Bohol Travel Guide: Southeastern Sojourn – Alicia, Anda, and Candijay

No doubt, Bohol is one of the most beautiful and popular vacation destinations in the Philippines. In fact, in 2016, tourist arrivals hit 1-million mark, a surge by 39.7% from the previous year. This achievement is something that the island province should definitely be proud of.

So, you’ve been to Bohol, yes? Perhaps, you have visited the breathtaking Chocolate Hills; went for a fun Loboc River cruise; got acquainted with the cutest primate on earth, Tarsiers; and, had a soothing sun bath in the powdery white sand beaches of Panglao.

Now, you think you’ve experienced all the fun activities Bohol has to offer? Well, think again.😀 The fact is, there’s a whole lot more in Bohol waiting for you to discover.

In this post, I am sharing a travel guide to some places in Bohol that, perhaps, not as popular as the places where the above-mentioned attractions are located, but offer great experiences all the same. I take you to the southeastern part of the island province – Alicia, Anda, and Candijay.

Alicia, Anda, and Candijay

Together with Mabini and Guindulman, the municipalities of Alicia, Anda, and Candijay form part of the Southeastern Bohol. They are bordered to the north by the Municipality of Ubay, the Bohol Channel  (Bohol Sea) in the east and south, the town of Pilar and other municipalities of Central Bohol to the west. Tagbilaran City is a two-hour ride away, west.

Just like other places in Bohol that have been attracting tourists, these municipalities used to be a pretty laid back community. Locals just had their daily routine of farming, fishing, livestock raising. However, today, they have become more and more active in the sector of tourism as their places are receiving more visitors – local and foreign alike (thanks to social media). In fact, as of this writing, the Alicia is set to open another activity that tourists can try – Caving.

Things to do in Alicia

Trekking

Trekking to the summit of Alicia Panoramic Park (aka Binabaje Hills) provides a bird’s eye view of this part of the province. With its rolling hills covered by a sea of green, you surely find it refreshing.

The municipality of Alicia offers a day tour that allows you to trek to the summit of this park. The entrance fee is 40 pesos; the obligatory tour guide fee is 500 pesos, which is good for 5 people and below.

Each year, the municipality stages a trail run that is participated by a huge number of people from all over the country. In fact, it attracts foreign runners as well.

Cycling

Have a relaxing moment at Combento Cave Pool. Located just a few distance from a municipal road, this cave pool offers a one-of-a-kind experience in Bohol. Take a refreshing dip into its cool  water; it will surely rejuvenate your aching body from the travel.

Take a plunge into the water of Cabagnow Cave Pool. It is another attraction located in Anda that you should not miss visiting . You can go more extreme here than at the Combento Cave as it allows you take a dive into its turquoise water from as high as 15 feet above. Not only you will enjoy the water of this cave pool, you will be surely be amazed by the limestone formations inside the cave.

Your visit to Anda will not be complete without spending a good time in its beaches. The long stretch of Anda’s shoreline allows businesses in the area to thrive. There, you will find a number of private resorts offering fun activities for tourists (although the Anda Beach in general is a public place).

 

 

I would say that visiting the Canawa Cold Spring is a perfect way to end your day tour in Candijay. The water from this spring is fresh and is so cold that taking a dive into its depth will surely rejuvenate your tired and aching body from the prior activities.