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Posts Tagged ‘Bohol Destinations’
Thursday, September 27th, 2012
 The Eskaya Beach Resort and Spa in Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines Located in Pangalo Island, Eskaya Beach Resort and Spa is a haven for those seeking ultimate relaxation during their stay here in the island of Bohol. It is a perfect hideaway from the distractions of the city. The sprawling property sits on 16 hectares covered in lush tropical garden. The view is fantastic as it shows a long stretch of white sand on this side of Panglao facing Bohol Sea. The beach on this part of the island is a total of 5 kilometers and 600 meters of it belong to Eskaya. There is a variety of land formations around the area, a gradually ascending cliff, flat land, a ravine and caves.
 The name “eskaya” is the only known indigenous people of Bohol. The place is serene and very tranquil. The architecture that is common around is a true Filipino style with modern amenities. The exotic thatched villas that are called “balai” are built with sturdy construction and materials used are locally found in the island, like the bamboo, cogon and native wood. The villas also have their own swimming pools. The infinity pool is amazing and blends with the view of the sea at its bluest color. The villa’s bathrooms have a whirlpool bath and a rain shower. The shower is set outdoor and separated only by bamboo fences for privacy. The beds are huge and comfortable and the pretty mosquito net around the bed makes you feel like royalty.
Different dining set ups can be requested. You can dine under the moon and the stars, or al fresco, by the poolside or by the beach, or simply enjoy the warm ambiance of their restaurant Lantawan. They can also set up a bonfire and barbecue at the beach for casual dining. Breakfast can also be requested to be set up in the garden in the midst of beautiful birds chirping and flying by. Or in-villa setting can also be arranged for a more private and intimate dining. The staff is efficient, very friendly and super attentive. It is fast and superb service and the room service is very quick. It is like getting the contentment and convenience at your own home but with the beautiful and serene surrounding to greet you.
The resort can also arrange other activities like island hopping, sunset cruises, cruising at Loboc River, visit the man-made forest, Chocolate Hills or go scuba diving in Balicasag Island or go whale-watching at Pamilacan Island. The Handuraw Spa in Eskaya is tranquil and modern. It offers a gracious fusion of traditional therapies and modern spa technology, a melting pot of Asian healing practices and rich European spa traditions. The experience of staying at Eskaya is definitely unforgettable. Treat yourself and book with us and stay at this marvelous place in Panglao Island in Bohol. You can also click the name of the hotel in our Quick Hotel Finder button to easily jump to the resort’s page.
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Tags: Bohol, Bohol Activities, Bohol Destinations, Bohol hotel reservation, Bohol Tours, Panglao Hotels, panglao island, Things to do in Bohol
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Friday, September 14th, 2012
 A little advance planning definitely helps you make the most of your time and money in Bohol, Philippines. Research about the places you want to see and activities you want to do. Do read reviews, but do not dwell in them too much as your expectations might be set too high. Our website has a lot of good suggestions and is well worth it to check out. Do not overdo your itinerary and just leave yourself just rummaging through a crowded traffic of tourists or your basic inability to relax leaving you only with 5 hours of sleep each night. Make a back-up itinerary in case the one you have is not working out for you. Most importantly, learn how to say no to extra load from work while you are away. It is your vacation and you must enjoy it without having to be stressed out for the same reason you are on holidays to un-stress yourself.
It is also best to spend more time exploring fewer destinations, thereby creating a more intimate travel experience. The good thing is that despite all of its variety, Bohol is considerably a tiny place and it’s relatively easy to explore within half a day or less. You can easily enjoy all of the island’s main fields of interest: beach, jungle or land activities and hopping to other islands in a week.
Hire a guide. The idea that hiring a guide is for amateur tourists is really a misconception. Hiring a guide could be the best move you make. Especially it’s a good idea if you are going to be in a place for a short period of time. Be always polite, an aggravation due to an ugly exchange brought about by a little misunderstanding will totally fall under how to ruin your vacation.
