The Best Bohol Itinerary: 3 Days in Bohol, Philippines

Planning a 3 day Bohol itinerary or wondering what to do in Bohol? You’re in the right place! We’ll show you the best things to do in Bohol and how you can create your perfect itinerary with only 2 or 3 days in Bohol. Read on for more info on where to stay, where to eat and how to get around Bohol!

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Visiting Bohol (Bohol Itinerary)

Located in the country’s Central Visayas region is an island named Bohol. It’s a popular destination to visit in the Philippines because of the impressive Chocolate Hills formation – but there are actually so many things to do in Bohol!

It’s an amazing island to discover the energy of the Philippines, you can find beaches, beautiful hills, palm trees, caves and you can even see dolphins! There are sanctuaries that help tarsiers, the smallest mammal in the world and there are islands where you can swim with turtles.

It’s a great adventure island filled with many activities and places to visit to keep you busy. Read along to discover how to plan your 3 day Bohol itinerary and the best things to do in Bohol including Panglao island!

Note: Bohol was unfortunately hit by Typhoon Odette in December 2021. We visited in 2022 and can see the destruction it has caused the island and people of Bohol. We have up to date information on prices and how the island is recovering after this event.

Why should I visit Bohol?

Is this your first time visiting Bohol? There are many things to do in Bohol that will make your trip to the Philippines amazing! You’ve probably already heard of the famous Chocolate Hills – they’re located on the island of Bohol! If you love snorkelling, marine life, islands or diving then Bohol is also a place for you.

Bohol is a big island and also offers you the chance to get off the beaten track. Travellers usually only stick to the southwest side of the island near Panglao Island. If you have 3 days in Bohol then it’s the best area to tick off some of the things on your Bohol bucket list. But, there is so much to explore other than the main highlights.

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What to do in Bohol

Okay, the reason you’re here is that you’re wondering what to do in Bohol.

Countryside – Beautiful hill formations, forests, waterfalls, rivers & tarsier sanctuaries!

Panglao Island – Beaches, snorkelling trips, diving & a cave!

Anda – Caves & beaches!

The Best Bohol Itinerary – 2 or 3 days in Bohol

If you want to know how to get to Bohol, read further – we mention this after our itinerary! This guide is great for 2 or 3 days in Bohol, so we’ll mention the must-see activities whilst you’re here in Bohol and then a few extra ones for you to fully enjoy Bohol.

As we mentioned before, Bohol is a huge island and there is too much to explore in just 3 days. But we’ll show you some of the main highlights, so you can have the best 3 day Bohol itinerary.

Day 1 – Arriving, Beaches & Cave

Arriving in Bohol is fairly easy whether you’ve come by plane or ferry. You can rent a scooter straight away or catch a tricycle to your accommodation. Scroll to the bottom to find out more about where to stay in Bohol and how to get around Bohol!

We recommend staying near Alona Beach on Panglao Island, this is where all the restaurants, shops and the main choice of accommodation is. Once you’re all settled it’s time to check out beaches and a cave!

Chill at Alona Beach

Alona Beach is the main spot for travellers and one of the many things to do in Bohol. You don’t have to stay in the area if you’ve found accommodation elsewhere but Alona Beach is where most things will be going on!

Head down to the beach for a browse and plan for the next few days. There are a few spots on the beach to chill and swim and you’ll also find locals doing the same.

Find the location here – Alona Beach

Check out Hinagdanan Cave

Hinagdanan Cave is a beautiful stop on your Bohol itinerary, it’s only a short drive away from Alona Beach and it’s even possible to swim in the water here! The best time to go is midday so the water is lit up from the sun, but we visited around 3 or 4 pm and it was still awesome to see.

Price: 50 pesos or 125 pesos if you want to swim

Find the location here – Hinagdanan Cave

The first day of our 3 days in Bohol is the best day to book any excursions you want to do over the next two days. We walked over to Bohol Divers Club to book our dive with them and also rented a scooter for our 3 day Bohol itinerary.

End your evening with dinner near Alona Beach at one of the many restaurants they offer!

Day 2 – Exploring Bohol & Chocolate Hills

Day 2 of your 3 days in Bohol itinerary will be a big explore day! The best way to do this itinerary is to rent a scooter or you can book a tour with the many tour agencies at Alona Beach. If you want to drive yourself, you have the option to stay as long as you want at all the following places.

