My Epic Scooter Itinerary in Bohol

We want to share with you our 3-day scooter itinerary in Bohol because it was one of the best things we did in the Philippines!

Bohol isn’t a huge island but there are loads of things to see. The main roads are decent, the side roads not so much but that’s the fun of it!

Overall, it’s an easy and safe island to explore by moped and we suggest you do!

To save you the faff of planning out an itinerary, we’ve shared the one we followed. Have a read and get planning!

If you want more information on Bohol itself then check out my Mini-guide to the whole island; Things to do in Bohol. 

I have also produced a full guide on the Philippines as a whole so if you want some more inspiration, ideas and travel tips for your own Philippines travel adventure then check out my Manual; Backpacking the Philippines.

2 or 3-day Scooter Itinerary in Bohol

During our time exploring the tourist spots in Bohol, we decided to hire a scooter for a few days and head inland to take a look at some of the amazing things to do in Bohol.  We loved having the scooter as it meant we could go where we want, stop where we want and spend as long as we want at any particular destination.

I think it is the perfect way to explore some of the most popular tourist spots in Bohol and so I have put together this 2-3 day scooter itinerary in Bohol to help you plan your own adventure.  Feel free, of course, to amend and add in as many more stops as you wish but hopefully, this gives you an idea of what routes are possible and suggestions as to how long to stop at each place and how long it will take you to get there.

There is one main road through the centre of the island from Tagbilaran, which is the Loay Interior Road.  Keep this road in mind as many of the tourist spots in Bohol are on this road including the Loboc River Cruise, the man-made forest at Bilar and the Chocolate Hills. 

The other important road is the coastal road to the south of the mainland; the Bohol Circumferential Road which provides access to Baclayon Church and some great coastal scenery on your scooter itinerary in Bohol. 

Despite these being the main roads on the island they are rarely busy and so perfect for heading out on your scooter at your own pace.  Expect some traffic in Tagbilaran City but otherwise, you often have the roads to yourselves!

So with the introduction over, let’s get into the destinations on your scooter itinerary in Bohol!    

I will detail the destinations in the order I suggest you travel if you are starting your scooter itinerary in Bohol from either Tagbilaran or Panglao Island. 

If you are starting in Anda, do keep reading anyway to see what tourist spots in Bohol I have suggested and there is then a separate section to provide an alternative route, to the same destinations, for you guys.

Destinations

Baclayon Church

The first stop on our scooter itinerary in Bohol is the beautiful Baclayon Church.  It is only 7km (around 12 minutes) from Tagbilaran along the Bohol Circumferential Road or 21km (around 30 minutes) from Alona Beach on Panglao Island.

Baclayon Church is thought to be the oldest church in Bohol having been built in 1596.

In 2010, Baclayon Church was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines.  In 2013, Baclayon Church was damaged by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake which hit Bohol in 2013 and was then closed for extensive repairs.

Baclayon Church was fully restored and re-opened to the public in 2018. 

It is a beautiful church; striking from the outside with some very impressive artwork and decoration within the church itself including a gold-plated alter!

Attached to Baclayon Church is an interesting museum which houses many priceless artefacts from the Spanish colonial era.  It is an interesting place to learn more about the Spanish occupation of the Philippines.

It is a nice little stop on our itinerary of Bohol and adds a bit of history and culture to our trip!  I would suggest you will spend around 30 minutes to an hour at Baclayon Church.

Once you have finished taking in the history, grab yourself a refreshing ice cream from the vendors next door and hit the road once more!

Visit the Tarsiers in Bohol at The Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary in Corella

The next stop on our itinerary in Bohol is the Tarsier Sanctuary to see some real-life baby Yodas!  These little guys are located 12km (20 minutes) inland from Baclayon Church. 

I have written a separate blog about the Tarsiers in Bohol so do check it out here for lots more information on these amazing primates and why I suggest you visit the official sanctuary in Corella rather than the others on the island.

The Tarsiers in Bohol are one of the smallest primates in the world and are about the size of an adult hand when they are fully grown! 

Their eyes are larger than their brains and they can swivel their heads 180 degrees.  They are nocturnal animals, seen sleeping in the trees during the day and hunting for food at night.

The natural habitat of the tarsiers in Bohol has been damaged by deforestation and their numbers were further decreased by poaching where hunters would kill and stuff these little guys for tourist souvenirs.

