Bohol
Bohol
The Jewel of the Philippines, Bohol is a gorgeously lush gem in the Philippine archipelago, what with its rolling hills and turquoise rivers. This is the home too of one of the rarest yet well-known small primates of the world: the inspiration for Spielberg’s ET, the tiny, bug-eyed tarsier.
But tarsier-watching is not the only thing Bohol can offer the tourist. You can bask in the country’s charming historic heritage, for one thing, by visiting the many colonial Spanish churches and capiz-windowed structures throughout the island. You can sample it in the local fare as well, which combines Southeast Asian and Spanish influences in many dishes. And speaking of fare, don’t forget to try the delicious local honey, which is believed to also have medicinal properties and is exported to many other places in the Philippines.
Nature presents some fascinating facets in this jewel of an island, from the coconut-lined Lomboc River (where you can enjoy cruises as well as meals from floating restaurants) to the world-famous Chocolate Hills. These hills make up one of the wonders of the Philippines, and they are certainly a wonder of the world as well: to this day, scientists remain uncertain about the precise way in which these curious mounds were formed, and even after the 2013 earthquake that hit the region, over a thousand of them still peek up from the ground, like colossal molehills formed by a particularly perfectionist giant mole.
Bohol’s waters are appealing as well, and offer much to the eager water sportsman. You can swim, dive, and snorkel to your heart’s content in these blue waters. And even if you don’t enjoy being in the water, you can at least take time to enjoy the sands—which are so white and fine that private beaches and resorts around the world actually pay to have them shipped to their location.
Bohol is definitely one of the places to go to when you visit the Philippines, a crowning jewel in this fine collection of tropical islands. Be sure to take in as much of it as you can on your visit, for this is one place where memories made are sure to be worthwhile.
