9 Reasons Why You Should Visit Cebu and Bohol!
So, I went to Cebu and Bohol for 5 days and 4 nights!!
My very first time visiting the Philippines!
*wheeeeee*
When I got back, the first thing that my friends and families (online and offline =) asked was: HOW WAS THE TRIP??
And, I’d always tell them:
It’s reeeaally nice!! Heh.
So.
Naturally, I’ll share with you a few good reasons why you too should consider visiting Cebu and Bohol the next time you plan for your holiday.
Here are nine of them!!
(Scroll down and read more tips and info of the places of visit too!)
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1. BEAUTIFUL BEACHES
[Panglao Beach, 2-min walk from Bluewater Panglao Resort, Bohol. Photo by Yap Meng]
I loveeee open spaces.
I love big blue skies and clear waters.
And, to take some time to be away from the busyness and routines of city life, … aahhh … precious!
It is the refreshing break every one of us needs every once in a while.
[Love this long bridge at Nalusuan Island – 45 mins by boat from Cebu]
INFO:
> Took boat from Boyla Dive Shop, Cebu
> Boat Rental from 9am – 3pm: PHP3,500
> Snorkeling Masks / Fins = PHP300 per person
> Entrance fee to Nalusuan Island: PHP200 per person
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2. UNDERWATER MAGIC
[Photo by Yap Meng who went diving]
One of the best moments of this trip was when I went snorkeling at Balicasag Island!
I highly recommend this!
Love. Love. Love it!
We didn’t even take a boat towards the middle of the sea to snorkel.
We simply walked towards the sea, from the beach side.
The guide held my hand and led the way, so I only had to enjoy the view down under!
You know what?
I probably saw more than 10,000 fishes and sea creatures within just 30 minutes!
Sea turtles, moray eels, giant clams, super colourful fishes, starfishes, beautiful corals!
Ah … the experience was indescribable!
God’s beautiful creation below the waters at Balicasag Island was just … amaaaazing!!
[Photo by Jaslin’s waterproof mobile phone. Here I was only about 15m away from the beach! Held the starfish super gently, btw! =)]
INFO:
> Snorkeling Charges: PHP350 per person (incl. snorkeling and equipment)
> Diving Charges: PHP3,500 per person for 2 dives, including rental.
> Environmental Fee: PHP200 per person
TIPS:
> If there’s a group of you, you can most likely bargain for a lower price
> There’s a shower area. Bring along your towel, shampoo, spare clothes, etc.
> Be sure you bring along your Diving License, if you have it. You can bring along your own mask and fins too if you wish.
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3. FRIENDLY PEOPLE, WHO SPEAK ENGLISH AND LOVE MUSIC
This is the land of smiling and friendly people!
And since they all can speak English, there are NO language barriers for us! =)
Plus, Filipinos love to sing and dance too!
(eg. There’s always a group of musicians performing at the waiting areas at Ferry Terminals)
TIPS:
I was told that if you could choose WHEN you’re visiting the Philippines, it’d be the month of May, because that’s when they have their ‘Fiesta’!
[Taught to do the quick steps and jumps over two bamboos]
[The round ones are handmade Cocolele for kids. It’s called ‘cocolele’ because one side of it uses coconut shell!]
INFO:
> Cebu is well known for its handmade guitars. If you’re in Cebu, drop by the well-known Alegre Guitar Factory! You get to see the making of guitars, by hand, too!
> Bought a ‘toy cocolele’ for the kids for PHP250. Cute souvenir! =)
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4. NATURE
[Bilar Man-made forest, Bohol]
[Had lunch while cruising along Loboc River, Bohol. Very nice view and breeze!]
[Dolphin watching, Bohol]
Not just beaches. You get to see more of nature when you’re in Cebu and Bohol!
Like, you could catch glimpses of dolphins!
What we did:
We left the hotel at around 5.50am, got on the boat and cruised towards Balicasag Island for some snorkeling.
And just some 45 minutes later, we saw some 20-30 dolphins, swimming happily near our boat!
It was like, … WOWWWW!!
TIPS:
> Dolphins are playful creatures, and we’re told that they like sounds like the clapping of our hands. So …yes, do clap away, and watch them swim alongside your boat!
> If you own a gopro (mounted on a pole), don’t forget to dip it into the sea and capture the dolphins swimming underwater. Beautiful!!
[The Philippine Tarsier, one of the smallest species of monkeys in the world, at Tarsier Conservation Area, Loboc, Bohol. Photo by Kenny Sim]
INFO:
> Tarsier is a nocturnal animal, so please keep things quiet when near where they are, and do NOT use your camera flash when taking photos of these tiny creatures!
