Cebu-Bohol Adventure 2: Bohol at day 3

See Cebu travel story here for day 1 & day 2.

Day 3:  We arrived at Tagbilaran, Bohol port after 2 hours of sailing from Cebu. We were fetched by Cathy’s driver and requested him to stop by to a supermarket to buy some grocery items. We were also able to order a take out lunch from Jollibee since he cannot wait for us to dine in a restaurant along the way because he has someone to fetch from Alona Beach after.

It took around 30 minutes to arrive at Dumaluan Beach Resort from Tagbilaran. The resort receptionist were able to entertain us immediately but we have to wait for 2:00PM check-in time since there were no rooms available yet so for the meantime we just seated somewhere at their cafeteria while waiting.

 

Around 2:00PM, we were able to go to our room. We booked their family room that is good for 4 persons at 4,900.00 pesos per night with breakfast. Children 5 years old and above is already considered as adult thus we have to pay additional 400.00 pesos per night with mattress and breakfast for my son. Their check-in time is 2:00 PM and check-out time is 12:00 noon. In order to reserve a room, you must pay 50% of the total cost of your stay via bank deposit. You may contact them via email or check their website here. Please don’t forget to keep and bring the original deposit slip upon check-in.

We were assigned at one of their rooms in the 2nd floor. There is no phone inside the room. But instead one phone is assigned per floor in one area outside where the housekeeping staff also stays just in case you need something.

Service water can be requested at 25 pesos as one time payment. Succeeding request of a pitcher of water is free. You have to get it from their restaurant. They won’t deliver it to your room. Their towels at that time were not good, there were lots of lint that would stick on your skin after using it, which I think was the source of our (me and my mom) rashes when we went back to Manila.

In the afternoon, we were lucky to experience the beach since it was not low tide. The beach though is not too deep. We were already far away from the shore but the water level was still just up to the hips.

At night we ate at DBR1 (Dumaluan Beach Resort 1) beside Dumaluan 2, where you can buy fish and pork and have it cooked your own way. There is also pancit/bihon available at 150.00 pesos per order and BBQ at 15 pesos per stick.

 

 

Day 4:  We started the tour by 8:00AM. We rented a van at 2,600.00 pesos from Cathy. We paid a total of 5,980.00 for the entire countryside tour that included the following:

Van rental for 2600.00 pesos, entrance fees for all tourist spots at 305.00 pesos per person, Loboc river cruise lunch at 450.00 pesos per adult and 175.00 pesos per kid. The following places included are Chocolate Hills, ship house (picture taking only in the outside), butterfly sanctuary, tarsier sanctuary,  hanging bridge, Loboc or Loay river floating restaurant, real and fake blood compact site, Baclayon Church, Hinagdanan Cave and Bohol Bee Farm.

Since this was our second time to visit Bohol we omitted some tourist spots. Below are the places we visited instead.

1.  Chocolate Hills and rode an ATV.

Along the way to Chocolate Hills, we passed by the fake and real blood compact site but we didn’t stopped there. Before going up to the view deck of Chocolate hills, we stopped at the ATV rental shop first. Since we had kids with us, we rented their buggy car that cost 850.00 for half an hour. The tour guide was nice that he even extend his service by taking photos of us.

 

2.  Tarsier Sanctuary.

Before the tour inside the sanctuary started, all tourists will have a short briefing about tarsiers and silence must be observed within the area. You also cannot go near with these primates to avoid disturbance. You may take photos though but without using flash.

At the end of the tour, you will exit at their souvenir shops. Don’t buy key chains and other stuff there because it is expensive. All stuff being sold in the shop are also available in the hanging bridge at a lower cost.  For example in the Tarsier Sanctuary the key chain cost 50.00 pesos  each while peanut kisses is at 170.00 pesos for 16 pcs but buying it at the hanging bridge the key chain would be at 25.00 pesos each and peanut kisses at 160.00 pesos.

 

3.  Hanging Bridge.

Just experience crossing the bridge with some photoshoot at the middle for a price. It is up to you if you will get a printed copy but we didn’t. At the end of the bridge, there are some souvenir shops where you can buy peanut kisses, key chains, ref magnets, t-shirts and calamay. Do buy calamay from Jagna for it is very delicious(the name is written in the label). Three pieces would cost 100.00 pesos. Just remember that you have to include these calamay in your check-in baggage.