Fortunately, the practice of poaching has been banned – as has owning a tarsier unless you have a specific licence to do so – and sanctuaries such as the one at Corella have been set up to preserve their habitat and encourage an increase in their population.

The Corella tarsier sanctuary, also known as the Philippine tarsier sanctuary, is part of the Philippine Tarsier Foundation Inc which is a non-profit organisation that was set up in 1996. It is also supported by the two leading ecotourism organisations in the Philippines, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Tourism.

For these reasons, we recommend you visit the Corella sanctuary if you want to see the tarsiers in Bohol.

Your trip to the sanctuary will include an initial briefing, where you will learn a bit about the tarsiers themselves and some important instructions on how to behave within the sanctuary to ensure no harm comes to the tarsiers.

After the briefing, you will be taken on a tour through a small part of the sanctuary, lasting around 20-30 minutes and during which time you will probably see between 4 and 6 tarsiers.  You can take photographs as long as you have your flash turned off and your guide will explain a little more about these guys.

There is a gift shop and toilets for a quick refresh and in total, I would expect to spend 1-1.5 hours at the sanctuary. 

Once you are ready to go, we can continue our itinerary in Bohol! 

Loboc River Cruise

After a busy morning, the next stop on our itinerary in Bohol is lunch!  And I don’t think there is a more scenic setting for lunch in the whole of the Philippines than on the Loboc River Cruise!

Located 14km (20 minutes) from the Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary in Bohol, the Loboc River Cruise involves a hearty buffet lunch of local delicacies all eaten aboard the huge floating restaurant as you serenely drift down the incredible Loboc River. 

Set to the background of the wildlife of the river and the musical talents of local musicians who play whilst you eat, the Loboc River Cruise really is an incredible experience!

Make sure you tear yourself away from your food long enough to take in your surroundings, the Loboc River is set within some breathtaking scenery which really makes this an amazing experience.

Hanging Bridge Sevilla

After a delicious lunch, the next stop on our itinerary in Bohol is the hanging bridges at Sevilla, which is just up the road from the Loboc River Cruise (8km, 15 minutes).

These two hanging bridges cross the Sipatan River and were originally made of woven bamboo slats, ropes and cables by the locals in order to cross and recross the river.

Nowadays, the bridges are reinforced with metal to accommodate the increased numbers that cross the bridges but the original woven bamboo remains to show how the bridges were originally created.

There is a small entry fee of 20 pesos for you to cross one bridge and then recross by the other.  If you see a coach or two nearby then perhaps wait 10 minutes; some of the island coach tours stop by the hanging bridges at which point it can become quite busy but once they leave you may be lucky enough to have it to yourself!

Spend around 30 minutes here and then we continue with our itinerary in Bohol!

Nuts Huts (and its many activities!)

After a pretty busy day so far during our itinerary in Bohol, it is time to check into our accommodation for the evening; the incredible Nuts Huts!

Not far up the road from the hanging bridges (5km, 10 minutes), but down a very unmade track (which is just about suitable for scooters so do preserve and you will see a make-shift car park at the entrance to Nuts Huts), is one of the coolest places to stay in Bohol!

Once you have parked up, head down the steps towards the Loboc River at the bottom and you will see the reception area/dining area/chillout veranda (!) on the right-hand side.  Get yourself checked in, check out your Hut and then we would suggest heading back up to the veranda for a well-earned drink and a chill on the day beds or hammocks whilst looking at that incredible view over the Loboc River.

There is little to no WiFi at Nuts Huts and lights are sparse in the evening (well, outside of your Hut and the veranda) so this really is a back-to-basics experience of the best kind.  Complete relaxation!

Depending on what time you arrived, how much energy you have and whether you are staying 1 night or two, there are a few things you can do at and near to Nuts Huts:

Kayaks at Nuts Huts

You can hire kayaks from Nuts Huts and paddle up and down the Loboc River.  There is a small waterfall to explore in one direction and in the other you can drift along looking at the views and listen to the wildlife!

Zipline (or cable car) at Loboc Ecotourism Adventure Park

For the adrenaline junkies, there is a zipline at the Loboc Ecotourism Adventure Park which is less than 1km up the main road from Nuts Huts. 

