About 2 million years ago, most of the island of Bohol was below a shallow sea coral reefs, similar to those now found offshore of Northern Bohol, thrived and extensibly covered the sea floor. During stormy days, fragments of coral and shells derived by waves from the reefs were deposited were mostly deposited in the landward side of the reefs. The coral and shell fragments formed relatively thin layers surrounding the live coral reefs.

Slowly, the land rose causing the coral reef formation to emerge out of the sea. The taller arrows shown in the diagram indicate that the southern sections of Bohol island have been uplifted more than the northern section.

The Chocolate Hills have been carved out from the relatively thin layers of coral and shell fragments. Gullies were developed in the low lying areas and lakes occupied pre-existing depressions.

Wait, there’s more!: Send Money to the Philippines Remit2Home – it’s fast, easy and reliable.

The one-hour cruise takes the diners to an hour-long lunch buffet with the great view of the Looc river. Onbard the covered raft, a sumptuous Bohol-inspired dishes paired with a pair of musician and singer combo for entertainment. 

The cruise will pass thru and dock on another flaoting raft (balsa) with an orchestra of ukolele players and dancers singing local songs while tourists are enourage to join in the revelry. One of the more challenging dance moves include the tinikling. 

Loboc is a 5th class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. It is mere 24 km away from Tagbilaran City, the provincial capital of Bohol. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 16,299 people. It is the Music Capital of Bohol.

Loboc is known for its floating restaurants along the scenic and winding Loboc River. Tourists also come to see the tarsier, a small nocturnal animal with large eyes, one of the world’s smallest primates in the world.

You might wonder why the river water looks yellowish-green. This is because of the soil content that’s mixed with rainwater flowing down the mountains (some sort of algae that turns greenish when exposed to the sunlight).

Wait, there’s more!: Send Money to the Philippines Remit2Home – it’s fast, easy and reliable.

From Manila: Domestic carriers such as Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have direct flights to Tagbilaran City Daily.

From Cebu: Fast craft sea vessels such as Ocean Jet, SuperCat and Weesam have daily trips to Tagbilaran City with approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes travel time.

Amorita offers escorted transfers (30-45 minutes) from the airport or the pier in Tagbilaran (Capital of Bohol)
to the resort.

Manila Sales & Reservations Office:
Unit 1632 City and Land Mega Plaza,
ADB Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City
Tel Nos: +63 2 687-3641/914-0585/+63 2 914-1728/914-1527
Fax No: +63 2 914-0584
Mobile: +63 917 8619441/922 8593403
Email: inquiries @ amoritaresort.com
URL: www.amoritaresort.com

In Bohol:
Easter A. Lim Drive, Brgy. Tawala,
Panglao, Bohol, Philippines 6340
Tel Nos. +63 38 502-9001 to 03
Fax No. +63 38 502-9002

Wait, there’s more!: Send Money to the Philippines Remit2Home – it’s fast, easy and reliable.

I have included in my healthy new year’s resolution traveling out of town (if not out of the country!)  at least once a year.  My son and I need such bonding-retreats (be it just the two us or with a group of friends) away from our daily routine, every now and then.

I have discovered too that unplanned trips are the ones that eventually materialize.

Like we have been planning to visit Ruth in Singapore for half-a -year now but we haven’t gone to finally booking that ticket.  Either I have not much money saved or something comes up that makes me use the money I was supposedly saving.

And then suddenly, Ruth told me that her family is coming home to the Philippines and out of the blue said to me when we were chatting: tara sa bohol!

So, we’re going to join them. Yey!!

We are already booked at the Bohol Beach Club and thank God for the Cebu Pacific low fare rates.

Wait, there’s more!: Send Money to the Philippines Remit2Home – it’s fast, easy and reliable.

It was Day 2 of our Bohol vacation and my team mates are preparing for the day with the sea.

Dol-FIN watching

So early in the morning, as our team departed to the sea from the powdery white sand beach of Alona in Isla Panglao, after packing up something to munch of and taking pictures. And the motor banca stopped and there was silence.

Bohol Sea is part of the whale’s and dolphin’s migratory route and habitat and so therefore there are many passers-by here. Between the island of Panglao, Balicasag in the west and Pamilacan in the east, the dolphin watching was a thing to get entertained, but to our dismay, the only thing that we saw are few dolphins with their fins the most visible.

Native fishermen once hunted these marvel of the sea for their meat. Yet ever since the media in Manila opened up this issue, the fishermen stopped slaying these gentle creatures and turned into subsistence fishing and now Bohol’s top industry, eco-tourism.

