Tired of Metro Traffic? Head to Bohol

If you are getting tired of being stuck for hours in metro traffic, why not head to Bohol instead for a weekend of respite and take a breather from the noisy, busy city life?

Bohol has everything a city dweller dreams of - white sand beaches, historical and religious sites, friendly people, laid-back atmosphere, and zero traffic. You can get to places in just a few minutes or an hour for a trip into distance towns.

Road trips are also fun in Bohol. Aside from the absence highly polluting metro trucks and buses, you will be able to enjoy the scenery on the roadside as you trudge the well-paved roads around the entire province.

And yes that's in addition to Bohol's offerings of Chocolate Hills, Loboc River, tarsiers, floating restaurants, mangrove plantations, and a lot more!

So if you have been stuck for hours in traffic and vowed to go to places where traffic is never heard of, come and visit Bohol.

Of course, we are here ready to serve you should you need a safe and comfortable ride. We offer vans and cars for rent at very reasonable rates!

Summer Tour in Bohol

It's summer once again and people are packing up their bags to visit places around the Philippines. And when we speak of beautiful tourist destinations in the country, Bohol will always be on the list. This summer, whatever type of vacation you desire, you will always find one in Bohol.

Panglao Island boasts of long stretch of shoreline that features white fine sand beaches. Chocolate Hills is always a majestic view. The Tarsiers remain cute all throughout the year. And the Loboc River is the best way to relax the body and the spirit.

Whatever destination you want to visit this summer, you will surely find it here in Bohol.

If you are looking for vans or cars to hire when you tour around Bohol, drop me a text at 09322047279 or 09196384069

Van Rental to tour different tourist spots in Bohol

It's been a while since my last post here. Had my hands full due to the number of guests availing our van rental service. There were even some that we had to turn down because we were booked most of the time. This made me realize that we need to expand our fleet of vans.

We will be buying more vans to accomodate tourists who want to tour Bohol in a day. Our tour package include visits to the following sites:

• Sandugo Site
• Baclayon Church (One of the oldest churches in the Philippines)
• Loboc River
• Tarsier Home
• Man-made forest
• Chocolate Hills
• Floating Bridge

We will announce as soon as our new vans arrive plus we will be adding more destinations as our list of loyal clients continue to expand.
You can contact us at 09196384069. Drop us a text message first before calling us. Thanks

Car / Van Rentals for Bohol Tour

Okay, the past months I've been receiving inquiries from readers of this blog who want to visit Bohol. They all are asking for the rate of the car / van rental for the day tour that will bring them to the top tourist destinations in Bohol.

Our rate is P3,500 for van and P2,500 for car (max of 4 persons). You don't need to pay for the gas or the driver. Tipping is even optional since our drivers receive handsome monthly salaries. But well, you have to pay for your entrance fees (for destinations that require fees) and for the boat ride at the Loboc River (around P300 per person inclusive of meals). You have to pay the fees yourself, we don't collect it.

What do you get? Aside from the cozy ride courtesy of our clean and well-maintained tourist vehicles and courteous drivers, the day tour will bring you to the following spots: Sandugo Marker in Tagbilaran, Baclayon Church (the oldest church in the country) in Baclayon, Loboc River, Tarsier Home, Loboc Church (with the Loboc Children's Choir if you are lucky), man-made forest, and the Chocolate Hills. If you still have time, you can do a detour to Bohol's hanging bridge.

If you are interested, send me SMS at 09196384069.

Adventure Activities to Experience in Bohol

Bohol offers numerous ways to fill every thrill-seeker's passion for adventure: diversions that take the daring under and above water, below and on high ground, or both.

Pedal 'round our purply yam-shaped island on your trusty mountain bike. Plunge deep into the waters of Panglao Island and the nearby islands which are home to some of the world's most diverse marine life, as surveyed by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature.

Balicasag, a small island southwest of Panglao, and Cabilao Island of Loon town offer the avid diver and underwater photographer stunning otherwordly vistas of amazing coral canyons, ridges, and overhangs, crevices, and a myriad of sea creatures.. The forests and mountains of Bohol are likewise fit for the most exciting adventure forays. Scale the mountains of Anda, the seat of Bohol's early civilization.

Explore the caves of Sierra Bullones, whose cavernous vaults are bejeweled with the most dazzling stalagmite and stalactite formations shaped by nature's masterful hand. Rappel down a waterfall in Antequera. Paddle through a vast nipa grove in the Abatan River. Immerse in Danao's eco-adventure tourism attractions that include white-water tubing, trail hiking, river trekking, kayaking, rapelling, and tyrolean traversing.

