Oct 8, 2017
Exploring Loboc, Bohol
Location 
: Loboc (municipality), Bohol (province), Philippines
Drifter
I left my main pack and mountain bike in Tagbilaran to scout where else I can move to. I ended up somehow in Loboc. It could have been any other place in Bohol - Pilar? Carmen? Bilar? But yes, Loboc. I walked along the Loboc River hoping I could find some kind of web deal for lodging with some resorts lined-up on the river bank. It didn't happen.
Lyn's Backpacker Inn
At the town center, I came across an inn owner who accepted my measly budget for a month's stay - after a lot of haggling. The owner was an amiable man who was easy to talk to. The overall energy was light. I had a small nipa house by the rice field with wifi access on the main house. Loboc it is for me - another mini-life in the making for the next 30 days.
First Full Day
After staying overnight, I took the early jeep for Tagbilaran to get my pack & bike. Luckily, a jeep was able to top-load my bike back to Loboc. First, I had to get my bearings. I biked around town looking for carinderias, water suppliers, tailoring repair shops, wifi outlets, etc. Three kilos of laundry for P130???? I miss Tagbilaran's P25/kilo deal. I discovered a pizza joint with a wood-burning oven. A little pricey but at least there's a good pizza house in town. Otherwise, things seemed bleak - there was no cafe, no shopping center, no movie house, no sikwate drink and even tuba is hard to come by. On a bike, I covered the town in less than an hour. Not really a big place. I kept thinking, "What do I do here for the next 30 days?"
Ending Thoughts
It will be a challenge to stay a full 30 days in Loboc. But there must be something in store for me here - otherwise, why did I end up here? I just need to trust the process. I could be productive here on the web - I can go deep into cutting-edge web design with the latest trends. I could use my shire as a base to explore day trips into the nearby towns. I could also go back into outdoor adventure - caves, waterfalls, island touring, etc. Just thoughts randomly passing by. Loboc...30 days...hmmm. I'm still in disbelief but remain open to all possibilities.
--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
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Reader Comments:
Jamie Parrell(Oct 8, 2017) I been there in 2006 and visited the church and took a tour of the attic also, it was hard to see it after the 2013 earth quake. I believe I still have video footage from 2006 of the church and attic.
Dodette Bernaldez 
(Oct 8, 2017) Your gut feel to stay in Loboc is perfect. Here are some suggestions:
1.River cruising via the floating restaurants
2. Chilling at the Hanging Garden
3. Watch the Loboc Children's Choir practice at Loboc Central Elementary School, 5pm daily
4. Watch the music classes of the Loboc Youth Ambassador Band on Saturdays
5. Attend Masses at St Peter Parish and Quinoguitan parish. We have a very rich culture here
6. Swim in the river at the same time talk to the ladies doing their laundry
7. Spend at least 2 hours (suggested time: 11:30-1:30pm) observing how Loboc Tourism Complex is operated and hopefully give your feedback to the Chief Tourism Operations Officer with the help of Jeffrey
8. Go to Loboc River Resort and Basak View in Camayaan
9. Visit the blacksmiths in Agape
10. Go to the hills and mountains of Gon-ob, calunasan and Cambance areas. In Calunasan, visit Balai Silangan
11. Visit the caves of Guimba, Buenavista and Tigbao but don't expect too much, the caves are not that marvellous but the journey in going there are awesome, that if u like to be with nature
12. Visit the woodcarvers of alegria and Tigbao
13. Visit the weavers In Tigbao, Oy and Calunasan. They are home-based
14. Visit the rice fields of Basak Daku, Jimilian ...almost all barangays have patches of rice fields
15. Boating at Loboc River downstream on a late afternoon
16. Go to Loboc Eco Adventure Park
17. firefly watching
18. Salabat Centre in Candabong
19. Taste our delicacy at Tres Hermanas
These are just some of the points of interest and activities. Please ask updated information from Loboc Tourism Office. By the way, Loboc has no shopping centre but sari-sari stores. Wishing you a wonderful stay in Loboc.
U might also like to make Loboc as ur take off point to visit Sipatan Bridge and the neighbouring towns of Bilar, Batuan and Carmen or the opposite direction for Loay and Lila if u want to go to the beach.
Orville Varquez (Oct 8, 2017) You can visit our Loboc Zipline eco adventure park. There's a lot to explore when you will go to the man made forest going to the Chocolate Hills Carmen, Bohol
Jeffrey 
Lyn's Backpackers Inn(Oct 12, 2017) Bukas sir, we can go to Luktob Spring
Dulce (Oct 12, 2017) Git, I have been outta touch! We must catch up! Why did u leave the other place?
