Bohol
THE QUICK VERDICT
Choose Bohol if You want one easy island that combines a wonder-of-the-world landform, the world's smallest primate, river-cruise lunches and decent reef diving on Panglao..
- Best for
- Chocolate Hills, Loboc River buffet cruise, Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary, Panglao reef diving
- Best months
- Nov–May
- Budget anchor
- $90/day mid-range
- Worth a look
- Balicasag's wall and Pamilacan's whale sharks are a short banca ride from Alona Beach
A tear-drop island in the Central Visayas, two hours by fast ferry from Cebu and home to the most famous landform in the Philippines: the Chocolate Hills, 1,776 conical limestone mounds spread over 50 sq km of Carmen and Sagbayan that turn from green to brown in the February-to-May dry months. The Loboc River cruise glides past nipa-palm villages on a floating buffet boat, the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella protects the 13cm saucer-eyed primate, and the resort island of Panglao — connected by causeway to the main island — strings Alona Beach with dive shops running daily trips to Balicasag's wall and Pamilacan's whale sharks. A 1-hour Cebu Pacific or PAL flight from Manila lands at Bohol-Panglao (TAG).
Tours & Experiences
Bookable tours, activities, and day trips in Bohol
Where to Stay
Compare hotels and rentals in Bohol
📍 Points of Interest
At a Glance
- Pop.
- 1.39M (province) / 105K (Tagbilaran)
- Timezone
- Manila
- Dial
- +63
- Emergency
- 911
Bohol is the 10th-largest island in the Philippines (4,820 sq km) and the heart of the Central Visayas region — about 1.4 million Boholanos live across the main island plus 75 surrounding islets, with the resort island of Panglao linked by a causeway to the south
The Chocolate Hills are 1,776 nearly identical conical limestone mounds covering 50 sq km in Carmen and Sagbayan municipalities — they turn from emerald green to chocolate brown during the February-to-May dry season as the cogon grass dies back. UNESCO designated the area a Global Geopark in 2023
The Philippine tarsier (Carlito syrichta) — the world's smallest primate at 12-15 cm and 110-150 g — survives in the wild on Bohol and a few other Visayan islands. The 8.4-hectare Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella is the only ethically certified place to see them
The Loboc River cruise is a 1.5-hour floating buffet trip on the Loboc River — restaurant boats with live folk music drift between two riverside villages while passengers eat a Boholano lunch buffet. PHP 700 per person; the iconic Bohol activity since the 1990s
Panglao island is connected to Bohol by 4 km of causeway — its Alona Beach strip is the dive-and-resort hub, with daily boats to Balicasag (the famous wall-and-turtle dive site, 30 minutes by bangka) and Pamilacan (whale shark and dolphin watching, 1 hour by bangka)
The Bohol-Panglao International Airport (TAG, opened November 2018) sits on Panglao island itself — Cebu Pacific, Philippines AirAsia and PAL fly Manila-TAG in 1 hour, and Cebu-Bohol is a 2-hour OceanJet fast ferry from Cebu Pier 1 (PHP 600-800)
Top Sights
Chocolate Hills (Carmen viewpoint)
📌1,776 nearly identical conical limestone mounds spread over 50 sq km — viewed from the Chocolate Hills Complex viewing deck in Carmen (214 steps to the top). Best in March-May when the grass is brown and the hills look like piles of chocolate kisses; lush green June-November. Entry PHP 100. Allow 30-45 minutes at the deck.
Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary (Corella)
🌳The only ethically certified tarsier sanctuary on Bohol — 8.4 hectares of secondary forest with about 100 wild Carlito syrichta tarsiers (the world's smallest primate at 12 cm). Quiet whispered tours only; no flash photography. Entry PHP 100, includes guide. Avoid the unethical Loboc roadside "Tarsier Conservation Area" which keeps tarsiers in cages.
Loboc River Cruise
📌A 1.5-hour floating buffet cruise on the Loboc River — restaurant boats with live folk-music guitar trios drift between Loay Bridge and Busay Falls while passengers eat a Boholano lunch buffet (lechon, kinilaw, pancit, fresh fruit). PHP 700 per person; iconic Bohol activity since the 1990s.
