I wanted a summer vacation that had more than a scenic beach into it - and I got it in Bohol! Time here runs so slow, it's a perfect vacation for me, one of the best I've had so far. With the help of internet for information like places to go to, etc, my friend and I really had a grand time. It was simple and humble.

What you shouldn't miss would be the
1. Alona beach (esp the beachfront of Alona palm beach),
2. the Chocolate hills,
3. the Butterfly sanctuary (Beth, the tour guide there, was excellent...she got butterflies for me to hold and take a picture with)
4. hinagdanan cave (you can swim inside!!!)
5. loboc river cruise (hearty lunch and a relaxing boat ride with eniertainment)
Of course there were other places, but these are my favorites

I was also surprosed to find an ATM near Alona Beach and a grocery nearby so it was so convenient.

This place is both for budget-conscious and for those who want luxury as well. Enjoy!

As I have reviewed some Bohol tourist attractions separately, I will not repeat myself.

I endorse the comments of other contributors regarding the enjoyable and value-for-money Chocolate Hills/ Baclayon Church (land) and dolphin watching/ Balicasag Island snorkelling (sea) day tours.

Both were far more interesting than I had thought, but I note that the previous poster DrChrisBrisbane's land tour took in a couple more attractions than did mine. I'm not quite sure how one ensures before the start that all places will be visited. It might be 'pot luck.'

I only had a limited amount of time in Bohol and wanted to see the main tourist attractions.

I thought it would be best to arrive in Bohol the night before, stay overnight and get an early start as the attractions are quite scattered (See my review of Dumaluan Resort).

Even though my accommodation choice was not the best, my partner and I were able to relax in the morning and get ourselves in the frame of mind to enjoy our sightseeing without feeling rushed.

Fortunately, my partner knew someone who knew someone....and as a result we had an air-conditioned 4x4 and driver who picked us up at the pier, took us to the resort, picked us up the next morning, took us to all the attractions and then returned us to catch the late ferry - all for a total of 2800p.

If you can afford it, this more personalised form of tour guide is the best. The driver was on hand to take photos of us, he knew the route and we could stay at various attractions at our leisure - without the pressure of a timeframe.

The tour comprised 10 attractions, and not necessarily in the folowing order:

1. Chocolate Hills - they are a must see. Even though they are green for 10 of the 12 months of the year, they are still worth seeing.

2. Tarsiers - the world's smallest primate. The tour said 'Tarsier Sanctuary' - when we pulled over to the side of the road at what appeared to be a road-side stall, I thought the driver was going to buy cigarettes or something. It turns out that this stall was the 'Sanctuary.' The Tarsiers are very cute and shy - definitely worth seeing. There was no cost to hold or be photographed with the Tarsiers, only a donation box on the wall for their upkeep and of course, souvenirs in the stall.

3. The man-made forest - apparently a combined effort of university students from numerous universities over the years - according to the driver. Quite impressive in terms of the area of planting.

4. The hanging bridge - a small cable-suspension foot-bridge over a creek with woven bamboo to walk on. Quite safe to walk on and there are people selling fresh coconut milk on the other side. The bridge looks good in your photos.

5. Butterfly Sanctuary - This sanctuary was a real sanctuary - where they breed endangered and common local butterflies. A really nice experience - the staff knew their facts and the grounds were very pleasant.

6. The Blood Compact - a statue commemorating the signing of a treaty (by sharing each others blood) between the Spanish and a local chieftain in 1565.

7. Baclayon Church - the driver proudly announced that the church was built in the 1500's and it would appear that it is that old. However a reading of a commemorative plaque indicates that a church has stood on that spot since the 1595 , but the existing church was completed in 1727. Still, a lovely place to visit.

8. Loboc River Cruise - here is a section of the Loboc River that is plied by a number of floating restaurants. There is little difference between the food offered and the prices charged. My driver recommended one and my partner chose another....In any case, the food was reasonalbe for a trip that only cost 300p (you also have to pay for the driver - but he was such an accommodating guy - that wasn't an issue). Also, he took photos of my partner and I, without being asked, and he suggested different locations and shots. The cruise is very nice and about 1.5 hours in total. Definitely recommended.

9. Bohol Python Sanctuary - this sanctuary houses a few pythons with one being 23 feet long (7.5 metres). But being confined to small cages, they all looked a little miserable - if it is possible for a snake to look miserable. I was amazed at the python - but didn't really enjoy the sanctuary.

10. Hinagdanan Cave - the cave is not huge but has a lot of stalactites and stalagmites and leads to an underground pool where you can have a swim in the water, which is fresh and very cold. A nice place for a quick dip or just to stand in the cool darkness and watch others swimming.

Overall, I really enjoyed the day-trip. The driver was great (thanks Danny - if you ever read this!). The attractions were interesting and some were quite beautiful - my partner thoroughly enjoyed herself as did I.

If you are in Cebu and wondering what you could do for a day or two - this trip is a must do activity.

hi everyone!!! our trip to bohol last November 2008 was amazing!!! we would definitely go back there next year! we stayed at banana cottages for 3 days and 2 nights for 3 person and got the best deal with tours and accommodation! the place where we stayed was great with kitchen and everything (except we don't know how to operate the gas range since we don't know how to cook!! lol!) make sure to try snorkeling at balicasag island! the view was spectacular and the food was great! as for advise, better buy some beers at the local grocery when you get to tagbilaran to save money and since there's no nightlife in panglao compared to bora.. but we love the place!!!