Scenic Wonders of Bohol Island Paradise

A paradise in the heart of the archipelago, the island of Bohol is rich with history, hospitable people, and a culture worth knowing, beaches caves and scenic view for the nature lovers.

The island of Bohol lies in the middle of the Visayas region and is reachable by an hour's boat ride from Cebu or Mactan island.

Bohol is surrounded by islands shielding it from annual typhoon season. It is separated from the Mindanao region by Bohol Sea in the south and the Canigao channel in the east. The Camotes seas separate the island from the Camotes Island and the Bohol strait from the island of Cebu.

Bohol has a land area of 4117.3 square kilometers, making it as the tenth largest island of the Philippines.

On Bohol, most people speak Boholano which comprises one third of the population. You'll be mistaken if you think that language will be a problem since Tagalog and English is well understood by the people.

Aside from the famous chocolate hills of Bohol the island has a lot more to offer. Tourist destination includes not only the well known pristine white sand beaches that stretched the island, Bohol's tourist assets includes, caves, majestic falls, scuba diving sites whale and dolphin watching and historical landmarks.

The Chocolate hills of Bohol is probably one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country. These consist of approximately 1268 hills and is uniform in shape mostly 30 to 50 meters in height. The hills are covered in grass but during the dry season it turns into brown giving the chocolate like appearance.

Chocolate hills complex is accessible by bus going to Carmen and dropping off before the town of Carmen. From there it's a 10 minute walk going to the complex and enjoys the wonder of nature.

Panglao island's beaches and resorts are a site to visit for tourist. It is located southwest of Bohol and has two municipalities. Along with the famous beaches are Alona, Dumaluan, Bikini, Momo, and Doljo.

Panglao offers cave tours like the Hinagdanan cave, dolphin watching, scuba diving sites, visita eglesia- Dauis church, Bohol's tallest hanging bridge, and an encounter with the Tarsier monkey that are only endemic in the island.

The Island resort also offers numerous restaurants, recharging body massage and unforgettable nightlife for party goers.

Bohol is also dotted with numerous majestic and refreshing waterfalls around the island. It is hidden away from the urbanization and are waiting for tourist to be discovered. A few minutes of walk from the Antequera will be the Mag Aso falls that only fro a few pesos one can enjoy the scenic view.

Also located near the town is the Inambacan falls which is the source of irrigation and drinking supply for the people of Tagbilaran. In the municipality of Dimiao, the twin falls are located that offers a good place for picnic and trekking.

Bohol is also known as the cave country of the Philippines which offers 1400 known caves and some to be discovered. It can offer adventures a place for spelunking and trekking.

Indeed the island of Bohol is a paradise that awaits every visitor to be enchanted by the God given beauty of Mother Nature.

Bohol is located in the middle of the archipelago and can be reached conveniently by Boat of by air. For tourist coming from abroad there are two options first a flight to Cebu then another going to Tagbilaran or Manila connecting to Tagbilaran. Coming from manila, air travel can take an hour and a half to Tagbilaran.

And for those travelers with small budget to spend ferry can be an option from manila that can take 25 hours of travel. Come and visit Bohol and enjoy God's gift to man.

Samal Island - Mindanao's Paradise

Long known to local residents, but largely a secret outside of the Philippines, Samal Island is poised to become a favored world wide destination. The newly developed upscale vacation resorts and high end residential subdivisions that line the gold coast of Samal are the cause for this current enthusiasm. Of course the beautiful white beaches, lush green tropical vegetation and multitude of adventure activities are what have provided the encouragement for all this development to begin with.

The Island Garden City of Samal, the official name for Samal Island, is just a RORO ferry or bangka ride from Davao City, the largest (geographically speaking) city in the Philippines. Surrounded by land and located in the heart of the Gulf of Davao, Samal Island is in a protected, virtually typhoon free zone. The weather therefore is typical of a tropical paradise, balmy with the usual downpour of rain in the evening to cool(?) things down.

There nearly 40 resort offers a wide range of comfort and luxury on the island. To date, the most popular holiday destinations for many would undoubtedly Iceland Samal Pearl Farm Beach Resort. This is a world class resort that has a well deserved reputation. It may soon have competition, though. So much so that some wonder whether the rapid expansion of this island is expected to treat them. The local government said that deliberately keep it in the garden on the island are of the same name.That may be a difficult task, but one that is surely worth the effort.

Those looking for a vacation or retirement home also have many options. Large and medium sized residential subdivisions can be found from the northern tip of the island and continuing down all along the coast. Don't expect bargain prices for these prime locations, but compared to a similar site here in the states (is there such a place?) the prices are very affordable. The subdivisions range from residential only to large complexes that include resorts, wellness centers and a marina. If those don't meet your tastes, land is still available to purchase to build your own, more private dream home. Be aware though that a foreigner can not purchase land outright in the Philippines. If you are married to, or plan to marry, a Philippine citizen then the land must be titled in their name.

As to adventure, scuba diving remains extremely popular due to the magnificent marine life, luscious blue waters and beautiful coral reefs that encompass Samal Island. Water sports such as kayaking, water skiing, and windsurfing are also very popular activities to partake in. Mt. Puto, the highest peak on the island, allows for some challenging hiking and rappelling. For a more relaxed time, you can venture to such sites as the Monfort bat cave, one the various falls or possibly visit a historic site such as the Moncado White House.

What makes it all work is the feeling of relaxation with being away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. With no bridge connecting Samal Island to the larger cities, you really experience the tropical paradise feeling.