Oslob

Bohol-Cebu-Oslob Whale Sharks- 7 days

Bohol is the perfect family destination with something for everyone. Adventure, diving, snorkelling, unique nature, history, beaches and much more. The airport is Tagbilaran, newly opened in late 2018 now located on Panglao Island is about a 1 hour flight southeast from Manila and conveniently near the resorts and hotels. Panglao Island's most popular area is Alona Beach and has many beachfront bars and multicultural restaurants. Ferries travel between Tagbilaran and Cebu every day. The fastest, "Super Cat" , takes about 90 minutes. These can be pre booked and ticketed by All About Asia.

Bohol Countryside Tour - Firstly visiting the historic Blood Compact Shrine, a historical landmark commemorating the first ever Treaty of Friendship between the east and the west, before visiting the over 400 year old Baclayon Church & Museum. View the TARSIERS, the oldest known smallest primate that lives only in Bohol. Visit a Butterfly Farm which showcases a variety of the many unique Philippine butterfly species. View the awesome hundreds of cone-shaped hills known as the Chocolate Hills from a viewing deck on top of one of these hills. Drive back to Loboc for a 50-minute river cruise along nipa palm-lined Loboc river on board a large native raft. A sumptuous lunch of local cuisine is served on board while being serenaded by the locals and the banks of the river. Tour takes about 4 hours from Tagbilaran City. Add 30 minutes from resorts or the Airport on Panglao Island. This tour can be also taken from Cebu using ferry to Tagbilaran Port. Takes about 8 hours return to Cebu.

Cebu City is the second largest city in the Philippines and is centrally located about 1 hour flight south of Manila landing on Mactan Island which is home to many high quality sea front resorts and is connected to Cebu City by 2 bridges. The resorts are remote from each other as the beaches are man made. The city has many hotels and good shopping malls with many restaurants and excellent nightlife. It was the first settlement of the Spanish when the colonised the Philippines in the early 16th Century. The original Fort San Pedro still faces the sea and is open to the public.

Oslob is a small seaside town about 3 hours drive south of Cebu City. The local fishermen found that tourists wanted to swim with the whale sharks that pass their area during the migration south from Donsol near Legazpi. So a few years ago they started to feed them and keep them in the area, year round, so money could be made from tourism instead of fishing. The Whale Shark experience takes you out on small outrigger boats (about 6 passengers per boat) which is paddled out from the nearby beach. The boatman then ties the boat to a string of other boats and passengers are then allowed to enter the water with snorkel and face masks (provided by the tour operator) to view the whale sharks underwater as they are fed. Tours can be taken from Bohol (4 hours by boat, round trip) Cebu (7 hours by car, round trip), Dumaguete (3 hours, ferry and car, round trip) or Sumilon Island (under 1 hour by boat, round trip). Feeding time is from 6am to 11am daily all year round.

Kawasan Falls Canyoneering. This area has become even more popular ever since Canyoneering Tours were introduced. This tour starts in the mountain area of Badian where you ride pillion on a motor bike from near the Kawasan Falls entrance, given a life vest and helmet. You enter the canyons of the river that takes you down to the Kawasan water falls. The trip takes about 3 hours and includes hiking, being swept down a rocky river , climbing and jumping off water falls.

TOUR ITINERARY- 6 nights - all our tours include breakfasts.

Day 1: Depart Manila for Tagbilaran (TAG). Transfer to your hotel.

Day 2: You are picked up from your hotel in the morning for the Bohol Countryside Tour with a very interesting showcase of history, culture and nature in one destination.

Day 3: Take an optional island hopping and snorkelling tour of the nearby islands of Balicasag and Pamilacan.

Day 4: Transfer from your hotel to Tagbilaran Port for 90 minute ferry trip to Cebu. Stay in one of the city hotels or a seaside beach resort.

Day 5 : Early morning start to be driven for a 3 hour drive to Oslob to see the locals feed Whale Sharks. Put on a life vest, snorkel and face mask and view them underwater. NOTE: This tour can also be taken by boat from Bohol's Alona beach.

Day 6: Visit Kawasan Falls about 3 hours south on the west coast of Cebu. A peaceful natural place where you can enjoy many waterfalls of natural spring water. If you are fit you may want to do the Canyoneering.

Day 7: Transfer to Cebu Airport for flight to either, Manila, El Nido-Palawan, Coron- Palawan, Puerto Princesa, Siargao Island or Caticlan ( Boracay Island).