Bohol's great outdoors burst with adventure that will surely delight.

ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES TO EXPERIENCE

Diving in Balicasag
Descend into the rich waters surrounding the tiny island of Balicasag, southwest off Panglao town in Panglao Island, and explore one of the country's most popular dive sites.

How to get there: Balicasag island can be reached via a 35-minute boat ride from Poblacion, Panglao.

Eco-Adventure in Danao
Experience eco-adventure tourism in the interior town of Danao where thrill-seekers and nature lovers alike can go caving, rappelling, trekking, biking, swimming, and kayaking.

How to get there: About 98kms from the city, Danao is accessible via public utility jeepneys, taxi, motorcycle, or rented vans

Extreme sports in Antequera
Feel the rush of extreme sports in the rivers, caves, and peaks of Antequera organized by the Bohol Extreme, a local group of extreme sports enthusiasts

How to get there: About 18.5 kms from the city, Antequera is accessible via public utility jeepneys, taxi, motorcycle, or rented van

Nature Destinations to Visit in Bohol

Bohol is a treasure island of natural wonders.

The stunning Chocolate Hills at the heart of the province never fail to amaze. From the viewing deck at the Chocolate Hills Complex in Carmen or from the vantage point at Sagbayan Peak, one can indulge in the breathtaking panorama of 1,268 nature-sculpted hills.

Pristine freshwater rivers, waterfalls, and ice-cold springs sprinkled all over the island still sparkle with unspoiled splendor.

A trip through the quaint countryside treats one to a living palette of golden ricefields and verdant meadows. The shores of the country's tenth largest island are profuse with some of the most biologically diverse mangrove ecosystems, including a 400-hectare mangrove plantation found in Banacon Island in the town of Getafe, in the northeastern end of Bohol, which, incidentally, is the largest mangrove reforestation in Asia.

The bounty and the beauty of nature unsullied runs prime in the Boholano consciousness and efforts towards its preservation and sustainability are fervent and deeply rooted.

NATURE DESTINATIONS TO VISIT

Alona Beach
Enjoy beach life in this 1.5-km-shoreline of powdery white sand in Tawala, Panglao where a strong beach resort community keeps the place vibrant, and at the same time, relaxing.

How to get there. About 10 kms from the city, Alona Beach is accessible via public utility jeepney, taxi, motorcycle, or rented van

Loboc River
Cruise into relaxing emerald waters nestled in a lush tropical forest in the town of Loboc.

How to get there. About 21 kms from the city, Loboc town is accessible via public utility jeepney, taxi, motorcycle, or rented van

Candijay Mangrove
Walk into one of the richest, most diverse mangrove forests in the country and behold the sight and sounds of some of the rarest exotic birds that populate this community-based eco-tourism destination in Panadtaran, Candijay.

How to get there. About 92.2 kms from the city, Candijay is accessible via public utility jeepney, taxi, motorcycle, or rented van

Hinagdanan Cave in Panglao, Bohol

If there's one tourist destination in Bohol that you should not dare miss, it would be the Hinagdanan Cave (Hinagdanan means laddered) on the island of Panglao.

Unlike other caves, where you have to climb mountains and walk through thick bushes, Hinagdanan cave is very accessible, making it a favorite among Bohol's tourists.

This cave has a large number of stalactites hanging from the sealing, and matching stalagmites sticking out of the earth below them. The cave leads to a large underground cavern, that contains a pond. Both ends of the cave are open but swimming in the pool is not advisable as the waters there are not clean.

It is a naturally lighted cavern with a deep lagoon and many large stalactites and stalagmites.
The cave is lit by sunlight which filters through holes in the ceiling. The underground lake is a popular swimming spot, but it has been known to test for high levels of various pollutants, since it is fed by ground runoff.


Wanna visit Hinagdanan Cave? We offer van for hire for only P4,000/day good for 11 persons. The trip will bring you to Chocolate Hills, Loboc River, Blood Compact Site, Tarsiers, Baclayon Church, and we can arrange a trip to Hinagdanan Cave. Drop us a text message at +63 9196384069.

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Bohol's Chocolate Hills - A view to behold

One of the reasons why millions of tourists continue to flock to Bohol every single day is these unusual geological formation composed of around 1,268 perfectly cone-shaped hills of about the same size.

