Planning the ultimate Bohol family getaway was a dream come true. To celebrate my father’s 60th birthday, I organized a trip to Bohol with my family, including my fiancé (now husband), who was visiting the Philippines for the first time. It would also be the first time I’d introduce him to my family, making the experience even more unforgettable. Our goal was to create unforgettable memories and adventures in this beautiful island. I’ve always wanted to give back to my parents and offer them experiences they hadn’t had the chance to enjoy before.
Bohol family gateway destinations like the famous Chocolate Hills and the Tarsier Sanctuary were top on our list. I booked our flights and accommodations in advance, but we encountered some unexpected changes due to flight rescheduling. Despite the challenges, we were determined to make the most of our Bohol family getaway.
Bohol family getaway challenges
I booked round-trip tickets via Cebu Pacific for November 11 to November 14, 2023. Cebu Pacific later announced that they had rescheduled or canceled the flight due to certain circumstances. I managed to reschedule it the next day and made the necessary adjustments to the trip’s itinerary as well, but this caused some issues with our tour. My fiancé and I had already arrived in Manila as we came from overseas and planned to meet my family at the airport. But since my family had to travel nearly 5-6 hours from Quezon Province, that flight changes completely disrupted our schedule.
Despite the changes, everyone was still excited about the tour. My family arrived at the airport by 11:30 PM on November 11, 2023, and had to wait an additional 4 hours before our rescheduled flight. I had originally planned to reach Bohol that evening so we could all rest, recharge, and be ready for the next day’s tour. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned. By the time we finally landed in Bohol on November 12, 2023, we were all exhausted, but we went ahead with our countryside tour right away.
Day 1 Itinerary – Countryside Tour
| 7:00 AM | Arrival at Tagbilaran Airport/Pick up |
| 8:00 AM | Sotera’s ATV Ride |
| 9:20 AM | Chocolate Hills Viewpoint |
| 10:30 AM | Tarsier Sanctuary |
| 11:00 AM | Man-made Forest |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch at Loboc River Floating Restaurant |
| 3:00 PM | Check in the Hotel |
Arrival
After arriving in Bohol, we embarked on a countryside tour, exploring the island’s natural wonders. To ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip, I researched and booked a reputable car rental and tour service, Viajeng Bohol – Car Rental and Tours. They offered affordable packages and excellent communication, making our Bohol family getaway even more memorable.
We arrived at Tagbilaran Airport around 7:00 AM, and I contacted our tour guide/driver for our two-day tour. Thankfully, he was already waiting for us. We placed our bags in the car, which was comfortable for all 8 of us. On the way to our first destination, we made a quick stop at a carenderia- a local eatery or restaurant commonly found in the Philippines, to have a quick breakfast then we headed to our countryside tour.
Sotera’s ATV Ride
Our first Bohol family getaway stop was Sotera’s ATV Ride, which is just 15 minutes away from the famous Chocolate Hills Viewpoint. From Sotera’s, we could also enjoy a stunning view of the Chocolate Hills surrounding the area. Since it was my father’s birthday, I encouraged him to join the ride for a bit of adventure, but he declined. In the end, it was just me, my fiancé, and my two nephews, aged 7 and 10, who took the ride. The kids wanted their own ATVs, but unfortunately, they weren’t old enough. They had to be accompanied by an adult, so we each took a child with us.
We took a 30-minute ATV ride that cost Php 1,000.00 each. The ride was guided by one of their staff members, who also served as our photographer and videographer—he was really cool. My then-fiancé, now my husband, especially enjoyed the experience, as it was his first time in the country. If you would like to book their services, feel free to reach out to the Sotera’s ATV team on their social media: Instagram | Facebook.
Chocolate Hills Viewpoint
Shortly after finishing our ATV ride, we headed to the famous Chocolate Hills Viewpoint. This was our second stop in our Bohol family getaway. I felt so happy seeing my parents and family enjoying the tour. Despite arriving early, there were already many people at the site. We climbed to the top, and from there, we were all in awe of the hills surrounding us. I had thought the hills would be small, but they were massive. It made me wonder how nature could create such an incredible landscape. It was truly amazing.
Tarsier Sanctuary
Tarsier Sanctuary is one of the most popular attractions in Bohol, as it serves as the home for one of the smallest primates in the world – the tarsier. This sanctuary allows visitors to observe these fascinating and adorable creatures up close. Seeing these unique animals was an exciting and fun experience for us as we toured the area. It was heartwarming to see my father enjoying the place and posing for pictures with my mother as well. They are such a lovely couple. My aunt was also amazed by the tiny creatures, and my brother, along with his kids, enjoyed the visit as well.
As for me, I was stunned at how tiny the tarsiers were – they could easily fit in the palm of my hand. Most of the tarsiers appeared to be sleeping, so we patiently waited until they opened their eyes. When they did, their eyes were so large and shiny. Seeing them up close gave me chills, especially the way they stared.
After the tour, we stopped by the souvenir shop just after the sanctuary exit and bought a few things to remember the experience. My mother picked up several refrigerator magnets as souvenirs, along with some cute, locally made bags and shirts for my nephews. My husband and I also bought a few T-shirts with Bohol’s iconic designs, along with other items.
Man-made Forest
The Man-Made Forest is quite near the Tarsier Sanctuary, taking us about 30 minutes to reach it. Whenever I see photos of this place online or on social media, it always leaves me in awe because the Mahogany trees lined on both sides of the road, create a cool and shaded area that gives a beautiful effect in every photo. Our driver/tour guide mentioned that the reforestation project was originally planned to help prevent soil erosion, but it later became a popular tourist attraction in Bohol.
