My Bohol Itinerary with Kids (5 days)

My Bohol Itinerary with Kids 
(5 days and 4 nights)

Day 0

-- pack (see my Bohol packing list)
-- if kids experience travel sickness in airplanes, drink Bonamine the night before so the kids don't become drowsy during the flight. Bonamine is effective for 24 hours after drinking it.

Day 1

Departure from Manila, Arrival at Panglao Beach

     530 am: wakeup

     630 am: leave the house and go to the Manila Domestic 
                 Airport  

• see how to go to the Manila Domestic Airport

     8 am: arrival at the Manila Domestic Airport  

• see facilities of the Manila Domestic Airport

     9 am: departure from Manila via Zest Air Z2 350

     1020 am: arrival in Tagbilaran Airport   

• We booked roundtrip airport transfers from Bohol Tour Guide, Tatsky Cubero. See rate

My Tip:  After picking you up from the airport, you can request the driver to pass by a grocery in Tagbilaran City, so you can buy bottled water, breakfast items, and bread to feed the fish during snorkeling. It's more expensive to buy those items at Panglao Beach.

     12nn: lunch at Isis Thai Restaurant

     2pm: check-in at Isis Bungalows

     2pm onwards: bum around the beach

     7pm: dinner at Pyramid Resort

Day 2
Snorkeling at Balicasag Island, Visit Virgin Island

     7am: wakeup

     9am: pickup of boat to go to Balicasag Island  

• see tour guide contact numbers and rates

     10am: arrival at Balicasag island

     10am-12nn: snorkeling at Balicasag Island

     12nn-1pm: lunch at Balicasag Island

     1pm-2pm: Virgin Island

     3pm: back to resort

     5pm: Mass at Panglao Church

• See Our day with the kids snorkeling at Balicasag Island and walking the sandbar of Virgin Island

Day 3
Countryside Tour

     8am: pick up by Tatsky Cubero, our tour guide.  

• see tour guide contact number and rates

     8am-6pm: Countryside tour  

• Chocolate Hills 
• Manmade Forest 
• Hanging Bridge 
• Lunch at Loboc River 
• Tarsier Sanctuary 
• Actual Blood Compact Site 
• Biggest Python in Captivity
• Baclayon Church 
• Blood Compact Shrine 
• Dauis Church 
• Hinagdanan Cave 
• Bohol Bee Farm

     6pm: arrival at Panglao Beach

     7pm: dinner at Pyramid Resort

Day 4
Free day 

     AM: swimming

     12nn: Lunch at Hayahay Pizza

     PM: Henna Tattoo, Swimming

• see my article "Henna Tatoo at Alona Beach" 

     7pm: dinner in the room at the resort

Day 5
Departure from Tagbilaran, Arrival in Manila

     AM: swimming at the beach

     12nn: lunch at Pyramid Resort

     230pm: departure from the resort

     330pm: arrival at Tagbilaran airport  

• see Tagbilaran Airport facilities

     455pm: departure from Tagbilaran via Philippine Airlines PR 178

     615pm: arrival in Manila

Pasalubong 

Cheapest peanut kisses: At the Biggest Python

Cheapest souvenirs (shirts, keychains, etc): Hinagdanan Cave, Hanging Bridge

Total cost of the trip:

Approximately  php 66,000 for 6 persons, 5 days and 4 nights, or 11,000 per person

For a details of tour cost and fees, see bohol travel budget and summary of cost

Facilities of the Domestic Terminal (Terminal 4) of the Manila International Airport

Facilities of the Domestic Terminal (Terminal 4)
of the Manila International Airport

The Manila International Airport (officially known as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport or NAIA) has 4 terminals:

1. NAIA Terminal 1: the main international airport where foreign carriers land, except Nippon Air.

2. NAIA Terminal 2, or the Centennial Terminal: exclusively used by Philippine Airlines (both domestic and international flights)

3. NAIA Terminal 3: the newest terminal used by Cebu Pacific (both domestic and international flights), Air Philippines and Nippon Air

4. NAIA Terminal 4, or Domestic Terminal: the oldest terminal and the original international airport. It was built in 1948 and currently used by Zest Air and Southeast Asian Airlines (Seair). This is called by the locals as a the Domestic Airport.

Check out the website of the Manila International Airport Authority for detailed information.

See my post Manila International Airport: Location of Terminals for information on where the terminals are located in the city and their distances from each other.

These four (4) terminals share the same runway so when one airplane experiences a problem at the runway, all the other flights are affected. 

We used the Domestic Terminal in our flights to Bohol and Palawan. In a span of one year between those flights, the facilities have been upgraded.  

Here's a summary of the facilities of the Domestic Terminal as of April 2010:

1. Toilets

• Additional toilets have been constructed. Instead of just 1 toilet for male and 1 toilet for female, a new set of toilets was constructed. So there are now 2 toilets for male and 2 toilets for female
• There are now hand sanitizers in all the toilets.
• Bathroom sprayers are also installed in the new toilets located on the left of the photo.
• Toilets are religiously cleaned after every use.