Sometimes considered the "Eighth Wonder of the World", the Chocolate Hills has been declared the country's 3rd National Geological Monument and proposed for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List This is the most famous tourist attraction in Bohol. Among the 1,268 perfectly cone-shaped hills which abound in Central Bohol, two have been developed into a resort. On top of the hills is a complex that offers accommodation, conference rooms, restaurants, and a view deck.

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 During the dry season, the precipitation is inadequate such that the grass-covered hills dry up and turn chocolate brown. This transforms the area into seemingly endless rows of chocolate "kisses"., hence the name in reference to a branded confection.

Geologists have actually long debated about the formation of the hills, resulting in various ways the origin of the Chocolate Hills are stated or explained. The one written on the bronze plaque at the viewing deck in Carmen, Bohol states that they are eroded formations of a type of marine limestone that sits on top of hardened clay. The plaque reads: "The unique land form known as the Chocolate Hills of Bohol was formed ages ago by the uplift of coral deposits and the action of rain water and erosion."

Another statement says: "the grassy hills were once coral reefs that erupted from the sea in a massive geologic shift. Wind and water put on the finishing touches over hundreds of thousands of years." some info from wikipedia

Getting to the Chocolate Hills is fast and easy. Here are the most convenient ways to go to the Chocolate Hills.

From Manila:
Take a plane trip to Bohol
There is a daily flight to Tagbilaran City, Bohol's Capital
via Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific

From Cebu City:
Take a fast craft for Tagbilaran
Wessam Express is docked at Pier 4
Ocean Jet is docked at Pier 1
Fast crafts travel to Tagbilaran at least 4 times a day

From Tagbilaran:
At the airport or seaport, you will be greeted by van drivers
who offer commissioned trips to Carmen town, the site of the
Chocolate Hills. Van trips usually cost around P4,000 for round trips.

You can also take the bus to Carmen
But if you are a first time tourist, I suggest you take the van trips
for safety and convenience.

Do you need assistance from us?

We can arrange your trip to the Chocolate Hills
with side trips to other tourist destinations in Bohol
Drop us a text message at +63 9308260580

Lunch onboard Loboc's Floating Restaurant

One of the best lunches I've had so far. That's how I describe my lunch onboard the world-renown floating restaurant that cruises the enigmatic Loboc River. The lunch is buffet - sea foods, the ever popular mix of pansit and bihon, local delicacies and kakanin, of course there's meat and chicken, and a variety of seasonal fruits.

And yes, it's only P280 per person. Unbelievable? Try it yourself.

For only P280, you will be onboard the floating restaurant where you can partake of the sumptous eat-all-you-can meal to fill your stomach and sceneries to fill your memories. Food is just part of the cruise. There's also live music and a rondalla presentation when you get near the source of the river.

Feel like jumping into the enticing river? Yes you can. Just tell the staff in advance so the floating restaurant will wait for you for a few minutes of swimming.

All these for only P280 per person. Wow. I'm even willing to shell out more for such a very wonderful experience.

Wanna Visit Bohol in a day?

For sure you want to try and visit Bohol. With all the buzz about the world-renown Chocolate Hills, the enchanting Loboc River, the wonderful mand-made forest, the cute Tarsiers, the old Baclayon Church, the Hanging Bridge, and the Blood Compact Site, I know you are excited to set your foot in the province.

Do you know that you can actually visit the wonderful tourist destinations above in a day? Yes, as in in less than 10 hours. No, I'm not kidding. I've tried it myself to test travel time and it took me less than 10 hours.

If you are from Cebu, you can start in the morning and finish in the afternoon in time for the second to the last Supercat trip back home. Isn't that great?

If you are from Manila, well, you need to really stay overnight in Tagbilaran because the plane flight back to Manila is only once a day (please let me know if this has changed).

And how much would a day trip cost?

Going to those places i've mentioned above via a van (if you are a group of five or more) would cost only P4,500. No need to worry abot the van's gasoline and tipping the driver is optional.
The P4,500 will take you to as far as Chocolate Hills plus stops on the tourists destinations I've mentioned above.

Lunch will surely be at the Loboc River onboard the Floating Restaurant (P280 / pax inclusive of buffet lunch and a cruise to the source of the river). Chocolate Hills entrance fee is only P25 (subject to change) and you don't have to pay anything in the other tourist destinations I've mentioned.

I can arrange your day trip if you like. I have a van that will take you to the tourist destinations for only P4,500 and the driver is courteous :) and knows the place very well. Car trip (if you are a group of less than 5 persons) is only P3,500 for the entire day trip.

Please drop me a text message or call me at 09196384069. I won't bite. :)


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