Alona Beach (Panglao)
🏖️A 1.5 km strip of white sand on the southwest coast of Panglao island — the dive-and-resort hub of Bohol with dozens of dive shops, bars and mid-range to upscale resorts. Daily boats to Balicasag (30 min) and Pamilacan (1 hr). Sunset is the moment; beach gets crowded by late afternoon.
Balicasag Island wall diving
🌳A 6-hectare island 30 minutes by bangka from Panglao — surrounded by a vertical coral wall that drops to 50+ metres with hawksbill turtles, schools of jackfish, and a famous dawn shoal of tiny anchovies. Diving PHP 2,500-3,500 per dive. Snorkellers can also see the wall from the surface.
Hinagdanan Cave (Panglao)
📌A natural underground cave with a small swimmable freshwater pool, lit by two skylight openings in the limestone roof. The water is 12 m deep at the centre. Entry PHP 75; PHP 100 to swim. Crowded by tour buses 10:00-15:00; visit early or late.
Baclayon Church (1727)
📌One of the oldest stone churches in the Philippines (Jesuit, 1727) — coral-stone facade, baroque-Augustinian altar, and a small ecclesiastical museum next door. The 2013 Bohol earthquake damaged the bell tower; reconstruction completed 2022. Free entry. Allow 30 minutes.
Bilar Man-Made Forest
📌A 2 km tunnel-canopy of mahogany trees planted in the 1960s along the Loay-Bilar road — densely overarching above the road like a cathedral nave. The classic stop on every Bohol countryside tour; photo opportunity with the tour vans pulled to the shoulder.
Off the Beaten Path
Bohol Bee Farm
A cliff-top organic farm and restaurant 15 minutes from Alona Beach — farm-to-table Boholano cuisine using produce from the on-site garden, signature ice cream in flavours like spicy ginger and malunggay leaf, and an unrivalled view of Pangangan Bay. PHP 350-650 per main.
The farm tour (PHP 250) is the best agriculture-tourism stop on the island and the malunggay (moringa) ice cream became a Boholano trademark exported to Manila boutique scoop shops.
Shaka Cafe (Alona)
A backpacker-coffee-shop favourite on Alona Beach serving acai bowls, smoothies, vegetarian poke and decent espresso — the best breakfast and brunch spot in Panglao. PHP 250-450 a dish.
The single source of decent flat whites in Panglao (the dive-shop crowd convenes here daily) and the only place serving plant-based meals in walking distance of the beach.
Anda white sand beaches
A 2-hour drive east from Tagbilaran, Anda municipality has the most beautiful and least developed beaches on Bohol — Quinale Beach, Lamanok Island and Cabagnow Cove sinkhole. Most travellers skip Anda entirely.
For travellers who find Alona Beach overdeveloped, Anda is the Bohol of 20 years ago — empty white-sand beaches, basic homestays for PHP 800/night, and Cabagnow sinkhole for cliff jumping.
Buzzz Cafe (Tagbilaran)
A craft-coffee shop in the heart of Tagbilaran serving single-origin Mountain Province arabica, freshly baked pandesal, and Boholano-Mediterranean fusion sandwiches. PHP 180-380 per item.
The only third-wave coffee shop in Tagbilaran, run by a returning OFW who brought espresso know-how home from Dubai. The pandesal-and-coffee breakfast for PHP 250 is the best deal in the city.
Climate & Best Time to Go
Bohol has a tropical climate with two seasons — drier from November to May (amihan, northeast monsoon) and wetter from June to October (habagat, southwest monsoon). Temperatures stay warm year-round (25-32°C). Bohol is partly sheltered from the worst typhoons by Cebu and Negros to the west; major typhoon damage is rare though not unknown (Typhoon Odette caused widespread damage in December 2021).
Dry Season Peak
February - May75-90°F
24-32°C
The best window — calm seas, low rainfall, dive visibility 25-30 m at Balicasag, and the iconic chocolate-brown colour of the hills. April-May is hot (33°C) and humid; February-March is the sweet spot.