We recommend starting your day as early as possible to beat the crowds at Chocolate Hills. We arrived around 9 am and definitely did not beat the crowds although it was still an amazing experience.

A quick stop by Baclayon Church

A quick stop on the way to Chocolate Hills is Baclayon Church! It’s a famous coral stone church in Bohol, which is definitely worth a stop. It was completed in 1737 in the oldest Christian settlement in Bohol which was established by the Jesuits in 1596.

Find the location here – Baclayon Church Location

Visit the famous Chocolate Hills

It’s about a 1.5 – 2 hour drive from Alona Beach to Chocolate Hills, so make sure you’re prepared if going by scooter!

Visiting the Chocolate Hills is a must on your Bohol itinerary, and yes it’s a popular thing to do, but they are so unique! The Chocolate Hills are a geological formation and it’s said that they were created by limestone weathering and plate tectonic elevations in the ocean.

There are at least 1,260 hills but there may be as many as 1,776 hills spread over an area of more than 50 square kilometres. They were named Chocolate Hills because in the dry season the hills turn brown, although we wish they were chocolate!

If you’re feeling up for the adventure, you can also do ATV rides on tracks near the hills. It looked super fun from the viewpoint! Check out an ATV tour here!

Price for Chocolate Hills: 50 pesos

Find the location here – Chocolate Hills location

Take a dip in Pangas Falls

Less than a 30-minute drive away is Pangas Falls. It’s the perfect place to take a morning dip after being in the heat at Chocolate Hills. The drive from the main road to the falls is quite a bumpy road but it’s definitely manageable. If you’re wondering what to do in Bohol, then this is one of the more secluded spots!

Price for Pangas Falls: 30 pesos each

Find the location here – Pangas Falls Location

Bilar Man-Made Forest

Another quick stop to do on your 3 day Bohol itinerary is the man-made forest. On your way to Loboc River, you’ll pass a beautiful forest, you don’t even need to stop as you’ll drive straight through it. We stopped to snap a few photos and it actually reminded me of the forests in England.

Price is: Free!

Find the location here: Bilar Man-Made Forest Location

Just before you get to the man-made forest you’ll see a Tarsier Conservation Area, unfortunately, this isn’t really a sanctuary and is classed as a zoo. We will recommend a better place to see tarsiers as if they are wild.

Lunch at Loboc River

Loboc River is a must-see on your 3 day Bohol itinerary! The colours of the river will blow you away, we couldn’t believe this was the colour of the water. It’s very popular to catch a river cruise here which includes lunch (River Cruise price is around 500 pesos).

We opted for a slightly different option after finding Food & Fables Cafe! Head straight here for some healthy Filipino lunch and you’ll have your own private area of the river to chill, swim and even SUP. Here’s the location – Food & Fables Cafe!

You can also stay here in cottages surrounded by jungle, river and fireflies – which would be amazing! if you have more than 3 days in Bohol then we recommend spending 1 night here next to the river. Find them on Booking.com here!

Tarsier Sanctuary

After enjoying lunch and relaxing at Loboc River, it’s time to see the smallest mammals in the world at the Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella. We recommend that this is the one you should visit in Bohol as it is a non-profit organisation that cares about the animals and not just the money. The Tarsier Sanctuary closes at 4 pm, so make sure you arrive there before then!

Important! – you have to be very quiet whilst visiting the Tarsier Sanctuary and no flash photography. They are nocturnal animals so they should be sleeping during the day.

Price for Tarsier Sanctuary: 150 pesos each

Find the location here: Tarsier Sanctuary Location

You’ll end your day in Tagbilaran City and we’d recommend checking out The Front Food Park to find some food. The Vegan Shack is our personal favourite serving vegan Filipino food and amazing fried sushi!

Day 3 – Diving, Islands & Beaches

For Day 3 of your 3 day Bohol itinerary you’re going to spend it admiring the underwater world of Bohol. Did you know Panglao Island holds some of the best areas to snorkel or dive in the Philippines? We were so surprised by what we saw! Let us show you!

Diving in Bohol

Firstly we’d love to recommend a great dive company here in Bohol – Bohol Divers Club! Find their website here, message them on Facebook or visit them at their shop at Alona Beach! (Location here)

We started our day at 8 am and did 3 fun dives with lunch included (yes they cater to vegans!)

The first stop was a wall dive (Danao Wall) very close to Panglao island and we spotted our first turtle whilst diving, saw so many clownfish and many other types of fish.