Only over the Christmas-New Year’s, Chinese New Year’s and Easter holiday periods might you face any difficulties in finding a room, but it still pays to book ahead for any particular places you’re keen to stay in, and make inquiries about the necessity of booking for any activities, such as diving and dive courses. Bohol is budget travelers’ paradise and there are accommodations for every range.
The best months to visit Bohol are the drier ones: November through June, the Amihan season. The rainy season, which is the Habagat Season (July to October) isn’t so wet that you can’t do anything fun. However, there would be sporadic days in a week in the Habagat Season that it just rains heavily. The biggest tourist influx is in the couple of weeks each side of Christmas and Easter.
Many accommodations, especially the more expensive ones have high and low-season prices. Please check the season specified on each Bohol hotel’s Rooms and Prices page when you book. There is also an ‘extra’ season referred to as Super Peak which is covering the Christmas, New Year’s, Chinese New Year’s and Easter periods, when prices go above normal high-season rates. If you’re using top-end or some mid-range accommodations, you’ll certainly save money by avoiding these seasons. See our hotel quick finder to see more about range in accommodations.
Though a poor country, Philippines is at least as expensive as any other South East Asian countries. High taxes, many imports and the fact that much of its tourism industry is geared to Europeans on fairly short vacations help keep the prices a bit high. For US $70 to US $150 will buy you a solidly comfortable midrange double all throughout the island. For anything above the ordinary you’re often looking at a minimum of US $200, and the top end of the market goes above US $350.
A good two- or three-course meal with a couple of drinks in a pleasant restaurant will average US $75 to US $150 (more if you eat lobster!). Furthermore, there are a lot of local cuisines that are worth the adventure at a considerable price. Budget travelers can make their money last longer by hanging out in local places. Travelling by jeepney is cheap, but car hire, taxis, boats and hotel transfers are not. Tours and excursions mostly run from $70 to $150 per person for a day (more for diving trips).
Overall, a comfortable midrange budget per person is US $350 to US $450 per day. Staying in some of the better accommodations, enjoying plenty of tours and activities, and traveling by rented car or hotel can easily add up to US $600 a day could be more. Budget travelers might get away with US $75 a day if they’re particularly frugal, but you need to spend more like US $150 to US $250 to enjoy yourself. The simplest way to cut costs is to share rooms, transport and tours with other people.
Philippine currency is the Peso (Php), which was hovered at or around a rate of Php 43 = US $1 for several years, prices in our website is converted with the current exchange each day. The accommodation prices on our website do not have any other additional rates, what you see is what you get. However, you might find in restaurants will have additional service charges, so do watch out for signs or ask accordingly.
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Tags: Bohol, Bohol Activities, Bohol Blog, Bohol Destinations, Bohol Seasons, Things to do in Bohol
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Wednesday, September 5th, 2012
 Cabilao Island, Bohol, Philippines Cabilao Island is one of the smaller islands that surround the main island of Bohol, Philippines. It is located on the west side of Bohol Island, basically facing Cebu Island. It is a 7.2 Sq. Km. triangle of an island and can be toured in one day. The boat trip from pier of Mocpoc to Cabilao Island is close to an hour. Take a bus to Tagbilaran City, and then take a jeepney to the small pier. A small boat trip will give you a chance to see nice views of the curious overhanging rock formations of Cabilao’s coastline. This island only has 3,500 in habitants only with fishing, herding goats and raising chickens as their livelihood.
Since this little island is a bit far off from the mainland, the peace and tranquility has been reserved. The only motorized transport is either a tricycle or “habal-habal” motorcycles that will bring you around for a small fee, or just reach areas on foot. The lack of roads also means that every supply is brought in via banka boats. During drought season, even fresh water for drinking and bathing is brought in via these boats, too. Since the island is not connected to the main grid, there is ration of electricity. The electricity is provided from 7:30AM to 11:30PM by a generator in Talisay Village (one of the 5 little villages in Cabilao).
In the center of the island, a solar powered internet café is located. It is amazing how the modern technology has touched this remote place. This has been an initiative project by The Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise, Cebu and the German Development Service. This little internet café is intended for locals to be connected to the internet.