Holiday Peak
December - January75-86°F
24-30°C
Warm, mostly dry weather. Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year all hit this window. Resort prices up 30-40%; Alona Beach and Loboc River cruise booked solid.
Habagat Wet Season
June - October77-90°F
25-32°C
Daily afternoon storms, occasional typhoon paths. Bohol partly sheltered but bangka day tours can be cancelled 1-3 days at a time. Dive visibility drops to 15-20 m. Chocolate Hills are lush green (not brown).
Tail of Wet
November77-88°F
25-31°C
Transitional month — improving conditions, lower prices than December, easy resort bookings. Some lingering typhoon risk early in the month.
Best Time to Visit
February to May is the dry season and the best window — calm seas, dive visibility 25-30 m at Balicasag, and the iconic chocolate-brown colour of the hills (March-May). December-January is peak with Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year all hitting and prices up 30-40%.
Peak Holiday (December - January)
Crowds: Very highWarm, mostly dry weather. Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year all in window. Resort prices up 30-40%; Alona Beach and Loboc River cruise booked solid. Plan 2-3 months ahead.
Pros
- + Festive atmosphere
- + Reliable dry weather
- + All operators running
- + New Year fireworks at Alona Beach
Cons
- − Hotel prices up 30-40%
- − Resort dining bookings essential
- − Loboc cruise sells out daily
- − Crowded Chocolate Hills viewpoint
Chocolate Brown (March - May)
Crowds: ModerateThe signature Bohol window — the cogon grass on the Chocolate Hills dies back to brown, producing the iconic chocolate-mound look. Calm seas, peak dive visibility. April-May is hot (33°C) but the most photogenic.
Pros
- + Chocolate Hills actually brown
- + Best dive visibility
- + Calm seas for Balicasag and Pamilacan
- + Easter peak around Holy Week (mid-April)
Cons
- − Hot midday temperatures
- − Higher humidity in May
- − Holy Week sees hotel prices spike for 1 week
Habagat Wet (June - October)
Crowds: LowDaily afternoon storms, occasional typhoon paths. Dive visibility drops to 15-20 m. Chocolate Hills are lush green, not brown. Bangka day tours can be cancelled 1-3 days at a time.
Pros
- + Lowest prices of the year (40-50% off peak)
- + Lush green Chocolate Hills
- + Easy resort bookings
- + Almost no other tourists
Cons
- − Typhoon risk
- − Some bangka days lost to rough seas
- − Lower dive visibility
- − Hills look green, not brown
Tail of Wet (November)
Crowds: Low to moderateImproving conditions, lower prices than December. Some lingering typhoon risk early in the month but the Bohol Sandugo Festival in late November is a draw. Easy resort bookings.
Pros
- + Improving weather without peak prices
- + Sandugo Festival in late November
- + Lush green countryside post-monsoon
- + Easy bookings
Cons
- − Some lingering typhoon risk early in the month
- − Sea conditions still building
- − Hills not yet brown
🎉 Festivals & Events
Sandugo Festival
JulyA month-long Tagbilaran cultural festival commemorating the 1565 blood compact between Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and chieftain Datu Sikatuna — street parades, tribal dance competitions, beauty pageants and the Sandugo re-enactment in early July.
Loboc Children's Choir Christmas concerts
DecemberThe world-famous Loboc Children's Choir (founded 1980, multiple international tours) performs at Loboc Church throughout December. Reserve tickets via the Loboc Tourism Office.
Ubi Festival (Bohol Yam Festival)
JanuaryA 3-day festival in Tagbilaran celebrating the purple ubi yam — cooking competitions, street food, traditional dance. The ubi-haleya (ube halaya) sweet purple-yam pudding is everywhere.
Suroy-Suroy Sugbo (Bohol stretch)
FebruaryA regional Visayan road tour that passes through Bohol with motorcycle and classic car convoys, beach parties and night markets along the route.