On our way to Balicasag Island, we spotted a pod of dolphins! They’re really common to see in the area but we really didn’t expect to see them from our dive boat! It was so magical, that we didn’t even get great photos of the moment.

Our second dive was at the Black Forest dive site next to Balicasag island and our third dive was at Royal Garden on the other side of Balicasag Island.

Royal Garden was one of our favourite spots as we spotted at least 10 or more turtles! They were all having lunch on the bottom of the sea. We also spotted so many Nemo’s and starfish. It was a really beautiful spot to find marine life.

Tip: Prices for diving in Bohol are usually around 1300 to 1600 pesos per dive!

Island Hopping in Bohol

If you’re not that into diving, you can still explore Balicasag Island or Pamilacan Island on day trips from Alona Beach. There are many tour agencies on the beach that can take you on a snorkelling tour to the islands with a high chance of seeing dolphins on the way!

You’ll finish your day in the afternoon and this will be your last evening in Bohol! Head to your favourite restaurant for the last meal before heading to your next destination in the morning.

More ways you can spend your time in Bohol

So you only have 3 days in Bohol and you want to do more on your Bohol itinerary? Here are a few more things you can get up to while exploring this beautiful island!

• White Beach
• Dumaluan Beach
• Doljo Beach
• Anda Beach
• Cabagnow Cave Pool
• Candijay Rice Terraces

How to get to Bohol?

Luckily Bohol is a well-connected island and you can reach it quite easily either by ferry or flight.

Flight – You can catch a flight to Bohol’s newer airport – Bohol–Panglao International Airport. It’s right in the heart of Panglao Island which means you can jump right into activities and head to nearby accommodation. Flights into Bohol can be mixed prices, but it’s best to book in advance! Use Skyscanner to find the best flight for you – Skyscanner Website.

Ferry from Cebu City – The ferry from Cebu to Bohol takes less than 2 hours with the OceanJet ferry and costs 800 pesos one way.

Ferry from Siquijor – The ferry from Siquijor to Bohol also takes less than 2 hours on an OceanJet speedboat ferry and the price is 800 pesos. Check Facebook for the most updated information in 2024 – OceanJet ferry Website

If you’re on a budget we recommend flying from Manila to Cebu City and then catching a ferry over to Bohol.

How to get around Bohol?

Once you arrive in Tagbilaran City or Panglao Island you’ll notice locals will start to offer you countryside tours or island hopping tours. This can be an option if you want to be taken to the main things to do in Bohol.

You can also catch tricycles around the main areas such as ferry ports and in Tagbilaran City. Sometimes we prefer having our own transport and we managed to find a great scooter rental here in Bohol.

Bohol JCD Motorbike Rental – We highly recommend using them if you want a scooter in Bohol! We messaged him on Facebook (link here!) and he met us at the ferry port with the scooter ready to go! Find the location here – JCD Motorbike Rental for his shop.

Best Time to Visit Bohol

The best time to visit Bohol is between January and May! This is the dry season in the Philippines and you’re more likely to experience sunny weather and clear skies. Of course, you can never guarantee the best weather at any time of year.

However, the heavy raining season is from August to October, so it may be best to avoid this time if you don’t want too much rain!

Where to stay in Bohol?

The main area to stay in Bohol is Panglao Island. This is where you’ll find lots of accommodation, shops, restaurants and even tour operators to help you with your Bohol itinerary too. You can also stay in Anda, Jagna or near Loboc River to have a great 3 days in Bohol.

Greenspace Inn $ – A lovely little stay away from the hustle of Alona Beach is Greenspace Inn. We had a great few days here with the hosts and they even had cats and a puppy! We recommend having a scooter if you stay here as it’s not that close to the beach. It feels like you’re staying in a mini jungle though.

Find the location here – Greenspace Inn Location & Find them on Booking.com here!

Fox & The Firefly Cottages $$ – A hidden gem in Bohol. Fox and Firefly Cottages are located right next to Loboc River which is the perfect base for you to explore the river and Chocolate Hills. They have their own restaurant so you don’t need to worry about food. You can rent sup-boards and many excursions with them to enjoy your 3 days in Bohol.

Find the location here – Fox & The Firefly Cottages Location & Find them on Booking.com here!

Best restaurants in Bohol

There are many restaurants in Bohol ranging from Filipino to international cuisine. Unfortunately, in 2022, restaurants in Bohol are still recovering after the last few years of closure.

