Day 1: Bohol Airport Pick-up; Abatan River Firefly Watching Cruise
Today, your driver will pick you up from Bohol-Panglao International Airport and escort you to your hotel. The rest of time is free for you to have a good rest or explore the surroundings on your own.
Around 6:30 PM, your guide and driver will meet you at your hotel and accompany you to start the Abatan River firefly watching tour. Get ready to take a boat and slowly drift along the calm river, weaving through the dense mangrove labyrinth. As the sunset glow fades, the true spectacle is about to commence. In the stillness, you can see the branches and leaves illuminated by the twinkling fireflies, like the pulse of the trees. Fireflies can be observed on Bohol Island year-round, especially from December to January. However, no matter when you come, enjoying the evening breeze and peace of mind in the secluded forests can always be a relaxing experience.
► Warm Tips:
1. We recommend you choose an earlier flight to Bohol to avoid affecting your evening tour.
2. Please use the built-in night mode on your phone for photographing, and avoid using flashlight as it will disturb the reproduction of fireflies.
3. You can wear long sleeves and pants, and use a little mosquito repellent to prevent mosquito bites.
After the tour and a dinner, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Bluewater Panglao Beach Resort, Bohol (4 stars) or similar
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Day 2: Bohol Countryside Tour: Chocolate Hills, Tarsier Conservation Area & River Cruise
Today, your private guide and driver will wait for you at your hotel for our Bohol countryside exploration. We’ll first drive 2 hours to the famous Chocolate Hills, a natural wonder of over 1,200 cone-shaped hills. The scenery you’ll see depends on the season. If it’s during the dry season from December to May, when the grass dries up and turns brown, the hills will look like chocolate truffles. And if it’s in the rainy season from June to November, the grass and shrubs will revive and make the hills “matcha chocolates.”
Afterward, let’s head to Loboc Tarsier Conservation Area, where you’ll see the tarsier, the Philippines’ national treasure and one of the world’s smallest monkeys! Although small in body size, the eyes of tarsier are even larger than its brain, with pupils almost filling the eye sockets, as if wearing cute round-framed glasses. However, for this very reason, they are endangered due to poaching, illegal pet trade and habitat loss. Therefore, please try not to disturb them during your visit.
Then, let’s take a Loboc River cruise, and have a visual feast on the emerald-green water, seeing lush tropical trees and the traditional houses nestled among. Local kids may sit by the coconut trees on the bank, waving to our boat. You can dance to live music and enjoy a buffet of traditional Filipino food on the cruise. We’ll also make a stop at a platform for you to enjoy authentic folk dances performed by the locals. Don’t hesitate to join in the singing or the joyful bamboo dance. Then, we’ll visit the 400-year-old stone-made Baclayon Church and Blood Compact Shrine. And your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel to conclude today’s tour.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Bluewater Panglao Beach Resort, Bohol (4 stars) or similar
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Day 3: Bohol Island Hopping with Balicasag Island & Virgin Island
This morning, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel, and accompany you to take a boat to Balicasag Island within half an hour. From a distance, you could find the island looking like a green gemstone floating on the sea, with countless crab-like Banca boats moored around. This paradise for diving is proud of a number of sea turtles and tropical fish, and wildly-growing rose-shaped coral reefs. When you snorkel at Balicasag Marine Sanctuary, you can enjoy its most captivating sight underwater. Just a turn round, you’ll find yourself on the edge of an underwater cliff! It has a vertical drop of over 1,000 meters (3,280 ft.), and makes the color of the sea suddenly shifts from light blue to deep blue. After that, we’ll take a break and enjoy a wonderful lunch on the island.
Our next stop is Virgin Island, a large sandbar that only appears at low tide. It is named after the constellation Virgo for its shape. Surrounded by crystal-clear water, you can sunbathe on the beach or sit in the shallows.
► Tips
1. Please use coral-safe sunscreen to reduce harm of the fragile coral ecosystem.
2. It is recommended to bring a waterproof bag for your belongings such as mobile phone, camera, wallet, etc.
3. Bring a dry towel to wipe off the sand or dirt, and dry clothes for changing after diving or swimming.
After the island hopping, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Bluewater Panglao Beach Resort, Bohol (4 stars) or similar
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Day 4: Free Morning in Bohol; Take a Boat to Cebu
This morning is free for you to further explore Bohol by yourself. You may relax on Alona Beach, or rent a motorbike for around USD 8-10 to go to Momo Beach or Dumaluan Beach. They are about a 15-minute ride from your hotel, and have a more serene atmosphere.