Safety Breakdown
Moderate
out of 100
Bohol is one of the safest provinces in the Philippines for tourists — low crime, friendly locals, no entrenched scam ecosystem, and a heavy tourist police presence around the Chocolate Hills, Loboc and Alona Beach. Real risks are bangka safety on day trips, dive incidents at Balicasag walls, scooter accidents on the Carmen-Loboc countryside loop, and typhoon disruption in June-October.
Things to Know
- •Bangka safety — only book day tours with operators that have life jackets for every passenger. Whale shark and dolphin watching at Pamilacan can be cancelled in rough seas
- •Avoid the unethical "Tarsier Conservation Area" along the Loboc road — the tarsiers there are caged and stressed; only visit the certified Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella
- •Dive safety — Balicasag walls drop to 50+ m and currents can be strong; only dive within your certification limit; reputable operators check logbooks for deeper sites
- •Scooter accidents on the Carmen-Loboc countryside loop are common — wear a helmet, avoid riding at night and be alert for jeepneys overtaking on blind corners
- •Typhoon awareness — track PAGASA alerts before booking June-October trips; insurance with typhoon-cancellation coverage is worth the cost
- •Use Grab in Tagbilaran (full coverage) rather than street tricycles to avoid fare disputes; on Panglao, tricycles are the only option
Natural Hazards
Emergency Numbers
General Emergency
911
Tourist Police (Tagbilaran)
+63 38 4111111
Tourist Police (Panglao)
+63 38 5021111
Bohol Coast Guard
+63 38 4112025
Gov. Celestino Gallares Hospital (Tagbilaran)
+63 38 4119800
Recompression Chamber (Cebu Doctors)
+63 32 2557555
Costs & Currency
Where the money goes
USD per dayBackpacker = hostel dorm + street food + public transit. Mid-range = 3-star hotel + neighbourhood restaurants + transit cards. Luxury = 4/5-star + fine dining + taxis. How we calibrate these numbers →
Quick cost estimate
Customize per category →Estimates based on regional averages. Flight prices vary by season and airline.
budget
$30-50
Hostel or guesthouse, carinderia meals, joined countryside tour, jeepney transport
mid-range
$70-130
Boutique hotel or mid-range Panglao resort, mix of carinderias and beach restaurants, private car day tour, dive day trip
luxury
$260+
Henann / Bellevue / South Palms resort, fine dining, private boat charter, full-day private guide
Typical Costs
| Item | Local | USD |
|---|---|---|
| AccommodationHostel dorm bed | PHP 600-1,000 | $11-18 |
| AccommodationMid-range hotel (double, AC) | PHP 2,500-5,500 | $45-100 |
| AccommodationHenann or Bellevue resort (double) | PHP 8,000-18,000 | $145-325 per night |
| FoodCarinderia rice meal | PHP 100-180 | $1.80-3.20 |
| FoodLoboc River cruise buffet | PHP 700 | $12.50 |
| FoodSan Miguel beer (bottle) | PHP 70-120 | $1.25-2.15 |
| FoodBohol Bee Farm main | PHP 350-650 | $6-12 |
| TransportTricycle in Panglao (short) | PHP 50-200 | $0.90-3.60 |
| TransportAirport tricycle to Alona | PHP 250-350 | $4.50-6.30 |
| TransportOceanJet ferry to Cebu | PHP 600-1,200 | $11-22 |
| ActivitiesCountryside tour (joined) | PHP 1,200-1,800 | $22-32 |
| ActivitiesCountryside tour (private) | PHP 3,500-5,500 | $63-100 |
| ActivitiesSingle fun dive (Balicasag) | PHP 2,500-3,500 | $45-63 |
| ActivitiesTarsier Sanctuary entry | PHP 100 | $1.80 |
| ActivitiesChocolate Hills viewing deck | PHP 100 | $1.80 |
💡 Money-Saving Tips
- •Book joined countryside tours (Chocolate Hills + Tarsier + Loboc + Bilar) for PHP 1,200-1,800 per person rather than PHP 3,500-5,500 for a private car
- •Eat at carinderias for PHP 120-180 a meal rather than PHP 600+ at the Alona Beach tourist restaurants
- •Use the OceanJet ferry from Cebu (PHP 600-1,200) instead of flying — same time door-to-door once you factor in TAG airport queues
- •Stay in Tagbilaran rather than Panglao for short trips — saves 40-50% on accommodation though you lose beach access
- •Book your Manila-TAG flight 2-3 months ahead for the cheapest fares (PHP 2,500-3,500 versus PHP 5,500+ last-minute)
- •Skip the unethical Loboc roadside tarsier "conservation area" (PHP 60) and visit the Corella sanctuary (PHP 100) — same price tier, vastly better experience
- •Bring your own snorkel mask — saves PHP 200/day rental on every Balicasag bangka day trip
Philippine Peso
Code: PHP
1 USD is approximately 56 PHP (early 2026). ATMs are widespread in Tagbilaran (BPI, BDO, Land Bank, Metrobank) and at the TAG airport. Panglao has fewer ATMs — use the Land Bank near Alona Beach. Daily withdrawal limits typically PHP 10,000-20,000 per transaction. Bring sufficient PHP for tips and tricycle rides; cards are not universal.
