This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. More information.
Spending 3 days in Bohol is just enough to see the island’s main highlights without rushing too much. With a bit of preparation, Bohol ended up being one of the easiest islands we visited in the Philippines in terms of logistics. It has a good mix of nature, wildlife, and coastal spots. It’s also more developed than some other islands, which makes getting around simple, but it does mean you’ll share a few places with other travellers.
Here’s how we planned our 3 days in Bohol, with tips to help you make the most of your time.
Is 3 days in Bohol enough?
Yes – we had 3.5 days and it was a bit rushed, but we found it was still a good amount of time to explore Bohol. It gave us enough time to visit the Chocolate Hills and hike Alicia Panoramic Park, see tarsiers, and scuba dive at reputed sites. You could of course stay longer, especially if you want to go off the beaten track and if you want a slower beach stay, but 3 days covers the highlights well.
Where to stay for 3 days in Bohol
Most visitors stay in Panglao. That’s where most accommodations, restaurants, and tours are based, and it’s close to both the airport and Tagbilaran port. It also puts you right next to Alona Beach, which is the main hub for scuba diving. It’s a very convenient base for organising day trips and transport.
Tip: choose accommodation slightly away from Alona Beach if you prefer something quieter – the area can get busy and a bit touristy. Ecostay Panglao Resort Hotel is a good budget choice in a more relaxed atmosphere.
If you don’t mind changing accommodation, I recommend spending your first night closer to the centre or the east side of the island. This makes it much easier to visit Alicia Panoramic Park without long transfers.
How to get around Bohol
The easiest way to explore Bohol in 3 days is to book a private driver for one day (for inland Bohol), and then organise tours from Panglao.
Options include:
- Private driver booked via your accommodation or platforms like Klook – the most efficient and least tiring option
- Scooter rental – only if you’re comfortable riding longer distances
- Tours organised through your accommodation or a dive shop
There are also tuk-tuks for short transfers, including from Tagbilaran port or the airport to Panglao.
An optimised 3-day itinerary in Bohol
We actually spent 3.5 days in Bohol, so this isn’t exactly what we did day by day, but this version is optimised if you only have 3 days.
Day 1 – Alicia Panoramic Park and Chocolate Hills
You’ll spend a bit of time on the road heading to the east side of the island, but for us, it was worth it. We love hiking, and Alicia Panoramic Park was one of our highlights in Bohol. The rolling hills are incredibly photogenic and feel very different from other landscapes in the Philippines. In the afternoon, head towards the Chocolate Hills and visit the viewpoint before sunset.
Stay overnight somewhere in the central part of the island to reduce travel time the next day. We chose Casa Aguelo.
Day 2 – Inland Bohol to Panglao
If you didn’t have time to do it the day before and it’s the type of attraction you like, check out the Chocolate Hills Adventure Park.
On your way to Panglao, stop at a few key inland attractions. Visit Corella’s Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary (not the one in Pilar) if you want to see the famous tiny primates. But the visit only takes around 15 minutes, so you’ll want to find other things to do that day. If you’re looking for something a bit off the beaten path, we enjoyed our detour to the Pilar Rice Terraces. You could also visit a waterfall – we chose Kinahugan Falls.
Once you reach Panglao, you can relax or, if you enjoy snorkelling, check out Napaling Reef.
Day 3 – Pamilacan or Balicasag Island
If you’re a scuba diver, this is the day to get out on the water. We dived at both Balicasag and Pamilacan, and Balicasag was our favourite. The marine life was impressive, but I’d say it can be challenging for brand-new divers due to currents.
We dived with French Touch Diving (good equipment and very professional, but a bit unusual if you don’t speak French) and Alona Divers (which felt more locally run).
One thing to keep in mind if you’re diving: make sure you leave enough time between your last dive and your flight (usually at least 12-24 hours – see guidelines here) to avoid any health risks.
If you don’t scuba dive, you can still visit these islands on a snorkelling or island-hopping tour. That said, we heard a few concerns about operators not always respecting wildlife. If you go, it’s worth choosing your operator carefully.
Where is Bohol?
Bohol is an island in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines, located near Cebu. Most travellers reach Bohol via a short flight from Manila or Cebu, or by ferry from Cebu to Tagbilaran. We visited after Camiguin and took the ferry between the two islands – it fit really well into our itinerary.
Panglao Island, where most visitors stay, is connected to Bohol by a bridge.