After having lunch at your hotel, your driver will escort you to the pier for your 2-hour boat ride to Cebu, a Spanish-style city. You may take seasickness medicine beforehand if needed. Upon arrival, your local driver will pick you up and accompany you to your hotel. For the rest of the day, you may relax at the hotel’s pool or the private beach, or enjoy a Filipino massage at Amuma Spa at your own expense.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Bluewater Maribago Beach Resort, Lapu-Lapu (4 stars) or similar
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Day 5: Cebu & Lapu-Lapu Tour with Mactan Shrine, Magellan’s Cross & Chinese-Philippine Heritage
Today, your guide and driver will wait for you at your hotel for our Cebu and Lapu-Lapu twin cities discovery. We’ll first visit Lapu-Lapu City on Mactan Island, which is where the Chieftain Lapu-Lapu (1491-1542 AD) defeated and killed explorer Ferdinand Magellan (1480-1521 AD) in 1521 AD. Every April, a grand festival called Kadaugan sa Mactan is celebrated on the island to commemorate Lapu-Lapu’s victory. At Lapu-Lapu Monument, you can see an inscription that reads: “Lapu-Lapu was the first Filipino to have repelled European aggression.” But interestingly, Filipinos seem to have mixed feelings towards Magellan. Although he was an invader, his introduction of Catholicism accelerated the development of the country, and today 80% of the Filipino population is Catholic. That’s why you can see the Mactan Shrine not far from the monument. We’ll next visit the Alegre Guitars Factory, and admire guitar exhibits and watch craftsmen making guitars.
Afterward, let’s drive 1.5 hours to TOPS Cebu, the highest point in the city. We’ll enjoy the expansive views and fresh air, and have lunch at Tops of Cebu or Balay sa Busay on the mountain. After lunch, follow your guide to visit Magellan’s legacy in Cebu, including Magellan’s Cross, a huge wooden cross housed in a hexagonal pavilion, and the statue of the Child Jesus enshrined in Basilica Minore Del Sto. Nino. Next, we’ll head to the Heritage of Cebu Monument to appreciate the exquisite sculptures of historic events. Then, visit the nearby Yap-San Diego Ancestral House, built in 1675 AD. It is an old house of a wealthy Chinese merchant, blending Chinese, Spanish, and Filipino styles. After that, let’s proceed to Cebu Taoist Temple on the hillside. It was built by local Chinese, in which we can learn about the role of Chinese immigrants in Cebu’s history. After all the visits, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Bluewater Maribago Beach Resort, Lapu-Lapu (4 stars) or similar
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Day 6: Cebu Island Hopping with Hilutungan Island & Nalusuan Island
This morning, your guide and driver will meet you at your hotel for your Banca boat ride to explore Cebu’s beautiful islands.
We’ll first go to Hilutungan Island, which is home to a variety of marine life. You can see colorful fish swimming among the coral reefs and even spot a sea turtle. Next, we’ll head to Nalusuan Island. Walking along the long wooden pier, you can see white cabins standing on the island. Enjoy your happiness of escaping from reality against the background of the azure sea and sky, and encounter stunning natural scenery but also welcoming locals. Taking photos, snorkeling or taking a kayak to create unforgettable memories. Later, let’s visit Pandanon Island to enjoy its fine sandy beaches. With its unspoiled Tiffany blue water, the island is clean and tranquil. You can enjoy swimming, or take a sunbath under the palm trees. After the tour, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Bluewater Maribago Beach Resort, Lapu-Lapu (4 stars) or similar
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Day 7: Departure from Cebu
Your tour comes to an end today. Your driver will pick you up from your hotel and accompany you to Cebu Airport. Have a pleasant journey!
If you’d like to spend more days on Bohol Island to enjoy the views and beaches, or extend your tour to the capital city of Manila, please contact us to customize an itinerary.
Meals: Breakfast
► Recommendations for Late Departure (at your own expense)
If you want to immerse yourself in Cebu’s urban atmosphere, maybe take a stroll near your hotel or walk 15 minutes southwest to Shangs Island Town Center. There are popular restaurants, cafes, and a variety of grocery stores and souvenir shops for you to dine or shop.
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