Payment Methods
Cash dominates outside the Tagbilaran malls and Panglao resort areas. Most dive shops accept credit cards (Visa, Mastercard) with a 3-5% surcharge. Mid-range and upscale hotels accept cards but smaller restaurants often only accept cash. The bangka day tour operators do not accept cards. GCash and Maya QR-payment are growing but require a Filipino phone number; not useful for short-term visitors.
Tipping Guide
Mid-range and upscale restaurants add a 10% service charge. If no service charge, leave 5-10% in cash. At carinderias (local eateries), no tip expected.
PHP 50-100 per bag for porters at upscale resorts. PHP 100-200/day for housekeeping at dive resorts.
PHP 200-400 (~$3.60-7) per day for the driver-guide. More if they doubled as English interpreter and tour guide.
PHP 200-400 per dive day (~$4-7) for a single guide; PHP 500 if the guide spotted turtles or did a wall penetration.
PHP 100-200 per passenger pooled (~$2-4), given to the tour leader at the end of the day.
Round up the fare by PHP 10-20 if friendly; no tip expected.
PHP 100-200 (~$2-4) per session at a local spa; PHP 300+ at a resort spa.
How to Get There
✈️ Airports
Bohol-Panglao International Airport(TAG)
20 km from Tagbilaran / 15 km from Alona Beach (located on Panglao island)Tricycle to Alona Beach PHP 250-350 (~$4.50-6.30). Tricycle to Tagbilaran PHP 350-500 (~$6.30-9). Grab pickup is allowed from designated arrival level area for Tagbilaran rides only. Travel time: 25 min to Alona, 35-45 min to Tagbilaran.
✈️ Search flights to TAGGetting Around
Bohol has no metro, train or formal city bus. In Tagbilaran, Grab has full coverage. On Panglao, tricycles are the only transport — meter does not exist, negotiate before boarding. Inter-town movement is by jeepney (cheap, slow), shared van (faster), or chartered car. Most travellers hire a car-and-driver for the Chocolate Hills + Loboc + Tarsier countryside loop.
Grab (Tagbilaran only)
PHP 80-300 (~$1.45-5.40) for in-Tagbilaran ridesGrab has full coverage in Tagbilaran but does not yet operate on Panglao or in the rural parts of Bohol. Cars and motorbike taxis available in the city. Both apps accept international credit cards.
Best for: Tagbilaran city centre, Tagbilaran-Panglao causeway transfer, returns from the airport
Tricycle (motorbike with sidecar)
PHP 50-400 (~$0.90-7) per rideThe dominant transport on Panglao and in rural Bohol towns — flag down anywhere, negotiate fare before boarding. Tricycles do Alona Beach to Hinagdanan Cave (PHP 200), Alona to TAG airport (PHP 250-300), and short hops within Panglao.