> When removed from its habitat, tarsiers are known to commit suicide, by banging their heads till they die. So, no … tarsiers can never be our pet!
TIPS:
> If you’re traveling with young kids, let them know a bit more about Tarsiers in advance. This way, they can learn to respect not just the environment, but also the many different creatures’ behaviours too.
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5. FOOD!
[Lunch by the beach at Nalusuan Island, PHP550 per person. Photo by Yap Meng]
Ah, yes. Food and food. Lots of seafood to enjoy in Cebu and Bohol! =)
Be sure you try ‘Lechon Cebu’ (Roasted Pig), hehe.
Anyway, for food pictures and eating places at Cebu and Bohol, check out our food bloggers Kenneth, My Nosh Pit and Tony, Johor Kaki =)
TIPS:
> Philippine is known for its mangoes. Try their mango shakes! Especially is super yummy and refreshing when the weather is warm!
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Love chocolates?
Then you must check out this chocolate factory – Ralfe Gourmet Chocolate Boutique, Cebu!
They grow their own cacao locally, and make their own chocolates too.
Don’t forget to stop by their Cafe, The Chocolate Chamber (TCC) too, yeah!
Here’s the owner, a cacao farmer, a chocolatier, Raquel Chua, who learned the art of making chocolates at the age of 7!
She said, ‘My greatest wish is for the world to know that Philippines exist in chocolates’.
Yes, do come over to Cebu and taste some ‘Tablea’ (Read: It’s Filipino for ‘Local chocolate produced from cacao beans’)
(Btw, she’s a super friendly mom of EIGHT! Her eldest is in his early twenties. And, check this out, she’s the same age as me! Whoaaa….)
[Hot drink made of cacao beans]
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7. ADVENTURES!
[Sky walk at Crown Regency Hotel, Cebu! Conquer your fear of heights!]
The Skywalk adventure basically is where you can walk around the outer rim of the building, 126.55m above street level!
My knees felt all tingly!
And mmm, I posed like THAT because it was their ‘signature pose-on-one-leg shot’! It wasn’t my idea! I took one-second look towards my feet – and avoided looking at anything else! – before setting my left foot on the edge! Mad stuff!
Oh btw, families with young children are allowed to go for the Sky Walk too!
Something fun to do together, I guess =)
(Just remember to wear ‘covered shoes’ for the Skywalk yeah!)
Click HERE to find out about the rates and schedules!
[ATV Rides at Chocolate Hills Adventure Park, Bohol!]
Ah, I LOVE this activity!
I’ve been on ATV rides before, and I must say, the ATVs we had at Graham ATV were of good quality!
Too bad we didn’t have the chance to maximise its potential (read: speed =).
Would’ve been awesome to zoom off with hubby!
Btw, their rates start from PHP400 per ATV per 30 minutes (SG$11.50! Very reasonably priced!)
PS: Young children can ride on the ATV too, together with an adult. Drive slower, though =)
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8. NO VISA NEEDED!
I was pleasantly surprised to know that the Philippines welcomes foreigners from all over the world, so much so that they can enter the country WITHOUT a visa (if they’re there for less than … 21 day).
How convenient!
We flew from Singapore to Cebu on Silk Air.
(Click HERE to read more about flying on Silk Air to the Philippines!)
The good stuff:
You get 30kg baggage allowance, inflight meals, and even free wireless streaming of uploaded blockbuster hits on Silk Air flights!
(If you have quite a bit to bring along – like, when traveling with younger kids – the 30kg baggage allowance helps a lot! Especially when you’re bringing back snacks and souvenirs too, of course =)
[Reached Mactan-Cebu International Airport in less than 4 hours from Singapore!]
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9. CHILDREN FRIENDLY
Now this is such a heart-warming sight I saw upon reaching Nalusuan Island (45 mins away from Cebu, by boat).
Young children on floats by the jetty! Some were even as young as 1.5yo, I think!
The water was oh-so-clear, the sky was blue, and to bring along the kids to enjoy the outdoors like this … priceless!
You know what?
I might be traveling alone this time round, but as I already shared with my hubby, we should really come to the Philippines as a family, and enjoy the outdoors (and the clear waters!)
And if I were to choose just one destination, I’d go for … Bohol!!
Because, I would LOVEEE to go snorkeling with the kids at Balicasag Island! =)
Yep. One day all five of us will be there!
One day.
=)
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Been to Cebu or Bohol? Do share your stories yeah! I want to read about it =)
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Big thanks to the Philippine Tourism Promotions Board and SilkAir, and omy.sg and Singapore Blog Awards for making this trip is an awesome one for us!
