Bohol Family Adventure

Fishing boats at the fish port

Khris and I have previously been to Bohol three years ago. However, my mother-in-law, as well as my sister-in-law and brothers-in-law, have not been to Bohol yet. It was also Miguel’s first airplane ride, so we were quite excited to take him with us.

Things to do in Bohol

It took us almost 2 hours to drive from our house to the Chocolate Hills, primarily because it was drizzling that day. When we arrived at the visitor drop-off area of the Chocolate Hills, it was still raining lightly. The weather was very erratic so when we had the chance, we climbed the stairs to the top of the viewing deck right away.

The iconic Chocolate Hills

The Chocolate Hills are stunning as ever. However, it was a little browner as compared to how I first saw it in 2016; probably because we went during summer this year. I actually liked that it was brown because, well, it’s the Chocolate Hills.

I was supposed to take Miguel with me to the top but hesitated because it was drizzling. It was a good thing that I did not take him with me because I underestimated the height of the steps; I was catching my breath by the time I reached the top.

Man-made forest

From the Chocolate Hills, we proceeded to go to the man-made forest. This is just an obligatory stopover because, well, everybody is doing it anyway.

Bohol man-made forest

However, since learning about the negative impact of planting non-indigenous trees such as mahogany in the Philippines, I lost all excitement for this forest although the towering trees no doubt looked impressive.

Aside from the Chocolate Hills, the Loboc River cruise is one of the activities that our companions are looking forward to. The river cruise is highly recommended because it was a great way to marvel at life along the banks of the Loboc River. Also, the Loboc River is one of the cleanest bodies of water you would see in the Philippines.

Buffet lunch at the Loboc River cruise

Honestly, I was not too excited about lunch because, during our first time trying the Loboc River cruise, we did not enjoy the food too much. While we were not really expecting the food to be spectacular, we hoped that it was at least flavorful and not dry.

Ongoing restoration of Loboc Church

When we were about to approach the tourism office, our driver informed us that cost is now at Php650 per head. The price increase actually gave me hope that food has improved and that we would enjoy lunch at the floating restaurant this time. When we were called to line up a few minutes before boarding time, we could feel the excitement from our group.

Immediately after boarding, guests may already get food from the buffet table. I was one of the last ones to take food because we had to secure Miguel in his stroller first. Upon seeing the food, I was impressed with the variety of choices. There was soup, pancit guisado, rice, shrimps, humba, chicken, and vegetables. There was also unlimited cucumber and lime juice, a salad bar, and desserts.

A daily scene along the banks of Loboc River

In terms of flavor, the food has immensely improved. I particularly enjoyed the pancit guisado, shrimps, and humba. Now, that’s what I call delicious, home-cooked food.

a small waterfalls

Loboc River still did not disappoint. The cruise was as scenic as I last remembered it. Looking at the simplicity of the surroundings is nothing but soothing and relaxing.

Butterfly Sanctuary

Butterfly sanctuary

It’s not really worth it, even with its Php45 per head admission fee. I thought we were going to Bohol Habitat but we were taken to a small “sanctuary,” which is more like a little patch in a garden with butterflies and a “guide” explaining the lifecycle of a butterfly.

I agreed to go because I wanted to take Miguel inside, thinking that he would enjoy it. I came out disappointed because I thought it was an extensive tour similar to how they do it at Bohol habitat. We were done in less than 30 minutes!

Bohol takes pride in its stunning white-sand beaches. As such, it seems like a mortal sin not to visit any beach when in Bohol.

The breathtaking shoreline of Dumaluan Beach Resort

On our second day in Bohol, a session at the beach is on our priority list. We initially wanted to go to Bohol Beach Club because we were after the facilities. However, our plans did not push through because, aside from the fact that Bohol Beach Club has increased its day tour rate to Php1,000 per head, we were told by the guard on duty that they were not accepting day tours on that day because of the volume of guests.

Miguel's first time swimming at the beach

Anyway, we were after the beach so what we needed is just basic amenities like a cottage where we can eat and a shower room where we can change. My brothers-in-law went to the supermarket to buy meat and fish for grilling, as well as ice, drinks, and filtered water. After settling in, we spent half of our day enjoying the world-class beach.

View from our cottage at Dumaluan Beach Resort

Just a word of caution though, it can get crowded later in the day so it’s best to arrive early. We went here at around 8:30 AM so there were no crowds yet.  

Bohol Bee Farm is another must-see destination in Bohol. It offers day tours in its bee farm as well as overnight accommodation (CHECK RATES HERE). It is also best known for its honey-based products like bread, tea, sandwich spreads, and bath amenities. A trip to Bohol Bee Farm is also not complete without having a scoop or two of their artisanal ice cream. I had 2 scoops of my favorite flavor – salted honey ice cream.

After buying some bread, muffins, honey, and spread, we were all tired and decided to head back to our house. We were supposed to visit a vintage car museum but decided not to avail of it anymore because it was getting late. It was also our flight back to Manila the following day so we thought it best to just recharge ourselves instead of heading out to see other attractions.

• Arrival at the Bohol-Panglao International Airport 
• Check-in
• Buy groceries and supplies

Day 2 (Bohol countryside tour)

• Chocolate Hills
• Man-made forest
• Tarsier Sanctuary
• Loboc River Cruise
• Hinagdanan Cave
• Butterfly sanctuary

Day 3 (Panglao tour)

• Dumaluan Beach Resort
• Bohol Bee Farm
• Vintage car museum

Day 4 (half-day only)

• Check-out
• Depart for Manila at the Bohol-Panglao International Airport 

Other places to see in Bohol

1. Balicasag Island
2. Churches of Bohol such as Baclayon Church, Loboc Church, Alburquerque Church, Alicia Church, Anda Church, Antequerra Church, Balilihan Church, Batuan Church, Bilar Church, Calaca Church, Calape Church, Dauis Church, Dimiao Church, just to name a few.
3. The sandbars of Tubigon
4. Mag-aso Falls
5. Hinagdanan Cave
6. Cabagnow Cave Pool

What to remember when bringing an infant with you

As parents, Khris and I find it really fulfilling to be able to bring our son with us whenever we travel. Babies grow up too fast so we are doing our best to create happy memories with Miguel. It can be challenging because we have to constantly prioritize Miguel during our trips; we cannot just do things on a whim. More importantly, the last thing that you would want is to have a sick child with you when you are traveling.

1. Probiotics (Erceflora) for diarrhea.
2. Allergy medicine
3. Paracetamol for fever

More tips when traveling

1. Bring a first aid and medicine kit with you containing paracetamol, loperamide, and anti-histamine.
2. Always bring extra cash with you as ATMs can be hard to find outside the city.
3. Use reusable water bottles, cups, and straws whenever you can.
4. You need not avail of a tour to see the tourist destinations in Bohol. You can ride a jeepney or a tricycle to the places that you want to see.
5. Enjoy and always take happy memories with you.

Epilogue