The zipline is over 500 metres long and crosses the Loboc River at a height of around 120m.  Once you have flown across the river there is only one thing for it, jump on the second line and head back across! 

There is also a cable car for those who prefer a more serene trip.  Either way, there are some incredible views up there!

The Adventure Park is 5 minutes up the road from Nuts Huts.  If you are sitting on the veranda at Nuts Huts and you hear a swooshing sound coming from up the valley, that will be the zip line!

Firefly tour

Nuts Huts offer various small and local tours including a firefly tour where they will take you around the site and help you spot these amazing bugs at night.

Have a look in reception when you arrive for what other tours they offer depending on the season.

Bilar man-made forest

After what we hope was a refreshing and relaxing evening and a good night’s sleep, we enter day 2 of our itinerary in Bohol!

Fill up on breakfast at Nuts Huts and then challenge 1 is getting the scooter back up the track from Nuts Huts to the main road! 

Once you are at the main road, head left and on to the only man-made forest in Bohol, located at Bilar, around 9km up the road (15 minutes), and on the Loay Interior Road; the main road to the Chocolate Hills.

You cannot miss this enchanting man-made forest in Bohol runs for over 2 kilometres and consists of thousands of Mahogany trees and divides the towns of Bilar and Loboc.

As you enter the man-made forest you will be struck by both the sight and the temperature!  As the trees were all planted at the same time, the uniformity of the trees is striking; often being described as looking like soldiers or sentinels standing to attention!

And as for the temperature, given the uniform canopy provided by the trees, the sun does not penetrate the forest and you definitely notice a significant dip in the air temperature.  Depending on the temperature, this can be a very refreshing break!

You have two options in this man-made forest in Bohol.  You can either simply drive the 2 kilometres through the forest as you continue onto our next stop or, if you wish to explore further, you can call in at the Bilar Eco Park Nature Reserve, park up and take a long walk through the Bilar man-made forest. 

Chocolate Hills

Now onto one of the highlights of our itinerary in Bohol!

Once you are done with the only man-made forest in Bohol, it’s on to one of the most popular tourist spots in Bohol; the Chocolate Hills!

These amazing feats of nature are 32km along the same road as the man-made forest and will take around 50 minutes to ride to.  Keep your eyes peeled for cafes or bakeries along the way and perhaps think about stopping in for a rest; the coffee and cakes in Bohol are incredible!

The Chocolate Hills are a range of conical mounds spread over an area of more than 50 square kilometres and an estimated 1,200 to 1,800 hills in that region!

They are usually green but in the dry season, the sun scorches the grass on top turning it brown and giving them their unique name.

The best way to see the Chocolate Hills is from the extensive viewing platform.  Park up in the car park, pay the entry fee of 50 pesos (around $1) and head onto the platform. 

From here you will have a 360-degree view of the Chocolate Hills and plenty of space to get your perfect shot or to simply admire the view!

Also located at the Chocolate Hills are toilets, souvenir shops and food outlets so take your time to enjoy the view, grab some food and refresh yourself!

I anticipate you will spend a couple of hours here if you stop for food and drink as well.  Many tours head to the Chocolate Hills so if it seems a little crowded for you when you arrive then grab a drink and wait for the next tour to leave.

Alternatively, if you want to beat the crowds then you could get up early and head to the Chocolate Hills at sunrise.  This will be before the tour buses arrive and you will get some incredible views as the sun rises over the Chocolate Hills. 

Pangas Falls

The next stop on our itinerary in Bohol is a refreshing dip in one of the many waterfalls in Bohol; Pangas Falls which are about 23km (40 minutes) back along the Loay Interior Road towards Bilar. 

This small waterfall comes complete with a concrete and bamboo walkway and some huts which have been constructed around the waterfall for you to get changed in or sit and enjoy a drink.

There is a small entrance fee of 20 pesos and you can buy a drink or snack here as well if you wish.  This is one of the lesser-known waterfalls in Bohol and so if you are lucky you may have it all to yourself!

Take a dip, swim under the waterfall and use those walkways to dive into the beautifully refreshing waters!

Once you are done and have dried off in the sun the next stop on our itinerary in Bohol is our base at Nuts Huts; around 23km back along the Loay Interior Road which should take around 40 minutes.

