Welcome to Island Paradise
Beautiful. Diverse.
This is Bohol – a province that holds almost every bit of the thousands of islands of the Philippines.
From the world-famous naturally diverse dive sites, rivers, hills, canyons, mangroves, caves, pristine beaches, historical and cultural sites, wildlife to fun-filled adrenaline rushing adventures; Bohol has it all on its plate.
Two Ways
MANILA (preferred and easier option)
Fly from Europe via Emirates, Singapore Airlines or Qatar Airways into the capital, Manila NAIA Terminal 3.
There are lounges for you to rest your head, keep your luggage, refresh and even shower at The Wings Lounge in the same building. Please refer Google to prebook your slot at the lounge.
From Manila to Panglao, Bohol Cebu Pacific in Terminal 3 has two flights from Manila to Panglao daily.
**Note that Philippine Airlines and AirAsia are in different terminals which might mean more travel time and moving around for you.
From Bohol-Panglao International Airport, you can take a van just outside the Arrivals to your chosen hotel/hostel.(we have a few recommendations proximate to wedding venue) For your convenience, go to www.KLOOK.com/en-gb to prebook your group driver, input your flight date and time and your Philippine SIM mobile number which we will give our guests flying from Europe
If you are planning to go somewhere else in SouthEast Asia after our wedding, you can simply book a one way ticket to Philippines fly to Manila again then head to Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Dubai, Bali, Singapore or even Australia for very cheap via Cebu Pacific/Air Asia then book another one way flight from that country back to UK/US.
CEBU
You can also fly into the Mactan International Airport Cebu from Europe and The US but instead of local flights, it will be via ferry transfer(a little bit of hassle with kids and luggages).
Mactan International Airport is another 30 minutes away via cab to Cebu Pier Uno.
Cebu Pier Uno OceanJet Ferry has four trips daily to Tagbilaran, Bohol that departs every two hours w a travel time of more or less two hours. Fare ranges from Php 655.00 to Php 1,175.00.
Cebu to Tagbilaran Pier Departures
5:50am, 8:15am, 11:00am,
1:15pm, 3:35pm, 6:00pm
Tagbilaran Pier to Cebu Departures
5:50am, 8:15am, 11:00am,
1:15pm, 3:35pm, 6:00pm
The Philippines standard currency is PHP.
In the country, cash is still king. Revolut, Monzo and Global Money by HSBC are good options for paying via card transactions but note that there is £3 fee for money withdrawal so it may be best to exchange some pocket money at the airport for better rates.
How To Go Around Bohol
For convenient airport pick-up to drop-off(vice versa) please book via KLOOK.com
Rent a Motorbike(Moped) – If you opt to go into short rides here and there, renting a motorbike is more ideal and practical. You can rent and drive your motorbike around for only Php 350.00 (gas not included). There are lots of shops around where you can rent one. Just make sure that you at least have a driver’s license with you.
Rent a car – Should you decide to go on a long drive or road trip for your Bohol DIY trip, renting a car is among the best options. Google Maps from point A to point B will be handy in planning your route. Hire a Tricycle – Tricycle fare starts at Php 50.00. However, we noticed that we are usually charged Php 150.00/head especially when going to South Palms, Napaling and the port/ tourism office. This is only ideal if you are going out maybe once or twice. If you do more than that, rent a motorbike instead.
If you are travelling with small children and babies there are a few considerations to take into account.
We have a discounted room rate at South Palms (See accommodation section) with the option for a nanny service on the day/night of the wedding which costs 300PHP (4GBP) per hour, you must be an in-house guest at the hotel for this service. Please contact us Danny or Leona privately as soon as possible.
It may be easier and to know that you can nip back and check on the kids whilst still being able to give it full beans on the dancefloor.
