Bohol was our last stop in the Philippines, and much needed respite from the Siquijor Shenanigans. With Nic and Jake only joining us for two short nights (but really only one full day) before jetting back to Sydney, we wanted to make the most of Bohol. We were staying in separate accommodation–Pat and I in Loboc River Resort (our most boujee accommodation, yet) and Nic and Jake in MS Mountain Cabin (a hotel up a hill so tall, tuk-tuk drivers charge an extra ₱100 just to get to the top). We dined separately after arriving in Bohol in the late afternoon from yet another ferry ride, and picked our tour destinations for the next day.

Bohol Adventures

Nic and Jake met us at our resort at 9:00am for a tour of the Tarsier Sanctuary, Chocolate Hills, and the Loboc Ecotourism Adventure Park. Our first stop? A quick roadside break at Bilar Man-Made Forest—a stunning stretch of towering mahogany trees. Unlike a natural forest, this one was planted as part of a reforestation project that began in Bohol over 50 years ago. 

Our next stop was the Bohol Tarsier Sanctuary, home to one of the world’s smallest primates—the Philippine tarsier. These very cute, very tiny, very wide-eyed creatures are nocturnal and highly sensitive to noises and lights, with the ability to rotate their heads 180 degrees (because their eyeballs don’t move) and leap incredible distances. Despite their size, they have enormous eyes, each as large as their brain! The sanctuary is dedicated to protecting tarsiers in their natural habitat, as they are an endangered species from their habitat loss and illegal trade. It was an unforgettable experience seeing these little primates up close, but it did feel a bit strange knowing that each morning, the sanctuary staff place the tarsiers in their “viewing spots” for visitors… It was pretty cool to see the tarsiers, though–they now only live on a few islands in Southeast Asia.

Next, we visited the Chocolate Hills, one of Bohol’s most famous natural wonders. At the viewdeck, we were met with a breathtaking amount of tourists… and a view of hundreds of perfectly rounded hills stretching across the landscape, looking almost too symmetrical to be real. During the dry season, the hills turn a dark brown color, resembling giant chocolate truffles, hence the “chocolate” in the hills. Formed millions of years ago from marine limestone and eventually shaped by erosion, they are a true geological wonder. Despite the heat and humidity and waiting ages to get a photo, it was worth the effort!

We stopped for a Filipino buffet lunch next to the Bohol Butterfly Park where we loaded up on local favourites like pancit, chopsuey, rice, and for someone in particular, about 30 spring rolls… We were well-fuelled for our last stop at Loboc Ecotourism Adventure Park, where all four of us soared high above Loboc and across the Loboc River Valley on the zipline, taking in amazing aerial views of the jungle and water below. It was scary, but lots of fun!

Nic and Jake joined us at Loboc River Resort for a quick drink before returning to their accommodation on their giant hill. We later met them for Filipino dinner at Sarimanok Inn & Resto (which wasn’t the ideal destination for our last dinner, but was really our only option given our location). We each reminisced on our top three most memorable, most traumatic, and most funny moments of the trip, shared our last Red Horse beers, and played our last game of cards [sad face]. We bade farewell to Nic and Jake and I shed many a tear in the bumpy tuk-tuk on the way home.

Last Day in the Philippines!

Nic and Jake started their long journey back to Sydney via ferry to Cebu, plane from Cebu to Manila, and plane from Manila to Sydney, while Pat and I did absolutely nothing. We slept in, sat by the pool, had lunch, went to monkey feeding at our resort, and then went on a firefly-watching tour, which was actually very impressive. We had both never observed fireflies before, and they are very beautiful. We also learnt that they are beetles and not flies, and that their bioluminescence is a chemical reaction in their abdomen between enzymes, oxygen and luciferin. Interestingly, fireflies use their light to communicate with other fireflies and warn predators of their toxicity, and they live for two months–just long enough to mate and reproduce. Call me ‘Attenborough’.

We had a late dinner at the resort, and packed our bags for our next adventure in Indonesia!

In Summation

We had an absolute ball traveling the Philippines with Nic and Jake. Despite the bickering, a few tears, and the occasional meltdown, they were hands down the best company we could’ve asked for. We loved exploring the world together and we’re so sad they couldn’t stay longer. From Jake failing a backflip off the swing in Siquijor, to me nearly getting attacked by a dog in Coron, to Nic explaining her dairy allergy at least three times a day, and of course, Pat’s unexpected trip to the hospital–it was chaotic, unpredictable, and so. much. fun.

All in all, we learned a lot, saw some incredible places, did some unforgettable things, met some amazing people, and were, at times, pushed completely out of our comfort zones. Would we do it the exact same way again? Probably not. But we left with a desire to see more of the Philippines, while also feeling like we’d seen the perfect amount of certain places. We highly recommend the Philippines for those wanting a beachy, nature-filled adventure, as long as you’re prepared for the painful journeys between provinces. If you’re up for stunning landscapes, turquoise waters, and a little bit of travel chaos, it’s 100% worth it!

Thanks for following along! See you in Bali.

Cass x