#photowalk in the #island of #bohol. Me at #southPalms property, like 5 times wider than bohol Beach club's. #panglao #panglaoBeach #Philippines #beach #whiteSand (at South Palms Resort Panglao)
Still #love and #remember when we walked pass there #wedding #beach #bohol #southpalms #onemonthago #love is all around #philippines #green #nature #coconuttrees #beachwedding (at Bohol, Philippines)
Last summer, I was able to check off another item from my local travel bucketlist as I visited the beautiful islands of Bohol. Sure, Boracay will always be the most popular tourist spot in the country with its fabulous resorts and activities (Read about my Boracay adventure here). But if you want to see Boracay as it was a few decades ago, then a journey to the unspoilt beaches of Panglao will give you a pristine island setting with less of those pesky tourists.
I stayed at the South Palms Resort Panglao which is located in a more secluded portion of Panglao island in Bohol. This 9.3-hectare tropical enclave is entrenched within a 45-hectare spread of beach front property, plenty of space to gather your thoughts amidst the simple beauty of nature. My main reason for traveling to Bohol was to see the Chocolate Hills in person, something that I only used to see in post cards and travel shows. I knew that walking long distances would be difficult for me, especially since I had just been diagnosed with Avascular Necrosis a few month back as a result of prolonged steroid use for my Lupus attack years ago. But I still had so many places to go on my travel bucket list, so I was determined not to let Lupus dictate my life.
I booked my stay at South Palms Resort Panglao during the Philippine Travel Tour Expo, a great place to find huge bargains and discounts on resort and hotel stays as well as airplane tickets. The property used to be owned by Bohol Beach Club, a more familiar name to those who have been to Bohol before. A big portion of the resort, including its most valuable beachfront, was eventually sold to South Palms which has then renovated the area and now operates it under the new company. Land transfers were included in the room package which only cost P5888 per night so we were picked up by the hotel van at the Tagbilaran Airport and dropped off at the front desk. Welcome drinks of Cucumber Lemonade were provided which was very much appreciated given the sweltering heat.
The first thing that will immediately draw you at South Palms Resort is their expansive beachfront. With half a mile of white sand beach, the longest stretch there is in the entire island, the waters of Panglao are like a colorful canvass where guests can take leisurely strolls barefoot without having to bump into another tourist taking a selfie. We arrived on a weekday so there were only a few guests at the resort, a cherished luxury you won’t find in Boracay.
South Palms Resort Panglao stands out with its unique blend of spectacular seascape, cool private villas and warm Boholano hospitality. The architecture highlights local craftsmanship and Boholano heritage. These tropical-styled rooms are just a few steps away from the water and it reminds me of those quiet beach resorts where the main purpose is to relax instead of indulging in so many other activities.
I was booked at their 30-square meter Deluxe Garden View room which comes with a 32-inch LED Cable TV, coffee and tea making facilities, a mini-bar, and free WI-FI access. It’s not as modern as other bigger and newer resort hotels but everything you need is here for a comfortable stay.
Since the resort is a bit far from the other commercial areas around the island, guests usually dine at the Oceanica Seafood Restaurant located at the garden level just beside the lobby. Open daily from 6:00am to 10:30pm, Oceanica takes in the breathtaking view of the ocean and the surrounding tropical landscape for a captivating dining experience.
The restaurant offers a myriad of seafood specialties including both ala carte fares and buffet spreads especially during weekends. I ordered from their ala carte menu for my lunch with reasonable prices ranging from P400 up per person. Buffet was available during dinner at around P1200+ per person and you will encounter regional specialities like the Cebu Lechon, Bicol Express and many more.
Aside from eating, the other main activity at South Palms Resort is swimming. If the white sand beach is not your thing, then head to the Infinity Pool in front of the Oceanica Seafood Restaurant. This is the best place for those Instagram-worthy photos, with or without the swan.
