Unique natural and wildlife paradise

The rolling Chocolate Hills / Korea Times photos by Yi Whan-woo

Bohol boasts rolling Chocolate Hills, palm-sized primates and lush greenery

By Yi Whan-woo

BOHOL, the Philippines — “You’re swimming in a big aquarium with all the species of fish in the area.”

Tour guide Alison Sarah Malayo says this when asked what it is like to snorkel at Balicasag Island, one of 73 smaller islands surrounding Bohol, in the Philippines.

Many Korean travel guidebooks merely introduce Bohol as a place for an overnight stay while travelling to Cebu, which takes two hours on a fast ferry.

But it is tough to beat a visit to Bohol for at least a couple of days, if you realize the 4,821-square-meter island with a 261-kilometer coastline is home to unique, and even peculiar, nature and wildlife.

They range from schools of colorful fish, turtles, dolphins, corals and plants at Balicasag Island to white sand Alona Beach, palm-sized, saucer-eyed tarsiers, the rolling Chocolate Hills and lush greenery alongside the Loboc River.

The The sea view from Balicasag Island

A barbeque party on Virgin Island

Balicasag Island is one of the Philippines’ famous diving spots and you can see why as you go deep into the crystal-clear waters.

Gorgeous coral reefs and plants brim with hundreds of fish species that swim past you in wave-like fashion. If lucky enough, you will see turtles and dolphins.

There are many resorts on Panglao Island, the biggest of the 73 islands. And if you do not want get too hungry on the way to snorkeling or diving, have your bangka boat stop by for a barbeque on Virgin Island, which lies in the middle of a relatively shallow area between Balicasag and Panglao islands.

A palm-sized, saucer-eyed tarsier at Tarsier Sanctuary

When you have had enough fun underwater, it’s time to visit the interior of Bohol.

Situated 10 kilometers from Bohol’s provincial capital Tagbilaran, Tarsier Sanctuary is dedicated to the preservation and scientific research of the endangered tarsier, a tiny primate native to the Philippines.

Even the adults are no larger than the palm of your hand. And because its massive eyes resemble glasses, spotting a tarsier in the dense forest is like playing “Where’s Wally?”

Keep in mind, never make a noise or try to touch if you spot a tarsier. It is highly sensitive to noise and human contact.

For some Koreans, the Chocolate Hills, 55 kilometers from Tagbilaran, remind of the ancient royal tombs in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. It is hard to believe that as many as 1,776 giant cone-shaped hills are not a man-made artifact, especially considering they are uniform in shape and mostly between 30 and 50 meters high.

Covered with grass, the hills turn chocolate brown at the end of the dry season — and this is how their got their name.

There are three legends about the formation of the mysterious hills that are registered as a Philippines’ National Geological Monument.

One holds that these were the feces of a giant water buffalo, while another tells of an enormous mess left by two ancient giants who hurled rocks at each other before getting tired and becoming friends.

The third says a giant named Arogo could not stop crying after his loved one Aloya died and when his teardrops dried, they formed the Chocolate Hills.

Cruising down the Loboc River

For those who want to enjoy the scenery and have lunch at the same time, the Loboc River cruise is an option. You get aboard a floating restaurant and enjoy a buffet meal with the ride.

The cruise takes 60 minutes. Onboard musicians will entertain as you float past the heavily forested river banks. There also is a cultural show by the local community half way through the cruise.

Bohol Bee Farm is another lunch option. You can enjoy a picture book-like panorama of the sea while eating dishes made from organic ingredients. Among them are honey chicken, red rice, tortilla-like chips, seafood soup, malunggay ice cream and fresh squash bread with Bohol Bee Farm’s spreads such as malunggay, pesto and mango.

Henann Resort Alona Beach

Bohol also has many luxurious resorts and spending at least one day there can be entertaining.

For instance, Henann Resort Alona Beach, the biggest beach resort in Panglao, has three pools with bars.

Along Alona Beach are bars and restaurants where you can try Filipino cuisine. Among the treats are lechon (suckling pork roast), salted egg with tomato, eggplant salad, pickled green mango, jackfruit salad, radish salad, seafood ceviche, lumping ubod (fresh spring rolls), steamed crabs and pork singang. You can also enjoy pancit bam-i (a combination of canton noodles and a variety of vegetables and meats), ginataang labong at hipon (bamboo shoots and shrimp in coconut cream), milkfish relleno, pork adobo with chicken liver and beef kare-kare.