Best for: Panglao island transport, short rural trips, hauling dive bags
Jeepney
PHP 30-150 (~$0.55-2.70) per rideBrightly painted shared minibus running set routes — Tagbilaran to Carmen (Chocolate Hills), Tagbilaran to Loboc, Tagbilaran to Anda. Cheap and characterful but slow and crowded.
Best for: Budget travellers, those wanting a local experience, single-stop trips to Loboc or Carmen
Hired Car & Driver (countryside tour)
PHP 3,500-5,500/day (~$63-100)The standard option for the Chocolate Hills + Loboc + Tarsier + Bilar Forest countryside loop — full-day private car with English-speaking driver-guide. PHP 3,500-5,500 for 8 hours including stops.
Best for: Full-day countryside loops, families, comfort over backpacker budget, those without scooter experience
Walkability
Tagbilaran is moderately walkable in the centre — CPG Avenue and the area around Bohol Quality Mall and the Cathedral are 15-20 minute strolls. Panglao's Alona Beach strip is highly walkable (1.5 km end to end). Outside these centres, walking is impractical due to distances and the lack of footpaths along the rural roads.
Travel Connections
Cebu City
The Visayan hub — Magellan's Cross, Fort San Pedro, Sinulog festival, lechon, and the Cebu-Mactan international airport. OceanJet runs 8+ daily Tagbilaran-Cebu fast ferries. The most natural pairing for a Bohol trip.
Camiguin
A small volcanic island south of Bohol famous for the Sunken Cemetery (a graveyard now under the sea after a 1948 eruption), White Island sandbar, and Hibok-Hibok hot springs. Daily ferries from Jagna on the south coast of Bohol.
Siquijor
A mystical island famous for healing folk magic, Cambugahay Falls (turquoise waterfall jumps), and Salagdoong Beach. Connect via Dumaguete (3 hr ferry) for the Siquijor leg.
Manila
The Philippine capital — direct PAL, Cebu Pacific and AirAsia flights from Bohol-Panglao (TAG) to Manila NAIA. The standard onward gateway for international flights to Bohol.
Apo Island (via Dumaguete)
The world-famous turtle and reef sanctuary off Negros island — green turtles and hawksbills on every dive. Reach via Tagbilaran-Dumaguete ferry (3 hr) then Malatapay-Apo bangka.
Entry Requirements
The Philippines offers visa-free entry for 30 days to citizens of most Western countries. Extensions are available at any Bureau of Immigration office for PHP 3,030 (~$54) up to 16 months total stay. Tagbilaran has a Bureau of Immigration office for extensions. All visitors must complete the eTravel Pass online (etravel.gov.ph) within 72 hours of arrival.
Entry Requirements by Nationality
| Nationality | Visa Required | Max Stay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Citizens | Visa-free | 30 days (extendable to 16 months) | No advance visa needed. Passport must be valid 6+ months. Onward ticket required at check-in. |
| UK Citizens | Visa-free | 30 days (extendable to 16 months) | Same terms as US. Onward ticket required. |
| Australian Citizens | Visa-free | 30 days (extendable to 16 months) | Direct PAL flight from Sydney to Manila; same visa-free terms. |
| EU Citizens | Visa-free | 30 days (extendable to 16 months) | Most EU nationals qualify for visa-free entry. |
| Indonesian / Singaporean Citizens | Visa-free | 30 days | Visa-free entry for ASEAN nationals. |
Visa-Free Entry
Visa on Arrival
Tips
- •Complete the eTravel Pass online within 72 hours of arrival — no longer optional, all visitors must register at etravel.gov.ph
- •Have an onward ticket booked before flying in — Cebu Pacific and PAL check-in agents will not board you without proof of onward travel
- •For visa extensions, the Bohol Bureau of Immigration office is in Tagbilaran (Centennial Square); open Monday-Friday 08:00-17:00; bring 2 passport photos
- •No yellow fever vaccination required for direct arrivals from non-affected countries
- •Carry a digital copy of your passport on phone — useful at hotel check-in and TAG airport security
- •Bohol Environmental Fee of PHP 50 is collected at TAG airport on arrival; keep the receipt as some attractions check it
Shopping
Bohol is not a shopping destination — visitors come for the hills, lagoons and reef. The main stops are the Bohol Quality Mall and Island City Mall in Tagbilaran for daily essentials, the Alona Beach craft strip for souvenirs, and a handful of pasalubong shops for the local Boholano specialties. Bargaining is mild (10% off opening price); malls and pasalubong shops are fixed price.