Beside the infinity pool is the Coast Pool Bar where you can have a drink or two with its cozy ambiance and signature concoctions. In the evening, the bar transforms into the perfect spot for an intimate dinner or a nightcap with the soothing sound of sea breeze.
They also have another Swimming Pool further inside the resort where most of the villas and rooms are located. This pool is bigger and would be more appropriate for children and families.
The resort also has a few other amenities like a small sports room with billiards tables. Another attraction here is their own mini forest patterened after the Man Made Forest in Bohol.
During the evening, traditional cultural performances are held beside the Oceanica Seafood Restaurant showcasing some of the interesting heritage of the Philippines and Bohol. During my stay at the resort, I also booked a day-tour around the famous tourist attractions all over Bohol. You can book this over at the hotel’s tour desk but you can also contact van drivers directly and schedule a pick-up at the hotel, which was what I did. This will come around cheaper and we were able to rent a whole-day van tour for P2,300. You will have to pay the entrance fees and tickets separately but those are minimal.
The van driver met us around 8:30am at the hotel lobby. Bohol is a big island and going to the tourist attractions does take some time. Our first stop is actually on one of the roads going to our destination. The Man-Made Forest is a series of mahogany trees planted on the side of the roads creating this enchanting path. Tourists usually stop over on the side of the road to take photos inside this serene forest, myself included.
We also passed by the Loboc Church, one of the oldest churches in the Philippines which was devastated during the 2013 earthquake. Renovations are still ongoing three years after the damage and I’m not sure why it has taken so long to complete.
After two hours on the road we finally reached our destination, the Chocolate Hills. This one-of-a-kind geological feature is Bohol's most popular tourist attraction. These dome-shaped hills, which number around 1,268 to 1,776 individual mounds, are actually made of grass-covered limestone. The grass turns brown during the dry season, making them look like small chocolate hills. This has been declared the country's third National Geological Monument and proposed for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage list.
The best view of the hills would be on the top of the viewing deck, which can only be reached by foot up these never-ending steps. This is where I have to draw the line, because there is no way I can reach the top given my brittle bones.
Thankfully, my companion was more than willing to go up so I just asked him to bring along my trusted walking cane for a photo op. I had to start using this cane after my diagnosis because I found out that my hips and joints were already very weak. So whenever I have to walk long distances, I use this cane to help myself. My travel buddy has since gone with me to Boracay, Cebu, Bohol and even Singapore, so this cane is quite the jet-setter.
Another interesting stop of the tour is the Loboc River Cruise which is usually done around lunch time. Here you can sail along the scenic and winding view of the Loboc River while dining and relaxing on board one of the town's native floating restaurants.
A ride on the Loboc River Cruise costs P450 per person but this already includes a lunch buffet that starts when the boat begins to sail. The food is actually pretty good with Filipino favorites like pork inihaw, fried chicken, barbecue and others.
The over one-hour round-trip cruise is not really that eventful. It will have a couple of stopovers along the way like this small river store selling musical instruments. You will also get to see some performances from the locals and you may donate to their charity box if you wish. The river cruise ends at a small waterfalls and the boat will then head back to the starting point.
The tour continues with a few other stopovers like the Python farm and the Blood Compact site, but the other main attraction of the tour is the Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella town. Bohol Tarsiers are considered as the world’s smallest primate, measuring just 4-5 inches and weighing only about 113 to 142 grams. You can see them roam freely in their natural habitat here at the Tarsier Sanctuary.
It’s actually difficult to find these cute tarsiers because they are so small. They also like to hide under trees and leaves. Tarsiers are nocturnal so they sleep all day and are awake only at night. This one is actually sleeping, so hopefully we didn’t bother him too much.
Bohol definitely has its own unique charms. Nature is the spotlight at this beautiful island sanctuary and you can frolic at the beach as long as you like. If you are tired of the tourist frenzy in Boracay, then Bohol will give you that peaceful and inviting vacation that will reenergize your spirit.