I was excited to take photos of the family, but unfortunately, my parents and aunt felt uneasy in the area. They didn’t want to get out of the car, saying they thought there might be spirits around. I couldn’t blame them for their belief, so it was just me and my then-fiancé who took some photos.
However, unlike the perfect photos you often see on social media, we found it difficult to get good shots because the road was busy at the time. There were many cars passing through, and the area we were in was a curve, creating a blind spot for taking photos. You had to be careful, or else it could cause an accident. Since we found it challenging to capture the perfect shot, we decided to head to our next stop in our Bohol family getaway and to have our lunch – at Loboc River.
Loboc River
We were literally tired and hungry from our morning tour, and all we wanted was to rest and eat. Just in time for lunch, we headed to the Loboc River to enjoy a meal at a floating restaurant. The food was included in our tour package. I really wanted my family to experience the boat cruise, where they could savor delicious local food while the boat drifted along the scenic riverbanks. We had a buffet lunch and ate all we could. There was a wide variety of food, and everything was absolutely delicious. There was also a live band playing during lunch, which made the atmosphere even more enjoyable.
Along the riverbanks, we stopped at a spot where there was entertainment. A group of people were playing native guitars, singing, and dancing, and it was really enjoyable to watch. They are known as the ‘Loboc River Dance Group.’ They are dressed in native attire, and they performed traditional Filipino dances. It was also an interactive experience because they invited tourists to join in and dance.
We were supposed to visit other tour destinations after lunch, but we decided to head to our hotel to rest instead. Everyone was exhausted from the late-night travel, early flight, and the half day of touring. I booked our stay at 717 Cesar Place Hotel – one family room and one deluxe room.
Day 2 – Island Hopping
| 5:30 AM | Pick up at the hotel |
| 6:00 AM | Arrived at Panglao beach |
| 6:45 AM | Dolphin watching |
| 7:30 AM | Balicasag Island, Fish Sanctuary and Sea Turtle |
| 9:18 AM | Virgin Island |
| 11:00 AM | Headed back to hotel |
Dolphin Watching
On our second day, I’ve set aside time for island hopping. We left the hotel at 5:30 AM to reach the islands early and have the best chance of seeing dolphins, as our boatman mentioned they are most active in the morning. We’ve reached at Panglao beach just right in time when the sun rises. I was so beautiful. It was low tide early in the morning, so we had to walk for a few minutes to reach our boat. As we made our way, we had to be careful of the sea urchins that could sting our feet. We also spotted starfish in various vibrant colors along the way.
We travelled by boat for almost 30-40 minutes to reach the area where Dolphins can be normally seen. When we arrived, we found a few other boats already waiting for the dolphin sightings. We waited a few more minutes, hoping to catch a glimpse of the dolphins. Finally, a pod of about six or more dolphins appeared. They were mesmerizing! My father looked absolutely thrilled to see them in person, even shouting with excitement. The rest of the family was equally excited—my nephews were over the moon, and my husband and I were just as captivated.
The sighting lasted only a few minutes before the dolphins disappeared. The boatmen told us we were lucky, as there are days when the dolphins don’t appear at all.
Balicasag Island
After the dolphin watching, we headed to Balicasag Island, a small island off the coast of Panglao, Bohol. The area has a few small restaurants and souvenir shops. From there, we made our way to go snorkeling. We rented two small boats—one for my mother, aunt, and nephews, and another for my husband and me. Unfortunately, my father and brother decided not to join us in the water.
There were boatmen assisting us, and one of them mentioned that we could rent a GoPro camera. I’m so glad we did! The pictures and videos captured in the crystal-clear water were amazing—truly unforgettable memories to keep.
The Sea Turtle
We started by seeing the sea turtle, which was an unforgettable experience. It’s funny because my mother and aunt, who don’t know how to swim, didn’t want to get in the water, even with life jackets. They stayed in the small boat with my nephews while my husband and I had the chance to swim with this beautiful creature. At times, the sea turtle swam close to us, and we followed it wherever it went. Occasionally, the turtle would surface for air, and our boatman would shout, urging us to quickly capture the perfect shot with the sea turtle.
Animal lovers, get ready for excitement! Dive into our travel adventure and discover the amazing creatures we encountered at Brevard Zoo in sunny Florida, USA.
The Fish Sanctuary
Nearby the sea turtle spot, we visited a stunning fish sanctuary, offering another incredible experience. The area is home to a variety of fish species, each with vibrant colors and unique sizes—small, medium, and large. The sight of these beautiful fish is truly captivating, and being surrounded by them brings a sense of happiness. We spent quite a while there, fully enjoying the peaceful and mesmerizing underwater world.
Virgin Island
One thing I noticed is that the water around Panglao Island isn’t sticky on the skin and is incredibly clear. When we reached Virgin Island, everyone was in awe of the breathtaking beauty—crystal-clear waters, powdery white sand, and a stunning blue horizon.
There was a popular spot where tourists take photos with a ‘Welcome to Virgin Island’ sign. When we arrived, it was quite crowded, but we took the time to walk around the island and capture some special moments. I took photos with my then-fiancé, now my husband. My father and my brother just stayed in the boat.
Island hopping was an unforgettable experience for me and the rest of the family, though I’m not sure if my father enjoyed it as much. He and my brother stayed on the boat, but when I asked, they said they had fun too. We wrapped up our island-hopping adventure and headed back to the hotel around 11 AM.
We spent the rest of the day relaxing at the hotel to recharge after an adventurous day in the water. Swimming and island hopping can be quite tiring! The following day, we headed back to Manila, cherishing the unforgettable memories of our trip. I felt like we didn’t do much each day because we were so exhausted from traveling. For our next bohol family getaway, I plan to ensure there’s less travel time, as my parents aren’t as young anymore and don’t have the energy to spend the entire day touring.
