Bohol Island Philippines

Bohol is one of the most important islands in the Philippines, known for its exotic wildlife, stunning landscape and white-sand beaches. The main gate of entry is Tangbilaran Airport, with flights to capital cities Cebu and Manila. Taxis in Tangbilaran are the main method of transportation from the airport to the resorts of Bohol, while many of the larger hotels will arrange to pick guests up via private transfer.

The ferry terminal at Bohol's capital is even busier than the airport. It receives ferries from Cebu City and Manila, and most of the traffic connects to the posh hotel district of Panglao Island. Most tourists visiting Panglao head straight for Alona Beach, where exclusive resorts offer the high level of service and amenities expected by luxury travelers. The diving sites offshore of Panglao Island are among the best in the world, and local outfitters provide equipment to the experienced diver and certification courses to those just starting out.

The world's smallest primate, the tarsier, is Bohol's local celebrity. These rare animals can only be found on a few islands in the Philippines, and the best place to spot one is at the Tarsier Research Center.

The Hinagdanan Cave is a cave on Panglao Island, in Bohol Province, in the Philippines. 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. The underground lake is a popular swimming spot, but it has been known to test for high levels of various pollutants, since it is fed by ground runoff.

The local landscape is breathtaking. The Chocolate Hills of Bohol are the island's lead attractions, with more than 1,700 of these odd formations dotting the island. The hills are shaped like chocolate drops, and they change color from green to brown in the dry season. A few of the hotels in Bohol are found in or near the Chocolate Hills Complex, a government-run facility.

If not for the wild popularity of the Chocolate Hills, Bohol might have been known only for its idyllic and luxurious white beaches, enchanting terraced rice fields or the colonial architecture of Baclayon. The resort and hotel infrastructure continues to improve, securing Bohol's position as one of the leading resort destinations in the Philippines.