2. Stores

Public payphone, Red Ribbon bakeshop and a drinks store

The drinks store and the cellphone loading store

The magazine/book store, Goldilocks bakeshop, Cinnabon, Vibes massage

My tip: Bring your own food and drinks. The price of the food and drinks are around 70% more expensive than usual. Surprisingly, they allow water to be brought in beyond the secure area.

3. Massage area

•  shown on the right side of the photo above

4. Laptop area

• although there is no free wifi at the airport, there is a laptop station with a desk where you can place your laptop and charge it.

5. Chapel

6. Cellphone charging station and public pay phones

7. Waiting area

Airport Lounge

Airport Lounge facing the gate

• As I mentioned before, since there are only two airlines using this terminal, the waiting area does not become crowded. There are sufficient seats for everyone. 

A Shorter Bohol Itinerary with Kids (3 days and 2 days)

A Shorter Bohol Itinerary with Kids 
(3 days and 2 nights)
(2 days and 1 night)

As I have discussed in my previous post, I recommend that 5 days be given when visiting a major destination (see my 5-day itinerary). But if if it is not possible to spend 5 days in Bohol, here is my suggested itinerary for a 3-day and 2-day Bohol trip:

My Tip:

1. Don't get very early flights. The kids accompanying you will find it so tiring to wake up very early to go to the airport. It will defeat the purpose of having a vacation if the kids end up tired and grumpy. They will not be able to cope with the hectic itinerary of a 3-day or 2-day trips.
2. The typical countryside tour of our tour guide Tatsky Cubero  is composed of twelve (12) sights and normally lasts 10 hours. If you have little time to stay in Bohol, I recommend that you take the tour on the day of your departure, before going to the airport. This means that you will not able to take the full 10 hours and will be forced to miss some sights. Below is a list of sights you shouldn't miss when you go to Bohol.

• Chocolate Hills: to see the magnificent formation unique to Bohol; this is what Bohol is known for.

• Tarsier Sanctuary: this mammal can only be seen in the Philippines and Indonesia; no one has ever successfully transported the Tarsier in other countries. The tarsier die during transport.

• Lunch while taking the Loboc River Cruise

• Baclayon Church: you see the importance of Bohol to the Spaniards during the Spanish period when you see the magnificence of this Church

• Actual Blood Compact Site: new evidence shows the true location where the Blood Compact was held

• Blood Compact Shrine: traditionally believed to be the location where the Blood Compact was held. The annual celebration of the province is held at this site.
  

• Balicasag Island and Virgin Island: a separate tour from the countryside tour but should be on the must-see list. Balicasag Island is one of the best snorkeling sites in the Philippines and Virgin Island is made of fine and virgin white sand and is uninhabited.

3. By taking the countryside tour on the day of your departure  from Bohol, you save on airport transfers. The countryside tour  rate includes pick-up from the resort and drop off at the airport after the tour.

Suggested Itinerary for Three (3) Days

Day 1
Departure from Manila, Arrival at Panglao Island

     530am: wakeup

     6am: departure from the house

        -- see how to go to the Manila Domestic Airport

    8am: arrival at the Manila Domestic Airport

        -- see Facilities of the Domestic Terminal of the Manila International Airport

     9am: departure from manila

     1020am: arrival in Tagbilaran Airport

     12nn: lunch at Isis Thai Restaurant

     2pm: check-in at Isis Bungalows

     2pm onwards: bum around the beach

     7pm: dinner at Pyramid Resort

Day 2
Snorkeling at Balicasag Island, Visit Virgin Island

     7am: wakeup

     9am: pickup of boat to go to Balicasag Island
     --- tour guide contact numbers and rates

     10am: arrival at Balicasag island

     10am-12nn: snorkeling at Balicasag Island

     12nn-1pm: lunch at Balicasag Island

     1pm-2pm: Virgin Island

     3pm: back to resort; henna tattoo

• see my article "Henna Tatoo at Alona Beach"

     5pm: If this day falls on a Sunday, Mass at Panglao Church

• See Our day with the kids snorkeling at Balicasag Island and walking the sandbar of Virgin Island
  

Day 3
Departure from Tagbilaran, Countryside Tour, Arrival in Manila

     8am: pick up by tour guide, check-out of hotel

     8am-3pm: Countryside tour  

• Chocolate Hills 
• Lunch at Loboc River 
• Tarsier Sanctuary 
• Actual Blood Compact Site 
• Baclayon Church 
• Blood Compact Shrine 

