Recommended Weekend Getaways From Cebu

At a distance of three hours’ by boat from Cebu, the island of Bohol, with its capital at Tagbilaran, is much smaller and much quieter than its well-known neighbour. It’s a place of tree-lined avenues, pretty beaches, and old Spanish-style houses. It has comparatively little accommodation to offer, but there is a lot to see here. The best known, of course, are the `Chocolate Hills of Bohol- a series of limestone knolls, 1268 of them which range in height from 40 to 120 mts. Other sights worth a visit are the church of Baclayon -the oldest stone church in the Philippines, which today includes a museum of religious art, the Punta Cruz Tower and Cross (used as a watch tower by Muslim pirates during the days of the Spanish rule in Bohol), and Panglao Church, with its beautifully carved twin confessionals. There is plenty to see and enjoy for those interested in history, for the pious, and for those who’re keen on beaches and blue seas.

Many of the islands around Cebu- such as Panitugan, Pacijan, Lipayan and Jibatnil, aren’t very well-developed so far as tourism infrastructure is concerned, but they’re well worth a visit, especially if you like swimming, surfing, sunbathing and the like. To get there, take a ferry from Cebu.