Bohol Island is a haven for diving and vacationing in the Philipines. There are massive coral reefs and plate changes seen under the sea; the Chocolate Hills where Harry Potter was filmed as well as the Philippine Tarsier - a rare and coveted monkey and a national treasure. Generally you can enjoy 3 to 5 days here. You can get here by Manila or Cebu via flight.

Alona Beach is a sandy white beach located at the Southwestern side of Bohol Island, in the south of the Panglao Islands. It came from the fossilization of coral reefs. There are many restaurants, bars and clubs near the beach. You can sunbathe here or have massages, and it’s where you’ll find many backpackers. Lie down on the beach to soak in the sun, read or daydream. Or go for a massage, a swim, or walk on the beach - you can spend a relaxing day at Bohol Island.

Balicasag is one of Philippines’ best diving spots. Here the Big Drop Off is amazing to see. There are huge amounts of fish and coral reefs here. If you are lucky you can even see sharks. This area is already listed by UNESCO as an underwater marine area under protection. The whole island looks like a pole that went all the way to the sea bed. Only about a 100 meters away from shore you’ll find the Big Drop Off. Below and outside the Drop Off is very deep, pure blue water, which you can’t see the bottom. Above the Drop Off you’ll see all kinds of coral, sea urchins, fishes, sea turtles. It offers an excellent view here.

Bohol Island’s biggest diving hotspot is Panglao Island. The current here is steady and there are massive sweeps of sandy terrain and straight cliffs. The view here is great and marine life is very diverse. It’s a great place to learn and apply for your diving certificate if you’re an amateur diver. In Arco Point you can see huge umbilical fishes, the “pudding seahorse”, and landscapes decked with soft coral reefs. 30 m later it’s a slow stretch of sandy terrain which stretches out to the deep sea. There are stretches of pink, semi-translucent coral reefs on the sandy terrain. When you shine a flashlight on them they shine through and it looks absolutely stunning. Napaling is a very unique cliff area for diving. Here, to dive, you’ll need to drive all the way to the edge, then go down to the diving spot by a set of stairs next to the cliff. Coral is protected very well here. Other than diving you can jump off of a cliff. The 15 m high spring board is very exciting.

The bee farm is a very famous seaside resort hotel offering dining, accommodation and spa experience. It’s particularly well known for its organic food and drinks. Here you can find organic honey bread, honey lasagna, honey ice cream. Their famous “flower salad” even allows you to eat the bright, beautiful flower petals. The self-made ice cream is wonderful too! The bees are housed on the cliff near the sea. It has an amazing sea view and there’s a path leading straight to the sea. You can check out the farm, purchase organic products like honey and jam at their own souvenir shop, or you can stay here or try out their organic food.

Loboc River is covered with rich plantation on both shores and it is known as Asia’s Amazon. On the guide boat, you can enjoy a trip to Loboc River by taking a look at the tropical forest surrounding you, enjoying a traditional Filipino meal. Local singers and guitarists will also play famous Filipino songs for you. The boat ride takes about an hour and at the end you’ll find dwellings where the country’s aboriginals live. Here you can see their archery shows, fire tricks and many more.

The Baclayon Church is the oldest church in Asia and it is about 420 years old. The Church is Spanish and the material used is all coral stones. The adhesive agent used here is very unique - not cement or glue, but rather a couple million eggs. The colourful glass at the ceiling is the highlight of this church. When sunlight shines through, the church is awashed in a palette of colours. It is a beautiful and photograph-happy tourists will love this place.

The tarsier is a national treasure of the Philippines and is a near-extinct species. It is very small in size and has large, round eyes, as if it’s wearing a pair of glasses, so they’re called tarsier. In Bohol Island’s Tarsier tourism center, you can come into close contact with these cute creatures. There are not too many of them here and they are usually asleep. The keepers will wake them up with special ways and be sure to tip them. They are just about a handful in size. The entire protective area has about 10 to 15 of them. They are all marked with “I’m here”.

The Chocolate HIlls is a natural wonder near Carmen on Bohol Island. It is made up of 1,268 smaller hills. From February to May every year, during the dry season, grass on the hill dries up to the colour of chocolate, which is where the name comes from. This is also where “Harry Potter” is filmed. Harry was riding his broom and flew past the top of this hill. There are huge brooms for rent at the peak here. Tourists can take a snapshot of them riding the broom.

Pamilacan Island is located about 23 km east of Balcasag on Bohol Island, and is home to many types of whales and dolphins. The best time for whalewatching is February to July every year. Dolphins are a common sight all throughout the year. Hop on the crab boat and go see troops of dolphins jumping out the water! Every morning troops of dolphins jump out and breathe in air. If you are lucky, dolphins would even swim next to the boat and jump into mid air!

The Virgin Island is a very gorgeous uninhabited island. It is located close to Bohol Island and has a breathtakingly beautiful elongated crescent beach. It will show its full profile when the tide ebbs away. The sea here is clear and beautiful, with layers of colours, just like a fairytale world. Usually when the tide is gone, you can board this island. When there are tidal waves, the island will be covered and only vegetation on the beach will show. Other than a fully wild, unexplored beach and the forest, you can also try fresh sea urchin fished from the ocean.