You can find many local Filipino eateries offering their fresh cuisine. However, it’s a little harder for a vegan in the Philippines to find local food. Luckily we managed to find a few spots we can recommend on your 3 day Bohol itinerary.

The Vegan Shack $$ – This was our favourite restaurant in Bohol, it’s just near the bridge in Tagbilaran City. They serve vegan Filipino fusion cuisine and it’s so good to not miss out on local cuisine. The prices are around 160 pesos. Here’s the location – Vegan Shack Bohol Location

Bollywood Tadka $$ – Next up we have an Indian restaurant here in Bohol, Panglao Island.Here’s the location – Bollywood Tadka Location

Shaka $$$ – Also on Panglao Island is a fully vegan cafe here in Bohol, and there are actually more Shaka’s around the Philippines. They serve breakfast, cakes and many lunch options for you to indulge in. Here’s the location – Shaka Bohol Location

Food and Fables $$ – This is a hidden gem in Bohol! Tucked away next to Loboc River is Food & Fables Cafe, serving delicious Filipino cuisine with lots of plant-based options! Here’s the location – Food & Fables Location

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How many days in Bohol?

This 3 day Bohol itinerary can definitely be made into a 2 day Bohol itinerary if you don’t have time! Although we recommend spending at least 3 nights here on your Philippines trip to get a full 2 days.

If you have more time you can stay up to a week as there are so many things to do in Bohol! Maybe you can explore the north or go snorkelling in Jagna?

What to pack for 3 days in Bohol?

The Philippines has a tropical climate so it’s best to pack for sizzling weather and the possibility of heavy rain! Here are a few things we highly recommend when packing for a 3 day Bohol itinerary.

• International Worldwide Travel Adaptor – The only plug you’ll need in The Philippines!
• Amazon Basics Packing Cubes – Packing cubes are our favourite travel essentials when backpacking.
• The Little Bodhi Microfibre Towel – A lightweight travel towel for your Bohol itinerary.
• Sawyer Mini Water Filter – If you want to reduce your plastic consumption, we highly recommend buying a water filter and bringing a Stainless Steel Water Bottle.
• Waterproof Bag 20L with Waterproof Phone Case – Keep your valuables safe by using a waterproof bag for your snorkelling or dive trips on your Bohol itinerary.
• Joby GorillaPod 3K Pro Kit – A lightweight tripod to take independent photos! We love our Joby GorillaPod and use it for our Sony A6000, there’s also a Joby Phone Tripod!
• GoPro Hero 12 and a GoPro Water Float are two essentials we used to take photos underwater during our 3 days in Bohol.

What to do after Bohol?

After you’ve finished your Bohol itinerary and completed 2 or 3 days in Bohol, you’re ready to explore somewhere else in the Philippines! Here are some things you can get up to while you’re in this beautiful country:

• Cebu City – Cebu is the country’s oldest city and is usually visited by travellers as a transit destination, but there are a few things to discover in the city if you want a break from the beaches. Cebu City is only a short ferry ride from Bohol.
• Moalboal – If you haven’t already been, Moalboal is a destination waiting for you! Visit the famous Kawasan Falls and see one of the ocean’s amazing sardine runs! You’ll need a ferry to Cebu City and a 4-hour bus ride.
• Siquijor – A short ferry ride away from Bohol is Siquijor, the island known for its healers! It’s a lot quite than Bohol but has some amazing beaches and waterfalls to explore. Find out more here!
• Camiguin – It’s known as the Island Born of Fire because of the many volcanos the small island has! You can either fly to Camiguin or if you head to Jagna in Bohol you can get a ferry to the island!
• International options: Cebu City has a great international airport that connects you to places such as Singapore, Seoul or even a quick flight up to Manila from Bohol’s airport can take you to even more international destinations!

Stay tuned for more Philippines posts as we explore our way through the beautiful islands! For now, check out our Thailand posts if you’re exploring South East Asia!

More Philippines guides:

• Canyoneering at Kawasan Falls: 2024 (After Typhoon Odette!)
• The Best 3 Days in Siquijor Itinerary – Philippines (2024)
• Moalboal Itinerary: The Best Things To Do (2024)
• The Best 2 Days in Manila: Things to do & Itinerary (2024)
• All our Philippines posts!

That’s the end of our 3 Day Bohol Itinerary: What to do in Bohol, Philippines! Enjoy your trip to the beautiful island of Bohol and if you need any more help planning – send us a message on Instagram (@thesunrisedreamers) or leave a comment below!

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