 Cabilao Island is one of the international favorites for diving destinations. The main attraction is at its western tip, the town of Pantudlan. Here, there is a lovely lighthouse and a keeper’s cottage along a magnificent stretch of white sand shore. And most of all, Cabilao has many undisturbed reefs that made it a diving paradise. There are 3 resorts that specifically cater to divers, complete with equipment, including gears for snorkeling. The diving area around Cabilao is ideal for wall diving with great chances to spot many pellagics like Barracudas, Dogtooth Tunas and Giant Trevallies. If you plan to stay in one of the resorts, plan a night dive for great underwater macro photography opportunities. From December to June, there is a great chance to spot a school of Hammerhead Sharks. The best time to spot them is just after sunrise of just before sunset.
There is also a bird sanctuary around Patudlan. It is a half-hour stroll from the resorts. You will follow a natural lake that will lead you to nipa-covered huts set up for observation. This island is so serene and with fewer inhabitants, flocks of birds are seen more than you would in Bohol Island.
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Tags: Bohol, Bohol Activities, Bohol Destinations, Bohol diving
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Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012
 Mag-aso Falls in Antequera, Bohol Mag-aso Falls is one of the natural treasures of Bohol, Philippines. Behold for yourself the magnificent twin falls, often obscured by fine mist that appears smoke-like. Thus, Mag-aso falls got its name. “Aso”, in the local dialect means “smoke”. With a height of 25 feet, the twin falls is picturesque against a backdrop of tall trees, wild plants including giant ferns, and deep ravines. It is located 20 Km from Tabilaran City in the town of Antequera and roughly a half an hour ride away. Antequera is an inland town located in the western part of Bohol, Philippines and consists of 21 Barangays (district). Aside from being blessed with rolling & rugged terrains interspersed with rivers, streams and brooks, the town is also known as the basket capital of Bohol, Philippines. Sundays, Antequera’s market day, is the day when baskets of different sizes and shapes are displayed in the local market and traders from out of town, hailing from Cebu and far-off Manila come to buy their products for export to other countries throughout the world. The town may be so out of the way, yet travelers who make the trip find it worthwhile. Intermittent verdant rice fields with hilly backdrops are stunning to look at aside from the picturesque ancestral homes that dot the way.
Mag-aso Falls is one of the main attractions of Bohol, Philippines but rarely included in day tour itineraries since it is relatively out of the way. Situated inland, it does not lie in the pathway towards Loboc town, the Loboc river cruise, tarsier viewing, and on towards Bilar’s mahogany man-made forest and the Chocolate Hills, Bohol’s main attraction. In Mag-aso Falls there are approximately 197 steps with metal guardrails which direct towards the scenery. There are seats made up of stones where one can take a rest after the long travel down to the falls. Trekkers, who love a rough and challenging terrain can avoid the steps, enjoy a slippery descent and do an exhilarating climb with the use of shrubs and stones as foothold and vines and other plants to pull one up. But rainy season will surely make this feat an ordeal in itself. With the effort needed to reach the falls, it is highly recommended that a separate day be set aside to visiting Mag-Aso Falls. That will definitely give you more time to explore and appreciate the worthwhile trip. It is especially amazing to take the visit to Mag-Aso Falls when the weather is humid. The cool waters and green canopy will help neutralize the scorching heat from the sun. You will surely feel refreshed after a nice slow and long dip into the cascading cool waters of Mag-Aso Falls.
Book with us now and include your trip to Mag-aso Falls in your itinerary to visiting Bohol, Philippines. This would be an adventure surely not to be missed.
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Tags: Bohol, Bohol Activities, Bohol Destinations, Bohol Tours, Things to do in Bohol
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Wednesday, March 21st, 2012
 Dumaluan Beach in Bohol Dumaluan Beach in Bohol, Philippines is the other beach of Panglao Island that has amazing powdery white sand and pristine turquoise water. It is about half-hour car ride from Alona Beach and is at the southern and remote tip of Panglao Island in Bohol. Dumaluan Beach is 12 km from Tagbilaran City and about 6 km from Alona Beach. In contrast, Dumaluan is the quiet and more secluded beach than Alona Beach. Dumaluan Beach is well-maintained and not as crowded. If you want a perfect relaxation for your holiday, this is the beach to go for. It is more peaceful and the sand bar stretches far and wide. Some people think that Dumaluan Beach is far more beautiful than Alona Beach. However, there are fewer resorts and restaurants in this area and transport will be an issue.
