Life’s A Beach in Bohol, Philippines

Bohol continues to fascinate international and domestic tourists with its rich cultural, natural, and historical wealth. It’s wonderful Chocolate Hills and amazing Tarsiers are among its best sellers. Add to that the centuries-old churches that line up its main roads and the extremely warm and hospitable Boholanos.

Another wealth that surrounds Bohol are the various beaches that boast of crystal clear turquoise waters, fine white sands that squeak when walked on, and resorts that offer world-class services.

So when I was looking for a good place to lazy around and vegetate while the coconut trees sway in the sun, Bohol’s beaches immediately conjured in my mind.

Bohol remains to be an island that strives for further development but maintains its natural, classic setting - trees line up its roads, hills are still green, less pollution, less trouble.

I’ve been to Bohol several times. But going to one of its world-class beach resorts was a new, exciting thing for me.

Even before coming close to the shores of Tagbilaran City, Bohol’s capital, a showcase of terrain that is a magnificent landscape of rolling hills, rice fields, elongated sugary-white coastlines, and crystal clear sea waters greeted me along with the early-morning sun.

Bohol is like a jade brooch set on a velvet-blue sea. Its fertile land has hills that roll gently around lush forests and grassy meadows. Marine life - from schools of tiny reef fish to bigger pods of dolphins and whales - teem in the surrounding waters.

“Maajong Pag-abot!” (Welcome!) A Boholano’s version of greeting visitors and frequents hang in streamers as our boat docked in the newly constructed port of Tagbilaran. The friendly gestures of locals selling Kalamay and peanut kisses were as warm as the early morning sun.

A short bus-ride brought me to the island of Panglao, home of Bohol Beach Club, the only first class resort in the Island, a seaside sanctuary for beach lovers and scuba diving enthusiasts.

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