island south of Bohol

Panglao is one of the most touristy places in Bohol, known for its diving and snorkeling, especially at Balicasag Island and Pamilacan Island.

Most travelers stay here, and many tours to the rest of the island leave from this area.

Since there's a lot to say about Panglao, we put together a full guide with all the activities and tips:
👉 Things to do in Panglao, Bohol

2. See the iconic Chocolate Hills

This group of more than 1,200 hills is one of the most famous landscapes in the Philippines. They're called "Chocolate Hills" because in the dry season the grass dries out and the hills turn brown, like giant chocolates.
They're in Carmen, and although you can see them from the road, for good views you can go to the viewpoint at the Chocolate Hills Complex. The entrance fee is 100 PHP and includes a van that takes you to the start of the stairs.

📸 Tip: If you want to fly a drone, it's only allowed until 8 a.m. We planned to go at sunrise, but the morning was cloudy and we ended up going at midday: it was packed with tourists.

💡 Other, quieter viewpoints:

• Timbo’s and Fuchi’s Hills
• Another unnamed spot you can find on Google Maps (always check recent reviews, since some of them get closed).

There are also ATV tours around the area if you're after something more adventurous.

🚗 As we said, the Chocolate Hills are 1 hour 30 minutes from Anda or Panglao. You can go by motorbike for the day, book a tour like this one, or do what we did and spend a night in the area to explore at a relaxed pace.

3. See tarsiers: the smallest primates in the world

The Philippine tarsier is a tiny, very fragile animal found only in a few parts of the Philippines. Tarsiers are nocturnal and get stressed easily, so it's key to see them at responsible places.

👉 We recommend the Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella, run by the Philippine Tarsier Foundation.
⚠️ Avoid other centers where they handle the animals or wake them up to show them to tourists.

📌 Useful info:

• Entrance fee: 150 PHP
• There are usually only 3 or 4 tarsiers visible
• Don't make noise or touch them!

4. Rice terraces in Pilar and Cadapdapan

One of our favorite days in Bohol. The rice terraces of Pilar are little known, but the scenery is incredible and there are almost no tourists.

We went by rental car (the island is big, and by motorbike it would have taken us longer). We drove to this spot on Google Maps, where a local woman guided us through the rice fields, let us fly the drone and told us about life in the countryside. We paid her something for the visit (she didn't ask for it), and it was a really lovely, authentic experience.

Then we continued on to Cadapdapan Rice Terraces, along a road surrounded by mountains and rice fields. This place is more set up for tourism, and in some spots they charge an entrance fee to walk the trails. If you're in the area, you can also visit Can-umantad Falls.

🚗 If you don't drive, you can book a private tour like this one, which takes you to these less touristy rural spots 👉 Custom tour of inland Bohol.

5. Take a boat down the Loboc River

One of the most famous activities is the boat trip on the Loboc River, which includes a buffet lunch and live music. Yes, it's very touristy, but the natural setting is beautiful.

If you're looking for something quieter, we recommend kayaking or paddleboarding (SUP) on your own or with a local guide. There are tours like this one 👉 SUP tour on the Loboc River that are great for seeing the surroundings without the crowds.

6. Visit its waterfalls

Bohol also has plenty of waterfalls, ideal for a dip or for spending the day surrounded by nature. Some that are worth it:

• Ingkumhan Falls
• Dimiao Falls
• Camugao Falls
• Can-umantad Falls

You can visit them on your own or book a waterfall tour in Bohol.

7. Hike at Binabaje Hills, in Alicia

One of the best hiking spots in Bohol. The hike to Binabaje Hills takes about an hour and has spectacular views of the hills and the coast.

It's about 45 minutes from Anda. We got there just in time for sunset, but we were afraid of it getting dark, so we only did a short walk. We'll have to do the rest next time. The local guide recommended going very early in the morning.

🎟 Entrance fee: 50 PHP
👣 Mandatory guide: 300 PHP per group

👉 There are also tours that combine rice fields, Binabaje and waterfalls in a single day, like this one: Rural day trip through eastern Bohol

8. Explore the Anda area

Anda is a real find, and far less crowded than Panglao. It's worth spending at least one or two nights.

What to do in Anda:

• Relax on white-sand beaches
• Swim in caves like Cabagnow Cave Pool
• Snorkel or dive on the reefs
• Explore rice fields and viewpoints

Bohol is a fairly big island, and if you want to explore it at a relaxed pace, it's best to have your own transport. Many travelers choose to rent a scooter, which is a very cheap and practical way to cover short distances.

We preferred to rent a car, because we were going to change accommodation several times and wanted it to be easier to move our luggage. If you're thinking of doing something similar, you can check car rental prices here.

Another option is to book a tour with a private driver, who takes you to the island's main tourist spots. It's a very practical choice if you don't feel up to driving or only have a few days.

Bohol has several areas where you can stay, and the best choice depends on how much time you have and what kind of experience you're looking for.

🔹 If you only have a few days, we recommend staying right in Panglao, the small island south of Bohol that has most of the accommodation, restaurants and tours. We focus mainly on that area in this post 👉 Things to do in Panglao.

🔹 If you have more days, a great option is to split your stay between 2 or 3 places on the island so you can explore it more thoroughly. For example:

• 2 nights in Panglao (ideal if you're diving or want to enjoy the beaches)
• 2 or 3 nights in Anda, to relax on its quiet beaches and discover the less touristy side of Bohol
• 1 night in the Carmen area, near the Chocolate Hills, if you have your own transport and want to avoid long round trips

📌 Our experience: We spent 4 nights in Bohol. The first 3 we slept in Panglao while doing our diving course, and the last night in Carmen so we could visit the Chocolate Hills at sunrise without such a long trip from the south.