HOTELS BOHOL
PANGLAO ISLAND:
Amorita Resort on the eastern end of Alona Beach, has been recently renovated with modern rooms a beautiful swimming pool with fantastic sea views from the restaurant and bar area . The upstairs tapas bar is a welcome feature and the breakfast buffet is excellent. It also has a dive shop and spa.

Be Grand Resort is about 10 minutes by road from Alona Beach and was newly opened in late 2015 and has many pools and also private family villas. The air-conditioned restaurant and 3 bars.

Panglao Bluewater is about 10 minutes by road from Alona Beach and was opened in 2014. Besides the deluxe pool side rooms it also offers private villas with plunge pools. The restaurant has sea views. It has a spa two swimming pools.

Bellevue is on beautiful Doljo Beach by itself. Well fitted out modern rooms, most with sea views and excellent food in the restaurant. The infinity pool is well positioned to take in the beach and sea views.

South Palms is about 10 minutes by road from Alona Beach on a lovely white sand beach. The deluxe beach front rooms are excellent with beach and sea views.

Bee Farm is a unique resort with local artisans making products to sell in their shops around Bohol. Meals in the restaurant, which overlooks the sea, are sourced from the farm. Most rooms have excellent sea views and the many outside spa pools are extremely relaxing

Panglao Regents Park Hotel is located one street back from Alona Beach. It has nice rooms and swimming pool. European managed with good food.

HOTELS MACTAN ISLAND CEBU
Shangri La Resort This 5 star plus beachfront resort is 8 km from Mactan-Cebu International Airport and 18 km from downtown Cebu City. Amenities include a luxurious spa, 2 outdoor pools, 6 restaurants (where kids 11 and under eat free) and 2 bars. There's also a 6-hole pitch and putt golf course, tennis courts and an exercise room, plus mini-golf and an indoor kids' play area. Chi Spa is world renowned and among the best in South East Asia. The man made beach is safe to swim on.

Plantation Bay : This Colonial-style, waterfront resort with rooms that have pool or lagoon views. Dining options include a Pacific Rim restaurant, a casual tapas cafe/bar and an ice cream parlour. There's also a lagoon-style outdoor pool, and a deluxe spa.

Maribago Bluewater: This beachfront resort is 6 kilometres from Cebu Airport1 km from Mactan Island Aquarium. Amenities include a 24-hour eatery, an Italian cafe and an open-air oyster bar. There's also an outdoor pool, a private beach on a lagoon and a spa.

Sumilon Island. 3 hours by road from Cebu or 1 hour ferry and road from Dumaguete (DGT). The island is very close to Oslob and is another option to stay at the beautiful Island resort of Sumilon Bluewater who arrange the whale shark tour to Oslob with their own boat. The spacious resort rooms are on ground level and all overlook the sea with e very friendly staff and excellent food, especially their own bakery delights. Walking tracks on the island are a must do and to see the old 19th century Spanish watchtower and lighthouse. There are two good beaches to swim at, along with two swimming pools and three spa pools. Kids can paddle a kayak on the secluded lagoon.

HOTELS CEBU CITY
Radisson Blu: Located near SM Mall An elegant restaurant serves international cuisine. Lobby lounge offering nightly entertainment and a lively pool bar. The lavish outdoor pool has multiple fountains and walkways leading to palm-tree covered islands. A fitness centre includes a spa.

Quest Hotel: Located near Ayala Mall . Rooms and suites come with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and tea and coffee making facilities. Complimentary amenities include parking and a breakfast buffet. There's an informal bistro, a bar by the outdoor pool and a business centre.

OPTIONAL CEBU TOURS
Cebu City: half day
Visit Fort San Pedro, the oldest triangular fortress in the country built in 1565. Magellan’s Cross, planted in April 14, 1521 by Ferdinand Magellan. Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, built by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in 1565, now housing the statuette of Santo Niño. Casa Gorordo Museum, former house of the first bishop of Cebu. The Taoist Temple, located at Beverly Hills overlooking the city of Cebu and Mactan Island
Mactan Island : half day.
Mactan Island is connected to Cebu island by two bridges, the Mandaue – Mactan bridge and the Marcelo Fernan bridge. Visit Magellan marker where the battle of Mactan took place on April 27,1521. Lapu- lapu Monument Mactan shrine dedicated to Lapu-lapu, the first Filipino hero which stands inside the Mactan Shrine facing Magellan Bay. Alegre guitar factory Mactan is also known for world-class acoustic guitars.