Journalist's Overview: Bohol Countryside Tour

This is my first time to visit the province of Bohol. However, I decided to get an affordable package good for two persons. It includes a day tour of Bohol Countryside plus two roundtrip tickets on a fast-craft ferry from Cebu and Tagbilaran Port. Since it is part of my plan to visit both Bohol and Cebu in a single vacation I made sure that my sojourn would be perfectly scheduled. In order to have a hassle-free vacation I selected the best and affordable service that offers and caters all my itinerary needs. In addition, our tour operator also assured us of safe transport to every destination included in the package.

We took the Supercat fastcraft vessel since it was the one that closely hewed to our schedule.

I was informed by my travel agent on the important details of the ferry schedule from Cebu to Tagbilaran Port. He advised us on the following details:

6AM is the scheduled daily departure of Fast Ferry "OCEANJET" from Cebu to Bohol and 5:30pm from Bohol returning to Cebu Port. It is strictly advised that the tourist should be at the terminal ( Pier 1 ) before 5:30AM.

I preferred and took the SUPERCAT fast-craft ferry due to its convenient departure schedule. Supercat offers a departure schedule of 8:30AM from Cebu going to Bohol Tagbilaran Port. It is also favorable that our return schedule is set at 6:30PM from Bohol to Cebu. We are also reminded that we should be at the terminal ( Pier 4 ) before 7:30AM.

With the latter option we would be able to relax a bit since we are not obliged to wake up very early to meet the early take-off time.

We arrived at around 10:30 AM at the Port of Tagbilaran

We were welcomed by our tour guide / driver 'Kuya' Arvin Maestre with our assigned transportation service a 'Toyota Corolla Altis'

Our first stop was to visit and cruise at the Loboc River. However, if you are planning to shop around there are variety of souvenir stores and "Pasalubong" Center in the area.

I stood in front of this new billboard advertising the Loboc River Lighting Project. According to our driver, the Loboc River cruise management has recently launched its evening cruise shift inclusive of a candle-lit buffet dinner.

This is our Riverwatch Banca with its romantic touch of red which differs from other riverboats.

Served with Buffet lunch of Filipino foods and delicacies

Platter of Pancit, Barbeque, Steamed Crab, Chicken and rice. Other in the menu are oyster, native delicacies, fruits, salad, vegetables and drinks.

You will also enjoy the view of the little falls of Busay when the boat reached the end part of the cruise. From there, the banca will go back to the Loboc Center.

The cruise along the river begins at the Loay Bridge or at the Loboc Poblacion. According to the tour guide the Loay Bridge is 20 kilometers from the city of Tagbilaran while the Poblacion is about 25 kilometers away.

The river cruise took about 2 hours that includes a presentation of a group of little sopranos that showcased their talents.

Loboc River Cruise has an individual entrance fee of around Php 400 - 500 pesos

(inclusive of buffet lunch /dinner)

our next stop is a visit to Mount Carmen, more popularly known as the Chocolate Hills

Always bring your jacket since the weather is so unpredictable. I went here recently (summer of April 2011).

The foggy-covered Chocolate Hills at Mount Carmen in Bohol

There are 1,776 hills spread over an area of more than 50 square km here in Bohol Philippines

The Simply Butterflies Conservation Center

The different kinds of butterflies in the sanctuary.
Did you know that this Butterfly Conservation Center was the first livelihood breeding and conservation program in Bohol?