The husband surely knows how to treat the family as everyone is having a blast from the quick weekend trip at Bohol. It was a long overdue getaway and everyone was so glad we made it last month. Additionally, it was an opportunity for the youngest to have a closer view of the tourist spots and shrine he read from his school books like the Chocolate Hills and the Blood Compact shrine.

How to get there:
Ferry Fare Cost = P500/pax for adult and P400/head for kids 11yo and below

Ferries from Cebu to Bohol are available. FastCat Ferries has trips to Tubigon port then, there’s Ocean Jet Ferries that has 9 trips to Tagbilaran port. For Ocean Jet Ferries, the earliest trip from Cebu is 6:00AM while last trip departs at 4:30PM. We took the earliest trip. Be sure to be at the port 30 minutes before your departure time since Cebu’s Passenger Terminal at Pier 3 is too crowded that it may queuing for bag inspection and check-in consumes much time.

Transporation:
Countryside Tour Package (with Vehicle) = P1800

You’ll be greeted with different tour packages from different travel agencies including transportation upon arrival at Tagbilaran port. Tour package’s costs ranges from P2500 to P3000. However, there are some drivers though not affiliated with  the agency that offers the same package tours at a lesser price. These are locals with personal vehicles that consider Bohol tourism as a livelihood. This is a bit risky though not connected by agencies but recognized by LGU. We took the risk and paid cheaper for a countryside tour.

Chocolate Hills, Carmen Bohol
Entrance Fee = P50

The first spot we visited was the famous chocolate hills. Located at the center of the island are at least a thousand hills of almost symmetrical and conical in shape. These hills are covered in green grass during rainy season but turns brown (grasses dried up) on summer / dry seasons.
We went to the observation deck located in Carmen. Changes is noticeable from the last time we visited. This time, with everything cemented and less trees and plants at the deck, its too hot and humid.Good thing we consider this as first to visit in our itinerary.

ATV and Buggy Cars
Rentals = P450 for 30mins on ATV (30 mins) and P900 for 30mins on Buggy Cars
Entrance Fee = P50

Get up close with the hills while driving through rough roads using Graham’s ATV and Buggy cars. We rented 1 ATV and 1 Buggy car for 30 minutes. We let the kids take the wheels provided we, as parents, accompany them. And yes, they love the excitement. My daughter who had tummy pains that day said that she forgot about pain during her ride because of the fun and thrill.

Tarsier Conservation Area
Entrance Fee = P60 for Adults / P40 for Students

Next stop is the Tarsier Conservation Area. Tarsiers are the smallest primate. When we get there, almost everyone is sleeping (they are nocturnal and shy animals and does not like noise). The Science handbooks of my kids listed Tarsier as one of the endangered animals, yet ironically caged in a supposedly protected area for display and attract tourists. Don’t get me wrong, I want to check and observe them too, I find their huge eyes and tiny hands, feet clutching the branch a little cute.

My last encounter with them includes holding them. For this recent visit, touching these Tarsiers is already prohibited and you can view them at a distance. At least there’s an improvement in their system regarding proper care for these animals.

Bilar Man Made Forest
Free

We knew we’re in the forest as soon as the air becomes cooler, however, its comforting silence is rather odd. It is a forest of mahogany trees. Jeane of Viajera Cebuana told me that Bilar Man Made Forest  is a dead forest since the trees are non-endemic, therefore, native birds won’t be able to find comfort there. Well, we can at least enjoy its cool surrounding though 🙂

Loboc River Cruise with Buffet Lunch
Buffet Lunch + River Cruise = P550/pax

Loboc is famous of floating restaurant cruising along the river. The queue is very long so prepare your patience while waiting. Don’t easily give up coz I’m sure you’ll gonna love it. Who can’t resist good food, the cruise, the music and the scenery.

Baclayon Church
Entrance Fee = Free for the Church; P50 for the Museum

We went for a short stop but was not able to get inside and take photos because the church was closed. We didn’t get inside to the museum too.

Blood Compact Shrine
Free

We stopped at Blood Compact Shrine monument for a my son’s photo op 🙂 Believed to be the place where the friendship between Filipinos and Spaniards started. As reported that during the treaty, “each of the two leaders made a small cut in his arm, drew a few drops of blood from the incision, mixed it with wine, and drank the goblet containing the blood of the other”. (source: Wikipedia). The statue is Miguel López de Legazpi and Datu Sikatuna having a toss.

BE Grand Hotel
Overnight Stay = P6k for 2 Adults + 2 Kids (Promo Rate)

Capping the countryside tour with an overnight stay at one of the nice hotels in Panglao, Bohol – Be Grand Hotel. Staffs are helpful. Our room is cozy and spacious. Clean. The pool is huge. No shoreline but was able to enjoy swimming near their docking area. We did kayaking within the area too. Nice stay that it deserves a separate post soon 🙂

That concludes our Bohol weekend trip. We went home the following day taking Ocean Jet’s 4:20PM voyage from Tagbilaran Port to Cebu Port.

Thinking of going back here…soon…for now, will prepare like the ant 🙂