     330pm: arrival at Tagbilaran airport

     455pm: departure from Tagbilaran

     615pm: arrival in Manila

Suggested Itinerary for Two (2) Days  

Day 1
Departure from Manila, Arrival at Panglao Island

     530am: wakeup

     6am: departure from the house

        -- see how to go to the Manila Domestic Airport

     8am: arrival at the Manila Domestic Airport

        -- see Facilities of the Domestic Terminal of the Manila International Airport

     9am: departure from manila

     1020am: arrival in Tagbilaran Airport

     12nn: lunch at Isis Thai Restaurant

     2pm: pickup of boat to go to Balicasag Island

• See Our day with the kids snorkeling at Balicasag Island and walking the sandbar of Virgin Island

     3pm: arrival at Balicasag island

     3pm-4pm: snorkeling at Balicasag Island    

     4pm-5pm: Virgin Island

     6pm: back to resort; 
     7pm: dinner at Pyramid Resort; get henna tattoo

• See my article "Henna Tatoo at Alona Beach"

Day 2
Departure from Tagbilaran, Countryside Tour, Arrival in Manila

     8am: pick up by tour guide, check-out of hotel

     8am-3pm: Countryside tour  

• Chocolate Hills 
• Lunch at Loboc River 
• Tarsier Sanctuary 
• Actual Blood Compact Site 
• Baclayon Church 
• Blood Compact Shrine 

     330pm: arrival at Tagbilaran airport

     455pm: departure from Tagbilaran

     615pm: arrival in Manila

 

  

Bohol Packing List

Bohol Packing List

Adult Handcarry

wallet

• money
• credit card used to purchase airline tickets
• ATM cards 
•  IDs: driver's license, school ID
• plane tickets/email of ticket purchase: to be able to enter the airport

emergency medicines

• for travel sickness: bonamine
• for fever and headache: paracetamol, ibuprofen
• for stomach problems: kremil-s, imodium, buscopan
• for allergy: claritin, virlix solution

ballpen and notebook/paper
itinerary
digicam, handycam, battery, memory card, charger
laptop, charger, internet plug it
ipod, charger
toilet paper
hand sanitizer
food: sandwich or cookies
water
jacket

Kids' Handcarry

• jacket for plane ride 
• toy, book
• cellphone, cellphone charger
• ipod, ipod charger
• glasses, extra glasses (in case your child wears glasses)
• cap
• travel journal/ small notebook with friends' address
• ballpen
• emergency money 
• name tag/kid's ID tag 
• tissue/wetones

Check-in Luggage

toilettries:

• shampoo
• soap
• toothbrush
• toothpaste
• perfume, 
• deodorant, cologne
• gel, hairspray
• hairbrush or comb

clothes

• underwear
• shirt, blouse
• shorts
• pants
• nightclothes
• socks
• hanky
• swimsuit, sarong

first aid and medicine kit

• vitamins
• or travel sickness: bonamine
• for fever and headache: paracetamol, ibuprofen
  
• for stomach problems: kremil-s, imodium, buscopan, hydrite
  
• for allergy: claritin, virlix solution 
• for colds: strepsils, cough and cold medicines
•  bandaid, iodine, buds, thermometer 

for swimming:

•  sunblock
•  goggles, floaters, beach toy
• snorkel n mask
• aqua shoes
• underwater camera case
• underwater plastic case for gadgets, cellphones, wallet
   

off lotion
powder detergent
sponge
collapsible cooler: in case you don't have a refrigerator in your room
airbed and airpump
plastic for wet clothes
belt bag
laundry bag
shoes
slippers

St. Augustine Parish, Panglao, Bohol (known among the locals as Panglao Church)

St. Augustine Parish, Panglao, Bohol 
(known among the locals as Panglao Church)

The Facade of Panglao Church

Mass Schedule:

Sunday: 5pm

No Saturday anticipated Mass

 

Contact Number:

038-5029193

How to get there:

1. From Alona beach, walk to the Main Road going to Rona's grocery. The tricycle terminal is just outside Rona's grocery. 

You walk along Alona Beach until your reach this corner. This corner leads to the main road. Your landmark is the Tourist center at the corner of the main road

This is the main road that leads to Rona's grocery where the tricycle terminal is located. The main road has many restaurants along the way. The Bank of the Philippine Islands is also found on this road.

2. Ride the tricycle going to Panglao Church which takes around 10-15min. The tricycle charges P100 per way, good for 2 adults or 1 adult and 2 kids. It's expensive because only tourists ride the tricycle. The locals usually have their own motorcycles to transport themselves from one place to another

My Tip: Arrange your return trip with the tricycle who brought you to Panglao Church. They are willing to wait for you till the Mass ends. 

The tricycle

 Other photos inside the Church:

Location Map:

  No. 42 is the Tourist Center and No. 28 is Rona's grocery. The provincial road going to the right is the road that leads to Panglao Church. Thanks a lot to jimspears.net for the very informative map. If you wish to download a printeable version, go to http://jimspears.net/alona/map.htm