Bohol is one of the beautiful islands in the Visayas. It offers several attractions that are kid-friendly that you can consider when traveling with the family.
Here are the Things to do in Bohol for Kids
Chocolate Hills
The Chocolate Hills are probably Bohol’s most famous tourist attraction. There are about 1200+ hills around Bohol. Check the hills from the viewing deck in Chocolate Hills Complex in Carmen (which you have to climb in 200+ steps) or in Sagbayan Chocolate Hills Complex. This will give you a 360° view of the hills.
If you are more adventurous, you can rent a buggy or an ATV (in Carmen) so you can drive at the foot of the chocolate hills and trek to one of the smaller hills for a better view.
This can either be a separate trip or as part of a day tour.
Location: Carmen or Sagbayan | Fee: Php 50 per person (Chocolate Hills Complex in Carmen)
Tarsier
Visit the sanctuary to see the tarsiers, world’s smallest primate. Tarsiers have small bodies covered in gay fur, with the tail longer than the body, they have large brown eyes, hairless ears and long finger-like claws. They are nocturnal, like owls, so when visiting make sure not to disturb them in their sleep and when taking photos, do not use flash. Make sure to visit the official sanctuary area – Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella. This supported and run by the Philippine Tarsier Foundation.
Location: Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella | Operating Hours: 9am – 4pm | Fee: Php 60 per person
Butterfly Sanctuary
Learn about the life cycle of the butterfly and see the eggs, caterpilar, pupa and the butterfly in real life. This is way better than seeing the photos from books. They say that Bilar host about 200 species of butterflies and the center seeks ways and means to conserve and breed them.
Location: Simply Butterflies Conservation Center in Bilar | Fee: Php 50 for adults and Php 10 for children
Loboc River
Have lunch while cruising the picturesque Loboc River. The cruise usually lasts for an hour and it starts at Loay Bridge and turns at the Busay falls. Visitors are sernaded in Boholano songs by in-boat bands and rondalla music by a local group housed under a floating cottage. You can also see children swinging from large coconut trees and diving into the river.
Location: Municipality of Loboc (near Loboc Church) | Fee: Php 550 for adults and a discounted rate for children
Old Churches
Visit old and famous churches in Bohol – Loboc and Baclayon.
Loboc Church, also called the Church of San Pedro, is the home of the famous Loboc Children’s Choir. It is just beside the Loboc River Cruise so it’s hard to miss. The church was destroyed during the 2013 earthquake and still being reconstructed.
Baclayon Church is the oldest church in Bohol and the second oldest in the Philippines. This is also called the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.
Location: Loboc Church – Municipality of Loboc | Baclayon Church – Municipality of Baclayon
Man-made Forest
This is 2km long stretch of road with mahogany trees. This was part of a bigger reforestation project that was created in response to the alarming deforestation in the Loboc watershed.
Location: Border of Loboc and Bilar towns
Hanging Bridge
The Bamboo Hanging Bridge crossing the Sipatan River is a quick stop. You can cross the bridge and have a drink of cold fresh buko juice at the other side before you cross back. There’s not much to see but just to experience the fun and thrill of crossing the swaying, hanging bridge.
Location: Municipality of Sevilla | Fee: Php 10 per person
Blood Compact Site
Time to learn some history! Blood compact or Sandugo was an ancient ritual in the Philippines intended to seal treaty. It was performed in the island between the Spanish explorer Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and Datu Sikatuna the chieftain of Bohol on March 16, 1565, to seal their friendship as part of the tribal tradition.
The well-known site is in Barangay Bool, Tagbilaran City. This shrine was made by National Artist for Sculpture, Napoleon Abueva. The National Historical Institute Marker of Sandugo however is located at the actual site in Hinawanan Bay, Loay. Evidences had been found to fit to the description written in the book (Colleccion De Documentos De Ultramar which recorded General Legazpi’s expedetion): the deep well between two rivers – named as Sikatuna’s Well built around 1200 A.D. – well the men of General Legazpi fetched water from and bought in their galleon. The well still exists and can be seen at Hinawanan Loay.
Location: Actual Blood Compact Site: Hinawanan Loay | Blood Compact Shrine: Tagbilaran City
Vintage Cars
If you are into cars, like our little can enthusiast, there’s Bohol Vintage Museum which houses about 40+ vintage cars. Some of them are even functional and you can rent them to drive around town.
Part of the compound is a small room with collectibles that bring you right back into the glamorous, vintage vibes. The collections include TVs, video recorders, typewriters, telephones, turntables and vinyl records and more.
Location: National Highway in the Municipality of Baclayon | Fee: Php 60 per person, little enthusiast – Free!
Hinagdanan Cave
A famous cave in Bohol that was discovered by a farmer while clearing his land. He found 2 holes, curious, he dropped a stone and heard a splash. He built a ladder “hagdan” and was able to access the cave and find its hidden beauty, thus the origin of the name Hinagdanan. It is a naturally lighted cavern with a deep lagoon and many large stalactites and stalagmites. Some tourists swim in the chilly waters.
Location: Bingag, Dauis | Fee: Php 50 per person
Bohol Bee Farm
There’s a 30-minute tour at the farm to see the different herbs, edible flowers, and vegetables they have, their crafts, the production area for putting together natural ingredients into organic and hearty products they serve or sell, and to see the bee colony. It is a must to try their ice cream!
Location: Dao, Dauis Panglao Island | Fee: Php 35 per person for the tour
Shell Museum
Nova Shell Museum is a place where a collector houses his shell collections from his diving adventures. More than half of his shells were collected in the Philippines upon his expeditions to other islands.
Location: Poblacion, Panglao | Fee: Php 50 per person
Panglao Beaches
Check Alona beach, the most popular with tourists or near by beaches (Danao, Dumaluan, Momo Beach) in Panglao.
Location: Panglao Island
Hop on a boat for island hopping to see dolphins or go snorkeling in Balicasag Island to see the underwater treasures – schools of fish, corals, and sea turtles!
Location: Balicasag Island
Contact for Car Rental for Bohol Country Side Tour or Panglao Tour
Contact Kuya Tatsky and his team in Incredible Bohol so they can help you get to Panglao from Taglibaran. We booked them in our Bohol Country Side Tour and Panglao Tour. They can also help you and contact a boat man fro you if you are planning to do island hopping in Balicasag and Virgin Islands. They offer good services at an affordable rates and we highly recommend them!
We hope you will enjoy Bohol as much as we did! We are looking forward to come back to enjoy the island life, may be when the Bohol International Airport in Panglao is operational.
Where to stay in Bohol: Places to stay in Panglao
