Yeeaa, I know a three-day trip to somewhere is just too short especially for Bohol and Cebu! Lucky for me, I’m still at the “bummer mode” that time. But I was with my sister and she can’t leave her work longer than two days. Well, at least we got to visit famous spots in Bohol and Cebu. Sharing you today our Day 1 itinerary. Yea, I needed to cut it because I have more blah blahs than needed.
I’ve been there before but not for a tour or whatsoever. I was a hardworker then, trying to mind my job first before going out (charot). Now I got few more places to see and take pictures of.
I gotta admit, when I’m with my sister, I don’t count as a “budgetarian”. She’s not into the usual practice, actually. Like instead of walking, we take cabs. Instead of sleeping in a tent, we check in to an inn or a hotel. Instead of eating somewhere, we eat at a restaurant. And instead of having jellyaces or biscuits for snacks, we have ice cream. Soooo, rates below, except for the Entrance fees, are really a thing you can work on if you are to follow our itinerary.
Bohol is famous for the wonderful Chocolate Hills. When I was a kid, I used to believe the legends they say about these places and one of my faves if the legend of the Chocolate Hills. I mean, who doesn’t love chocolates and who doesn’t think giants are cute?
Day 1:
Tagbilaran CathedralChocolate Hills (entrance fee Php50)
Shiphaus (entrance fee Php30)
Python Sanctuary (entrance fee Php40)
Butterfly Garden (entrance fee Php30)
Loboc Tarsier Conservation Area (entrance fee Php50) [Related post: Philippine Tarsier: Where to go and what to avoid]
Bilar-Loboc Man-made Forest
Bilar Eco Park (entrance fee Php10)
Tagbilaran Cathedral
Sorry, I think I deleted the raw photo of the church. :( Lesson learned: save all the raw photos on the day they were taken.
We stayed in Tagbilaran, and our usual first stop is the nearest church. We just walked from the hotel to St. Joseph the Worker Cathedral, but you can ride a tricycle (Php8 per head) if you don’t like a long walk.
Chocolate Hills
Our strategy was to visit the farthest in our itinerary on the first day so we headed up next to Carmen after the cathedral. It is a bus ride (Php60) away from Tagbilaran. Ride a bus from a terminal near Island City Mall (Tagbilaran) to Carmen and ask the driver to drop you off at Chocolate Hills.
Shiphaus
I have to mention my shoes! I got this pair from Baclaran for only a hundred. It’s a rubber slip-on. Very simple yet stylish. I also bought a pair of white!
So uhm. This photo is taken inside the ShipHaus, one of my favorite spots so far. They cannot offer you adventures but I super loved the items and furnitures around the house. Count that voyage pillow as one!
From here up to the last stop, we hired a ‘habal habal’ (motorcycle) for Php500. It’s costly but at least we had more than enough time and less hassle than commuting by the bus.
Tip: if you are a licensed driver and can use a motorbike, there are motors available for rent near the sea port.
Python Sanctuary
The santuary is not very particular to petting snakes, they also have an eagle, rabbit couple, etc. Well, the largest snake, who’s more than willing to take a picture with me (yes, I think she/he wanted to hug me and kiss me) is a usual python you can see in a zoo.
Unfortunately (or fortunately?), I haven’t seen Prony, the biggest python they have declared the biggest. I’m not sure if it’s a he or she, but it died way back 2013. FYI: it was a 27-foot python. The largest I saw was I think 18-foot long.
Butterfly Garden
We can still see butterflies here in Manila, but if you get to notice how often, well I can say at least once a month. Too bad, we don’t have enough flowers and sweets here to help them grow in the city.
If you’re visiting here, see if you can ask for kuya Joewy as your guide. He’s funny and he takes the nicest pictures a guide can offer. FYI: he took the above photo just with my kit lens!
Loboc Tarsier Conservation Area
I really don’t recommend this place. Read my related post: Philippine Tarsier: Where to go and what to avoid.Bilar-Loboc Man-made Forest
Photo not mine because I can’t find a nice shot from my own cam. :(
Well, the man-made rainforest is also one of my favorites because staying at a rainforest is one item on my bucketlist. The forest is wide (Bilar to Loboc) but particular IG-worthy parts are more accessible than the others.
Bilar Eco Park
You can walk through the forest via Bilar Eco Park as well. If you’re planning to stay longer and enjoy the cold breeze given by the trees, then you 10 pesos is really worth it. Just watch out for some kinds of worms or leeches, remember, this is a rainforest. You can’t actually believe it’s man-made! Imagine we have more of these around the country.
Uhm yea, so there we go. 'Til the next post! See more of my shots on VSCO and Instagram.
Read more:
Where to stay in Bohol
DIY Trip Itinerary and Expenses: Bohol Day 2