If you are doing the tour in 2 days then we anticipate you will grab your bag from Nuts Huts and make the journey back to your main accommodation in Bohol.  It’s around 45 minutes (28km) back to Tagbilaran from Nuts Huts, or an hour (42km) back to Alona Beach on Panglao Island.

If you are staying a second night at Nuts Huts then head back, grab a drink and chill on the veranda.  Depending on the time of day and your energy levels, take a look at the list of activities that you can do from Nuts Huts and if you fancy any of these, go wild!

Enjoy another relaxing evening at Nuts Huts and we’ll see you in the morning for day 3 of our itinerary in Bohol!

Pahangog Falls

For the third day of our scooter itinerary in Bohol, if you fancy taking in some more of the waterfalls in Bohol on your journey back then I would suggest taking a detour out to Pahangog Falls and the neighbouring Ingkumhan Waterfall.

It is a bit of a drive to get there but it is worth it!  Head back towards Bilar man-made forest and then head into the interior of Bohol.  I would definitely make sure you have a map before you set off!  It’s around 24km via Loay Interior Road and will take you around 55 minutes to get there.

Pagangog Falls is also known as Dimiao Twin Falls and are very impressive at over 25 metres high!  There is a 20 peso charge to get in and once there this is definitely somewhere to cool off and unwind.  You can even hire rubber rings to float amongst the rock pools; bliss!

Ingkumhan Falls

Once you have done enough relaxing (is there ever enough?!) then hop back on your scooter and take the short trip down to Ingkumhan Falls (4km, 10 minutes).

This is one of the most popular waterfalls in Bohol and it is easy to see why!  This fall is 8 metres high and around 10 metres wide.  It comes with a rope swing and a 5-metre cliff jump on the right-hand side of the waterfall.  So jump, swing and dive to your heart’s content!!

Returning ‘Home’

After you have dried off at these two amazing waterfalls in Bohol, it’s time to conclude our scooter itinerary in Bohol and head back to our starting point.

If you set off from Tagbilaran then you have around a 40km ride back which will take around 50 minutes, all along the coast road.  Feel free to stop off on your way along the coast road; there are a few beaches to explore and plenty of food stops to break up the journey!

If you are heading back to Alona Beach on Panglao Island then you have a slightly longer 55km ride which will take around 1 hour and 25 minutes without any stops.  But equally, there is plenty of stops on the way back along the coast road, or through Panglao Island on your way down to the southern coast.  Why not call in at Bohol Bee Farm for dinner or a drink on your way back?  Check out Bohol Bee Farm and other places to eat and drink in my Mini-guide; Things to do in Bohol.

If you are based in Anda, then take a look at the next section which has an alternative scooter itinerary in Bohol for the above destinations from Anda.  Being a little further out, it will involve a bit more riding but is certainly doable!

Itinerary in Bohol from Anda

If you are based in Anda during your time in Bohol then, as you are at the other end of the island, I would suggest a slightly different route during your scooter itinerary in Bohol; and I would definitely suggest staying 2 nights at Nuts Huts (giving you three days in total) if you can spare the time.

For your scooter itinerary in Bohol, I would suggest the following route:

On Day 1, I would set off early for the 1 hour and 45-minute ride from Anda to the Chocolate Hills.  After a few hours here, including lunch, as I anticipate you will be hungry after a long ride, I would head to the nearby Pangas Falls to cool off and relax.

Once you have dried off, continue along the Loay Interior Road towards Loboc and you will reach the Bilar Man-Made Forest.  

Stop at the Eco Park if you wish to have a wander among the only man-made forest in Bohol.  You are not far from Nuts Huts at this point so you can take your time.

Once you are done, continue along the Interior Road to Nuts Huts, check in, grab a drink and take a well-earned break!

On Day 2, I would suggest first heading to the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary which is around 30 minutes away.  

From there, head onto Baclayon Church which is another 30 minutes away for some cultural learning!  Then, head back to Loboc for some well-earned lunch on the Loboc River Cruise.

Once you have finished, head to the Hanging Bridges at Sevilla before heading back to Nuts Huts.  Chill out or take on one of the activities described above.

On Day 3, I would suggest your itinerary in Bohol looks the same as above; that is head to Pahangog Falls and then onto Ingkumhan Falls before heading home to Anda.  