In Dumaluan Beach, there are areas for private use and is separate from the public. A guard post will mark the separation between the two areas. The public beach is not so crowded anyway there’s not much difference. However, if you want to use amenities from the nearby hotel that has the only private access to the private beach area, an admission fee is required.
Dumaluan Beach is among the more gentle shorelines of Bohol especially in the summer time. There are plenty of shallow portions for kids to waddle in and playfully enjoy the water safely. Activities also include dolphin and whale watching at nearby Pamilacan Island and Balicasag Island, also in the area of Bohol, Philippines. Check schedule of pick-up in the mornings for water activities. Imagine yourself immersed in a fine and powdery texture of white sand, softly caressing the soles of your feet as you amble on the quiet shoreline dotted with palm trees viewing the panorama of the Bohol Sea. While you’re at it, get a peek at the underwater sea world of Dumaluan Beach, an area so rich in unique coral reefs and rock formations abundant with sea life. It is a perfect place to go snorkeling and scuba diving with your friends and family. Book now with us and experience this serene and beautiful white beach of Dumaluan in Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines. Make your holiday with your family an unforgettable one.
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Tags: Bohol, Bohol Blog, Bohol budget travel, Bohol Destinations, Dumaluan Beach
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Monday, January 23rd, 2012
 Dolphin Watching For decades, dolphins and whales that breed in Bohol Sea are hunted down to extinction by locals. Thankfully an innovative program was introduced to get the same hunters to make their living is by using the same skills for hunting and spot these beautiful creatures for tourists to enjoy watching nearby. These gentle giants are known to be spotted either at Panglao Island or Pamilacan Island, but can also be spotted everywhere else in Bohol Sea. That is where the ex-hunters come to play; they will gear the bancas where all these beautiful creatures will be. The expedition starts in the morning after breakfast and head out to Alona beach where a boat will be waiting. Spotters can just look at splashes on the water and they can tell that dolphins are there feeding, a sight that normal tourists would not automatically see. And within few minutes as the boat gears toward the area, pods and pods of long-snouted spinner dolphins would appear splashing and playing. Most of them are used to these tour bancas and they actually swim near or do acrobatic entertainments for the tourists.
Dolphin watching is an exciting experience for tourists and it is important to know that a century old dolphin and whale hunting tradition has been abandoned for the sake of these beautiful sea beings; and that the same hunters become the stewards of the sea.
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Tags: Bohol, Bohol Activities, Bohol Destinations, Dolphin Watching
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Tuesday, January 10th, 2012
The Chocolate Hills in Bohol The little children and people with sweet tooth alike will be disappointed to know that the Chocolate Hills is not actually made of chocolates. Your Bohol destination will not be complete without visiting this world renowned wonder, The Chocolate Hills.
This unique natural wonder is an unusual geological formation that can’t be found anywhere else in the world. The most recent accurate survey says that there are 1,776 perfectly cone-shaped hills, all about the same size and spread over an area of more than 50 square kilometers covering 3 towns; Carmen, Batuan, and Sagbayan. The hills are mostly uniform in shape and have varied heights, between 30 and 50 meters. The hills are covered in green grass that turns brown during the dry season, giving them the name “Chocolate” Hills. The hills are made of limestone which has then been covered with topsoil on which grass then has grown. Philippine legend made up a couple of stories to explain them: In one, some giants get into a rock fight (and the rocks are the hills). In another, the hills are the tears of a forlorn giant. These hills are deemed most beautiful to behold at dusk and dawn. Book with a hotel now and explore this breathtaking experience.
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Tags: Bohol Destinations, Bohol Tours, Chocolate hills
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