Island City Mall (Tagbilaran)
modern shopping mallThe flagship mall on the eastern edge of Tagbilaran — supermarket (Hypermart), fashion chains, electronics, food court, cinema. Useful for last-minute essentials.
Known for: Supermarket, electronics, fashion chains, food court
Bohol Quality Mall (BQ Mall, central Tagbilaran)
mid-size mallA central Tagbilaran mall — local fashion, Boholano department store (BQ), supermarket. Smaller than Island City Mall but more central.
Known for: Boholano department store, supermarket, local fashion
Alona Beach craft strip
tourist souvenir stripA short strip of small shops along Alona Beach — Bohol-printed t-shirts, fridge magnets, dive logbooks, woven baskets, shell jewellery. Bargaining mild (10-15% off opening price).
Known for: T-shirts, fridge magnets, shell jewellery, beachwear
Pasalubong centres (Tagbilaran and TAG airport)
souvenir shopsPasalubong (going-home gift) shops at Tagbilaran centre and inside the TAG airport departures hall — Boholano specialties at fair prices. Standard last-stop items: kalamay sweet rice paste, peanut kisses, calamansi cordial.
Known for: Kalamay (sweet rice paste in coconut shells), peanut kisses, calamansi cordial
🎁 Unique Souvenirs to Look For
- •Kalamay — sweet sticky-rice paste in coconut shells, the iconic Bohol pasalubong
- •Peanut Kisses — peanut meringue cookies shaped like the Chocolate Hills (Tagbilaran specialty)
- •Calamansi cordial — Filipino-lime concentrate from Carmen orchards
- •Bohol shell jewellery (only buy from licensed stalls, not coral or starfish)
- •Loboc handwoven baskets and mats
- •Bee Farm honey and malunggay leaf products
- •Bohol Bee Farm ice cream pints (vacuum-sealed for the trip back)
- •Tarsier-themed t-shirts and prints (the sanctuary shop in Corella stocks ethical merchandise)
Language & Phrases
English is universally spoken in tourism contexts — every dive guide, hotel staff and tour operator is fluent. Filipino (Tagalog) is the national language; the everyday local language is Boholano (a regional variant of Cebuano-Visayan). A few Boholano-Cebuano phrases earn warm smiles since they signal you have made an effort beyond the usual Tagalog tourist phrases.
| English | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello (Tagalog) | Kumusta | koo-MUS-tah |
| Hello (Boholano) | Kumusta / Maayong adlaw | koo-MUS-tah / mah-AH-yong ahd-LAW |
| Good morning (Boholano) | Maayong buntag | mah-AH-yong BOON-tag |
| Good evening (Boholano) | Maayong gabii | mah-AH-yong gah-BEE-ee |
| Thank you (Tagalog) | Salamat | sah-LAH-mat |
| Thank you (Boholano) | Salamat / Daghang salamat | sah-LAH-mat / DAG-hang sah-LAH-mat |
| You're welcome | Walang anuman (Tag) / Wala lang (Boh) | WAH-lang ah-NOO-man / WAH-lah lahng |
| Yes / No | Oo / Hindi (Tag) / Oo / Dili (Boh) | OH-oh / HIN-dee (Tag) / OH-oh / DEE-lee (Boh) |
| How much? | Magkano? (Tag) / Tagpila? (Boh) | mag-KAH-noh? / tag-PEE-lah? |
| Delicious | Masarap (Tag) / Lami (Boh) | mah-SAH-rap / LAH-mee |
| Where is...? | Asa ang...? (Boh) | AH-sah ang...? |
| Sorry / Excuse me | Pasaylo-a ko / Pasensya na | pah-sai-loh-AH koh / pah-SEN-shah nah |
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