 

4. Loboc River floating restaurant.

There are 2 places where you can experience dining in a floating restaurant. One is in Loay and other one is in Loboc. In Loay there is not much to see aside from the nipa trees at the riverbanks while in Loboc the view is better. They say that the food is better in Loay than in Loboc.  Along the river, you will pass by local residents wearing Filipino costume and will perform for the guests. Donation also is accepted. You can also dance with them. The cruise took around an hour.

 

 

5. Hinagdanan Cave.

The cave is located at Panglao Island. There are also some souvenir shops that sell cheaper souvenirs. If you missed to buy stuff at the hanging bridge this is your last chance to buy. The cave is under the ground with narrow and steep stairs going down. You have to know how to configure your camera so that you can get the best shot inside the cave. If you don’t the friendly tour guides can do it for you. You can also swim at the cold pool inside the cave. According to the locals there, during high tide the pool depth is at 8 feet. The water is a mixture of fresh and salt water. Life vest also is available for use if you don’t bring any and you can change clothes in the bathroom provided outside.

 

6. Bohol Bee Farm.

The last spot we visited was Bohol Bee farm. I made sure that we arrived at the farm by mid afternoon so that we can still catch a good view of the ocean and the farm. The farm tour took around 30 mins and until 5:00PM only. We first took the farm tour. They featured not only about bees but also their local products such as sinamay bags/ clothes and ice cream among others.

 

They also sell ice cream at 60 pesos per scoop. Their durian and malunggay ice cream is very delicious.

Ice cream station

 

You can also have a taste test of their honey and spreads inside the shop. They also ship honey within the Philippines at 380.00 pesos for 3 kilos of honey. Each bottle contains 500g of honey.

          We also ate at their cafeteria. The prices at the menu cost around 200-400 ala carte. They also will give you a complimentary appetizer which I forgot to ask what was that but I believe it is their cassava chips with dip. we ordered pasta and their garden salad. My parents ordered their main course meal ( pork with rice). We spent around 1500.00 pesos for 4 adults and 2 kids. Their bar also is located downstairs at the cliff.  You can also rent a snorkel gear or diving gear there. The water is so clean and very nice.

 

Day 5: Enjoy the beach.

We didn’t took the sea tour again this time since we have kids with us and I was afraid of any accident that may happen. We just stayed at the resort and enjoyed the resort. We were able to walk along the Dumaluan shoreline until South Palms. At the end of the shore was Esakaya but we decided to stop there and go back since it was too far already. By night time, we dine at the resort restaurant and enjoyed the band that performed that night.

If you plan to do so here is the package for sea tour and island hopping. You may request the hotel to pack the breakfast so that you can bring it with you because you need to be at the boat by 5:00AM since dolphins go out to the sea until 8:00AM or so. Please bring your own snorkel gear for hygiene purpose and aqua shoes also since you cannot walk above the corals in Balicasag for snorkeling (and I find it too painful why we need to walk above those corals to reach the snorkeling area). This is also the reason why if I would push through this tour, I will definitely remove snorkeling if I have to walk on those corals. It will definitely destroy it.

Rate: 1500 Boat rental Alona beach pick up, 1700 for Dumaluan beach pick up. Each boat can only accommodate up to 8 persons as per rule by the Philippine Coast Guard for our safety.
Entrance: 100 per person
Guide: 150 per person
Free 4 masks, in excess will rent 75 each
Aqua shoes rental is at 100 each

The tour includes dolphin watching, snorkeling @ balicasag island and island hopping @ virgin island.

Day 6:  Checked-out at the resort in the morning and off to the airport in Tagbilaran.

 

Cost and Tour guide contact information.

1. Cathy for our tours and transfer contact her at 0921-729-9549/ 0927-821-8352 or email her at cubero.katherine@yahoo.com.  Transfer cost (one way pick up from or to resort) is 600 for van and 500 for a car. She also was the one who bought ticket in Ocean Jet for us at 520.00 pesos (Cebu-Tagbilaran only)
2. Dumaluan Beach Resort website or email them at resort@dumaluanbeach.com.
3.  For ATV, please visit this website.
4.  Previous blog about Dumaluan Beach Resort Dumaluan Beach Resort here.
5.  Previous blog about Cebu and Bohol here.