The route home will also take you along the Bohol Circumferential Road which follows the coast, just in the opposite direction to Tagbilaran and Panglao Island, so feel free to stop off for some food or at any beaches along the way. 

The ride from Ingkumhan Falls to Anda is around 75km and so allow yourself 2 hours, factor in a few stops for food or drinks and enjoy the scenic ride home!

Where to stay – Accommodation in Bohol

As I mentioned above, I anticipate that most people who follow my scooter itinerary in  Bohol will be based either on Panglao Island, Tagbilaran City or in Anda and I have tried to ensure the route caters for all.

If you are not sure where you want to stay when you head to Bohol, then do have a look at my Mini-guide; Things to do in Bohol which has more details on each of these areas as well as the multitude of things to do in Bohol to help you choose where to stay. 

For my scooter itinerary in Bohol, we stayed in Tagbilaran which certainly was the closest location to the destinations on the itinerary.  However, I have picked out some of my favourite accommodation in Bohol for each of the three potential starting points to give you some ideas.

Each can help with hiring a scooter so if you choose any of these, you will have no trouble heading out and following my scooter itinerary in Bohol!             

Panglao Island – Bohol Coco Farm

If you are looking for a low-cost hostel with a great social life then look no further than Bohol Coco Farm; offering some of the coolest accommodation in Bohol.

As well as somewhere to sleep, they also rent scooters and which make an ideal starting point for the scooter itinerary in Bohol and also offer various tours if you prefer to explore the island as part of a tour. 

In addition, Bohol Coco Farm has some great extra touches which I think sets it apart.  You’ll get free breakfast, free tea and coffee, free drinking water and some very friendly staff on hand to help you plan the perfect stay in Bohol!

Tagbilaran – Nisa Travellers Inn

If you are staying in the capital city of Bohol then Nisa is a really great central hostel and is where we stayed when we first set out on our scooter itinerary in Bohol.

The rooms are clean and functional, Nisa has free wifi throughout and the staff are extremely friendly.  They helped us organise our scooter hire when we headed out on our scooter itinerary in Bohol and whilst we were away they even organised for our laundry to be cleaned, folded and stored ready for us when we got back!

Free tea, coffee and breakfast round off a great little place to stay in the city at a great price. 

Anda – J&R Residence – mid-range

If you are going to base yourself in Anda and want to treat yourself, then look no further than J&R Residence! 

They have a private beach area on Anda Beach as well as a beautiful private pool making this the perfect place to relax for a few days before or after a few busy days following my scooter itinerary in Bohol!  

If all that relaxing is too calm for you, you can also book water sports and tours with J&R Residence.

Finally, they also arrange scooter hire and so you will have an entirely stress-free stay at this little oasis of calm! 

Best time to go

In terms of temperature, the weather in Bohol is fairly consistent with high temperatures throughout the year.   The big difference in the weather in Bohol is the rainfall, with the year being split into the dry season and the wet season. 

Generally, the dry season lasts from January to May and then the wet season will be from June to November. 

During the dry season, you can expect the temperature to be between 28°C and 35°C with the temperature at night dropping very slightly to around 25°C.  The dry season can be very humid.

During the wet season, the temperatures will be approximately the same as during the dry season but with increased rainfall; up to up to 5 inches a month.  However, the rain usually falls quickly and then dries in no time and so if you don’t mind a bit of rain then the wet season can see lower tourist numbers meaning cheaper and more available accommodation and tours.  If you do choose to travel during the wet season, check in advance that any tours you wish to take are running.

On the contrary, you can expect tourist numbers to increase during the dry season, as well as an increase in locals heading to the beaches, so accommodation in Bohol and tours can become busier.  That said, we generally found that the accommodation in Bohol was generally available when we arrived in the dry season and there are spaces on the tours if you book a day or so in advance. 

For more details on the weather in Bohol then take a look at my Mini-guide; Things to do in Bohol which also has some details on the various popular festivals in Bohol which may affect when you choose to travel. 

For more advice on booking a trip to the Philippines generally, take a look at my Manual; Backpacking the Philippines. 

Have fun scooting!

Bohol is a beautiful island and you’re going to love exploring it by moped.

Please let us know in the comments below if you do follow this itinerary, even if you only take some inspiration from it and don’t follow it exactly!

But for now, put your helmet on, hold on and get exploring!

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