CHOCOLATE HILLS
Visitors then need to climb up around 200+ steps to reach the viewing deck, which is mounted on two actual chocolate hills, offering a 360-degree view of the magnificent hills
BALICASAG ISLAND (best dive spot)
The circumference of the island starts off with a plateau that ranges anywhere from 6 to 18 meters before it actually drops off to a wall, which makes it perfect among snorkelers to get an introductory glimpse of what they may expect from the deep.
There are moray eels, frogfish, parrotfish, different species of clownfish among varying anemones, and soft and hard corals, either on the plateau or its drop-off walls.
You can contact: @shem.freediver or @reefpoint_lj on Instagram for free diving lessons and your underwater videography needs
HINAGDANAN CAVE
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.
ALONA BEACH
The Alona beach is a popular public beach located at the south-west tip of the island. It is known for its white sand, rocky cliffs, and commercial facilities that line the 1 kilometre stretch of the beach. It is located near a coral reef and is a popular scuba-diving and snorkeling spot.
PAMILACAN The visibility is usually excellent around Pamilacan. The hard and soft Coral is really beautiful. It is a great place to see the gentle giants Manta Rays! You can also spot there lots of Pelagic fishes such as Barracudas, Dogtooth Tunas and Jacks. Pamilacan is famous to see Dolphins and Whales.
NAPALING REEF
Starts at about 8 meters from shore – this easy access is one of the many reasons why Napaling has become so popular! The drop-off and reef are located in Tangnan, Panglao, Bohol. The scuba and freedivers, snorkelers, swimmers, and people just looking for a place to chill gather here. For the most part, the dive site is convenient and accessible by a good road, has resorts with all modern and needed amenities, and has everything you can expect from a fantastic reef.
The place is particularly great for divers – for both scuba and freedivers. Depth is available almost immediately from the shore – only a few kicks away, and you’ll have a 25m drop-off already. Scuba divers love to explore the steep wall with exciting caves and crevices. Sardine shoals can be found almost all year-round – making a spectacular show much to the delight of divers. Fishes are abundant, and colourful corals thrive.
ALICIA PANORAMIC PARK
For first time trekkers, it is a bit of a challenge to climb up the hills. Some parts of the landscape can be steep so make sure to be physically able and prepared. The only way up and down the Park is on foot. It is therefore imperative that you come equipped with the right shoes, enough water, and some bites to make the experience more exceptional.
The Alicia Panoramic Park is a fantastic getaway for those who are adventurous and are willing to go through challenges for the best view. Here you will get to see varieties of birds, the Ubay’s dam, and an unending stunning vista.
Aside from a private vehicle, you can reach the town of Alicia by bus. From Dao Integrated Bus Terminal in Tagbilaran City, it takes around 3 hours to get to the Municipality Hall of Alicia.
To get to the foot of the hills from the town center, you may opt for any of the following:
Motorbike
This is for the free-spirited. The motorbike locally known as habal-habal is the faster way to get you to the starting point of the trek. It is a 2-hour walk to the peak from there.
Private Vehicle
If you are going to the park as a group or you are simply trying to avoid inconveniences of public transport, a private vehicle is your best bet to take you from the town center all the way to the foothills.
MIST Panglao
Bar Woo Fusion Restaurant
Bohol Bee Farm
Toto E Peppino
Tavola
and many more options along Alona Beach for seafood and barbecue
*Do not drink the tap water or brush your teeth with it. Only drink bottled water.
*Always carry a small antibacterial hand lotion
*If you're worried about bad belly, start taking probiotics a week before you fly over and continue taking them over
Passport validity :
There is a minimum of 6 months validity on your passport to travel to The Philippines. You don't need a visa. Please check that your passport has a minimum of 6 months validity.
*Essentials to bring to Bohol
-Sunscreen (it's a sunny destination)
-Insect repellent (make sure it contains DEET)
-Hydralite (or similar) easy to forget to drink water and de-hydrate yourself
-Panadol or Nurofen which ever you prefer
-Feminine Hygiene products
-Travel Adapters (Maybe a multi board so you only need 1 travel adapter instead of a lot)