Paradiso Mar: Balicasag

After that dolphin watching and rocking with the waves and the deep blue sea, we head on to the island with a parola on his head. Named perhaps form a specific type of crab that was abundant back then: Balicasag. One of the country’s declared marine sanctuary, the main scene that made Balicasag famous is not on its shores but below the water.

Balicasag is a city of marine proportions. Fish and sea creatures here there and everywhere. The color was azure and the water is clear. It was a sight to behold.

We went their unprepared and no reservations with the PTA-owned resort but with the help of the local residents who are hospitable enough to accept these estranged visitors from the city, we had a sumptuous meal of fish and kilawin. Yum yum! Fresh catch from the sea.

The sun is blazing on a windy habagat breeze, the sky was clear, and we had satisfaction on our faces. Manong Bangkero (boatman) asked us if we wanted to go to a certain place named “Virgin Island” which is near mainland Panglao but for an additional fee. We agreed, it was early to go back to the resort and paid an additional P500.

As we left Balicasag Island, people who are into snorkeling and diving multiplied off-coast of the island. It was one in the afternoon. And we were off to this certain island that is isolated and uninhabited.

Isla Virgen (“Virgin Island”)

It was a choppy 45 minute ride with our banca as we braved the already rough waters of the monsoon wind. It was a thrill of a ride when suddenly the waters were calm. We were approaching Panglao Bay, a very shallow body of water made from several shoals, coral reefs and magnificent and a very virginal island known as, Virgin Island.

It was low tide and we can see the stretch of white sand beach stretching from the island, all the way to the sea, and we were just in time for it disappears during high tide. Silent and no people around. We disembarked and spent an hour in the said island. It was hot yet we relaxed in the shallow clear waters of Panglao.

Habagat sets in

The weather seemed to be very cooperative as we had our morning dolphin watching, an outdoor lunch and going to a different world known as a sea. But it was turning late in the afternoon when dark clouds are already appearing in the sea. As we went back to our resort, we went back again for half an hour snorkeling. And as the rain approaches, we decided to call it a day.

We weren’t tired. It was satisfying. Bohol by the sea has something truly amazing to offer. Azure, verdant and fish. That was one September day that we would never forget and oftentimes still convinces me to go back there again.

Debt Consolidation free quote

Wait, there’s more!: Send Money to the Philippines Remit2Home – it’s fast, easy and reliable.

Panglao Island’s Marine Sanctuary is certainly a paradise for those who enjoy snorkeling. The coral reefs around the area are being preserved and being taken care of DENR. In addition, fishing has been prohibited in this area.

Before you could enjoy snorkeling there, one would take a boat ride going to the Marine Sanctuary’s floating life guard station. From there, you’ll enjoy feeding a school of fish with bread while viewing the magnificent underwater world. Just be careful for you might be able to drink sea water. It’s really salty I tell you. You will surely float even without a lifevest.

Wait, there’s more!: Send Money to the Philippines Remit2Home – it’s fast, easy and reliable.

There are two things that make this resort special among the many resorts located in the island of Bohol. First is the green ladscape composed of various species of trees and plants and second is the open swimming pool with a magnificent view of the resort’s white sand beach. This made skinny dipping into the warm water of the pool during night time romantic and peaceful. Perfect for honeymooners and couples who are out to relax and enjoy each other’s company.

Another attraction of the resort is a man-made islet located just a few meters away from the beach. This man made islet serves as a diving and snorkeling spot during high tide.

The accomodations at the Panglao Island Nature Resort is not to be missed out. The resort has various villas and cottages, each with its own lanai area fronting the beach or the garden. Some of these cottages even have its own jacuzzi for an added amenity.

And did I say that food and beverages at the Panglao Island Nature Resort is also superb? The resorts restaurant serves various local delicacies prepared the Boholano way. You can enjoy this food at the resorts gazeebo-type restaurant.

So, if you are planning a Bohol vacation, you might want to check out Panglao Island Nature Resort, it is definitely one of Bohol’s finest resort.

Visit the Loboc church which was constructed during the Spanish era.

Have lunch at the floating resturant traversing the magnificent Loboc River.

Meet the famous Tarsiers.

And of course, one should not leave Bohol without seeing the Chocolate Hills.

I won’t write much about my recent trip and will just let the pictures speak for themselves. Take a look at the other pictures I took during my trip last weekend.

Technorati Tags: Bohol, Chocoloate Hills, Loboc, Floating Restaurant, Tarsiers