TheLoneRider
(Oct 12, 2017) I try to live a mini-life in a new place, 30 days at a time :)
Dulce
(Oct 12, 2017) Wow such freedom
Angelie Lopez(Oct 12, 2017) Loboc, Bohol is amazing place. The cold spring called Loktub is refreshing. Lunch at the floating barge with locals serenading in the background is lovely.
TheLoneRider(Oct 11, 2017) ...will try both. Thanks for the tip, Angel
Charlotte Belogolo(Oct 12, 2017) is this where you're staying?
TheLoneRider(Oct 11, 2017) for the next 30 days :)
Alex Lyconet Americas
(Oct 12, 2017) How much per month bro?
TheLoneRider
(Oct 13, 2017) he-he, can't tell you the discount I got...they might bring it back to normal rates :)
Next story:
River Cruise on Loboc River
(Oct 17, 2017) Loboc's primary tourism draw is the river cruise along the famed Loboc River. It's usually packed even on weekdays. First time I was in Loboc in 2015, it was a 2-hour wait, so we bailed. Now, I finally get the chance to experience what all the hype is all about....more »»
Loboc Map
Loboc, Bohol, Philippines
tourist attractions
Cruz Daku - 80-foot white cross erected in 1986 on top of Loboc's highest mountain
Virgen de Guadalupe - giant statue of the Black Madonna perched on a Loboc summit
River Cruise - river cruise on a floating restaurant serving lunch with cultural presentation
Busay Falls - accessible only through the river cruise
Loktob Spring - cold water spring, free admission, huts for rent
Zipline and Cable Car Ride - at the Eco-Tourism Adventure Park
hotel
Fox & The Firefly Cottages - SUP paddle boarding, luxury riverside native cottages, mountain bike tours, SUP yoga
Lyn's Backpackers Inn - family-run guesthouse in the heart of Loboc
Bohol Travel Info/Tips
Bohol FYI / Tips
- the tourist area where most of the hotels, restaurants, ticket offices, tour operators are, is located within the Alona Beach area
- the tourist attractions in Bohol are far apart and spread-out. It would be difficult to visit them all using public mass transit. Better hire a van (P3500/day) if in a big group, or rent a motorcycle (P400/day + gas)
- Bohol relies on its tourism for revenue. As expected, everything they can capitalize on from tourism is extensively used and developed
Tagbilaran Port to Panglao
You can charter any tricycle from the port all the way to Panglao (~P300), but if you want to do it on the cheap,- don't take the tricycles lined-up inside the port. Walk past the port gate and immediately outside, you'll see many tricycles. Take one to the bus terminal in Dao (~P15)
- in Dao, take the jeep that plies the Panglao route (~P20)
Tagbilaran (Bohol) to Cebu City by boat
** schedules and rates keep changing, call for latest schedule- Weesam Express - departs 6:15 AM, 11:30 AM, 4:00 PM
one way: Economy (aircon) P500.00, Economy (non-aircon) P400.00, First Class P600.00
round trip promo (at least 2 days advance booking): Economy (aircon) P600, Economy(non-aircon) P500, First Class P1200
round trip promo (1 day or on the day booking): Economy (aircon) P800, Economy (non-aircon) P700, First Class P1200 - Ocean Jet - departs 6-7:05-8:20-9:20-11:40AM, 1-2-3:30-4:20-5:30-6:30PM, 2 hours, arrives Pier 1 in Cebu
Open Air / Tourist Class P800, Business Class P1000
+63(32)255 7560 / +63 (32) 255 0115 / 0917 638 0000 - SuperCat (2GO) - departs 5:50-11AM, 3:45-5:25-8:15PM, arrives Pier 1 in Cebu
P 500.00
+63 32 233 7000
Things to do, Places to go in Bohol
- Chocolate Hills - this is a clustering of more than 1200 hills within a 50km2 area. They range in height from 30-50 meters. What's unusual is their near-perfect conical shape resembling an individual chocolate chip. No one knows how they were formed. Entrance is P50/pax.
- Tarsier Conservation Area - located Upper Bonbon, Loboc. The tarsiers are no longer being played at by tourists as circus props, but instead, visitors now view them in cordoned-off areas in their natural 6ha habitat. As they are territorial and nocturnal, they are predictable on where they can be viewed. P50/pax.
- Alona Beach (Panglao) - Alona Beach is the tourist hub of Bohol. It has 1.5 kms of white sand beach lined-up by bars, hotels and restos. Alona is also the jump-off point for Balicasag Island, a world class dive destination.
- Danao Adventure Park - located in Barangay Magtangtang, 72 kms (2 hours ride) from Tagbilaran. Adventure activities include river trekking, tyrolean traverse, rappelling, bouldering, rock climbing and ziplining.
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The Ride to Cruz Daku
»» next Traveling story:
River Cruise on Loboc River
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